Another day of school has passed for Niwa Daisuke. And for him, life was a bit boring; there was no one else but Takeshi and Satoshi (a bit) who tease him. Dark was no longer within him, which made himself be a bit lonely.
"Niwa-kun!" Harada Riku, his classmate once more and girlfriend, called out.
"Yes, Riku-san?"
"Right after school, ano…let's have a stroll in the park."
"But we did that yesterday."
"Let's do it again. It's fun walking in the park…just the two of us."
But before Daisuke replied, Riku ran out of the classroom, saying, "See you at the school entrance later!"
Daisuke couldn't help it. He had to go. Riku could be a bit pushy at times and he didn't want to disappoint her.
But he couldn't help but wonder…why did Riku want to go and have a stroll in the park again? They always do it once a week. Why now?
-0-
Daisuke apparently came by the school entrance first. There was no sign of Riku running towards him. Instead, he saw Satoshi, Takeshi and Risa.
"Hiwatari-kun! Harada-san!"
"Yes, Niwa-kun?" Risa replied. Satoshi kept quiet. Takeshi controlled himself not to blurt out anything or else Risa would slap him silly as soon as they are out of sight.
"Have you seen Riku-san?" Daisuke asked.
"Hai. She said she'd be down in a minute. Hiwatari-kun and I will be going ahead."
"Going ahead where?"
Risa made up an excuse and dragged Satoshi away before Daisuke could say anything. Then, a minute late, Riku arrived, giving him a hug.
"Ready, Niwa-kun?" She said with a smile.
"Yeah, sure. As always."
-0-
While the two were strolling in the park, Daisuke couldn't help but notice Riku being ever so quiet.
"Riku-san? Why so quiet?"
"Eh? No! It's nothing! I just feel like being quiet!" Riku said, panicking.
"Do you have a problem?" Daisuke asked.
"No! Of course not!" Riku said, controlling herself not to panic even more.
Daisuke simply chuckled and said, "Riku-san looks so cute when she is panicking."
Riku blushed.
"Really now? Wow. I didn't know!"
Keep stalling, Riku, keep stalling. It's almost time anyway, Riku said to herself.
-0-
It's been half an hour since Daisuke and Riku started to stroll in the park. Riku looked at her watch and finally decided to go to Daisuke's place. Daisuke was relieved; he could finally get some rest from a hard day from school.
When the two got there, the moment Daisuke and Riku stepped into his house, streamers fell down on them and Emiko jumped out of nowhere and placed a party hat on his head.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"
"Birthday? Whose birthday?" Daisuke asked cluelessly.
Takeshi jumped out from behind the couch and gave him a noogie. "Your birthday, silly! I can't believe you have forgotten your own birthday!"
Daisuke smiled.
"Gomen." He said. He looked around and saw Satoshi, Risa, Towa-chan, Emiko, Kosuke, Daiki and Wiz in the living room. Each had a present with them.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" They said once again.
Riku gave another hug to Daisuke.
"Happy birthday…Niwa-kun!"
Daisuke smiled.
"Thanks, everyone." He replied as he walked towards his family and friends.
He was now fifteen and he almost forgot about it. He wasn't like that last year during his fourteenth birthday since that day changed his life…. and that was the first time he encountered Dark, who he has missed so much as a dear friend…or perhaps, as a brother too.
If only he was here to celebrate with us, Daisuke thought as Takeshi took a picture of him opening his first gift, which was from his family and Towa-chan…a homemade sweater!
"Oh! Come on, Dai-chan! Try it on! Mommy wants to see if it fits!" Emiko said.
Daisuke tried the sweater on. Yeah, it fit…not to mention, itchy.
"Do you like it, Dai-chan?" Towa-chan said happily.
"Hai." Daisuke replied, trying to sound comfortable in it and without mentioning that the sweater was itchy.
The next one was from Satoshi. It was a book about art.
Risa's gift was a whole plate of sushi. It was good. Daisuke was relieved that his stomach didn't ache. (To tell you the wrote, Riku helped Risa make it.)
Riku gave him a box of chocolates (She made them), along with hugs and kisses.
Wiz gave Daisuke a strawberry, which he had kept and protected for the whole time. Daisuke, in return, gave Wiz a pat on the head.
Lastly, Taekeshi's gift was some photos of his and Riku's dates.
Daisuke blushed.
"UWA!!! SAEHARA!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WERE TAKING PICTURES OF US!!!" Daisuke exclaimed.
"Just think of me as your…paparazzi." Takeshi replied with a smug on his face.
"Time to blow the candles, Daisuke." Kosuke said as he brought out the cake from the refrigerator.
Daisuke stood in front of the cake and made a wish.
I wish…
…that…
…Dark…
…and Krad…
…were here…
He blew out the candles and hoped that his wish will come true.
He wanted Dark back. And he felt that, Satoshi wanted Krad back too, despite Krad being so possessive and all that. He just wanted the two back.
"So, Daisuke, what did you wish for?" Daiki asked.
Daisuke looked up to his grandpa and smiled.
"I can't tell you. If I do that, then my wish will not come true."