A little birthday feast for a 12 year old...what could be awesomer?

Chapter 27: Simple Birthday Feast

As everyone sat around the table, they got every kind of food possible and ate some of Max's favorite foods and as Max sat next towards Saori, they were all googly-eyed as they were eating and the rest of the table were just eating and talking with each other, as well as interacting with the masters, the MMA students and the family and they just enjoyed each other's company. Most of the kids were commending Samurai's cooking and the Jade Palace masters agreed with that, which both surprised and frightened Samurai because he knows that one of them may critique his cooking, except for Po.

"Awesome food, Sammy. As always." Po said, with much enthusiasm.

"Yes, you have always come through with the grandest ease." Shifu agreed, eating his dumplings.

Samurai smiled at this and is deeply humbled by the compliments about his cooking and he said, "Thanks, guys."

"We're all gonna miss your cooking, Sam. I know that there will be a potential girl one day that would love to eat your cooking." Monkey said, smiling.

That was an immediate strike that Samurai was not expecting to hear from Monkey and somewhere along the line, the kids responded with a resounding, 'Oooooohhhh' almost as if they heard it and Samurai blushed in response and muttered to Monkey, "Not in front of the cubs."

"Too late, Sam." Max said, chuckling.

"How's the food, everyone?" asked Samurai, trying to change the subject.

Everyone gave him a huge thumbs up for the cooking and many of them and Mako looked at Max and asked, "Be honest, son...were you surprised?"

"Very surprised. I was expecting half of my friends to come over, maybe like 10 or 12." Max answered.

"There's more than 12 here. The entire class couldn't miss this for anything." one of the MMA student teachers stated.

"Yeah, you've really come matured into an amazing person and I know that this sounds so cliche, but you really are one of those one of a kind students that any teacher would love to have." another MMA student teacher agreed.

Max is so humbled to have really good friends around him on his special day plus Saori adds more to it and he smiled and said, "Thank you, guys. You know, if someone would've told me 7 years ago that I would have an adopted family, have an awesome crush and live a happy life, I wouldn't believe them even though would want that to happen. To know that I have that stable life, it just makes me look forward to the future more. I'm just really happy to live in the moment and share it with the people I care about. I wouldn't ask for anything more."

"We're all happy for you, Max." Reiko said, smiling.

"So am I." Saori said, smiling at Max.

"Who's ready for cake?" asked Miyo, bringing in this big cake.

Everyone looked at this butterscotch cake that Miyo and Akashi are bringing in and the look on Max's eyes the minute he saw it was one of tremendous shock and amazement that this cake defied all of Max's expectations as it hits the table and Max's jaw dropped at the sight of it and everyone's talking about the cake like it's the biggest deal ever. Miyo comes to Max and asked, "What do you think?"

"Miyo...this is the biggest cake I've ever seen! I love this cake!" Max exclaimed, in delight.

Akashi gives Max a knife to cut the cake and he takes the first slice and puts it on a plate and he said, "Cake for everyone!"

Max shares his cake with the guests as he places each slice in every plate and passes it over to everyone and that's the one thing Max always does; puts others first before himself, even though it is his birthday and everyone ate some cake and when Max took a taste of it, he was overpowered by the butterscotch frosting and everything butterscotch in the cake.

"How do you think Miyo did?" asked Saori, eating the cake.

Max was busy eating another slice that he just couldn't speak at the moment and he gave Saori her answer; two thumbs up and that alone sealed the deal. After Max swallowed the cake, Max looks at Miyo and he instantly said, "I would love to have my birthday cakes made by you every year."

Miyo was glad to hear it coming from Max because it made her feel like she had accomplished that job of hers and she said, "Thank you, Max!"

"No...thank you." Max said, with a smile.

2 more chapters left! Stay tuned for more! BTW, would you have Max's birthday cake?