July 17th

The forty-day break was a period of time where high school students got together to have fun. Last summer went by in a flash. I spent the large majority of it alone, imagining a world where I did many summer activities with friends. I even nearly forgot my own birthday.

My mom was working and Muku was out with friends at the Gion Festival held in upper Kyoto. She returned to celebrate the last few minutes of the day with me, before falling asleep on the couch due to exhaustion.

A year later, it was the third day of summer break. I woke up naturally around half past six, but that time was different because I heard two voices outside my room. I stretched, opened the curtains to the morning sunrise, and left the room.

I walked down the hallway into the kitchen where I saw my mom and Muku frantically setting up the kitchen table as if they were waiters. Confused, I called out “good mornin'” with a husky voice.

“Happy birthday~!” they cheered in unison.

I slumped my posture to make my hair cover my flusters. Compassionate smiles littered their faces as they rushed towards me to sit me at the table. It wasn’t the biggest, and because it was square, we had it against the wall since we never needed to fill all four sides.

The two brought out breakfast, and I’ll admit, my eyes lit up with ecstasy. My mom placed a dish consisting of egg and cheese quesadillas with hot sauce and a side of rice. It wasn’t a large portion, of course, but seeing as Muku and I rarely got to eat our favorite food, no serving was too little.

Muku sat across from me and our mom between us. We clapped our hands together and two of the three of us said aloud,
“Itadakimasu~!”

I was a professional at not engaging in conversations, simply playing the piano on my lap while Muku and our mom exchanged details about school and work. I was also a professional at listening, and more recently, understanding words.

“So yeah, they don’t wanna go to the festival this year. Kiyo-brother, are you doin’ anythin’ for your birthday?”

I took a sip of my water before answering.
“I don’t think so. Between homework and a task for a friend, I’ll probably just be doin’ those two.”

Little did I know that I wouldn’t be working on either of them that day.

My mom joined the conversation.
“I have work after this, but I got Akage-san to cover my later shifts for me. Well, he kinda volunteered to do so once I mentioned your birthday was comin’ soon.”

“Wah~?!” Muku exclaimed as she jumped from her seat. “Does that mean we’ll be havin’ dinner together too?! Yay!”

My mom and I exchanged a winsome grin, knowing what Muku was about to do next. She spun around in place and the three of us united in saying,
“Giddy spin~!”

After breakfast, Muku and I saw our mom out the door and we headed into our respective rooms. I was ready to open up my Karuta poem to begin working, but a buzz was heard at the edge of my desk; my flip-phone. The indescribable shock I displayed when reading the notification lasted for a couple of minutes.

Happy Birthday, Verano-kun! You’re younger than me, fufu! Actually, you’re younger than Hanamaru-chan and Atsui-kun as well. Anyways, are you busy today? If you are, that’s fine, but if not, want to hang out? The four of us can chill at the park all day!

I dropped my flip-phone on the warped wooden floor. A chuckle slipped through my lips as my nose exhaled air in bursts. I felt the corners of my lip rise, it felt awkward since I didn’t do it often, but I didn’t care. The day was when the five of us celebrated my birthday.

Yes, there were five of us, because I brought along a special guest to meet my friends for the first time. She was overly excited, but that was the fun part.

“Yay~! Meetin’ Kiyo-brother’s friends! Is that really cute boy I saw before gonna be there? Is he, is he––ow ow ow!”

I pinched her cheek to keep her from being totally weird and rambunctious.
“Keep actin’ like that and I’ll text him not to show.”

“Hmph! You’re mean, Kiyo-brother.”

“Thank you.”

We arrived at Nishidate Park. Muku wore a short blue and white spotted dress with a straw hat she made herself, and I wore something similar to Saturday’s outfit. Rossi-chan and Natsu-chan were already waiting for us, it seemed like Mitoma-kun was on his way.

Rossi-chan yelled, “Ahh! You have a sister?!” and immediately rushed towards us.

“Shock! Kiyo-brother, you have a girlfriend?!” shouted Muku.
She immediately took off to Rossi-chan.

“She’s not my…whatever.”

I knew they would get along. Though, this could be a mistake. I hope Natsu-chan can keep her tamed, while I do the same with Muku.

We joined the girls at the table in the center of the park; there was no one else present. Muku began talking with my friends as if she had known them all her life, I didn’t know how she did it. I simply watched and took mental notes as they conversed about each other and me.

It wasn’t long after we arrived that Mitoma-kun showed up.

Muku was the first to rise and greet him, “Hiyo heyo, Kiyo-brother’s friend!”

“Oi, there’s a kid here, Astu-idiot. Put a shirt on!”

He wore a black to red gradient tank top with cargo shorts. He was as hot and perfect as those high school students one would see in shows, no wonder girls were head over heels.
“Says the dummy in a tank top and short-shorts.”

"Wanna fight?!"

He approached the table, in his hand was a plastic bag.
“Hey, lil’ Verano, don’t grow up t’be like Dumbmaru. Follow Rossi’s example instead.”

He sat down to the right of me, and stuck out his hand. I shook his hand and felt his muscular grip, I worried my hand would break if he squeezed any harder.

“So, birthday-boy,” Mitoma-kun placed the bag on the tabletop. “When were you go’n t’tell us your birthday was today?”

“Kiyo-brother doesn’t think sharin’ birthdays are important.”

Natsu-chan said, “She sounds just like ya, and also nothing like ya. She’s such’a cutie too!”

“Hahe, you’re super cool, what was it, ‘Dumbmaru’?”

“Oi, kid, don’t ever call me that again.”

“Ehehe, good job lil’ Verano.”

Those three began talking and making jokes. Rossi-chan signaled for me to come to her side of the table, and I did.

“I’m glad you were able to come, Verano-kun.”

“Th-Thanks for invitin’ me out, but…how’d you know it was my birthday. I didn’t tell you, did I?”

She shook her head and brought out her phone.
“Because Hanayo-chan’s the club president, she’s able to see the birthdays of all the members. When we were making our summer plans, she showed me that your day was very near. Fufu.”

“I take it you won’t tell me your birthday, since I didn’t tell you.”

She had a mischievous smirk that affirmed my question.

“Let’s make it a game. If you can figure it out without asking anyone, you win.”

“How in heck am I supposed to do that?”

“That’s the game. Fufu.”

I playfully rolled my eyes and dropped my head, then I noticed an envelope laid across her lap. She must’ve noticed me discovering it, because she picked it up and brought it to her chest.
“Everyone!” she called out. “I’d like to request the honors to give Verano-kun his first birthday present.”

“Yeah!”

“Soiya!”

“Yay!”

Without any objections, Rossi-chan bowed and I followed suit. She stuck her hands out – palms up – and extended her arms to reach me. I picked up the envelope in a delicate manner, as if the item in my hands was made of glass.

“C-Can I open it?”

“Fufu. You may, I hope you like it.”

Was it wrong to hope for money? Good, because I didn’t. My room was bare on the floor and walls, so I was hoping to get something to decorate it even the slightest bit. Luckily for me, I got just that.

It was a folded card. I opened it and a pop-up painted cutout of morning glory flowers emerged; all handmade. They stood tall and the colors were hued and calming, making it nearly identical to the real thing.

On the left side of the card was the flower’s meaning. I remembered it from when I searched it up in the calendar. The right side was a personal message from Rossi-chan, I didn’t read it aloud.

“I hope you cherish this moment forever, Verano-kun! I promise to get you a better present for your next birthday, I already have it planned, fufu! I don’t want to put pressure on you, but let’s do another game: If you can one-up me for my birthday, you win! I’ll give you a hint for the first game (I hope I suggested it!): You’ve read it many times in the calendar! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!”

Mitoma-kun brought snacks and Natsu-chan brought an array of board games. We ate, laughed, chatted, played, and took photos to our hearts content until the sun fell below the peaks. Muku and I were walking back to the apartment where our mom was waiting.

That was one of the best days of my life. Call it a spoiler, but next year was far greater.