Today is January 3rd, the third day of New Year's celebrations and Wataru-chan's birthday. As promised I would make his chocolate birthday cake. I pulled the curtains over and received a wonderful sight. The whole area was covered in snow. It looked pure and beautiful
"Look Juli, it snowed a lot last night."
"It really did! No wonder today is so cold. On a day like this I want to curl up in a blanket and sleep. I finally understand why some squirrels hibernate."
"You should have been hibernating from the beginning of winter."
"But I can't leave you alone with those wolves. Louis has his work so he can't always be around." Speaking of Louis-san, I learned that he can understand Juli and they formed an alliance for the sole purpose of protecting me. Well I am grateful for their thoughts so I cannot reject the idea. "He and everyone is home today since it is a day off and Wataru-chan's birthday. You can take it easy today."
"I guess so. Just be careful."
"Yes."
After I got dressed I headed downstairs for the usual breakfast preparations
"Good morning Ayaka-san."
"Good morning Ukyo-san. Today is pretty cold and the snow has piled up."
"It sure has. Make sure to stay warm so you don't catch a cold."
"Yes. What should we make today?"
"The usual since it's cold. We cannot afford anyone catching a cold."
"All right. Now that we're done, let's head outside!" Tsubaki-san declared as he stood up from his seat
"Outside?" I asked, wondering what is he so hyped up about this time
"Well, you saw how the snow's built up right? We've just gotta play outside in it!"
"What's with you?" Fuuto-kun asked "How can you be so excited like a kid?"
"How? Because snow gets me all pumped up that's how!"
"Forget kid, you're a dog. A stupid dog."
"C'mooon Ayaka" he started to cling onto me "Let's play!"
"Hey, quit sticking to her!" Yusuke-kun yelled
"I want to play!" Wataru-chan declared
"I think it is a great idea." Masaomi-niisan spoke "Participation is compulsory."
"I don't really care if no one else wants to come. I'm fine with Ayaka and Azusa."
"Then I'm joining in!" Yusuke-kun declared
"What about you Fuuto-kun?" I asked him
"Sorry Nee-san, I don't participate in stupid events with idiots."
"All right. Let's meet up outside in two hours!"
I put on a dark red coat and added Natsume-san's muffler wrapping it tightly around my neck as I headed downstairs. By chance I saw Subaru-san wearing his tracksuit
"Are you heading out for a jog?" I asked getting his attention
"Yeah."
"Be careful not to slip on ice."
"I will." He shifted his eyes to the right "Um, about what I asked you last year..."
"About coming to see you play when you get back in the line up?" He nodded "I will go. I want to see your basketball playing form."
Subaru-san was surprised "Really?"
"Yes."
"...Thank you." He suddenly pulled me into a hug catching me off guard. I never thought that the stoic but shy Subaru-san could do it. Realizing what he did he pulled back, his face red with embrassment "S-Sorry."
"It's fine." I said letting the whole thing slide since I was not offended. "Take care."
"Yes." he said with a smile and took off. It's not often that I get to him smile so that was a treat.
Eventually the others showed up; Yusuke-kun opened the sliding door and we stepped out into the chilly and snowy landscape.
"Wow! Everything's all white!" Wataru-chan happily gathered snow in his hand and threw it up
"Ain't it exciting?! Okay, let's get this snowball fight started right away!"
"Wait a minute, there's only five of us."
"Don't worry, the last player should be here soon."
"You didn't..." Azusa-san spoke looking slightly annoyed
"Tsubaki, what's this urgent business you were talking about? And why are you guys gathered here anyway?"
"Natsume-san!" I heard Azusa-san sighed heavily and muttered 'I knew it'
"Natsu-nii!"
"Natsume, let's have a snowball fight!"
Natsume-san looked befuddled before realizing that he was set up by his mischievous older brother "Hey, you called me out here for such a ridiculous request as that?"
"You just don't get it, do you Natsume?" He pumped his fist in the air as his face was lit with burning passion "With such a picturesque snowy landscape in front of you, how can you NOT have a snowball fight?!"
Natsume-san's response to Tsubaki-san's passionate declaration was simply walking away with the intent of going home.
"Hold on a minute Natsume!" Tsubaki-san caught him by the arm trying to drag him back "I'm begging you! If I lose, I'll get you those special headphones you wanted!"
"Special headphones?" Yusuke-kun asked Azusa
"Natsume's been looking for these special edition limited production first rate headphones, but hasn't been able to find them. Tsubaki had bragged to Natsume that voice actor friend of his had by chance gotten a pair of those very headphones."
Fully convinced to join in for the special headphones, Natsume-san joined us. We played rock-paper-scissors and the two teams were decided. Team A consisted of Tsubaki-san, Azusa-san and Wataru-chan while Team B consisted of me, Natsume-san and Yusuke-kun
"Let's get along you two."
"Yeah! Let's beat up Tsuba-nii!"
"I'll do my best." Yusuke-kun is quite athletic and Natsume-san seems to have really good reflexes. It's reassuring; of course I don't tend to kick back and do nothing.
"Okay then, the Team A vs B snowball fight: START!"
I took a breather on the couch as Wataru-chan's cake was baking in the oven. Rather than a simple snowball fight, it was an all out snowball war. Thanks to Natsume-san's leadership we won the match. It was tough but it was a lot of fun. I saw Natsume-san entering the room.
"Would like some tea?"
"No thanks." He sat down next to me "I bet Tsubaki dragged you into it. That guy has always been so pushy and noisy."
"Pretty much. But I had fun. You three have a good relationship."
Natsume-san looked at me in disbelief "We have a good relationship? You must be joking. Those two are always ordering me around."
"Tsubaki-san I can understand but not Azusa-san."
"You're saying that because you haven't seen his mischievous side."
"But you must have made some good memories with your brothers."
"I wonder about that. Well, we did play together when we were kids. Tsubaki used to cheat a lot back; whenever Azusa got angry he would always impersonate anime characters. Azusa would smile again. Also during the Shichi-Go-San festival Tsubaki did a solo performance on top of the staircase which gathered an audience. But the shrine owner was really and in the end, only Azusa and I got scolded."
I laughed because when I pictured the event it was too hilarious "I knew it. It's never boring when you're around Tusbaki-san."
"By the way you were the muffler I gave you."
"And you wore the muffler I got you for your birthday." I chimed in
"I appreciated it."
"The same goes for me. That's why I repaid you." I replied and we smiled at each other
Later in the evening we gathered around the dining table. I got dressed for the occasion and as always Louis-san styled my hair this time into a curly ponytail. Masaomi-san placed the huge double-layered chocolate cake on the table and Wataru-chan got into position to blow out the candles. Ukyo-san proceeded to cut the cake.
"Thank you for baking my cake Onee-chan!"
"You're welcome." I said patting his head lovingly. It was worth the effort to see that smile
It was a fun night; everyone enjoyed the birthday cake. Tsubaki-san and Wataru-chan got into a small fight about who got to eat the chocolate bar I used for decoration on top of the cake, something about survival of the fittest though siblings always compete to eat the best pieces of food. I solved by swiping the chocolate bar out of Tsubaki-san's hands and broke it into two. I gave half to Wataru-chan but to add a twist I ate the other half shocking Tsubaki-san and causing the others to laugh. It was pretty cold in the evening but the house was very warm because of the energetic atmosphere. This year I'm sure to make more memories with my brothers.