One day at the Dorobune Shrine, Hotaru was celebrating her birthday with her mother and father. She was wearing her blue shirt and white pants.

"16… 17… 18! Happy Birthday, Hotaru, dear." Hotaru's Mom said.

"Like, so cool! I haven't eaten, since this morning. I was too busy with Student Council duties. I sure hope that I get a very swell dinner with my family!" Hotaru giggled, "To be honest, I like, had a lettuce sandwich on rye bread for lunch."

Hotaru's Mom said, "Well, you'll be surprised by the dinner we'll have." She showed a huge chicken in the oven and said, "I figured we would have a nice quiet dinner together, just us three."

Her father cheered, "Oh, that's swell! You're wonderful, my dear."

"Well, you bring the soup in, we're gonna eat."

Hotaru and her father brought the soup to the table, as Mashiro was waiting. She smiled, "OH, boy! Food!"

Hotaru barked, "NO! You're a guest in my shrine, for my parents, Mashiro. The least you can do is behave."

Mashiro pouted, as Hoshimi said, "Hotaru! Be nice."

"Yes, Mother…" Hotaru said.

Kanna, her father, said, "Oh, it's fine. This is what we want for our dear Hotaru. NO outsiders, NO enemies, just us three and Mashiro. One big happy family."

Hotaru blushed, "Aw, thanks, Dad." She took a sip of her soup, but…

Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang. Hotaru asked, "Huh? Who's that?"

Kanna said, "I'll get it." He left to get the door, as Hotaru said, "Mom, I'm sure that YTG8 and Setsu are coming, right?"

Hoshimi said, "Oh, no, dear. They had plans, but they will come tomorrow. I got a call from your other friends."

Kana let in four girls, all in casual wear. They were friends of the Ninja Seeking Club, Akari, Yamabuki, Nanao, & Cy. Hotaru gasped, "HUH? OMG, you guys?!"

Hoshimi smiled, "Ah, long time, no see, girls."

Yamabuki smiled, "Good to see you again, Mrs. Kokonohi."

Hotaru asked, "Hey, what's with the huge boxes?"

Nanao smiled, "They're for you!"

They were carrying huge boxes, as they sang out, "Happy birthday, Hotaru, Happy Birthday to you!"

Cy was first, as she said, "To make yer bird-day tune-out gewd, I gotta pwesent fer yew!"

Hotaru asked, "Where are the others?"

Akari said, "Oh, they're planning a party for you, tomorrow. They didn't make it, so we decided to give you your gifts, right away."

Hotaru said, "Can it, like, wait? I wanna eat my dinner, tonight."

Hoshimi said, "Oh, come now, dear. Soup can wait."

Hotaru sighed, "Alright." She opened her gift, which was a green frog. She gagged, "AAAGH!"

Cy said, "I got a fwog fer Mashiwo to pway wid, while yew go to your job."

Hotaru snarled, "Just what I always wanted… (Not)." She barked, "Look, can we open presents later? I haven't eaten, since this morning, and all I had was a lettuce sandwich on rye bread."

Nanao said, "But we did come over to make you happy, with our gifts."

Mashiro said, "That gift was meant for me… I guess…"

The girls sing, "Happy birthday, Hotaru, Happy Birthday to you!"
Nanao was next, "To make your birthday turn out good, I have a present for you!"

Hotaru smiled, as she opened her gift. It was a small tank with a lizard. She huffed, "Another reptile. You're growing a zoo, are you?"

Cy said, "No, I dun't dink so."

The girls sing, "Happy birthday, Hotaru, Happy Birthday to you!"
Yamabuki was next, "To make yer birthday come out good, I have a present fer ya!"

She gave her a duck. Hotaru muttered, "Yer nuts, Bookie. What next?"

"You'll find out!" Akari laughed, as she held up a huge box, "Wait'll she like my gift."

Kanna said, "Wait! I'll take the gift. I don't want my dear daughter to get humiliated by these animals." He placed the duck down, "Besides, this will look good in our koi pond."

The girls sing, "Happy birthday, Hotaru, Happy Birthday to you!"
Akari gave Kanna the box, "To make your birthday turn out good, I have a present for you!"

Kanna pulled out the gift. It was a white cat. Kanna said, "Aw, how adorable."

Mashiro snarls. Hotaru gasped, "OH, NO!" Mashiro chased after the cat, but Kanna grabbed it, along with the other gifts. Hotaru restrained Mashiro, as Kanna headed off. He said, "Don't worry, I'll put these animals in a safe place: OUTSIDE!"

He and Hotaru left, as Akari asked, "What's wrong with him?"

Yamabuki said, "I don't know. But while we wait fer Hotaru to return, let's read."

Nanao said, "Yeah, you're right. Where's a newspaper or a manga?"

Cy said, pointing at the magazine, "Dey over dere."

The girls read the magazines, as Akari said, "Hey, it's a wrestling magazine. I didn't know she was a wrestling fan."

Nanao sighed, "Yeah. Even in these dark times, you still have to fight like oily hunky barbarians."

Yamabuki asked, "Who's your favorite wrestler, Nanao?"

Nanao smiled, "Roman Reigns."

Akari barked, "That loser? Nah, Kenny Omega is the best."

"Roman's got a hot bod, for the Head of the Table!"

"But he's a cheater and a scoundrel! The Cleaner can mop the floor with The Tribal Chief!"

"Says you! Omega cheats, too!"

Yamabuki asked Cy, as Hotaru returned, "Cy-Cy, who's the strongest: Roman or Omega?"

Cy huffed, "I dunno. I'm bowderwine on both of dem. But they're no Nick Aldis."

Yamabuki added, "Yeah, he's the longest reigning NWA Champion ever, fam!"

"Cy, you liar!" Nanao yelled, "Roman Reigns is better! Nick Aldis wouldn't last against him!"
Akari argued, "NO, Omega is!"
"But he sides with Paul Heyman! The Usos!"
"Yeah? Look what Kenny has! The Young Bucks! The Good Brothers! They're Japanese legends!"
"Bull honkey! They're nWo rip-offs! Bullet Club, indeed."

As they argued, Hotaru was at the table, as Hoshimi whispered, "You, like, better hurry, before your soup gets cold."

Akari shouted, "Omega is better! I don't care if he beats Nick Aldis, Will OSpreay, Bobby Lashley, or Karrion Kross! Or anybody!"

Yamabuki asked, "Is Lashley even-?"
Akari interrupted, "Making a point."

Nanao barked, "Roman Reigns is better! Acknowledge him, Akari!"
"I will not!"
"You will too!"
"WILL NOT!"
"WILL TOO!"
"NOT!"
"TOO!"
"NOT!"
"TOO!"

Yamabuki cried, "WHOA! Leave it up to Hotaru, she's the #1 fan, fam!" Hotaru moaned, "Bookie, I wanna eat my mock turtle soup!"

Yamabuki said, "Well, tell us? Who do you think will win? Roman Reigns or Kenny Omega? Or any other world champion that can fight those two bozos?"

Hotaru sighed, "Is that, like, all? Well, I can debate that for you guys, but first, let me eat. I haven't eaten, since this morning. I'll have my soup and dinner, and then we'll decide for ourselves. Kay?"

Akari nodded, "Right." They sat down, as Hotaru took a sip of her soup. She sobbed, as she threw her spoon down.

"What's the matter, Hotaru?" Akari asked.

"My soup's legit cold!"

Cy asked, "Den, weheat it. Yew should've eaten it, when it wuz hot."

Hotaru grumbled, as she picked up her bowl. She marched off, bawling, "MAMA! MAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Akari smiled, "Aw, no matter. I can reheat it with my Fire Jutsu."

Yamabuki huffed, "Nah, then it would make a mess on the dinner table."

Mashiro asked, "You want some celery?" She offered a plate of celery, and Nanao smiled, "Sure."

They each grabbed a stalk of celery, as Hotaru, Kanna, and Hoshimi returned with the turkey. Hoshimi said to her daughter, "I'm sorry about the soup, dear."

Hotaru huffed, "Don't be. It's times like this, I, like, wish I wasn't a wrestling fan."

Kanna said, "Oh, who cares which wrestler is stronger? Roman Reigns, Kenny Omega, Nick Aldis, who cares? It's all fake."

Hotaru gasped, as everyone was speechless. Nanao roared, "It's so NOT fake!"

Akari barked, "So's Roman Reigns! Omega's better!"

"HE IS NOT!"
"HE IS!"
"IS NOT!"
"HE IS!"

"BREAK IT UP!" Hotaru yelled. She asked, "Did you guys have your dinner?"

They agreed, "Yes."

"Well, I haven't." Hotaru barked, "Now, shut up and let me have my chicken dinner with my parents!"

Hoshimi barked, "Hotaru! What did I say about being nice to your friends and guests?!"

Hotaru pouted, as Kanna carved the chicken. But while he was carving, Akari, Cy, Yamabuki, & Nanao munch on the celery. Hotaru was annoyed, as Kanna passed a plate to Mashiro.

Mashiro asked, "Just a little piece?!"

Hoshimi said, "It's enough to fill you, dear."

Kanna asked, "Do you mind?"

Yamabuki said, "I don't mind."

She passed the plate to Nanao, who passed it to Akari, while she was flipping spoons. She suddenly flipped a spoon over, and it landed onto the gravy bowl. Gravy splattered all over Hotaru's chest and face. Hotaru seethed, as she snarled, "Karie…"

Akari said, "I'm sorry. Accidents will happen. I'm sorry…"

Hotaru reached for the spoon, and then it slipped out of her hand, into her cleavage. She growled, "THIS IS THE END!" She chased after Akari, as Kanna cried, "NO, NO, NO! It's alright, dear! I'll clean you up! It's not your fault!"

Hotaru yelled, "Dad, you pervert! GET YOUR HANDS OFF-!"

"HOTARU! KANNA!" Hoshimi barked, "Break it up, the both of you! Kanna, finish carving the bird. Hotaru, go clean yourself up in the kitchen."

Hotaru huffed, "I give up…" and then she marched off into the kitchen.

Kanna heard the phone ring, as he said, "Oh, the phone."

"Go answer it, dear."

"But what about the chicken?"

Cy said, "Weave it to Cy!" She puffed her chest and smirked, as Kanna nodded, "Alright, but leave some for Hotaru." He left to answer the phone. Cy started to carve the chicken.

"Hey, give me a leg!" Mashiro cheered.

Cy called, "Dun't crowd, dere's nuff fer ew'wyone!" She held up a leg, and gives the first leg to Akari, and a huge piece for Yamabuki.

"Give me a thicc one!" Nanao smiled.

"Okey, pal!" Cy giggled.

Akari smiled, "More, please."

"Okay, Akawi!"

"Cy, the leg!" Mashiro whined.

Cy nodded, and gave her the plate with the leg.

At the kitchen, Hotaru cleaned herself off and grumbled, "Roman Omega Aldis… He is not, he is, not is… Why did I, like, be friends with these idiots?! And on my birthday?"

She stepped out, as Kanna said, "I'm so sorry, Hotaru." They approached the table, as Kanna gasped. The chicken was all bony now. The girls cleaned it up, entirely.

Hotaru wept, "I'm going to lose my mind."

Kanna said, "Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I had a phone call, earlier, and left the android carving it for us."

Hotaru slammed her head on the table and bawled, "I think I'm going to lose more than my mind…"

Hoshimi returned, holding up the cake, "Happy birthday!"

They cheered, as Hoshimi gave Hotaru a cake. Hotaru blew the candles out, but one candle remained lit. Yamabuki blew it out, but Hotaru was annoyed. "Thank you."

Yamabuki smiled, "Sorry. That was a tricky flame."

"Yeah, I guess…"

As Hoshimi cut the cake, Akari apologized, "Sorry for making you upset, today. I guess we have gotten a bit rowdy."

"That's alright… I've had better days." Hotaru smiled, "But at least I can have my cake, and eat it, too!"

Akari smiled, "WAIT! Before we continue, I'd like to sing you a special birthday song, just for you-!"

Yamabuki and Nanao stopped her, as they screamed, "NO! YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH!"

Hotaru sighed, "Thank you…" Hoshimi smiled, "Alright, let's all have our cake!"

They enjoy their cake, but…
Ding-Dong!
The doorbell rang again.

Hotaru cried, "NO! I'll get it, this time! NO ONE touches my cake!" She went to the door and answered it. It was Enju. She nodded, "Hi, Kokonohi-san, happy birthday."

"Oh, Enju."

"May I come in?"

"Sure."

She walked in, as she said to Akari, "Akari, you and Cy have to go home. Your Mom is worried about you, and Zina wants to fix a bug in Cy's CPU."

Cy sighed, "Oh, okay… Tell Zina we'll be there, in a few minutes."

Yamabuki grinned, "Hi, Enju! Wanna have cake?"

Enju grinned, "OH, BOY!" She took Hotaru's slice and left. She said to Hotaru, "See you tomorrow, Kokonohi-san! And again, Happy Birthday!"

Hotaru was shocked, as Enju took her cake. This is mostly because she just loves sweets. Hotaru sniffled, "Dad…"

Kanna said, "Oh, I'm sorry, dear. That was the last slice."

Hotaru was furious, as she was holding her anger. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Hoshimi cried, "OH! What's wrong, Hotaru?"

Hotaru yelled, "MY BIRTHDAY'S TOTALLY RUINED! THEY RUINED MY DINNER, THEY'VE ATE MY DINNER, THEY GAVE ME ANIMALS, AND NOW ENJU'S STOLEN MY CAKE!"

"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" An old lady in a purple robe called out, "What's all that noise?"

Hotaru sobbed, "Grandma?"

Homura asked, "What are you girls doing here?"

Akari said, "Oh, we were invited to be in-."

Homura called, "I don't care! I was having a peaceful nap, and I heard screams."

Hotaru sobbed, "It was me, Grandma… I was stressed out, tonight."

Kanna said, "Mom, it's my fault. I did leave the chicken unsupervised, when I went to the phone, and the girls just picked it clean. I didn't even get a piece."

Hotaru roared, as she was completely red, "DAD! WHO EVEN CARVED THE CHICKEN THEN?"

Cy said, "Me."

Hotaru yelled, "THIS IS THE END! MY FRIENDS ARE, LIKE, A BUNCH OF WILD ANIMALS! I'M LEGIT FED UP!"

Hoshimi nodded, "Well, it would've been better if your other friends acted that way, too. I swear, you have a weird set of friends."

Hotaru was stunned. Homura called, "Well, be that as it may, I cannot let my granddaughter be unhappy on her birthday."

Yamabuki moaned, "Ugh… You're right." Nanao asked, "What now, guys? What'll we do now?"

Kanna smiled, "Hoshimi, girls, I have just the solution! Come along, kiddo!"

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you OUT to eat!" Kanna grinned, "This will make up for that horrible night we had. My treat, just for my baby girl."

Hotaru hugged him and smiled, "Thanks, Dad! You're like, totally the best dad ever!"

They left, as Hoshimi called, "Don't be, like, out late, dear!"

Homura nodded and smiled, "There, at least she's happy again." She then said to the others, "And you… You freeloaders…" She yelled, "Show yourselves out of this house! GET OUT! ALL OF YOU! O! M! G! U! T! OUT!" She walked out and huffed, "Didn't save me some cake."

Hoshimi cried, "B-But Homura…"

Nanao barked, "Aww, Ungrateful! Kicked us out, after we had cake, and a swell dinner!"

Yamabuki nodded, "It's getting late. But I'm sure Hotaru will get over it."

"I hope so." Hoshimi smiled, "You girls, like, take care. And good night."

Akari, Yamabuki, Nanao, & Cy left the Kokonohi House, as Akari barked, "Man, what a jerk. We're just giving her some birthday cheer."

Cy said, "No, I dink we went too far."

Yamabuki smiled, "I'm sure that Hotaru's forgotten about it. We'll apologize to her, tomorrow."

Nanao sighed, "Maybe I'll stay home, after I've got full…" She barked, "And for the record, she still didn't acknowledge Roman Reigns as the Tribal Chief!"

Akari argued, "And I said you accept The Cleaner, Kenny Omega, as he's better than your Head of the Table!"

"I STILL SAY ROMAN IS BETTER!"

"HE IS NOT!"
"HE IS!"
"HE IS NOT!"
"HE IS!"
"IS NOT!"
"HE IS!"
"IS NOT!"
"HE IS!"

Though Hotaru's birthday was salvaged by her father, all Yamabuki & Cy could do was moan in disgust, as Akari and Nanao continued to argue over which wrestler is stronger and better, all the way home.

Hotaru did apologize, afterwards, knowing that it was even better than having YTG8, Setsuna, and her Ochatomizu classmates come over. It was still one of her very best birthdays ever... if she only knew.

Happy (late) Birthday, Hotaru!
Thanks for Reading!