Chapter 10

'Ohhhhh, I don't know what to get him!' Kaito whined. He was out shopping with Kiyoteru. Ever since he helped out with the individual project, Kaito had been looking for a way to make it up to Gakupo. So when he heard that Gakupo's birthday was coming up soon, Kaito knew he had to get him a spectacular present. Problem was: he didn't know what.

'Well what does Gakupo like?' Kiyoteru asked.

'He likes his hair. Maybe I could get him a brush?'

'I'm sure he already has one of those.' Kiyoteru said dryly.

'What about a new sword?'

'Is there anything wrong with his current sword?'

'No….'

'Then he's probably fine.' Kiyoteru said. 'Think about who Gakupo is. What's something he would appreciate?'

'Hmm' Kaito crossed his arms and thought for awhile. 'He likes classic rock records but we don't have a record player in the unit… That's it! I'll get him a record player!'

'Wouldn't that be expensive?' Kiyoteru asked, concerned.

'Uhh well maybe. I'm sure I can find a cheap one' Kaito said.

After looking it up on their phones, they found a music shop selling record players nearby.

'One of these small ones would be great for him!' Kaito said excitedly, looking at the shelf of record players.

'These are way too pricy!' Kiyoteru said.

'Yeah… ok' Kaito said. 'Let's find something cheaper. Excuse me' he said to the clerk at the counter. 'What's the cheapest record player you have?'

'Uhh, oh, well we have this budget option here' the clerk said, gesturing to a simple player in the corner.

'That's still way too high Kaito' Kiyoteru said. 'C'mon we'll find him something else'.

Leaving the store, Kaito was struggling. Kiyoteru was right; if he bought that record player he wouldn't have rent for the next two months. But Gakupo had done so much for him. Maybe Kaito could give up something else… Kaito had another bank account. A special one for special purchases only. He put money into it every month and made sure that there was always a few hundred in it. Normally he would rather die than empty that account but this was for Gakupo.

'Maybe you could buy Gakupo some pasta' Kiyoteru suggested.

'No I'm going to get him that record player' Kaito said.

'Kaito! It's too expensive!'

'It's ok Kiyo, I have some money in another account'.

'But! That's still a lot of money though… He's not worth it.'

'Yes he is.'

So Kaito went back to the store about bought the record player, using his special account.

It's ok, Kaito thought. I can do without ice cream for a couple months. I'll do it for Gakupo.

-.-.-.

'C'mon birthday boy, you can't be late to your own party!' Lily said.

'I wouldn't be late if you had told me about this before hand' Gakupo said.

Lily had driven Gakupo to a bar for his birthday party. Gakupo didn't even know she was throwing a party until Lily dragged him out of work.

'I've invited only the best people. It's the exclusive party for the coolest dude!'

Gakupo didn't know how exclusive the party really was considering it was held at a public pub but looking around he did see some of his favourite people at university. Luka was at the bar talking to Meiko as she tossed back a beer. Yohio and Wil from the sword fighting club were laughing in a corner. But what excited Gakupo was when he saw DJ VY2 was sitting a table talking to Kiyoteru. Gakupo was about to walk over there when Luka walked up and kissed him.

'Congratulations birthday boy' she said, winking. 'I have a special present waiting for you tonight.'

'I really tried to seduce her away from you' Lily said. 'But she claims she's happy how things are.'

Lily made an exaggerated shrug. 'Oh well, guess there's no accounting for taste' she said, elbowing Gakupo.

'Free beer for the birthday boy!' Meiko called as she walked over and handed Gakupo a beer.

It wouldn't be the last time. All throughout the night people were walking up and handing Gakupo beers. He was always surrounded by so many people, it was about an hour and a half before he could struggle away from the crowd towards the table where VY2 and Kiyoteru were still sitting.

Kiyoteru looked up as Gakupo approached and for a second it looked like he glared at Gakupo but then he smiled and said 'happy birthday!'

'Thanks Kiyo' Gakupo said. Then he held out his hand to VY2. 'Hey I'm Gakupo.'

'...Hey, yeah I'm Yuma' He replied boredly as he limply shook Gakupo's hand.

Then he looked away and it was awkwardly silent for a few seconds. Gakupo glanced between the bored Yuma and the unreadable Kiyoteru.

'He hates it when you call him that yknow' Yuma said at last.

'Huh?'

'Kiyoteru hates his name being shortened to Kiyo. I tried it once and he told me never to do it again.'

'Oh… I thought it was ok because Kaito always calls you that' Gakupo said to Kiyoteru.

'Kaito is different' Kiyoteru tersely replied.

'Ok… Well I guess I understand. I hate it when people shorten my name.'

'Kaito calls you Gaky.'

'Kaito is different.'

'Hmph' was all Kiyoteru replied.

'Where is Kaito anyway?' Gakupo asked.

'Get Gakupo up here, it's time to open presents!' Lily shouted from the bar.

Luka grabbed Gakupo by the hand and dragged him to the centre of the room where many presents had been stacked up.

Most of the presents were alcoholic but Gakupo also got chocolate eggplants, socks, a notebook set, a hairbrush, pasta and a plastic sword. Now there was just one present left: a flat square box shape wrapped in blue. It was quite heavy and Gakupo could tell from holding it that it was made of metal. On the top the label read: Happy Birthday Gaky: From Kaito.

Inside the box: a purple case and upon opening the case Gakupo saw a turntable. It was a small, encased record player. Gakupo stared at the present, stunned. He had missed his records and had considered buying a small player before he left home but thought it might be too expensive. Did Kaito really buy this?

Gakupo looked into the crowd, looking for Kaito with grateful eyes but he couldn't see that cute bluehead anywhere.

'Where's Kaito?' Gakupo asked.

'He's not here, so who cares?' Lily said.

'He wasn't invited' Kiyoteru said. 'He asked me to bring that present to you.'

'Lily! Did you forget to invite Kaito?' Gakupo asked.

'I didn't invite him because he's annoying' Lily replied. 'I want to have a fun night with my bestie without some annoying prick interrupting us all the time.'

'Kaito's not a prick!' Gakupo replied angrily, 'he's my friend and I want him here. I have to thank him for the present.' Gakupo headed for the door.

'Hey, where are you going?' Lily asked.

'To see Kaito.'

-.-.-.-

Kaito was startled when Gakupo came through the unit door.

'Oh! Gakupo! I didn't expect you back this early. How was the party?'

'It sucked because you weren't there.'

'Eh? But I wasn't invited?'

'That was Lily's fault. I would have invited you. Kaito… I got your present. How could you have afforded that? I know you don't earn much.'

Kaito turned red and looked away.

'Ahh… no, it's ok Gaky. I had some money saved and it really wasn't much. I mean, you're my friend and…'

I care about you, Kaito thought. But he knew he couldn't say it. If he said it then he wouldn't be able to ignore it anymore and he had to ignore it. Kaito couldn't let himself care about people anymore; not when they were just going to leave eventually.

Thankfully the moment was broken by the kitchen timer going off.

'Oh I have to take the cake out!' Kaito said.

'Cake?'

'Well you can't have a birthday without cake can you? I didn't know what kind you liked so I just made a simple sponge cake' Kaito said as he pulled the cake from the oven and laid it on the table.

'Sure!' Gakupo said grinning. 'We can eat it together!' and he reached for the cake.

Kaito slapped his hand away.

'Not yet! It still needs to cool!'

Gakupo just laughed.