Autumn: Birthday, part 2
"Now, remember Kotoko-chan, act surprised," Mrs. Irie reminded her as she paid off the taxi driver.
"Yes, yes!" Kotoko was bouncing from one foot to another before she entered the door in advance of Mrs. Irie. Everyone yelled, "Happy Birthday!" and she was showered in the vestibule with confetti from party poppers .
"Oh! Oh! What a surprise!" she called out in glee. She hugged Satomi and Jinko (who exclaimed over her dress and made her spin around), nodded at Ryo, Narasaki, and Naoki, and ruffled Yuuki's hair. He scowled as he smoothed it back into place and shot a glance at his mother's satisfied face when Kotoko asked, "Where is Taketo-kun?"
"Well, I don't know, Kotoko-chan," Mrs. Irie began. "It's not a good sign when a young man ignores his girlfriend's birthday party—"
She was interrupted by the sound of a male duet singing "Happy Birthday". Taketo and Kin-chan carried the large sheet cake from the kitchen with twenty lit candles. While the others joined in the song, Mrs. Irie's mouth dropped open, and Naoki's eyes slid from her face to his brother's.
Kotoko held on to Taketo's arm and laughed with him and her friends; even Kin-chan cracked a smile from time to time—when he wasn't glaring at Taketo, that is. As she bent to blow out the candles, Naoki sidled next to his brother and whispered, "What almost happened?"
Yuuki leaned towards him. "Mother gave Taketo-san and Stupid-head the wrong date for the party. She must have hoped that you and Kotoko would hook up tonight and everything would be history when those two showed up tomorrow, a day late."
"Arrgh!" Naoki growled. "How does she come up with these lunatic scenarios? What took place to spoil her plot?"
"Taketo-san was talking with one of her girlfriends and mentioned that he wanted to take her out for a special dinner the day before the party. They noticed that the dates on the invitations were different and met me after school to check into it. Once I looked at Mom's calendar, we put the pieces together."
"Damn her! Doesn't she understand that this will only hurt Kotoko?"
Yuuki looked at him strangely. "Pot, meet kettle."
Naoki flinched. His mother was over in the far corner with his father, complaining, most likely. How he had managed to remain sane after more than twenty years of marriage, he didn't know.
The noise level increased as those in attendance began bringing out the presents. "Mine first!" insisted Kin-chan in a loud voice.
"Okay," Kotoko responded with a smile. She unwrapped the package to reveal a two-tiered wooden bento box with painted sakura flowers decorating the top. She looked up at him, "It's lovely! Thank you, Kin-chan!"
"And Kotoko," he informed her, "bring that to the restaurant at any time and I will fill it with wonderful Kin-chan-made food for you!"
"Oi!" Her father cuffed him between the shoulder blades with ill-concealed pride, "being very generous with my ingredients, are you?"
Familiar with Kotoko's appetite, everyone laughed at his response. "All right, now us!" proclaimed Jinko. "This is from Satomi and me and those two," jerking her thumb at their boyfriends.
The faces of the party-goers were a sight when Kotoko pulled out a sheer red negligee. "Guys!" she sputtered in embarrassment, quickly shoving it back into the box to Jinko and Satomi's laughter. Kotoko's father and Mr. Irie suddenly became engrossed in some item on the bookshelf. All of the younger men were flushing, except for Yuuki, who made a show of hiding his eyes with his hands. Mrs. Irie couldn't decide who to look at, as her gaze flitted from Kotoko to Taketo to Naoki, while Kin-chan, standing next to her, swore later that he heard teeth grinding.
"Is that ridiculous item put away yet?" asked Yuuki. Upon being assured that it was out of sight, he uncovered his eyes and brought forth a small box. "Here you go, Onee-chan."
"Why, thank you, Yuuki-kun," she replied in surprise. She opened it and pulled out a delicate bracelet of pearls interspersed with gold chain.
"I only used my allowance money," he muttered, "so it's not as if it's 'pearls of great price'."
"I appreciate it!" She jumped up and hugged him enthusiastically. "It's a lovely bracelet." He backed away, rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously.
"Here, Kotoko," her father next said gruffly. "This is from me."
"Wow! What a big box! Oh!" she exclaimed after she opened it.
Satomi and Jinko stood behind her, commenting on the beauty of the flowered silk kimono inside. Her father explained, "That's for you to wear to your seijin-shiki."
"But it looks so expensive," Kotoko protested. "Are you sure it's okay?"
"D-don't be silly! I could buy a hundred more if you wanted! Don't worry about it!" He sniffed, "I can't believe my little girl is already twenty… Sorry I can't do more for you, but I'm glad you grew up to be a fine lady. I'm sure your mother in heaven is crying tears of joy right now, too."
"Dad…" Kotoko hugged her father.
Naoki had been absorbed in the unwrapping drama, so when his mother pinched him, he regretted not keeping a closer eye on her. "What, Ma?" he asked, rubbing his upper arm.
"Did you bring Kotoko a gift like I asked you?" she hissed.
"You mean…ordered to, don't you?" He gave her a steady look, then pulled a small envelope from his shirt pocket and handed it to the birthday girl. "Happy birthday, Kotoko."
"Wh-why, thank you, Irie-kun," she said, eyes wide. She opened the card and read in English, "'Five study sessions for Advanced English class. No expiration date.'"
Naoki's eyes held surprise. "Your pronunciation is very good, Kotoko."
"Yes!" she beamed at him. "Taketo-kun has been helping me lately. I probably won't need to use this," she waved the card, "but thank you for the thought. I wouldn't be as far as I am in my education without your past help!"
"Not at all," he managed. He glanced over at Taketo and recognized the slight smirk on his face as one that he himself had perfected in high school. The feeling of tables having been turned was not too comfortable.
"I think it's my turn now," Taketo announced. He handed Kotoko a box similar in size to Yuuki's present.
She giggled. "Did you and Yuuki get me the same gift?" she teased.
He smiled back at her. "Open it and find out."
Kotoko gasped and Jinko and Satomi squealed when the top was removed. "Oh, my—"
"Here," he took it from her. "It's an ankle bracelet with sapphires, your birthstone. It looks like it matches your dress. Will you let me put it on?"
He knelt before her, and Kotoko fanned herself with her hand and giggled as she lifted her foot. "I feel like Cinderella. I'm a little giddy."
Jinko elbowed Satomi. "Hey, doesn't it look like he's about to propose?"
The sudden silence left by that comment was broken by a grinning Taketo. "If that was my plan, I certainly wouldn't do it in front of an audience!"
Everyone's subsequent laughter was interrupted when Mrs. Irie abruptly clapped her hands. "All right, everyone!" she called, "let's all eat our fill!"
The room became noisy again, with nearly everyone chattering at once. When all had a plate of food, Naoki made his way to Kin-chan, who alternated between shoveling food in his mouth and staring mournfully at Kotoko.
"It doesn't do any good to moon over her like that," he said to the other.
"What-?! Irie!" Kin-chan spun his head toward him.
"It's next to impossible to change that girl's mind. She is so stubborn. We just have to be patient and see what happens in the long run."
"What does it matter to you?" burst out Kin-chan. "You never cared for her anyway."
"You know,"Naoki paid attention to his plate. "I'm not always truthful, even with myself. Well," he moved away, "I tried to warn you." He deposited his dish in the sink and snagged his mother's arm when she carried an empty pitcher back to the kitchen. "Ma," he said wearily, "the dirty tricks have got to stop."
"What—I don't know what you're talking about, son!" she sputtered.
"Cut it out. I know about the dates of the party. Look," he bent down so their eyes were level, "if I can't get Kotoko without cheating, I don't deserve her."
He grabbed hold of her more firmly as her knees collapsed. "Onii-chan! Does this mean that you—that Kotoko—that—"
"I'm not confirming anything, Ma. But this time you crossed a line."
"No!" She grasped his upper arms. "You and Kotoko belong together! I only—"
"Ma, what do you see in there?" He made her turn towards the noisy festivities. After the two fathers had left for the media room, the rest of the party-goers had pushed furniture to the side and were laughing as they danced to music from a cell phone. Even Yuuki was included, although almost a decade younger. "They are all making sure that Kotoko is having a great time by keeping a secret from her."
"Se-secret?"
"Nearly everyone in the other room knows what you tried to do, and they're not telling Kotoko because they know she cares so much for you."
"But I—she loves—I wanted—so long—" His mother bent forward and covered her face with her hands.
"I know, I know," he sighed as he patted her back. "It's a big adjustment for you. For two years you tried to push her on me, and now you're having to push me on her. But right now, Ma, you need to back down so her friends can keep protecting you," he urged as he held her close, her shoulders shaking. "Let me take you to your room. I'll take care of the party clean-up before leaving."
"You don't think Kotoko will hate me if she finds out, do you?" She looked up at him tearfully.
Just then Kotoko's voice could be heard over the music and conversation. "This is the best party ever!"
"No, Ma," he said, "I'm sure that would never happen."
