Chapter 57: Chapter 4: Birthday Celebration
A/N: With this chapter, I finally achieved my next big milestone, 200k Words. Also, surprisingly, this fanfic hit 600 K Views, so another milestone.
That being said, this will be a very long Chapter. My lengthiest chapter's so far, I think.
[Word Count: 7280]
--
[20th October, 6.52]
[Third-Person Pov]
A white haired person with red eyes heard the noise of his alarm clock beeping, slowly waking up, from the loud noise.
"Haah, I slept really well," he yawned, stretching both of his arms in the midair.
"But it's all thanks to you, Hiyori. Although, she isn't in my room present currently, only through her, I was able to sleep for the past entire week without sleeping pills at all..."
"Something I was not able to do for the past 8 years and 92 Days, was something possible through her, with just her presence, alone..."
"After tomorrow, it'll be the 3031 Days, precisely 8 years and 103 Days, when I opened the safe on July 19, 2007, figuring out the truth behind their death's..."
"Not quite... however, still..."
"Project WR, I thought of many things, but have not come to a conclusive truth, yet, of what it really is..."
"The Private Investigators I hired anonymously to search in the blackmarket... they died, during mid-June... six years ago, when I was 10 and a half year's old..."
"They are dead... because of my selfishness. They were also my closest clue's..."
"Before I could get anything... a explosion occurred, or that's how the media says it, because of a gas leak, in the pipes..."
"Cigarettes were found on the ground..."
"But neither of them smoked..."
"I remember still the last message I got..."
"We have something. We'll be there at the arranged meeting. It's better to explain it head-on-head..."
Although this might have been a trap, in case it wasn't, I had found something about this very own project, I searched desperately, 3 years long.
"But my enemies... they killed these two. Two additional innocent people's, like they did, with my family, too..."
He clenched his fists.
"The last kind of naivety inside my body died at that corner of time..."
"At that point, I think... the increase of my abilities skyrocketed by much further..."
"My Potential... It seemed like, it was higher than I initially thought..."
"When they died, I thought I already utilized every ounce of my talents, my potential, studying medicine, psychology, law, history, many engineering courses, maths, physics, chemistry, business administration, and many other things..."
"But..."
"The more hate I felt, the more I felt my Potential being limitless, honestly..."
"I could easily solve things beyond said my age, and had no troubles on solving other kinds of problems, famous professor's couldn't do..."
"Haah..." he sighed, looking on the ground.
"After this incident... I was unable to find anything else out, in the blackmarket, despite any of my attempts..."
"So I was forced to come here, in the end..."
"I'll have you explain it to me, why my little sister, my little brother, my Mother, and Father had to die... Why their future was taken away from them..."
He looked at his hands, that were trembling.
"I'm getting excited again..."
"But tomorrow, it's also another special day, like today, I suppose..."
"With tomorrow, we'll be 60 Days together, Hiyori."
"I hope... buying something like this isn't going to be too excessive, neither..."
"At our 30th Couple Anniversary, you looked at me really surprised..."
[Flashback]
[Kurushima Pov]
[19th September, 11.24, Saturday]
I leaned myself at the wall at our arranged meeting point, at 11.30, waiting for my girlfriend, Hiyori Shiina, from Class C, to arrive.
I arrived here a couple of minutes ago, from the study session I held for some of the Exams we'd be writing after the Sports Festival was over. From 8.30 to 11, which was honestly a bit troublesome, as I'd like to enjoy sleeping...
But...
I was the one who proposed that so I could spend time with Hiyori later, for the rest of the day...
Well, nothing to be done about it.
"I'm sorry for being late, Kaoru."
Hiyori Shiina, my extremely cute girlfriend, said.
[Image:]
"Nothing to worry about. By the way, you didn't have to run, Hiyori."
"Uhm, well... I wanted to be sooner than you, here. You're always five to ten minutes ahead of me, Kaoru. That's why...."
"I see..." I slightly smiled, unconsciously.
She looked at me, suddenly turning her head to the side, until facing my eyes.
"You should try it more often, Kaoru..." she said, slightly embarrassed.
"Try what more often?" I asked, tilting my head to the side.
"Smiling... It looks good on you..."
"So you want me to smile, huh? Then, should I smile at my classmates, in particular, my female classmates?" I asked, slightly teasing her.
"No! I mean, of course..." she muttered, with a hint of embarrassment.
"Don't worry, it's just you, who'll witness me like that, ever. Although, I'm far more concerned of my girlfriend smiling at other boys. In particular...."
When you're so cute...
I'm really going crazy...
How did I end up like this?
I never expected this when I enrolled here, but did love really always feel so great?
I guess... there's a reason, why Mother, Father, and Aoki, said it was a great thing...
I'm somehow reassured to have found someone...
"Yes?" she asked, expecting me to elaborate further.
"When you're sometimes so clumsy. Do you know what happened on the cruise ship? My clumsy girlfriend almost injured herself, if it wasn't for me..."
"Ah..." she covered her hands against her eyes.
"Kaoru, please don't mention that again. It was really embarrassing...."
"So you didn't like it?"
"Ah... that's not it... If it's you, I'm fine with it..."
"Uhm... thanks..."
I didn't think this would happen, but my cheeks, they were unusually red.
Not just simply red, but really red, apparently.
Why was I becoming around her so ordinary, so suddenly?
Love?
The thing I never have believed before, until I confessed to her?
"Kaoru, you're embarrassed...?" she looked at me, in slight shock, but then after, formed a slight smile.
"I'm a human too, so that also happens to me..."
"I didn't mean it like that, Kaoru. But until now, I never really saw you so overly embarrassed..."
"Ah... I guess... that's how I am, usually. You're different, though... I mean, in the good sense. There's no one who was able to make me like this, until you..."
She looked at me, with a slight smile. "Is that so? I'm really glad, Kaoru."
I looked at her, expecting her to answer, too.
"I'm the same... actually, too. I usually kept a rational mind, and I had sometimes heard I looked indifferent to other's, but I'm really not like that. It's just hard... for me to become passionate about something, unless, it's reading..."
"What about you?" she asks, with a curious look.
"Chess and Reading. I played Chess as soon as I was four years old... As for reading, I think, I was three years old, when I read my first book."
"Three years old...?!"
She looked at me in shock, as if it's something she never heard before.
"Is it uncommon, perhaps...?"
"Of course... I don't know or have heard of anyone doing this at this age... I thought that I with five and a half years old was a bit special, already."
"Did you also learn....?" she looked at me, but I knew what she was going to say.
I did a simple nod. "I did learn the Hiragana and Katakana, but I was simply slightly gifted, I guess..."
Likewise with the Latin Alphabet, numbers, simple kanji, too, and a few other things...
It was something I asked my parent's to teach me, because I wanted to read my newborn little sister something, so I learned it, around January, very quickly, within a span of days.
"Slightly?" she asked me, in disbelief.
I simply nodded.
I didn't think it was strange.
I did read from a small age of three to four already up to 800 Books and more, whenever I had free time, since Father and Mother always said, I shouldn't disturb when Kaori was sleeping, so I went to the library, or in the office of my father, and used to read there, mostly.
Although, I might be regarded as quite 'unordinary' I guess, as the amount of books I have read when they died, was nearly at 12.000, with the age of seven.
More precisely, 11.083 Books, which is probably now....
I'm not sure...
Around 70 to 80 times more... perhaps?
Might as well be more...
My reading speed... it's unnatural, to the point I'm constantly being surprised by it.
It was always like that, from a small age already, probably the reason why, I was able to read so many books, I suppose...
But well... it's not something I'm going to elaborate further, now, at all.
"And what about Chess...? Why did you become passionate about that?"
"I guess, it's because it's the first game my Father taught me... I play it sometimes, but not as much as I used to have, truthfully..."
"I would play it two or thrice a year, normally, but I stopped playing Chess 2013. This year, I played it the first time again, after two years."
"But anyway, let's go, shall we?" I asked her, whereas Hiyori simply nodded.
She shouldn't be overthinking, and feel sorry for asking me these kinds of questions.
As the two of us walked hand in hand further, I lead her to a destination, I wanted to surprise her with.
"Kaoru...?"
She looked at the rather unusual shop we arrived.
"It might look a bit unusual, but I figured, it's here where we'd be unbothered..."
"Oh, I see. I was never at Karaoke before, though, Kaoru. What about you...?"
She looked at me, being embarrassed never having in one before. Given myself being popular, she must think, I was often here, probably.
But truthfully...
"I also was never in one before, Hiyori. It's my first time."
She looked at me surprised. "I thought that you'd be often here, given that you're the leader of your class, Kaoru."
"I'm often at the Pallet, or here and there, but in Karaoke, never before."
She smiled at me. "I'm glad, Kaoru. We can spend our first memories of being in a Karaoke Bar together, can't we?"
"Of course."
With a smile, I felt how she was suddenly the proactive one among us, pulling me inside the Karaoke Bar.
The staff member looked at us.
"Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes, for Room 3. It's under the name Kurushima Kaoru."
"Ah... one moment..." The staff said, checking at the PC whether it was true or not.
"You can pass," he said, walking ahead of us, showing us where the room is.
Once we arrived, he said, "Here is your room. But the duration of your stay will be only until 15 o'clock, as we're closing then. "
"Okay," I simply nodded, as the staff member left.
"Would you like to have the pleasure?"
"Of course," she slightly smiled, opening the door with her left hand.
"You really didn't have to reserve anything, Kaoru."
"Like you, I also reserved something for us, for a special occasion."
"But... at that time, when I did the reservation at the restaurant, we weren't a pair though, Kaoru."
"Hm? I remember, it was the day I confessed to you, wasn't it...?"
She nodded, a bit embarrassingly. "But after we ate, so it doesn't count..."
"So instead, since I know you fairly well, I'll be responsible for holding something on our 60th Day Anniversary, of being together..."
I saw her looking at me slightly embarrassed, with red cheeks.
I did a slight nod.
"You remember...?"
"Of course, I do. I wouldn't forget such an important day..."
"Ah... well... there goes my surprise..." I slowly murmured.
"Oh... should I have acted like I didn't know? I'm sorry, I wasn't aware of that."
I laughed slightly, shaking my head. "Why would someone need to act? I just wanted to make you a surprise with it, in case, you might have forgotten it. The preparations for the Sports Festival, likewise with the oncoming written Exams, must be quite exhausting, aren't they? So I figured it might not be on your radar..."
She shook her head, "I'd never forget such an important day, Kaoru, no matter what the situation is, or how difficult it might be."
I felt how I unconsciously revealed a smile. "Oh... I see."
I looked at her, smiling at me in return, which made me turn my head to the side.
Why... did her words mean so much to me, currently?
My heart... I feel like how it's throbbing right now, in happiness...
These words... they were really special for me at that time, Hiyori...
It reassured me, that I had someone on my side, aside from Aoki... Someone I could simply lean onto, when I had troubles...
Everything I do with you, is so enormously special for me...
They're memories, I will never forget...
The two of us enjoyed our time for hours, until I looked slightly down, on my arm, seeing the girl I liked leaning onto it, sleeping.
I smiled at that sudden scene.
"You must have quite the burden placed on you, Hiyori. The preparations for the written Exams where you are one of the teacher's for your class, likewise with the constant preparation for the Sports Festival, alongside with your club..."
"It should be difficult enough already, but now, you're even meeting up with me, this soon..."
"You must have overworked yourself, yesterday, didn't you...?"
"Please rest yourself well. I hope my shoulder will be comforting enough..."
With a smile, I simply observed her sleeping face, as she slept.
Later that day, we both handed out our presents, but she did not accept mine, after finding out it was worth around 100,000 Private Points, so I had to return it, and buy her a cheaper one, upon her request.
It was an astounding and relaxing day...
[Flashback End]
"Will today be different, perhaps...?"
"I'm not sure why, but I'm getting excited, for the very first time, since 8 years of what my birthday might hold onto for me, today."
The boy showed a genuine smile, until heading to the shower.
--
[Ayanokoji Pov]
"Happy Birthday, myself."
"You're now one year older. Not like it matters, though, I guess. But in case, should I buy myself a cake...?"
"Well, I might."
"Although, that'll have to wait after the celebration of Kurushima's birthday. It surprised me, but as his girlfriend mentioned, he's from Kyoto, so it's not uncommon for someone out of Saitama and Kyoto to share it, too."
"I wonder... is this enough of a birthday present...?"
"A T-Shirt... I didn't have a better idea, so I went along with my size. But should I add a coupon, too...?"
"Miyake and Yukimura bought him a coupon and a box of sweets, from chocolate, differing to complete other things..."
"Hasebe did that, too, but bought him a hand crème instead of the coupon..."
"Apparently, getting a birthday present was a far harder task than I thought. In particular, since no one of us knew Kurushima's taste or what he'd like."
"Well... I guess, I should have asked Hirata, probably..."
"My gift will be probably disappointing, but there's also the receipt I have with me, so in case, if he dislikes it, he can return it, if he'd like."
"A fair offer, I suppose. Although..."
"Why was Hasebe getting so worked up when I wanted to put the receipt next to the Shirt when I was in the process of wrapping it up...?"
"Is it another social norm you're not supposed to do?"
"Is it perhaps seen as... rude?"
"I guess so. Not like the White Room ever really taught me that."
"But I have much to learn of what is appropriate and what not."
"Like the case where they also stared at me in surprise for not wrapping the Shirt up, asking me whether it was a joke..."
"If there were ever questions regarding the appropriate social norms in situations... I doubt I'd get unharmed by any Future Exam..."
"Let's hope this does not happen..."
--
As I arrived in front of our classroom, fifteen minutes sooner, agreed with Sudo, he and I began talking in the classroom, where only a few people were present.
Kurushima usually tended to appear five minutes before the start of the lessons, as I'm well-aware that he's someone you call a 'heavy sleeper', apparently.
"Ayanokoji, you're here, finally. Kushida-san want's us to lead Kurushima after the school is over for one hour away, so I got an idea..."
"An idea...?"
"We'll play Basketball!" he said enthusiastically.
"Basketball...?"
"Hold on, don't tell me you don't know what it is? Or like Kurushima, you forget the rules of basketball, somehow..."
Sudo somehow looked at me in disappointment, then suddenly, angrily.
I shook my head in denial. "Of course not..."
Although, I did not know them, actually...
"I see... I need someone who can help me with him. Someone really good. Hirata is trash at Basketball, since he's a football player, so you're the next best person."
"Oh, I see. Any reason...?"
"I did tell it to you once, but Kurushima... he's extremely good in Basketball. Perhaps... he might be almost on the same level as I am, now..."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm not joking. He's able to copy anything I do, flawlessly, and in defending, he's really great, too. I'm not able to get past him, sometimes. It took him less than ten minutes to turn the game almost over, when we played for the first time..."
"I won with two points in margin, but you see, I don't have infinite stamina..."
"Kurushima is different there in that area... He can run two hours long, and still not catch one breath or show any signs of exhaustion..."
"I can play for thirty minutes, perhaps thirty-five, but I want you to play against him for the first ten or fifteen minutes, until it's my turn. Then, we lead Kurushima to the meeting point we agreed onto."
"Ah... sure. But are there not other ways...? Better ways of keeping Kurushima away from the class away...?"
"Probably, but the first game I played with him, has been also my last one, actually. He's really busy with the Student Council and helps anyone in the class out with Tests or Exams, so it's hard to catch him for a small play, when he's that busy..."
"Besides, the Hall is always reserved, but not today. The Basketball Club doesn't have anything to do, today, nor anyone else."
So he suggested that idea because he wanted to play against Kurushima, huh?
There were several methods of how we could keep Kurushima away from the class, by having Sudo simply ask him whether he knew of the answer relating to specific middle school questions Sudo had trouble with, but well, it was the competitive Sudo we're talking about, in the end.
If he sees an opportunity, he'll use it, in the end.
"I'll do my best..."
"I count on you, Ayanokoji."
I sat on my seat, doing a deep sigh.
I saw the girl next to me making fun of me.
"What's so funny...?"
"Nothing. In fact, I can't believe that you agreed to such an unreasonable request. Are you really fine with playing Basketball?"
"I guess. Besides, it's just for ten minutes, I suppose..."
She nodded her head, agreeing with me.
In the meantime, I quickly opened my phone, as we still had twelve minutes, and searched on the web, [Basketball Rules] in order to memorize them.
"What...?"
That's surprising. It seems like Horikita has seen what I typed, apparently.
"Did you...?"
I could tell what she was going to say, but I dismissed it.
"I played it, but a long time ago. I'm quickly recalling a couple of things, I might have forgotten..."
That was a complete lie.
I never played Basketball in my entire life before.
But I should be regardless of a very decent opponent, I suppose. Until Sudo is ready to participate, that is.
"I suppose it makes sense. What did you buy for Kurushima-kun?"
Out of sudden, she asked me that question.
I expected her to ask rather, 'Did you buy something for Kurushima-kun?' but apparently, she assumed, I had bought a gift for him, already.
Horikita is also slowly changing. In the past, she probably would have never bought a gift for a classmate, but she did, for the first time, I guess.
I'm simply reassured that I tagged along with Hasebe, Miyake, and Yukimura to the Keyaki Mall, because if it was not for them, I'd have handed the Shirt simply over to him, without having wrapped it up.
Honestly... it'd be really awkward... I guess.
But yesterday, I do believe, I was able to form some connections, as we shared among ourselves the phone numbers, so perhaps, they might become friends?
Miyake even tapped on my shoulder when he thought I did a joke and all of them had to laugh suddenly...
It wasn't one, however...
I genuinely did not know that you were supposed to wrap a gift up for someone's birthday...
But...
I guess this feeling was quite nice, wasn't it...?
Friends, huh?
Am I really able to form something like that, without myself using them for my own purposes...?
Let's see....
--
As the school had now ended, and Kurushima, likewise with everyone else stood up, Sudo approached him, doing his task, as agreed upon.
I could see how he was doing a hug among friends, which is known as the 'The Side Hug', known to be done among friends, as Sudo wrapped one of his arms around his neck.
I did a bit of research regarding these kinds of matters on the Internet...
Likewise with 'How to Make Friends'... and other things, I asked Internet-Sensei to teach me...
If you were to look in my search history, almost everyone, would look at me in pity, I suppose...
"Kurushima, bro, let's play Basketball. Ayanokoji also wants to play, so let's take him with us, too..."
He looked at me, whether Sudo just forcefully decided to drag me around, or if I genuinely wanted it.
Kurushima knows Sudo well enough, that he's forcing often some people to tag with him along, after all.
I signaled my approval with a nod.
"Sure, fine by me," said Kurushima, doing a nod towards us.
The three of us headed towards to our locker's, taking our Sports Clothes out, until heading to the Gym Hall, which should be empty.
At the lockers, in the process of changing, Sudo looked at Kurushima.
"Damn bro, you're really well-trained."
"I guess I am, somehow..." Kurushima muttered awkwardly, as Sudo stared at his body.
"Do you feel any pain, anymore...?" I asked.
"No, not at all. It was just slightly broken, so it should have healed by now," he said, looking at me in appreciation.
"I see..." I nodded, as I also changed myself.
It took us less than a minute until the three of us changed ourselves into our Sport Clothes, and we headed to the Gym Hall.
Sudo looked at me, suddenly...
I guess, I'll have to act, right?
"Uh... Kurushima, can we play a one versus one...?"
"Sure, if that's what you'd like, Ayanokoji, I'm fine with it."
I nodded. "I want to play against uh someone of whom I won't be mercilessly crushed, so I'd like to play against you."
He also nodded in return, as Sudo threw the basketball towards Kurushima.
"Do you want to start, Ayanokoji?"
"No, I'm fine with you starting, Kurushima."
He did a nod, until he passed back to me, again.
Apparently, this was like an 'unspoken rule', when you played basketball in just one backboard, that you'd pass the ball, and then pass it back.
I had to watch a decent amount of basketball videos, though, in the lunch break, so I'd be a decent opponent, at the very least...
As my back was facing the backboard, I looked at Kurushima, the opponent, right in front of me, observing him.
I heard the sound of the ball bouncing on the ground, seeing him not moving, just bouncing.
I aimed for the thing called a 'steal' with my left hand, but Kurushima passed me by from the left, doing a layup, scoring at the basket.
Thus, he took the first point, from the eight points, we agreed, onto.
"A Push Crossover...?!"
A what now...?
Apparently, the move he did was called like that, but I had no idea, actually. I looked up the game Basketball, watched videos, however this move, was the first time I saw or heard of it, during the time I watched the videos.
For the second round, I took a defensive posture, but Kurushima saw through a loophole in my defense, my slightly wide legs, which made him bounce the Basketball beneath them, and then did another layup, scoring another Point.
The Third Time I felt a slight improvement, being able to 'guard' Kurushima better, which made him not easily pass by, but if he didn't do a layup, he simply threw the Basketball, scoring in the Basket.
He wasn't simply someone who needed to go near the Basket to score, but he could do it from anywhere within this area, seemingly.
The Fourth and Fifth times, I was mercilessly crushed by his dribbling, which made me lose, these rounds, too.
He did a movement from Basketball I was in knowledge of, surprisingly, through some videos.
It was called a Cross Step, but I was unable to prevent him from scoring at the fourth time with a layup, so I lost against him.
As for the Fifth Time however, he repeated this, but did it slightly different, instead of running to the Basket, he stopped, doing something called a Cross Step Shooting, throwing the basketball in the midair, at the middle of the Two Point Line.
The sixth time he surprised me, because the moment I passed the Basketball back to him at the Start, signaling the match begins, he shoots immediately the Ball, scoring, leaving me unable to do anything.
I felt myself slowly getting better and better, which he noticed, too. In comparison to the first round, it wasn't as easy to pass through me.
But it's not like I was an opponent for Kurushima, yet, regarding Basketball. For that, our difference was simply too high, currently.
Despite playing for almost eleven minutes now, I did not once have the ball in my hands, aside from the moment he scored, and I had to pass him the Basketball.
The seventh time, the result stayed the same, with him scoring against me, but the eight time, it was different.
Perhaps he felt bad, or he was slightly careless because he was overwhelming me, but I was able to steal with my hand the Basketball, facing him currently.
"Oh...?" he looked at me surprised, facing me.
I could see him looking slightly excited at me. I guess, because I finally had the Basketball, the game was not simply looking one-sided anymore, did it?
But no matter what I would do, I wouldn't be a match for Kurushima. His eyes, they looked at the Ball, in complete focus, possibly predicting what I'd do.
I don't think I'll be able to shoot at the Basket, nor be able to score, truthfully.
"Ayanokoji, you did it! Shoot the Ball! It's your chance!" Sudo shouted.
However, perhaps due to luck, I could see him for a moment losing his focus, so I currently had a possibility of scoring at least 1 Point against him, which would save me at the very least face.
Shooting the Basketball...?
I guess given how good Kurushima is, this is my best chance, as I won't easily be able to pass him by, scoring a layup, I suppose, thus loosing.
Shooting the Basketball seems to be the only remaining option, huh...?
Like the players in the NBA, I shoot the Basketball. I tried my best to copy their movements, remembering it inside my mind.
Surprisingly, I had to admit, this wasn't really bothersome, but might be considered as 'fun'... perhaps?
I'm not entirely sure, though...
"You managed to do it, huh...?" he murmured, before slowly approaching the backboard, catching the ball that fell down from the Basket, at the precise time.
Well...
It's just 1 Point, but it's 1 point.
With the help of Sudo, though...
Without it, I don't think I'd be able to win... honestly...
He took his focus off me, even for just a moment. That itself was enough for me, to bring myself to score.
As much as one might argue it was 'undeserved' or 'luck', Basketball has rules, like that of a fight, to always focus oneself on the opponent in front of you.
If this was a fight, it'd seriously be my advantage for that mistake of him.
"Well, here you go," he said, throwing the Ball to me.
I threw the Ball back doing the 'unspoken' rule for the very first time, which did feel good, I suppose, since I'm now not being demolished by him.
But as he threw it, I did the same movement as he did once, immediately shooting the Basketball...
He jumped, catching it with his right hand, predicting what I'd do.
That can be expected from someone who was able to deduce I was X, and my intention of confronting Ryūen, after all.
From here on, I lost the game.
"Good game, Ayanokoji-kun," Kurushima said, throwing at me a bottle of water.
I caught the bottle with my right hand, but I couldn't help but reminisce myself back to the Island Exam, again.
The Three Stone Trap...
I was barely able to dodge it, despite being on high alert, all the time. Although, I know it was under the impression of Ryūen being there, as it was supposed to hit his arm, but well...
I hid myself, so I took a slight crouching stance behind the tree...
But...
Calculating the trajectory of the stone's, it was not something an ordinary person could ever achieve, yet do it so perfectly.
I also didn't know of this, yet...
Even I, can learn new things, huh?
Turning something like this into a spontaneous and effective weapon...
Would I have ever done such thing if I was in his shoes...?
No, the risk of endangerment would be too high, so I'd have probably immediately dismissed it, if it ever even happened to cross my thoughts...
Another difference between Kurushima and me, huh?
He's taking calculated risks, making him not predictable through logical reasoning alone, which I always take into consideration...
"Ayanokoji...? Is something wrong?" he asked.
It seems like I spaced out, in an unfortunate time.
"No, nothing. Sorry, but I'm really exhausted, Kurushima."
"Is that so...? Well, nothing to be done about it."
I nodded, walking towards the bench.
Of course, he knew I was hiding my capabilities, like now, but he made it clear to me that he had no intention of revealing my capabilities.
Drinking the water bottle, I observed the match between Kurushima and Sudo, while looking at the clock.
"Seventeen minutes, huh...?"
"I did better as expected, I suppose..."
--
As the match concluded in Sudo's favor, with one point in margin, he celebrated.
"Yoshaaa! I won! But bro, you've become even better than the last time."
"Did I...?" he asked.
"Yeah, for someone who doesn't play Basketball since the middle school anymore, you surely have good moves at your disposal."
Sudo wrapped one of his arm's around him.
"And you, Ayanokoji, you're not that bad, I suppose. You did good."
I felt slaps on my back from Sudo.
Kurushima looked at me, his eyes saying, 'Don't mind him. That's how he is' look.
I simply nodded, as we three moved towards the changing cabinet.
"Ayanokoji, Bro, I'll invite you two. Let's go to Karaoke."
"Sure."
"Fine with me," Kurushima replied.
Well, we should be right in time there, I suppose.
Although, being covered by a bit of sweat must be quite uncomfortable, I suppose. But the weather is quite cold. And besides, Sudo did have deodorant spray, so it should be fine.
I hope he does not figure out what we've prepared for him in advance.
As for me, well, I guess, I'll celebrate it alone.
Not like a birthday matters, it's just the day I was born, and my fate was sealed, to be eternally being trapped inside the White Room.
--
As we arrived at the Karaoke Bar, Sudo looked at the staff member, hoping he would not expose them, as agreed onto, by our class.
"Which room would you like...?" The staff said, suddenly looking shocked.
Out of some reason, the staff member looking at Kurushima.
"Room 5, Please."
Sudo said, taking the large room, where many people could fit in. In other words, our class.
Kurushima must have noticed it, too, huh... probably?
Well, it's hard to surprise someone as smart as him, I suppose. Especially, when he seemed to have been here, once.
As the three of us were walking, both Sudo and me behind Kurushima, so he opens the door, we heard something from the side.
"Ryūen, you bastard! Even if it's your birthday, don't think you're anything special."
It seems like Ryūen is right at the opposite of us, Room 6, huh?
And that voice... it's Ibuki's, isn't it?
That's really quite strange, indeed.
Suddenly, the door opened from Room 6, opposite to us.
A silver haired girl walked outside from it, having an empty bottle of sparkling water in her hands.
What a strange coincidence... indeed.
Ryūen, Kurushima, and me, all in one location, together. We, three, also share the same birthday, making it even more strange.
"Kaoru...?!"
His girlfriend exclaimed surprisingly.
"Uh... Hiyori... what're you doing here...?"
Suddenly, I heard footsteps from the Room coming.
"She's my new chick, Kurushima."
Ryūen said, as he laid his right arm around her, with a slight grin written on his face.
"Huh?"
His expression, I could tell already, it looked really annoyed.
"It's not like that, Kaoru. We're celebrating Ryūen-kun's birthday."
He slowly seemed to recompense himself. "Oh, I see."
"And also... uhm... Happy Birthday. Can I come later...?"
He nodded.
With a bright smile, she approached him, doing a small kiss on his mouth, but soon after, ran away embarrassingly, with the empty bottle of sparkled water.
Probably because we all were looking at these two individuals, which must be somehow embarrassing, I suppose.
"You also have your birthday today, huh? Quite the coincidence, I say."
"Indeed... who would have guessed I share my birthday with a Tyrant like you?"
"Hahaha, says the wealthy Good-For-Nothing son, huh?"
These two, they slowly approached each other, just until a small distance of twenty centimeters was away between them.
"Ryūen."
"Kurushima."
"My, my, what are Dragon-boy, and Kurushima doing here...?"
The infamous Koenji Rokusuke walked in, from the side.
"You're late."
Sudo said, in an infuriated tone.
"Haha, the most important person comes as last. Is that simple principle not known to you?"
"Oi, Koenji, you're spoiling everything."
Sudo exclaimed, until he realized what he did, covering with both of his hands his mouth.
"Don't worry, I've done no such thing. Kurushima-boy realized that already, sooner than you think, Red-Hair-kun."
"You did...?" Sudo asked.
"Hahaha... well..." he looked away, indicating that he realized it.
Suddenly Koenji threw something at Kurushima.
"Koenji...?"
"I don't like owing debts to other people, Kurushima-Boy. At that day, it was you, was it not? The one who put a gift in my locker."
"Consider it like this. We're even, now."
"Thanks... I didn't expect that, frankly said."
"Haha, don't think much of it. I have a date in ten minutes nearby here, so I came to make it even, before I disturb your precious time with book girl later onwards."
It wasn't in Koenji's style to owe someone something. But it also wasn't his style of putting a gift in a locker, apparently, either.
"What a freak you have in your class," said Ryūen, turning himself around, with an amused grin, closing the door.
Since here were camera's present, making a conflict would be more than stupid, in particular, with so many witnesses.
Besides I doubt he'd like to have a conflict on his birthday, neither does Kurushima, nor do I, I guess.
"True enough..."
"Well... let's open the door, then..."
The moment he held the doorknob, opening the door, loud sounds echoed through the air, confetti everywhere to be seen, in front of our view.
"Happy Birthday, Kurushima-kun."
"Congratulations, Kurushima..." I murmured, but I saw him hearing it.
"Thanks..." he murmured.
"Thank you everyone."
--
As it ended, each one of us headed back, having gifted Kurushima something.
"Ayanokoji-kun... can we talk...?"
A pink haired girl said from behind.
I turned myself around, identifying her as Sakura Airi, nodding at her, signaling her the approval for a conversation.
"Uhm... I noticed it when I looked at your profile out of curiosity... but you also have your birthday today, don't you...?"
"Yes."
"Uhm... here..."
She took out of her bag something out, handing it me over.
"A gift...?"
She nodded. "I hope you... like it..."
I saw her running away from me, leaving me here standing.
"Well... Thanks, I suppose..."
I walked further, to the dormitories, heading to my room, until I heard someone ringing at my doorbell.
"Uh... Kurushima...? What can I do for you...?"
"I'm sorry, Ayanokoji-kun... I wasn't aware that you also had your birthday, today. I opened the presents and wanted to make sure... I wouldn't miss anyone's... but then I noticed yours..."
"I see. But don't mind it. I don't have many connections, either way, like you."
He shook his head. "I might have something for you... If you don't like it, I'll compensate you with the exact amount of Private Points. It's a gift I got from the store where I was working, temporarily..."
"Hm?"
I saw him heading back to his room, taking something heavy, coming back.
"What's that...?"
"A Yogurt Maker. I got it as a gift from the Staff on Sunday, you see. But I actually have one already, so it's no use for me, and I also found it rude to decline it... so I wasn't sure what to do with it."
"Hiyori also has one, already..."
"So please accept this! It just stands inside my room, so there's no trouble on accepting it."
"If you say so..." I nodded, accepting it.
"And also, thank you. I appreciate it."
"Nothing to worry about, Ayanokoji. That's what friends do, right?"
"I suppose..."
"Well, I'd like to talk with you further... but I'm awaiting a visit, and I'd like to clean my room, as fast as possible."
I nodded.
"Well, good evening, Ayanokoji. And congratulations on being sixteen, now."
"You too, Kurushima."
"Thanks."
He nodded at me, before closing his door. I looked at his door for a couple of remaining seconds, until entering my room.
"A Yogurt Maker, huh...?"
"I never ate Yogurt before, so I should test it out today, I suppose."
I opened the box, seeing the receipt list. Out of curiosity I read it, but soon after, I found myself immersed in it.
There were different kinds of flavors you can easily make, huh...?
Apparently, you needed yogurt sachets, but I had here on of each, when I opened the box.
The fact that I could make with these yogurt sachets different flavors excited me, as well as I could make some of my own, if I had the intention. Although, I'd need to learn it, I guess.
I'm not a relatively good cook, but I'm fairly acceptable, I guess. I suppose, I'll have to watch myself tutorials, huh?
If that 'man' saw me currently, he would laugh at me, would he not?
Seeing his masterpiece in need of watching tutorial videos, since cooking or anything the White Room deemed as useless was not taught to us.
--
[15 Minutes Later]
[Karuizawa Kei:]
[K: Can you come downstairs? (19.14)]
[Me: Are you sure? You could be seen together with me. (19.14)]
[K: Yeah, don't worry. It's pretty dark outside, after all, so I don't think someone will recognize me or you. (19.14)]
[Me: Okay. Give me 5 Minutes. (19.15)]
[K: Sure. (19.15)]
"Hah... just when I was ready to make my Yogurt finally..."
"I guess, it's okay..."
I changed myself, until I opened the door.
I moved towards the elevator, seeing a silver haired girl coming out of it, at her right, carrying the cake, she must have ordered specially, a prior week ago, which she collected yesterday.
The girl was Kurushima's girlfriend, someone I often saw with him together. They must be spending their time together, it seems.
I did a small nod, likewise with her, as we passed by each other.
I pressed a button on the elevator, while seeing the door opening at his room.
But it could not bother me much, anyhow. Although I suppose I feel gratitude, as he's alongside Sakura, the other person who remembered my birthday.
"There you are," she said.
"Yes, here I am. What would you like to talk about?"
"Uhm... I noticed something when I looked at your profile, but today is your birthday, is it not?"
"Yes, it is. Why do you ask?"
"Why? Uhm, well, I just thought I should get you something, since you probably did not get anything from anyone, so here you go."
Embarrassingly, she handed me over the present, which was wrapped up.
"Anyway, I have to go now. I can't let myself be seen with you."
"Sure..."
I watched Karuizawa from the back, seeing her walking away to the dormitories, until two minutes were over.
"Three Presents, huh...?"
"I guess... I did form connections with other's, somehow."
--
A/N: And this concludes the chapter.
Next Chapter is going to be an SS Chapter from either Kurushima or Hiyori Point of View, but I'm not sure, from who it will be though.
Probably Kurushima, since it's his Birthday, after all.
Although, I will be soon writing an SS from Hiyori again, as I intend to have them celebrate Halloween together, so there you'll get another couple of AI Arts from her.
Would you like to see Witch Hiyori or... don't know, I've to think about it, what other costume she could be wearing.
Give me a couple of suggestions and I'll try it out. If it's good, I'll try to add it.
Also, would you like to see more romance chapters?
I intend on making an SS, for the end of Volume 3, perhaps, because in Japan there's a festival called Obon Festival, which is between the 13th to 16th August, where you honor your ancestors.
I think, I can fit it in Kurushima's overall narrative, as he has no family left, so he's the only person to honor his family.
It fits Kurushima's character, and he'll encounter spontaneously Hiyori, which will give him the ultimate confirmation of the feelings he holds for her.
It's before they're together, so it will be different, I suppose.
Well, anyhow, that'll be all.
It was quite the long chapter, so I hope you liked it.
And if it was a bit boring, I apologize.
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