Sakamoto Mansion

Reishi had returned home from her shopping trip. She opened the door her mansion and sat down in the foyer. She casually put down her bags and sighed. What a terrible day it was, To be extorted at sword-point and taken of her own money. She wondered what exactly this city was coming too, with the shadowmancers and masked men now roaming the streets.

Juno: *Meow*

As she opened the door, Her cat - Juno greeted her.

Reishi: Afternoon,Juno. I got you some new food!

Juno: *Meow*

The Cat looked excited.

Reishi: Don't worry, You'll get to try it tomorrow morning!

She exclaimed. The girl then went upstairs to her room. Reishi laid on her bed. She took off her clothes and put on some small tank top and small shorts that squeezed her body firmly.

*Ding Ding Ding*
Just as she was about to go to sleep , She heard her Laptop beep with ferocity.

Reishi: (a Cyber-Net call? Must be shima.)

She thought. She reached over Juno and grabbed the silly thing. Answering the call.

Reishi: Hey shima?

On the screen, Shima appeared as she was sitting down in her labratory.

Tasuka her pet snake was wrapped around her neck.

Shima: Reishi! I've been trying to call you all day!

Reishi: Why what's going on? D-Did hattori die?

Shima: What? No!

Reishi: Oh… *Phew*. What is it then?

Shima: You don't know?

Shima paused for a second.

Shima: It's your birthday, baka!

Reishi: My birthday…?

Reishi had completely forgotten about her own birthday. Between what had happened to her friend hattori and hiro's surgery, it had simply slipped her mind.

Shima: You forgot about your own birthday?

Reishi: Sorry, I've just been having a ton on my plate recently. The shadowmancers,Hattori and I just got mugged… sort of.

Shima: Ya. I know what you mean. With Hattori's death and the shadowmancers and all-

Shima: -Wait, You got mugged?

Reishi: It's a long story. Basically some idiot named the pathfinder is….

Reishi meticulously explained how she was extorted and the villainy of the one who called himself the "pathfinder."

Shima: Yeesh. This city is really going downhill if there letting someone like that run around!

Reishi: Tell me about it.

Reishi sighed.

Shima: -But we shouldn't let that get in the way of celebrating your birthday.

Reishi: I don't know shima….

Shima: We can invite hattori too! I heard she's recovering pretty good in the hospital!

Reishi: Oh. You didn't-

Shima: Yeah. I kind of already told her. So you either go with us and let a poor hospitalized girl down.

Reishi: Damn you, Shima...

Reishi had a slight smile on her face. While she had never been one to make a big deal out of her birthday, but when her friends wanted to celebrate it; She couldn't help but feel a certain way.

Reishi: Heh. Emotionally blackmailing me, Huh? I guess I have no choice.

Shima: Great!

Reishi: You seem oftly happy to celebrate my birthday.

Shima: Eh? I- Mean, I-I had nothing else to do! I-It's not Like I like or A-Anything…!

The tsundere logged off, leaving reishi contemplating the meaning of birth itself. Was one's birth even worth celebrating? Isn't it a bit self indulgent to celebrate something your not even responsible for. Or are you celebrating the survival of your mother throughout your birth? Afterall for much of human history, Many women had died throughout childbirth. Whatever the reason, This birthday would surely be hope-filled.