I head into work

"Chibi-san"

oh great this guy

"Hello Isaka-san how are you today"

I smile at him

"oh I am in a perfect mood, I heard it is your birthday today so I got your something"

he hands me a small wrapped box

"oh thank you, you didn't have to get me anything"

"oh I feel like I owe it to you, ever since you dumped Akihiko he actually gets his work done on time and his writing is better then ever. I guess you were the issue the whole time, funny eh"

I want to take the present and smash his face with it

"I guess so" he smiles

"see you around shorty"

i sigh until I feel someone pet my shoulder

"oh hello Hatori-san" I say with a smile

"don't let him bother you"

"he is right though"

"he may or may not be but don't let him affect your mood or work"

I nod "thank you"

he ruffles me hair

"come on" I get into the elevator

"I wonder if opening it will affect my mood"

"you could always tell Takano-san about it, he will make an amusing show of throw it out the window"

I laughed

"very true" We walk to our department "Happy Birthday Misaki-chan" said Kisa-san running to give me a hug

"thank you"

"feeling old yet?"

"not really"

he laughed

"I have a gift for you"

he sees the gift in my hand

"who gave you that"

"Isaka-san" I say with a groan.

"really?" I nod but Masamune comes and takes it from me

"no sad faces on your birthday"

and he opens it "it's a watch, a nice one too"

he says looking it over and out of the case

"nothing weird engraved on it, so i think it is safe"

he hands it to me

"did anyone tell you, you are like an over protected father" said Kisa-san which earned him a smack on the head.

I chuckle "

good morning Onodera-san"

it is almost scary how much we look alike. He smiles at me

"I have a gift for you"

"oh you didn't have to get me anything"

I say waving my hands infront of me

"oh it was no trouble I will give it to you tonight"

"what's tonight?"

"we are going out for your birthday duh" said Kisa-san

"really it is no big deal"

"why do you have a date?" he asked

"well no"

"good then it is settled"

"hey if you are stand around gossiping like old women you can get to work" yelled Masamune.

I thought I covered rolling me eyes until he walked up and flicked me on the forehead. I am in the break room when Onodera-san comes and sits with me

"hello" I say to him

"hey, can I ask you something personal, you don't have to answer of course"

"sure whats up?

" "whats up with you and Takano-san are you related?"

I laugh

"no not at all, he pulled me out the way of getting hit by a car and we became friends, now he acts like he is my brother"

I roll my eyes. He laughs

"so you two are not a couple"

I make a face

"gross"

he laughs

"sorry just making sure what about Yokozawa-san?"

"they are best friends but they did date a long time ago briefly why?"

"he made it sound like they are currently dating?"

"what really?"

he nods

"he is not the nicest person but I am sure he thinks he is going the right thing, just ignore him and he will go away"

"do you actually believe that?"

"no but I am trying to cheer you up, not fact check"

he laughed

"you are a good kid" he ruffled my hair

"hey"

I swatted his hands away

"don't worry about anything, if you like Masamune then go for it, if you don't, then kick him where it hurts

" "weren't you just the one who said he is like your big brother?"

"doesn't mean you can't hurt him a little if he goes to far"

"true"

we both laugh and then go back to work.

"we seriously do not need to go out" I try again but I am being ignored

"did your brother call you" Masamune asked. I shook my head

"he is probably busy, with the baby coming and all"

"still" "its okay, I don't mind"

He ruffles my hair, meaning he doesn't believe me one little bit. We head to a restaurant. The place looks empty. I walk towards our table and I see a very handsome man

"ahh the surprise is here, may I reintroduce you to Ijuuin Kyō"

I feel my face go red

"it is the biggest honor of my life; I love you so much"

I bow to him. He pets my face "actually you loved me last year, you gave me the drive to continue. Thank you"

he smiles at me. I know I am blushing like crazy but I do not care.

"Misaki-Kun"

"oh Aikawa-san how are you"

she gives me a hug

"I am doing well, you look so healthy, did you cut your hair shorter"

I nod

"maybe a little"

she takes out her phone and takes a picture of me

"eh?" I ask her

"oh I just want to make sure I have an update picture of your cute face"

she pinches my cheek.

"thank you for coming"

" oh of course" Ijuuin-sensi walks back over to me

"so you have been sticking close to Emerald?" he asks me

"oh yeah I have learned so much"

"you want to become an editor?" I nod

"yeah that is my goal when I graduate university"

"well I would love to have you on my team"

"really?" he reaches his hand out and touches the side of my face

"oh I would enjoy getting to see your face"

I blink and then Kisa-san comes over and puts his arm around my shoulder

"let's get you, your first drink"

and drags me off to the bar area

"I have no idea what to order"

"don't worry I will get you something"

he orders and hands me the drink

"here is to 20" I nod and take a drink and spit it out

"gross" he laughs

"try again"

I actually swallow it the second time

"good job now have about two more and you will be good to go"

"I don't think I can handle it"

"then don't, I don't want to have to drag your drunken but home" said Masamune

"who asked you oh great leader"

which earned me a flick on the forehead.

"ohh ahahahaha"

I swat at him. He laughs and then goes to flirt

"he is digging his own grave with Ritsu-chan"

"I think they would be cute together"

"we need to get you cute with someone

" "well I had a date last week with a cute guy and we have been texting"

"ohhh really?" I nod

"good for you" I smile

"okay present time" I sit down

"present, present presents" I sign and they all laugh.

The first one is a Hatori, a new coffee machine for my apartment, with a note saying I will thank him in the long run. I laugh. Kisa-san got me a new outfit and jacket. They are my size but I have a feeling the outfit would be tight. Aikawa-san got me a tablet, which I try to tell her was way too much but she told me it is rude to try and return a gift. I blush but have no choice to accept it. I feel so spoiled

"okay this one is from me"

"you already got me the best present I mean Ijuuin-sensi is at my party"

he rolled his eyes and handed me a box

"this better be cheap"

he shrugged and I opened it to see a picture frame. It's a picture of all of us smiling in our work area. I feel myself begin to tear up

"I love it" I gave him a big hug

"I knew you would"

and he patted my back. We eat and hang out for a little while longer "you sure you are going to be okay on your own?" asked Masamune

"yes I can carry everything, I will be fine, now shoo shoo"

he rolls his eyes but he goes away. I get to my apartment and I see three boxes left outside my door. More parents. I open my door and gentle kick the boxes in, having a good feeling who they are from. I open one and it is a cake. I laugh, will have to thank her for remembering my birthday. I open the second box and it is a small wooden bear clock and a note. I am going to hate myself for reading it but I do.

Thank you so much for leaving my son, he can finally be the man he was meant to be. He has found a better, stronger partner then you who can truly love and care for him. That wouldn't be possible without you. Thank you again and enjoy your life without him.

why did I read that? why do I love such pain. I throw the note away. I should have known, it is true. He is getting his work done, he moved on. I was so stupid to think he would wait for me until I was finished school. I hit myself in the head, stupid, stupid stupid boy. I pick up my phone

"Hey Misaki-kun our stupid boss is being slow so I picked up"

"I'm going to hurt myself" I say starting to cry

"wait what? What happened, get up you lazy man, Misaki said he is going to hurt himself" I hear someone grab the phone

"what happened?" he asked concerned

"I am stupid

" "no you are Misaki where are you, dammit I can't get there by train and we were drinking. Ritsu give me your phone now"

I hear him tell

"its okay I am going to ask Hatori to go to you, he is only a ten minute walk"

"it doesn't matter" I say into the phone

"yes it does, it matters to me"

"I was stupid, my brother doesn't care, he moved on, it's really over"

I feel the tears run down my face

"it doesn't matter anymore"

"no keep talking where are you?"

"sitting on the floor in my Livingroom"

"good stay there until Hatori knocks"

"I don't want to bother him"

"oh trust me, he would be more pissed if I didn't say anything"

"I wonder if they are beautiful and perfect, I bet they are"

"who cares, he is beyond stupid, he had you and gave you up with barley a fight"

"he didn't want me"

"but we do, we care about you

" "he is right we care about you and your wellbeing" Onodera-san say

"thanks"

I hear loud knocking on my door. I get up and answer it. I see Hatori and I run into his arms and cry my eyes out. it's truly over. i feel my whole heart breaking again. I didn't notice that Hatori moved me so we were sitting on my bed. I just cried and let it all out.