Zuko, like his girlfriend, was ecstatic that his sixteenth birthday was around the corner. They're having a much smaller party for it: just his family, his best friends Akira and Hideki, plus Akiko.

His parents wouldn't tell him what they'd in mind for the party, only that it'd be a real treat. So Zuko kept speculating what it'd be, which sometimes impeded his job working in his Grandpa Iroh's tea shop.

Zuko's family was of aristocratic descent. Naturally, therefore, they're loaded. Both his grandparents ran highly prosperous business enterprises, a tea and flower shop respectfully. Family-owned and operated for generations! Naturally, his parents helped at each shop. Sometimes he and his little sister did as well.

His girlfriend sometimes helped out if they were short-handed at either bushiness. As for his best friends? Both worked as servers at the tea shop. Currently, the boys were in the back washing the dishes. Akira kept bringing in more dishes which Zuko washed and Hideki dried.

"How much do you think we made in tips today?" Hideki asked his buddies as he scrubbed dry a decorative teapot. He'd to be cautious as this one had been hand-crafted by Iroh himself.

"Don't know, Hideki," replied Zuko as he dried his hands for a moment. Then, turning so he'd face Hideki, he replied. "However, given my grandpa's mastery in tea making? We've always made quite a lot of dough. So, I'm sure we made more then enough this shift."

"Let's hope so, Zuko, given the number of dishes we're doing right now. Tell me again, why we're doing this shift? Isn't your father supposed to work today?" his older best friend inquired.

Akira happened to be three years older then his best friends. However, that hardly mattered to any of them. They're thick as thieves and thrilled to be the other's friend.

"He ended up taking my little sister to the doctor," answered the handsome teen turning to face Akira. "She woke up not feeling well. So he took her to the doctor. I'm sure its nothing too serious, seeing how she's fully vaccinated," which had been a sensitive topic these days.

"Let's hope so," Hideki chimed in. "People who don't vaccinate are idiots. But, they prevent illness when proven beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Those who don't vaccinate? They are guilty of child neglect and endangerment," speaking from experience. One of his younger sisters had gotten seriously ill after exposure to an unvaccinated classmate.

"Well, at least the courts are cracking down harder on vaccine mandates and not making any exceptions anymore. What about your mother? Is she working at the flower shop?" Akira inquired, to which Zuko shook his head.

"She's with my great-grandparents at the doctors as well. Grandpa Azulon has his yearly colonoscopy while Granny Ilah has a mammogram."

"I see," the older boy replied, "Well, both are crucial to one's wellness. So I take it Akiko's helping at the flower shop today?" Zuko nodded.

"I'm so happy Akiko works so hard. It's not easy to rotate between three jobs. She isn't a full-time employee by any means. But does periodically help at our godmother Xiaoying cafe/boutique, the flower shop, or the local daycare."

"How is she not perpetually exhausted or have time for you?" Hideki wondered aloud, to which Zuko shrugged a bit.

"Well, she's not working every day. She only helps out sometimes at our family business. Plus, she doesn't work every week at the daycare either."

"Well, at least we know her and Katara worked together whenever they have a shift at the daycare," Akira noted as he heaved the last dishware onto the countertop. Then he proceeded to help Zuko with washing them. The boys chatted some more as they finished with their task.

As for Zuko's family health concerns? Kiyi was stuffed up due to seasonal allergies. However, his great-grandparents' tests returned negative, so they're okay.

A week later was Zuko's party, and he was in for a treat. His parents, through various connections, had gotten him an advance copy of the brand-new Harry Potter game. "Hogwarts Legacy!"

It wasn't supposed to be out till December! So, of course, everyone was ecstatic to get a chance to play it early. Zuko's parents had strict rules regarding video games they permitted their children to play. Their rules were the following.


No Guns.

No sexual imagery or nudity of any kind was allowed.

Not excessively violent imagery.

They couldn't play them if they didn't have their chores and homework done.

They're only allowed an hour and a half every other day to play


It indeed was a great birthday without a doubt!


Alex Aiano (for Akira)

Owen Vaccaro- Hideki


Believe That You Can

If they did it, why can't I? Believe that you can, and you'll succeed.