013 - How to spend ludicrously and overindulge (Future Ran won't forgive me this one)
All along the year, I've never known Karin's mother very well, only meeting her when she comes to pick up her daughter in the evenings after she's done with her own job, and we've never traded more than polite greetings.
She's just Uzumama, a slight woman of pale skin and harried behaviour whose only remarkable feature is a huge slash scar down her forehead and who looks permanently at the border of physical exhaustion. There's no sign of the hailed Uzumaki vitality to be found on her. Maybe she's naturally sickly, or maybe she simply doesn't conform to stereotypes.
Case is, I didn't even know her name -Uzumaki Kurisu- until last week. Things are a bit different now though. I can't afford to alienate allies a week away from the biggest event in living memory. Today is June 13th, and the last week has seen me dedicate my very limited free time to prepare for it.
What happens on June 20th that has me in such a tizzy? I'll give you a moment to google it.
Tick tock time's up! Those who said 'Karin's birthday' have a cookie. What's more, it's her first birthday since we met.
… No, I didn't remember outright from my last life. Birthdays were never all that relevant to the plot, and apparently I wasn't obsessed enough to memorize them from their bios. A strange line to draw when I know for a fact I consumed all the official releases, be it manga, anime, movie, light novel or videogame. Or maybe my faulty pre-Ran memory isn't good enough for small details like those. But 'not creepy' is my story and I'm sticking to it.
Anyway, there'll never be another birthday like this one, so I think I'm justified going a bit crazy about it. That includes coordinating with Uzumama for the best result.
… I did notice the grimace she made while asking about using the Shimada house for the party itself, but can't for my life's worth figure out what she would find distasteful about that. I'm more than happy with it, and Mother won't mind. Maybe she just swallowed a bug? That would have anyone making faces.
Or I might be missing something again, people are difficult.
Anyway, plans are plotted, and discoveries about Karin's likes and dislikes are made. Everything's been worked out and we only need to work on the details now. With Karin coming to play and spending most of the day here everyday I have to make my moves early in the morning or late in the evening, which makes logistics complicated, but I manage.
She'll be gobsmacked when she arrives here the 20th, or I'll be very disappointed in my infiltrator skills.
There is also the matter of her gift. At first I wanted to make something myself, but arts and crafts aren't my forte and, as I said before, this one is a special, once in a lifetime, first birthday together. So I want something extra special that can survive Karin's future as a kick-ass kunoichi.
… Shut up, she's my friend now, Forest of Death bears will have nuthin' on her.
I still wanted to participate in some way, so I buckled down on my average at best sketching skills and hunted down into the sealing books for a way to make my plans into reality. Took me longer than I wanted, and some parts are just blank holes that'll hopefully be filled with the expertise of someone that actually knows what he's doing, but the plans are ready.
My only problem is… well.
I take a last look at the scrolls with a sigh before rolling everything up and knocking on Mother's office door. Yeah, Mother has an office at home, we may be just two in the family, but that means nothing to the paperwork that being Clan Head entrails. And I'm digressing. Anyway, the problem is I've designed a monster whose actual production is probably worth more than my organs in the black market.
So I have to—
The door opens without warning, giving me the scare of my life and derailing my thoughts. On the other side, still sitting at her desk in the far side of the room, fingers holding softly glowing blue threads and a smug expression on her face. Because of course Mother can use chakra threads, what was I thinking?
"You need to work on your awareness, Ran." I hold back a sigh, and nod instead, hopefully conveying proper chastisement. "You wanted something?"
"Mother, would you take a look at this?" Before I can get cold feet and give some stupid excuse to run away, and step in front of her, putting the scroll of schematics on the table. "I'd like to have it done for Karin's birthday."
She takes it in with a glance before turning her attention back at me, eyebrow raised. "Those won't be cheap to make, especially on a single week deadline."
I deflate, that's exactly the problem. Maybe if the old villages of Sky or Uzu were still standing and we lived there, where such skills were commonplace, it would've been more affordable. Heck, even just Snow would've helped a lot. Here in Grass? I'm not sure I can even find the experts required to see the job done.
"What would it take?" I ask anyway, because at this point isn't a matter of costs. I'm already committed. "I'm willing to earn it."
Mother's smile is full of sharp teeth. "I'm sure we can think of something."
… Meep.
The day finally arrives and everything is ready. Getting everything just right might've taken me a lot of trial and error and working through the night because, let me tell you, trial and error where there's confetti involved makes a bitch and a half of a mess with every try. Fortunately Karin isn't slated to arrive until evening today and I can catch some sleep.
It's a bit frustrating that it's just me waiting for her, but we're still persona non grata within the Academy, so all that 'invite the whole class to the party' wouldn't work very well, and the only other person who could've made it is Mother, who will be busy until later.
That might be for the best though, considering Karin still goes stiff when they're in the same room.
Anyway, the security seals ding with the familiar tones of registered Uzumaki blood. Yeah, our home has wards that seem out of a Harry Potter fic, but they can't tell you exactly who it is, just their lineage and whether they're registered or not. What's a bit surprising is the second set of registered Uzumaki blood. Looks like Uzumama could make it too, we weren't too sure whether she could duck from work for the day or not.
"Excuse the intrusion!" Ah, they're at the front door. And overly formal again. Even after a year I despair with this girl.
"In the dining room!"
I'm a bit surprised at how well the sound of footsteps carry from the hallway. Can't believe I never noticed before. Then again, I always get to the door to receive guests, and the only person I share home with is Mother. Yeah, no hearing those footsteps.
Anyway, when they reach this room Karin's face brightens as she makes to greet me, only for them to widen in shock as the ceiling explodes in small cutouts of colorful paper and a banner reading 'Happy Birthday Karin!'. Seeing her face, I can't resist making a tiger seal.
"[Ninpo - Kamifubuki (Ninja art - Confetti(1))]!" I mock-cast with a smile. "Happy birthday Karin!"
The plan for now it's to chat the time away, maybe break the games, until Mother comes back and we can attack the food, but that plan crashes and burns with Uzumama's inclusion. I mean, I'm not about to ditch a guest to entertain herself alone in my home, but I don't know her well enough to make small talk. Heck, I don't know Mother well enough to make small talk.
I can manage when it's just Karin and myself, but that's about it. And Uzumama doesn't seem any better in that field. Our only hope was Karin herself, who I know for a fact can be a real chatterbox in the right circumstances but… apparently a surprise birthday party isn't one of those. Or maybe it's having her mother and best friend in the same room. Akasha knows I have a lot of trouble with Mother and my best friend being in the same room, myself.
Ugh, it's like this is a joke. Three introverts try to throw a party…
Mother's arrival can't come fast enough, and I almost feel like crying in relief when she finally appears in the room. Yes, I say 'appear'. No, I have no idea when she arrived, so I can only say when she showed herself, that's why I say 'appear'.
After stuffing our faces and singing a song -damn Mother has a great voice, is there anything she cannot do?- and having the birthday girl blow the candles and stuffing our faces again -with cake this time!- I realize Mother and Uzumama have disappeared somewhere and we're alone. Add 'wingman' to the pile of things she can flawlessly do.
Nevermind that now, this is my chance!
This is it, time to show off!
I'll blow her mind with my birthday super-present!
… What if she doesn't like it?
Nah, that's impossible, she'll love it.
… Or will she? Imean, she's a polite girl, so she won't say she hates it on my face, but how do I know for sure?
You know what, Ran? You're being ridiculous, give her the present already.
Anytime now...
Taking a deep breath, I break the silence.
"Karin?"
"Hmm?" All the tension breaks when she turns towards me, face dirty with frosting and cheeks bulging with cake. It takes all I have not to burst in laughter right there.
"I… Um… You know you're my best friend, right?" Blinking in what I can only assume it's confusion, Karin nods, mouth still full of cake. "Before you came, I didn't really have any. Friends, that is, and I know that I'm weird and unremarkable and everyone picking on us is my fault, but I'm really glad you stuck with me anyway. And, well… this is your first birthday since we met and..." Damn this shouldn't be so difficult! Stop beating around the bush and just say it! "AndIwantedtogiveyouasuperspecialpresenttocelebrateIhopeyoulikeit(2)!"
She hastily swallows to accept the finely wrapped box I offer and then, she tears it to shreds. Ten years old girl high on sugar, Uzumaki to top it off. Of course she tears it to shreds. She then pulls out a golden heart-shaped necklace.
"It has some sealwork for security." I explain. "I'll teach you later how to activate them, now open it!"
As she opens it, a slow music starts playing from inside. Those with the right knowledge and access to paralel worlds might identify it as 'His Theme' from Undertale. But nobody in this reality knows, so I'll shamelessly claim the credit and take the secret to the grave. We both remain silent for a while, listening to the tin melody. Finally though, Karin reacts, slowly swiping a finger through the 'BFF' inscription on the back of the lid before closing the locket and raising her head to look at me.
Looking at Karin's eyes is a rare treat, even after all this time. She's just too shy to hold someone's gaze. Usually, I'd luxuriate in the chance to lose myself in those beautiful crimson eyes of hers. For some reason though, today her gaze feels heavy with judgement.
Have I gone too far? Have I assumed too much? Does she know I'm a shameless plagiarist? Maybe I'm just someone convenient to hang around with, and she's never considered me a friend? As the silence stretches, all those scenarios go through my head.
Was this too soon? Am I being creepy? Pretty sure year-long friendships are a big deal at this age, but what do I know? It's not like I have friends! Oh, you've done it now Ran! She's going to make an odd face and slowly step away from you and give a polite apology and ghost you for the rest of your life!
"Um… Ran-san…" There it is! The odd face! And she's taking a step back! I close my eyes, hoping against hope the ostrich approach will work this one time, only to feel the air leave my lungs as I'm tackle-hugged by around fifty pounds of squeeing redhead. "Thankyouthakyouthankyou!"
I… just stand there, blinking dumbly while trying to
"... You're welcome." Crisis averted? Crisis averted. Wew, have to stop assuming the worst of everything before I get an ulcer. "You're very welcome. Let's go see if we can get some more cake?"
(1) Kamifubuki means 'confetti' but the literal translation is actually 'paper blizzard'.
(2) "And I wanted to give you a superspecial present to celebrate, I hope you like it!"
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