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Chapter 9: 13th Birthday

I wake up to my alarm clock, still groggy and wishing that I could go back to sleep.  I throw off my covers and slowly get out of bed rubbing my eyes as I do so.  I suddenly realize that today is my birthday, I wonder what will happen.

"Good morning, Ayato, happy birthday."

"Mom, Dad, thanks."

"We'll give you your presents at dinner."

"Sure, that's fine."

"Do you have any plans with friends for this afternoon?"

"Hmm, probably."

"Ok, that's fine."

"I'm going to be working late again tonight, Ayato."

"Me, too, Ayato."

"That's fine."

"So, I'll plan dinner for 8?"

"Sure."

"That's ok for me, too, Maaya."

"Have a good day at school."

"Thanks Mom, I'm off then. Bye!"

As I walk to the train station, I wonder what kind of mischief Mamoru and Asahina played this year.  I grimace and my right eyebrow twitches as I remember what happened last year.  They put tons of "Happy Birthday" confetti in my locker and it all spilled out onto the floor when I opened the door, and I had to pick it up while they walked away, laughing.  I'm suddenly not so sure I want my day to start.  But, then I remember, this year, I'll get to spend this birthday with Mishima.  This thought improves my mood and I can't help but pick up my pace as I continue.

I walk up to the train platform, and am about to greet Asahina and Mamoru when Asahina sets off party poppers and Mamoru starts blowing into a kazoo.

"Happy Birthday!!!" they scream.

Everyone is now looking over here I notice as I look around, embarrassed.

"Uh, thanks." I stammer as I blush.  Mamoru comes over and pushes my shoulder.

"So, how's it feel to be 13, you old man?"

"Mamoru, your birthday is before mine!"

"Ha, Torigai can be so stupid!"

Mamoru looks around quickly at Asahina, glaring.

"What was that, Hiroko?!"

I notice Asahina is still laughing, and that it's almost time for our train.

"Now, now, calm down, our train is here."

Asahina finally stops laughing and Mamoru seems to calm down.

"Fine," they both say.

As we enter the train, Mamoru says, "By the way, Ayato, today, Hiroko and I are taking you to karaoke to celebrate!"

It's hard for me not to roll my eyes at this revelation. I remember we did this last year on my birthday, Asahina was singing terribly because she's tone deaf, and Mamoru got drunk off sake he'd snuck in.

"Uh, great, sounds great…"
"We knew you'd be excited."

I hope I survive.

Ah, it's Mishima's stop.

"Good morning, Mishima."

"Good morning, Kamina-kun and everyone."

"Good morning, Haruka."

"Yo, Mishima."

The remainder of the trip is in almost silence.  I first wonder why Mishima hasn't mentioned my birthday, but then I remember I've never brought it up.

"All right, finally, classes are over!  We're going now, Ayato.  Oh, Mishima, are you coming?"

"Where are we going?"

"Don't you remember?  Oh, wait, you get on the train after we do, so you wouldn't have heard.  We're all going to karaoke in honor of Ayato-chan's 13th birthday."
"Don't call me Ayato-chan!"

I look at Mishima, and notice she looks pale.
"Birthday?  Today is Kamina-kun's birthday?"

Realizing that this seems to upset her, I say, "Uh, yeah, but don't worry Mishima, I never told you."

"I should have known, I could have asked Hiroko or Torigai-kun…"  She looks really upset.

"Please, Mishima, there's no reason to be upset."

"Enough of this, we're going!" Mamoru shouts.

Mamoru grabs onto my arm and starts dragging me out of the building, and I see Mishima silently follow Asahina.

"Here we are!  Look what I brought with me, Ayato-chan!"

"I told you not to call me that!  Oh, no, you brought sake again."

"Heh, heh, this is going to be fun!"
Mishima is giving me a quizzical look, and I shake my head in resignation. 
"Hiroko, let's do this one together!"

"Sure, Torigai."

I whisper to Mishima "Be prepared, Asahina is terrible."

"Oh, she can't be that bad…."

"Zuuutoooooo issshoniiii!"

"…or maybe she can…"

Mishima starts to laugh and I can't help but join in.  Fortunately, neither Mamoru nor Asahina notice us.

Mishima and I watch as Mamoru and Asahina continue to sing, I look at my watch and notice that the time we scheduled is almost over, they've been singing so long.  After a song ends, I point to my watch and Mamoru gets my signal.  He puts down his microphone and Asahina does the same.

"Hiroko, that was great!"

"Really, Torigai? Or are you just drunk?"

"Uh, both?"

"Torigai!"

"Your turn, Ayato!"

"What are you going to sing, Kamina-kun?"

"Well, Mishima, I really like that song you gave me, Katun no Sadame, but, well, it's sung by a woman, so I feel sort of strange…"

"I'll sing it with you!"

I notice that Asahina is pouting next to Mamoru, but I guess it's because she's fighting with him again.

Realizing that Mishima's waiting for a response, I say, "Uh, ok, that sounds good."

This should be fun to sing with Mishima, I'm glad that she still likes the song, too.

She jumps up from her seat and grabs a microphone as she gives me a quick smile.  She isn't looking at the screen, she must know the lyrics by heart!

The music starts, and while I'm late coming in, Mishima is right on.

"Kimi ga itsuka…."

I stand there in one place, sort of embarrassed as I fudge the lines, but Mishima really seems into it, she knows all the words and is even dancing around as she sings. 

I smile at her, and she entwines her arm with mine.

"C'mon, Kamina-kun!" Not wanting to let her down, I try to be more accurate with my lyrics and follow her movements. She laughs and continues to sing until the end.

"Moto."

 Asahina seems to be upset, but Mamoru seems to have enjoyed it. "That was great, you two!"

Mishima blushes as she responds, "Oh, I don't know, but it was fun, wasn't it Kamina-kun?"

I blush and stammer an  "Uh, yeah." It really was fun, though, and I smile at Mishima, who smiles at me as well.

Asahina suddenly looks angry again, but then smiles triumphantly at Mishima, who looks somewhat surprised.

"Kamina-kuuuunn!  Let's do a song together!"  Oh, no, I don't want to give Mishima the wrong impression, and I don't want to hear Asahina sing anymore.

Angrily, Mamoru responds, "Too bad, Hiroko, our time's up."

"Ah, is our time up already!  I wanted to sing more!"

I'm saved!  Mamoru walks over to Asahina from behind and puts his arms around her neck and lets them hang down in her front, she doesn't struggle, but her face is downcast.  He looks out at Mishima and me and says, "Let's go to a club next!" Asahina looks up at him surprised and says "No, Torigai, we have an English test tomorrow!"

"Who cares about that?"

"I'm sorry, Torigai-kun, I told my parents I'd be home soon, so I won't be able to go."

"Mamoru, you know how tough tomorrow's exam's going to be, we shouldn't do it."

"Ah, you two aren't fun.  C'mon, Hiroko, let's go."

Asahina seems to be staring at me and Mishima worriedly, though I don't know why.
"C'mon!" Mamoru grabs Hiroko's arm and drags her away.

"Hey, wait a minute, Torigai!"

Doesn't look like Torigai's going to let her get out of it. Mishima and I watch as the two leave the building.  I don't think they paid! 

"Oh, they left! Well, I'll pay, Kamina-kun."

"No, that's all right, I can pay for it."
"Are you sure, Kamina-kun, it is your birthday after all?"

"No, really don't worry about it, my treat, Mishima."  She smiles at me as I pay the bill.  I hope that they pay me back!  Yeah, right. 

"Well, Mishima, shall we go home then?"

"Sure, Kamina-kun."

She follows me to the train station, humming a song as she goes, and even skipping once in a while.  She suddenly looks serious.

"Kamina-kun?"

"Yes?  I wanted to apologize again, for not knowing it was your birthday."

"Mishima!  Please, don't worry about it."  Should I say it?  How having her there with me this afternoon was all I really wanted?  No, she'll think I'm strange.

"Well…" She suddenly smiles, and I feel better.  We get onto our train, and Mishima hums Katun no Sadame as she stares out the train window.  I watch, happy to be with her, even for this short while.

"Here's my stop, Kamina-kun, I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Bye, Mishima!"  We wave as she walks away from the train.

I get off at my stop, thinking that this turned out to be a great birthday after all.

Next Chapter

An Unexpected Visitor