so here's the next chapter. decided to do birthday prep. hope you enjoy it.
Kenichi was at school with Miu while the masters of Ryozanpaku carried a bunch of boxes that any normal person would have trouble doing with three people. Sakaki opened a box to show it was full of balloons.
"Alright, we got the supplies for the birthday boy," Sakaki said.
"Kenichi's going to love this," Kensei said.
"Apachai will do his super duber best on blowing up balloons!"
"I'll help with set... up."
"So what will we do for the cake?" Akisame asked.
Everyone was silent until a clank was heard from the garden.
"Apachai will do it!"
"I will... help."
"Apachai, Shigure, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but perhaps one of us should make the cake," Akisame said. He looked at Sakaki. "Perhaps Kensei and myself can-"
"What about me?" Sakaki asked insulted. Then he took a moment to think. "Actually, probably not the best choice. Never mind. Let's get this started!"
"AAAAAPAAAAA!"
-meanwhile at Koryu High School-
"Eh, wait a second, Miu," Kisara said. "You're saying Shirahama's birthday is this Saturday?"
Miu was meeting with Kisara, Takeda, Ukita and Nijima.
"Wow, can't believe we didn't know it was so close," Takeda said. "I'd have felt bad for his birthday to have come and not at least gotten him a present."
"Yeah, he's helped all of us become who we are now," Ukita said.
"Well, what are you gonna get him?" Kisara asked.
"Well, let's see," Takeda said. "He's a strong fighter."
"Kind and noble to the point of irritation," Kisara said, not so subtly hinting at his refusal to hit girls.
"He has a big crush on-" Ukita started but stopped since he didn't wanna out Kenichi. Of course Miu probably knew already. "So what else?"
"Just let me check my trusty PDA," Nijima said. After about two minutes of looking through the data... "I got nothing."
"How do you have nothing?" Takeda said. "You got everything! Even blackmail!"
"Well, there's nothing I can blackmail Kenichi with. He's that good a guy."
"How do you not have hobbies or interests or stuff like that?" Ukita asked.
"I consider that kind of info to be completely worthless. And considering how on guard he is, there's no way I can collect that info the usual way."
"Well, there is one method we can try," Kisara said. Everyone looked at her. "Ask his folks."
"Better than just throwing in the towel with gift cards," Ukita said.
"Don't we know anyone else that has a history with Kenichi? After all, there's Ryu...to..." Everyone was silent. "Never mind."
-after school-
"This is his house?" Ukita asked.
"According to the school registry," Kisara said.
"Well, let's go," Takeda said. He walked up to the door, knocking on it as he was greeted by a woman. "Hey, we're some of Kenichi's friends from school. Wow, never knew he had such a pretty older sister."
"Well, that's because he doesn't. I'm Kenichi's mother Saori. Kenichi's currently staying at a dojo."
"We know, but we wanted to talk to you about Kenichi's birthday," Miu said. "We wanted to get him something special, but don't know what to get."
"Oh, I see. Would you like to come in?"
"Thank you very much."
As they all came in, Kisara's eyes looked on to Saori's chest as a boing sound went off. Saori paid a little extra attention to Miu, her future in-law sense tingling.
"I'll go prepare some tea. Kenichi's room is upstairs, third door on the right."
"Okay, thank you."
So they went upstairs to Kenichi's room, but couldn't find anything of real note.
"No action figures, no video games?" Ukita asked. "I don't think he's even got any manga."
"Thought he'd at least have some secret porn stash," Kisara said.
"I did find something surprising," Takeda said.
"What is it?" Miu asked.
"Self-help books." Everyone went down.
"Well, before training at Ryozanpaku, Kenichi had severe confidence problems. Well, still has them, but not as bad."
"This is going to be harder than we thought."
-meanwhile near Ryozanpaku-
"I wonder where Miu went with Kisara," Kenichi said. Miu had told him that the two of them were going to pet kittens at the pet store, but she had her lying face on and was weirdly defensive. "Well, if they get into any trouble, they can handle themselves."
As Kenichi opened the door to Ryozanpaku, he heard a gunshot, and let out a shriek.
"A gun? But from where?"
-with the masters-
"Uh-oh, Kenichi's back!" Sakaki said. "Quick, hide the stuff!"
"Apa!"
"Masters, is everything okay?"
"Don't worry, Kenichi," Sakaki said. "Everythings all hunky-dory!"
"Uh, okay?"
"Anyway, let's get to training. I'll be teaching you a new technique today!"
"R-right!"
So Kenichi left to get ready and looked where Apachai hid their supplies.
"Damn. We must've bought like a hundred packs of balloons." In the hidey spot, there were hundreds of pieces of torn rubber. "How did we end up losing half in a single day? Guess our breathing is too strong."
"We need... help."
"Apachai agrees, but how?"
"Why not ask... his parents for... help?"
"That's actually a good idea. And we can figure out what to get him."
"Oh, I've already got something planned," Kensei said. "However, I'm not sharing credit with you guys."
"I can go tomorrow," Akisame said. "It'll give us a glimse into Kenichi's life."
"What are you guys talking about?" Kenichi asked.
"Don't worry about it. Come on, we're burning daylight."
"Right!"
what do you think? of course Kenichi's friends and masters would have trouble with this. but that's what makes this so much fun.
