Chapter 109

May 20th

Chiba sighs scrolling through his phone still laying in bed. He has 16 messages from his former classes all wishing him happy birthday.

He responds to them mostly the same just thanking them before getting up. He gets ready and heads downstairs

"Ryuu!!"

Chiba groans trying to rebalance himself "Nee-san!! Don't jump on me like that!! What if I fall?!"

She smiles clinging to him "I can't help it!! My little brother is 16!! Aww I remember mom and dad bringing you home~ we were walking down the street and found a little baby crying in a box~ who knew that that dumpster rat would become my dear little brother~"

Chiba sighs and peals her off "That's the story of we got Tadashi. In case you didn't notice? I look a lot like dad. It's unsettling."

She laughs "Happy Birthday Ryuu."

"Thanks Nee-san." He gives a half serious glare "Please don't try to do anything for me this year… don't make it a repeat of last year?"

Rukia laughs nervously "It wasn't that bad…?"

Chiba crosses his arms "You cracked like 20 eggs, poured them into a bowl, and put it in the oven like that. Nothing else added at all. Didn't even mix it."

She sweats "It was a hard boiled egg cake… I don't see the issue… you love hard boiled eggs!"

"Yes. That's true. However! I don't love having to be carried at Mach 5 to come home and deal with the house smelling. Like burnt eggs."

"Hmph!! The smell didn't last that long!! After all Koro-" she stops herself and looks away

Chiba's shoulders tense a little "Korosensei aired the house out. He loves cleaning and that sorta stuff."

"Don't you mean 'loved'?"

Both the oldest siblings complete freeze and look at her.

Rukia "Senna!"

Senna's tilts her head innocently "Hm? What is it? I was just correcting his grammar?"

Chiba laughs a little and smiles "Right. My bad. I'm still tired."

Ruki keeps her eyes on Senna "Senna. Do you have to something to say?"

Senna nods and hugs Chiba tightly "Happy birthday Ryuu-nii!! I love you!!!"

Chiba smiles and puts a hand on her "Thanks Sen-chan, love you too."

Rukia sighs 'both sound and look genuine but I know their quirks. Ryuu's better at hiding it but his training gives him away at times. His footing is different… he wants to escape.'

Chiba let's go and looks to Rukia "I'm gonna be heading out early today. Just gonna say hi to our parents then leave."

Rukia nods "Alright. Sounds good. Make sure you get to class on time. Usually when you leave early you end up late…"

"Ah Ha… r- right…"

Chiba goes to the kitchen where his parents are talking

Tsukki "Happy Birthday Ry!!!"

Haruka kisses Chiba's forehead "Happy Birthday Ryuu."

He smiles "Thanks." He goes to the freezer "Do we have any popsicles left?"

"Tadashi took the last one half an hour ago."

Chiba raises an eyebrow "Really, father? Tadashi, who sleeps in and doesn't like grape popsicles? Which are the only ones we had left?"

Tsukki sweats "I'll buy some more while you're at school…"

Chiba sighs and grabs a can of coffee "Mkay. Thanks."

He opens the can and drinks some as he goes back up to his room.

'I really hate this brand… why does Nee-San always buy it'

Skip to at school

Chiba left early and is sitting at the top of the tallest trees looking at the field and school.

"I missed this… I missed this so much… Climbing up trees. The fresh air… these clothes… their not good for this… I don't care. I don't care if I get dirty." He takes a breath and looks at the sky "I wish I could see the moon… Korosensei… it's my birthday… you know… it isn't fair… why do I live on my birthday whenever I killed on yours? It isn't right… I should join you…"

Tears stream down his face as he looks at the bracelet around his wrist. Chiba glances down from the tree.

"This height is nothing. Even without the suits… if I fell I know I would land fine… it's ingrained into me at this point…"

He looks to the sky, the crescent moon visible then pulls out his phone "Hey? Ritsu? Do you know why the moon is always visible…"

Ritsu appears on his screen "Hm? Of course! The moon moves similar to the earth. The only times the moon isn't visible is during whats called the new moon when the moon is too close to the sun. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious… thanks Ritsu. Sorry to bug ya."

"No problem! Happy birthday Chiba!"

"Thanks. Later…"

He turns his phone off and puts it back in his pocket before returning his gaze to the sky to think.

Skip to first period in C-1

Chiba has his head down when hears tip toeing to his desk and mentally sighs waiting until they set something on his desk.

Chiba lifts his head "Gin? Momo?"

Gin smiles pushing the bag closer to him "Happy Birthday Ryuu-ichi!"

Momo hands him a small box and looks away "Happy Birthday Ryūnosuke…"

He perks slightly and accepts them "Thank you?"

Gin "Well? What are you waiting for? Open them!!"

Chiba smiles softly as he opens Gin's bag and digs through it until he pulls out the gift.

He blinks looking at the black hat with three rings on the brim and four metal x's on the front/side.

Chiba smiles "Thanks. I've been wanting a new hat or beanie for awhile."

Gin snickers handing him Momo's box "Don't forget about Momichi~"

He laughs a little and opens the box seeing a set of MCR guitar picks.

"Woah!! Thanks Momo!! These are awesome!!"

She shrugs "No problem."

Gin "Hope you don't got plans right after school, you're coming with us! So is Hayamichi!"

He nods "What are you gonna do?"

Gin "Ring ring!! Class is starting~ see ya Ryuu-ichi!"

Chiba's eyebrow twitches "Did you just- say 'ring ring'?? Gin- Gin get back here!!"

Momo shrugs watching Gin run to his seat "What can ya do? It's Gin."

Chiba sighs "Momo, can ya give me some hint? Gotta mentally prepare myself all day…"

Momo laughs a little and thinks "Hmm well?" She softens as she looks at Gin "He put a lot of thought into what to do. He's noticed how tense and upset you've been. Gin isn't the best with people or cheering them up. Trust me, I would know. But… he did is best to decide what to do."

Chiba smiles a little "That wasn't much of a hint? Unless you're hinting at some hidden connection between you two~"

She scrunches her nose "Childhood friends. That's it. Gin is like my idiot little brother."

"Haha I get it. If there's one thing we both know, it's what it's like to have an idiot little brother."

She nods "Yeah… definitely. How old is yours anyways? You never said their ages?"

"Oh? Tadashi's 13."

"Hm… fun?"

The bell rings and Momo sighs

Momo "See ya later Ryūnosuke."

"Later."

During break Hayami comes to their classroom.

Hayami "Happy Birthday Ryuu. I missed you this morning?"

Chiba smiles "Thanks Rin. And sorry bout that? I left early and was working on some missing assignments."

Hayami sees through his lie but doesn't say anything about it, "Makes sense. Oh! The four of us are gonna hang out a bit after school? Is that okay?"

He nods "Of course. Although? It'd be nice if someone would give me a hint as to what we're doing?"

Hayami reaches for his hand "Don't worry… it's gonna be fine…"

Chiba feels her slip a note into his hand "If you say so. I trust you."

She pulls her hand back and leans on the wall "Has Sugaya or the others called you yet?"

"They texted. Sugaya said he's calling during lunch. I'm guessing that Okajima, Mimura, and Fuwa will be there too…"

"Haha! Just need Rio then the gangs all there…"

He nods sadly "Yeah… gangs all there other than her…"

"Ryuu?"

"Hm? Nothing."

Gin perks "Does this mean we can meet your middle school friends?!"

"Absolutely not."

Momo "Probably for the best? I wouldn't want people to know I'm friends with that?"

Chiba "Ouch?"

"Not you. I meant the one about to eat a pencil."

Gin blinks before setting the pencil down and smiling.

Chiba sighs "Yeah… not as bad as some of the others… Right Rin?"

Hayami nods and crosses her arms "Yup. Definitely. Remember the time Itona and Yoshida tried to build a laser shooting robot?"

"And Takebayashi wanted to date it? Yea. I remember."

"Wait- Taka-chan?!"

"Takebayashi-kun?"

Both tense "We said nothing."

"Okay okay?"

"Not gonna question it."

They talk for a few more minutes until the bell rings and class starts.

Chiba looks at the note Hayami gave him

"Ø end"

Chiba softens a little and mentally thanks herfor the message.

'Nothing should trigger… no laser tag… no paintball… nothing to do with shooting or moon or anything like that…'

Skip to lunch

The four of them are sitting on the bleachers in the field when Chiba's phone rings.

He answers nervously "Hey Sugaya?"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHIBA!!!!!!!"

Chiba flinches pulling his phone away "GAH!! Owwww……"

Gin and Hayami start laughing while Momo tries to hide hers.

Chiba glares at them "Sugaya… I couldn't completely tell? But it sounded like Mimura and Okajima were there too? Maybe Fuwa too?"

Fuwa "Of course I'm here! How's it been Chiba?"

Mimura"Hey Hayami. You haven't spoken but we all know your there too."

Chiba "Yeah… your not on speaker yet…" he puts his phone down and on speaker "Now you are."

Okajim "Hayami!You're there too aren't you?"

Hayami smiles "Duh?"

Gin and Momo exchange a glance before getting up.

Chiba "Hey? Where're you two going?"

Gin smiles "Gonna respect your privacy."

Sugaya "Wow…"

Okajima "We would never"

Mimura"Nakamura's worse bout that than us!"

Chiba "Gin? Momo?"

"Hm?"

He softens "You can stay if you want?"

Gin lights out and shifts towards him before sinking and tugging on his hair "Thanks… but we'll go… see ya in class Ryuu-ichi. After school Hayamichi."

Hayami nods "Bye Futoshi-kun. Bye Sugawara-san."

Momo waves "Later Hayami-san. Don't be late to class again Ryūnosuke."

He laughs nervously as they leave.

Chiba "So? What's up guys?"

Sugaya "Why did they leaveeeee!!!"

Okajima "We wanted to talk to your new friends!!"

Sugaya "They aren't gonna replace us right?!"

Fuwa "They have gotten a lot more attention than us lately…"

Mimura"Fuwa. We go to a different school. Of course they're gonna have a bigger role than us sometimes!!"

Hayami "Nothing like them breaking the forth wall…"

Chiba laughs "Yeah? Remember when we had that weird budging project when Fuwa kept breaking the wall and driving Mimura insane?"

Okajima "then Mimura snapped and breaks the wall now cause he just doesn't care anymore."

Fuwa "and THATS on character development!!"

"Yeah… character development and change… a lots happened."

Hayami jabs him "No! We're not talking about depressing stuff!"

"Ow- sorry…"

"We just wanted to say Happy Birthday and annoy you."

"RELATED TOPIC!!!!"

"Gahhh!!! Fuwa get off!!! Ow- ow FUWA!!"

Fuwa "Chiba!! I got you a gift! Next time we meet I gotta give it to you!"

He laughs a little "What did you do?"

"You'll find out."

"Oh no… Fuwa I swear-you better not have gotten me another lamented paper towel."

"……"

"Fuwa."

"Anyways! Idea! We should add Nakamura!"

"Hm? True…"

"Sugaya or Chiba! Call Nakamura!"

Both "NAKAMURA!!!!!!!!"

Hayami covers her ears "I hate you…"

"You love me."

"I meant Sugaya."

"Oh? I hate him too."

"Bullshit. You both love me."

"They aren't the only ones~"

Sugaya hisses "Okajima! Shut up!"

Okajima snickers "Im taking this and adding Nakamura."

"Oh don't bother. I'm already here."

"Gah?!?!"

"Nakamura???"

"When did you get here?!"

Nakamura "Chiba added me right before he and Sugaya yelled my name."

Hayami "Hi Rio."

"Rinka!!! I've missed you!!! You too Fuwa!! The others… meh. Happy birthday Chiba."

"Thanks Nakamura. Also? Rude."

"You're welcome !"

Sugaya "Well that's all we wanted."

Nakamura "See ya sluts in your nightmares."

Okajima "Can confirm. Any dream with her is immediately a nightmare."

Hayami raises an eyebrow "I'm not gonna ask."

Chiba "Yeah- just gonna hang up… Talk to you guys at some point."

They hang up and Chiba sighs looks to Hayami

Chiba "Hey? Rin…"

"Yeah, Ryuu?"

"Ya know… I missed spending time with just you…"

"Me too… I love our friends! And your new friends are cool too… but with everything that's happened… you know what? No. No sad topic. It's your birthday. Let's just… spend this lunch with just us? Just a couple of high school first years. Yeah?"

Chiba relaxes and drops his guard "Just… a couple who's been dating for 8 months…"

She holds his hand "8 months and 10 days? Became official September 10th."

"I really love you, Rin. A lot."

"Happy birthday, Ryuu. You mean everything to me. Well… second everything. Kayda's my number one everything."

Chiba laughs and nudges her "Yeah yeah. I'm your number one guy though right?"

She gives him a quick peck "Of course."

He smiles 'but you still fear me… don't you…'

Skip to after school

Chiba "Gin. Please give some hint about where you're dragging me?"

Gin's holding onto his sleeve "If I tell you that'll ruin the surprise."

"Momo? Rin?"

Momo "Mostly Gin's idea."

Hayami "He asked for my input and I gave you hint earlier."

Gin whines "Ehhh?! Hayamichi!! What hint did you give him?!"

Hayami holds her hands up "Just that it won't have anything to do with unspeakable things."

Gin blushes "U- unspeakable things?! Pervert Ryuu-ichi…"

"I'm not a pervert!!"

"Okajima would say otherwise."

"He's a perv but I'm not."

"That's fair."

"So this Okajima? He's the dir- no! Photographer! Right?"

"Oh- yeah. Right."

"Surprised you remembered, Futoshi-kun."

Gin smirks "I have a great memory!"

Momo crosses her arms "Forth year primary school. We were learning multiplication and you did what?"

"Finished the minute test in 40 seconds?"

"No. You stole my puppy pen case."

"I borrowed it and gave it back to you!"

"Yeah? In middle school!"

"I gave it back didn't I?!"

"I hate you…"

"I hate you too, Momichi."

"Hey? I've been wondering? How far back to you two go? Just? Forever?"

Momo sighs "Let me tell you a story."

Gin "A really fun story! Full of dragons and princesses and knights and magic!"

Momo "Also know as 'the worst day in the life of Sugawara Momo'…"

Gin "I'm ignoring that since it was more hurtful than I believe you intended."

"Sorry Gin…"

"Anyways! It starts with the Princess Momichi from the kingdom of Sugawara. The young princess is taken from her kingdom by a loving dragon. The dragon only wanted a friend. Having gained that, the dragon was happy. The two lived together for nearly a week until the greatest knight in all the lands appeared before them! 'I am Sir Gin!' He proclaimed as he raised his sword to the beast. The knight- I- pointed my blade at the dragon and demanded he release the princess. When the dragon refused, I was forced to go on the attack. Just when I nearly won and freed her, the princess did something no one expected. She transformed into a dragon herself!! Using unknown magic she overpowered me and forced me to surrender!! I didn't give up! I swore to not leave without her. It was then she offered a compromise. She will go with me, in exchange, the safety on all dragons. I agreed to protect the dragons and she returned with me to the kingdom."

All just look at him.

Chiba claps sarcastically "Amazing. A truly wonderful story."

Hayami nods "Beautiful."

Momo groans "Great story. Now for the truth: I got lost chasing a dog when I was 4. Turns out it was Gin's dog and he agreed to let me come over to play with them sometimes. Also worked out since we live right next to each other."

Chiba "Are you sure about that, Princess Momichi? It wasn't a dragon? Or maybe a goblin?"

"Shut it birthday boy."

He laughs rolling his eyes.

Gin gasp "We're here!!!"

Chiba raises an eyebrow "What is this…?"

Gin smiles pulls him inside "I remember how much you like guitar so? Tada!!"

"A whole arcade with music games? Do they have rock band…?!"

"Yup! Momichi and I already stocked up the cards. Here's yours!"

Chiba accepts it "Thank you. Shoulda told me… I woulda brought more money this morning."

Momo "Don't worry about it. It's your birthday."

Gin grabs Chiba's wrist and runs off "C'mon! Let's go play!!"

The two girls laugh a little watching them rush to a game.

Momo hands her a card "Here's yours."

Hayami hesitates before taking it "I'll pay you back, Sugawara-san."

"No need. Our parents actually paid for this part. They were so excited about us hanging out with more than just each other."

Hayami smiles "I get that. My mom was thrilled to learn I made friends in high school. I never really had friends until last year."

"Ryūnosuke?"

"We've been through a lot together. My old classmates and I… all of us are really close. We should hurry before those two do anything stupid, right?"

Momo nods "Yeah. Definitely. Actually… before we do… I just…" she stops and shifts a little "Um… never mind… let's go."

"Sugawara-san?"

Momo blushes a little and plays with her hair "Thank you… for helping Gin and I by telling us what Ryūnosuke would like… and… well… I'm-glad-we're-friends!"

Hayami tears up slightly and smiles "I'm glad we're friends too. I know we're not classmates and don't talk very often… but I do think of you as a good friend. Futoshi-kun too."

She looks at her surprised "Really?"

"Mhm?"

Momo smile's fondly "Let's go back to the boys. Something tells me those two will break something."

"Definitely."

The two search until they find the two boys in the middle of a song and very competitive.

Two hours later

5:30pm

Gin smiles watching Momo and Chiba both playing guitar and hitting greats or perfects each time.

Gin "How is he not tired…"

Hayami "Ryuu has a surprising amount of stamina. So do I but not for this."

"How about we go get ice cream or something now?"

"Ryuu! Sugawara-san!"

Momo "One sec! I'm bouta destroy him!"

Chiba scoffs "In your dreams, Princess!"

Hayami twitches slightly 'Princess…? It's probably just cause Gin's ridiculous story… right…'

They finish the song and Chiba barely wins

Chiba "Ha! I win!"

Momo pants "That last one was just luck!"

"Uh huh? Sure~"

Hayami "Hey? Wanna go get ice cream?"

Chiba smiles "Yeah! That sounds great."

Gin "Let's go!!"

They end up at a local place and are about to order

Gin starts tugging on his shirt and Momo takes notice.

Momo "Gin? Can you find us somewhere to sit? I'll order for you."

"Yeah. Sure… you know what to get?"

"Cotton Candy sugar cone."

"Mkay! I'll find somewhere to sit!"

He rushes off leaving the three.

They order and wait to get the last ice cream

Chiba "Gin seems like he'd like Cotton Candy ice cream…"

Momo nods "It's been his favorite since we were little." She giggles a little "I still remember his reaction when he first tried it. He was sparkling so much!"

Both laugh a little. They get the last one and go sit down where Gin is.

Momo "Gin? Here?"

He lights up "Yay! Thanks Momichi!"

"I'll never understand why you love that kind so much…"

"And I'll never understand why you like just plain chocolate ice cream."

"Chocolate is much better! Right Ryūnosuke, Hayami-san?"

Hayami shrugs "I like chocolate sometimes."

Chiba "Chocolate chip cookie dough is best."

"Okay. Wrong."

"Cotton Candy is superior!"

"Chocolate!"

"Cookie dough!"

"Hayamichi!"

"Hayami-san!"

"Rin!"

Hayami blinks "I like vanilla and Oreo…?"

The other three sulk slightly.

Chiba sighs and licks some of his ice cream "Gin, I'm sorta surprised you didn't want Orange sherbet? You love orange stuff."

Gin perks a little "Orange sherbet and orange dream and tied for second favorite!"

Momo nods "Then its bubble gum and birthday cake. Right?"

"Yup! Gahh! Birthday cake! We should buy Ryuu-ichi a small cake!"

Chiba sweats nervously "Thanks but I'm okay?" He softens "This is actually really nice…"

Hayami smiles at him then gets a text

Rio: Come over soon? Haven't seen you in forever T~T

Hayami: Sure thing Rio

Hayami gets the hidden message'Everything is set and Ryuu's house. After we finish the ice cream we should be back? Or eat it on the way? Ryuu's really enjoying this… I don't wanna force him to leave…'

Gin "Ryuu-ichi? Can I try some?"

Chiba nods and leans his ice cream cone closer to Gin "Don't get your cotton candy flavor on it."

Gin tucks his hair behind his ear and licks the ice cream "Hm? Not bad… Cotton candy is still better!"

"Oh yeah? Gimme some of yours then!"

"Hehe~ taste the greatest ice cream flavor of all time."

Chiba rolls his eyes and tries some "…"

Gin "Well??"

Chiba shrugs "Not the worst?"

Hayami feels a twist in her chest at the exchange between them.

Momo yawns "We should eat while we get going? Ryūnosuke said you two live kinda far?"

Hayami nods "Yeah…"

Gin whines "Awww… i guess…"

Chiba stands up "Yeah? I should get home before Nee-san has time to burn down the house…"

Hayami laughs "You underestimate Rukia? It would take her about 10 minutes max."

"I know…"

They leave and start heading in same direction to train station. They finish the ice cream before they get there.

Momo "Gin and I are taking this one. You guys?"

Hayami "The one right before actually?"

Chiba "You mean the one pulling in right now…?"

"Yeah-"

Chiba smiles and looks to his two new friends "Thanks a lot for today… I had a lot of fun."

Gin smiles "Really? You did?!"

"Of course? Thanks for planning this Gin."

A soft blush dusts his cheeks "No problem! I mean- I'm glad you enjoyed it…"

Momo smirks rolling her eyes "See ya at school. Happy birthday Ryūnosuke."

"Thank you. Bye guys."

"Bye."

"Laters!"

Chiba and Hayami get onto the train and sit down.

Chiba looks out the window "It's nice… I actually like those two…"

Hayami softens "I'm glad. High school isn't so bad after all…"

"Birthdays might not be either… related note? Mom's probably gonna make something good for dinner? Ya know… in case you wanna come over…"

"I'd love too." 'He doesn't know I was going over there anyways…'

Skip to them coming to Chiba's house around 6:30

Chiba looks at the building "Weird? The house is still standing…"

"Best birthday present you coulda gotten…"

"Right?!" He laughs reaching for the door and going inside "I'm home! I brought Rin too!"

He raises an eyebrow at the pack of responds from anyone "Nee-san? Tadashi?"

Hayami "Weird? I expected Rukia to yell that everything's fine and not on fire?"

"Yeah, me too?"

He starts walking to the living room "Nee-san? Did you-"

"SURPRISE!!!!"

"GAHH!!!"

Chiba reflexively takes a defensive stance before processing his surroundings and relaxing.

Chiba "Wha… what is all of this?"

Rukia smiles "A surprise birthday party for you!"

Chiba looks to Hayami "You knew about this, didn't you?"

Hayami nods "Well…?"

Chiba looks around "Thank you. Also? How much did it cost for you to rent that clown? It's so hideous?"

Okajima's vein pops "I will bite you!"

"I don't want your rabies."

Sugaya and Mimura choke on their laughs.

Chiba smiles "It's great to see you guys again."

Okajima "You didn't have to attack me immediately!"

Nakamura "You had it coming. I mean really? That shirt? Ew."

Haruka "Rinka? This is normal messing around right? Not bullying?"

Hayami nods "Yeah. This is normal and a form of affection with us."

Senna "Being mean to each other is being affectionate?"

Hayami crouches down to her level "Yup."

"So calling Ryuu-nii a m-"

Rukia "Sen. Come let me fix your hair."

Senna smiles going over to her.

Nakamura "Chiba your sisters are so cute!"

Chiba laughs a little "Don't be fooled. They're crazy."

Tadashi nods "Especially Rukia-nee…"

Tsukki "What do you mean? My girls are absolute angels!!"

Tadashi and Chiba start laughing

"Yeah right!"

"Okayyy sure sure!! Let's pretend that's true!!"

Senna rolls her eyes as Rukia finishes fixing her hair "I actually have a bit of a headache… I'm heading up to my room…"

She gives Chiba a hug "Happy birthday Ryuu-nii. Bye bye everyone."

Senna rushes away to her room.

Chiba sighs and leans against the closest person who ends up being Fuwa.

Fuwa "Why are you laying on me?"

"Because you're closest and Sugaya would push me onto the floor if I lay on him…"

Sugaya "I would. Also why are you both still in your uniforms…"

Chiba "We literally just walked in the door…"

Haruka "Go change."

Rukia "Rinka, you can borrow some of my clothes. Ryuu's behind on laundry."

"You broke the machine!"

Hayami laughs a little "Thanks Rukia."

The three leave. Rukia helps Hayami pick something. They come back a few minutes later.

Haruka "I'm sure all of you want to spend time together without parents around. So why don't we sing happy birthday now?"

Chiba "You sure, mom?"

"Of course, dear."

Tsukki nods "I'd like to spend my sons birthday with him considering how many I've missed-"

Haruka smiles and grabs his ear

Tsukki "Ow ow ow! Okay okay!! I'll go after we sing happy birthday! I demand to watch him open my gift though!"

Chiba sighs "Dad… I wanna just be with my friends today… if it's okay with you, this weekend we could do what we used to when you visited for my birthday?"

Haruka let's go as Tsukki perks like a puppy shown a new toy

Tsukki "Really?! That sounds great Ry!"

At that the two disappeared and come back with the cake

Haruka "From pictures, it looks like birthdays are always here? At least the cake part?"

Rukia nods "Right. It's Ryuu's birthday so usually I record. I'm just gonna use my phone."

Tsukki "Eh? I could record on mine?"

Tadashi "No offense dad? You suck with recording things. Last time you cut off my head. Ryuu-nii's too but that one's understandable."

Chiba glares "I will fight you."

"Blehh!"

Rukia claps "Okay okay. Dad, make sure to get all of us. By that I mean don't cut anyone's head off?"

Tsukki sweats a little "Haru, darling. Love of my life?"

She sighs "I'll record."

Sugaya "Hm? So that's why Chiba's such a sap sometimes?"

Rukia nods "It runs in the family. Well? For the guys."

Tadashi scoffs "I'm not like that with Hito-Chan."

"Yes you are."

"Why are you here? And when did you even get here?"

Chiba "Sup Hitoko."

Hitoko does finger guns "What up sluts. Hey Haruka, Tsukki."

Haruka "I was wondering where you were?"

"Oh? Some kid tried to rob me so I bought him dinner."

"That's nice Hitoko…"

"Glad you still got that imagination."

Sugaya taps Chiba "Should we be worried?"

Chiba shrugs "He says some concerning things. Just ignore it."

Rukia "Anyways! Now that Hitoko's here, let's sing happy birthday!"

Hitoko "So sweet~ but it's not my birthday. I will take cake and gifts though."

"Hitoko your birthdays in September…"

He snickers "I know! Anyways! One- two- three-"

He starts singing and everyone else joins in.

Chiba smiles a little seeing one of his cats, Shirohi jump onto his lap for pets.

"Happy birthday to you…!!"

At the last line, he closes his eyes and blows out the candles.

His friends and family clap.

"Did ya make a wish?"

"What did you wish for~?"

Chiba nods "Secret…"

"Awww!!!"

"Don't be like thatttt!!"

Rukia laughs a little "Don't bother? He won't say ever."

Tadashi nods "Yup."

Haruka picks up the cake "I'll put this in the kitchen. Help yourselves!"

Sugaya "Thanks you Haruka-san!"

She smiles "Tsukki."

"Hm…"

The two leave.

Rukia "I'm getting a piece then going to my room. Later."

Tadashi gets up "I'm dragging Hito-chan away before he eats the entire cake. Again."

"It was one timeeee!!"

They leave so it's just the ex assassins.

Okajima "It's been awhile since we've been here?"

Mimura nods "Right? So we miss anything interesting?"

"I think I made friends…? I was just with them before this."

"Futoshi-kun and Sugawara-San are definitely your friends."

He smiles a little "y- yeah…"

Fuwa "Sounds like you're doing fine there?"

"Hayami?"

"Doing good I guess. Hisa-san's been being a little odd since she gave me a ride that day?"

"The girl that calls you kitten?"

"Yup."

"Seems like she wants to be more than friends~"

Hayami rolls her eyes "I doubt it. Hows things been with guys at school?"

Fuwa thinks "Nothing too shocking? I joined a crafting club! We've working on blacksmith skills. Wielding and such."

Nakamura "Been flirting with this one girl, Cassandra. She's from America, bi, and absolutely adorable!!"

"Oh~ does Nakamura have an actual crush~?"

Nakamura sighs "Go ahead and tease? At least I admit I like her. Unlike the majority of people in the room!"

Chiba "We admitted it eventually?"

Okajima "It took forever."

Fuwa "Not as long as it's taking others…"

Sugaya rolls his eyes "Yea yea. It took us a long time but we also didn't both like each other like all of last year."

Mimura nods "Wasn't till around winterish?"

Chiba "Yeah that's when you two- wait what?!"

The snipers and Nakamura bolt up

"You two are together finally?!?!"

Mimura laughs "It's only been a week though?"

Sugaya "We figured we'd tell you three next time we were all together."

Nakamura looks at Fuwa and Okajima "You two knew didn't you?"

Fuwa "Duh?"

Okajima "You really think they got together on their own?"

Chiba growls "Sugaya…"

"Oh no."

"How could you not tell me?! I feel betrayed…"

Sugaya "Excuse you? You wouldn't admit to me that you and Hayami were dating?"

"……anyways-"

"Dont 'anyways' me bastard!"

"-the hell happened that made you get together?"

Mimura "Fuwa threatened me with her sword."

Sugaya "Okajima spammed me for 4 days. Literally. He kept throwing spam at me."

Okajima "I threw spam at you once."

Fuwa "I was showing you the new sword!"

Hayami "……all are ridiculous enough to be true?"

Sugaya sighs and averts his gaze "Actually… I just couldn't take it anymore and did the cliche confession by a tree in courtyard…"

All "………"

Mimura "He asked me out a second time two days later in dollar store bathroom."

"Did you say yes?"

"Did they finally clean the dollar store bathroom?"

"Sugaya what was going through your head?"

Sugaya "The smell was making me dizzy and I thought I was gonna die."

"Dude. You need to get it together…"

"Like you're one to talk?"

"I have it mostly together?"

"No you don't!"

Okajima gets a text and grabs his phone.

Chiba looks over "Nice nail polish? Did you do it yourself or go get it done?"

Okajima tenses "Oh- um- Kurahashi actually did them…"

"You two a thing?"

"What? No! Course not."

"Just curious? When did she do them?"

"Yesterday. We were hanging at her place."

"Hmm…"

"Fuwa? Anything interesting happen with you off screen?"

"I'm learning to make swords and this guy in my club wants to duel?"

"…"

"I'm not sure if I should have asked…"

The night goes on. They play some games, eat cake, dinner, talk, make Chiba open the gifts they got him, everything is nice.

Before they know it, it's 11pm

Okajima "Shit- we got school tomorrow!"

Chiba yawns "Right? You guys should head home?"

"Awww we can't stay the night??"

"Uniforms? Different schools?"

Nakamura "My brothers on his way. He's been doing college online mostly now which is a pain in the ass!"

Fuwa "Think I can get a ride? Kiri-nii doesn't drive…"

"Sure thing. Rinka?"

"Please?"

"Great! I'll have Shūhei take you two."

Okajima "Hm… Tensei has his license but not great driver…"

Sugaya "parents are asleep and my sisters away at college…"

Mimura "My parents didn't even like me coming here..."

Chiba "I can ask Nee-San to give you guys a ride? She's usually awake at this time doing school work?"

Okajima shakes his head "We've disturbed them enough? I'll have Tensei drive us."

"You sure?"

"Yup."

And within the next hour both older siblings arrive to give them rides home.

Chiba smiles heading up to his room. He looks at the gifts he put in the corner.

A cd, photo collage, small sculpture, sword, headphones, poster, hat, guitar picks, three get out of chores free coupons, a book on architecture, contacts, a previously empty box.

"Maybe birthdays aren't so bad... right Korosensei?"

End chapter

I'm not dead but I might as well be!

@lumigo akvo9504 THE WITCH IS GONE!!!! Give Rin a hug. She deserves it. Ritsu is a Q U E E N ! ! ! The band needed to split again… well they needed to get ride that bitchy witchy. I hope Chiba's birthday chapter lived up to expectations! Honestly i think it's that now I have a semi plan- before it was just "okay. This happened! Now what-" but now I gotta plan!! Thank you so much!!!!!!!!

@Le055Li0n Hehe~ thank you! The band may show up or be mentioned in future. Certain members want to help Chiba others are like "ight. You killed a bitch? Nice. See ya when I see ya". I was considering including other characters too but the main friend group and his fam planning surprise party is just- wholesome- You can tell Chiba that he isn't a monster but he will not believe you :)

@guest Was curious when someone would ask that... yes.

@Randomdude2374 and those three anons. I will update when I update.