Capítulo 20: Chapter 20 : Birthday
(A/N: satisfied with the story? don't forget to give your comments by reviewing this book!!!)
In preparation for the paper shuffle, Hiyori and I were diligently working on creating test questions in the library. I was responsible for the science questions while Hiyori handled the humanities ones. We were pointing out each other's mistakes and inconsistencies.
"Hachiman-kun, is this okay here?"
"I think it's fine, but maybe you could make the answer method a bit more challenging."
"You're right. Thank you for pointing that out!"
Although it's after school, the library is crowded with more students than usual. It seems that more students are dedicating themselves to studying lately, possibly because this is the first time a test related to academic study is being introduced.
"Shall we wrap it up for today?"
"Yes, that sounds good. We've already completed more than half of the test, so if we keep going at this pace, I think we'll be able to finish with plenty of time to spare."
Since the test was almost finished, we decided to do the final touches another day. As we were about to leave, both my phone and Hiyori's phone rang simultaneously.
'Stay after school tomorrow! I have something important to discuss!'
It seems the message was from Ishizaki, but the content was difficult to understand.
"Did you get the same message, Hiyori?"
"Yes, I received the same one from Ishizaki-kun. I wonder what the important matter is?"
Since the message was sent by email, it might be something Ishizaki doesn't want others to overhear. There is a possibility that Ryuuen used Ishizaki to call us, but Ryuuen wouldn't usually go about things so indirectly.
Well, we'll find out tomorrow.
….
The next day, as the final bell signaling the end of the last class rang, it was finally after school. Today, Ishizaki and the others seemed unusually fidgety and restless. I wondered if it had something to do with yesterday's events...
As the afternoon began, those involved in club activities left first, followed shortly by Ryuuen exiting the classroom. Ryuuen tends to leave the classroom early unless he has to give a report or explain something like a special exam. This is probably because he is aware that he is feared. Although, for now, I think he's more respected than feared.
I was a bit surprised, though. Ishizaki and the others hadn't called Ryuuen over... Not calling Ryuuen might mean that the matter isn't related to the class.
As I was pondering this, the classroom gradually became emptier. The only people left in the room were me, Hiyori, Ibuki, Kaneda, Albert, Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondo. Ishizaki stepped forward after confirming we were all present.
"Thanks for gathering today! The reason I called you all here is..."
While Ishizaki, Albert, and Kaneda had knowing looks on their faces, Ibuki and Hiyori appeared puzzled, clearly unaware of what was happening.
With a determined expression, Ishizaki finally revealed the details.
"It's Ryuuen's birthday!!!"
"Whooooaaaaa!!!"
Ishizaki's loud announcement was met with cheers from the four who were apparently in the know.
"In three days, it's Ryuuen's birthday! We have to celebrate this!"
"Yes!"
"Finally, the time has come to show our gratitude!"
While Ishizaki and the others were getting excited, Ibuki looked at them with an exasperated expression, and Hiyori wore a smile that was more affectionate.
"You guys are such idiots."
"What are you saying, Ibuki! It's Ryuuen's birthday!"
"I don't know about this!"
The two were arguing, but I understood now. It was Ryuuen's birthday, which explained why Ryuuen wasn't called here. Ishizaki and the others wanted to keep it a surprise.
"I understand it's Ryuuen's birthday, but why gather us in this manner?"
"Well, you see, Ryuuen might find it annoying if there's a big crowd celebrating, so we thought it'd be better to keep it small with just the people close to him."
Indeed, the people here are those who are close to Ryuuen . Ibuki was shaking her head vigorously, but...
"Don't worry about the venue! We've already made reservations! We've also ordered the cake!"
These guys are really serious about this. They sent me the details of the store where we're to meet in three days. Then Ishizaki gave me a fierce look.
"So, here's the thing! I'd like you, Hikigaya, to be in charge of bringing Ryuuen to the store!"
"...Why me?"
"Because you're the only one who can get him there without him noticing the surprise, right?"
That might be true. Ishizaki and the others are probably too obvious, Albert and Kaneda wouldn't even invite Ryuuen . Ibuki wouldn't want to do it in the first place. Hiyori could be an option, but for some reason, I'm worried about that. So, by elimination, I suppose it has to be me...
After explaining everything, Ishizaki and the others hurried out of the classroom, saying they were going to choose the presents.
Left in the classroom were just me, Hiyori, and Ibuki.
"Hehe, they're quite the interesting bunch."
"They're just idiots."
They become so animated when it comes to Ryuzon.
"Ugh, what should we do about the present..."
Although we had been arguing with Ishizaki and the others, it seems Ibuki was surprisingly troubled by the birthday gift for Ryuuen .
"Choosing a gift for Ryuuen is quite challenging."
"Seriously. I have no idea what he's thinking."
"Then why don't we go shopping for it together?"
As we were pondering, Hiyori suggested with her usual gentle smile.
"Oh, that way, we won't end up with duplicates."
"Right. Then let's look for something tomorrow."
"Yes! I'm looking forward to it!"
A gift for Ryuuen , huh... Now that I think about it, I haven't chosen a birthday gift for anyone besides Arisu before.
...Come to think of it, her birthday was also on October 20th.
…
To choose a gift for Ryuuen , Hiyori, Ibuki, and I headed to Keyaki Mall, a popular spot for students after school.
"I've decided on this one," Hiyori said, emerging from a bookstore with a wrapped book in hand. It seemed she chose a book as her gift.
"Does he even read books? I can't imagine it," I remarked.
"Ryuuen does read occasionally. I've seen him borrow books from the library, though it's not very often," Hiyori replied.
It's true that I've seen Ryuuen in the library a few times, though I'm unsure of the genres he reads. If Hiyori chose the book, it's likely a good pick.
With Hiyori's choice made, Ibuki and I continued to browse various stores. However, we couldn't find anything that seemed suitable. For instance, a necklace might be uncomfortable for a guy to receive from another guy.
"Oh, I've decided on this," Ibuki said, showing us her choice.
"Is that... aromatherapy?"
"Yes. I thought it was funny imagining him using aromatherapy, so I decided this would be fine."
If it made you laugh, shouldn't you reconsider? Or maybe that's just typical of Ibuki...
"So, what about you? Have you found anything, Hikigaya?"
I hadn't found anything I thought was good. I leaned towards consumables, but I couldn't think of any consumable items that Ryuuen would appreciate. I needed to choose carefully to avoid giving something inappropriate that might cause trouble later.
"I'm not feeling inspired today, so I think I'll head home and think it over."
Not wanting to keep the others any longer, I suggested we call it a day. I headed home slowly, feeling the chill of the season setting in.
I never imagined I'd be choosing a gift for Ryuuen . It's something I wouldn't have thought possible back in the first semester.
Though I know about Ryuuen's personality and his approach to things, I don't know much about his personal tastes. The only thing I know is his favorite foods from the times he took me to various places.
...
Oh, what about this?
I realized that food could work as a gift; there's no rule against it.
I checked the details of the store Ishizaki and the others had sent me. The store offered time-based reservations for leisure facilities like bowling and karaoke, and you could also rent a kitchen by paying points, where you could bring your own ingredients.
With the gift finally decided, I let out a sigh of relief.
...I've chosen the gift, but what should I do about presenting it? I don't have any obligation to give it to him...
…
Finally, the day of Ryuuen's birthday arrived. After finishing preparing the food in the store's kitchen, I headed to the meeting spot since it was time to call Ryuuen .
"Is that him...?"
I spotted Ryuuen leaning against a wall near the meeting location. His unique presence always makes him easy to find.
"Heh. You finally showed up. So, what's this about? You calling me out like this?"
"Uh... There's something I want to discuss about the class," I said, trying to come up with a plausible excuse on the fly. I gave him a vague answer that might hook his curiosity.
Ryuuen looked at me with a hint of suspicion due to my vague response, but I led him to the destination, which was the reserved venue.
"What do you mean by 'reserved'?"
"Well... I thought it would be nice to have a relaxing time."
Ryuuen eyed me warily, clearly suspicious about the reservation. It seemed he was fully on guard.
After managing to keep Ryuuen in the dark, we finally arrived at the giant karaoke room, one of the facilities of the store Ishizaki had mentioned.
"This is it."
Ryuuen still seemed doubtful, but realizing he wasn't going to get any more information from me, he reached for the door handle and was about to enter when...
"Happy Birthday, Ryuuen -san!!!"
As soon as he entered, everyone inside launched confetti from party poppers at him.
"…"
Ryuuen , usually so composed, stood there in a rare state of shock, with a bit of confetti stuck to his head.
"Ryuuen -san?"
Ishizaki called out to him, but Ryuuen didn't say a word. Instead, he turned to face me and said...
"…Hey, you. Explain everything from the beginning."
Looks like it's up to me to explain after all…
…
I took a deep breath and began to explain the whole situation to Ryuuen. Once he calmed down, it was time to present the gifts.
"Ryuuen -san! This is from all of us! Please accept it!"
The first to step forward were Ishizaki and his two friends. With a somewhat formal tone, they presented a beautifully wrapped paper bag while bowing their heads.
"A watch?"
Inside the bag was a black watch.
"Yes! It's a limited edition and we thought it would suit you perfectly, so the three of us bought it together!"
Given that it's a limited edition, it must have been quite expensive. But it fits Ishizaki's style perfectly.
"Heh, for you guys, this is some good taste. I'll gladly accept it."
Ishizaki and his friends looked overjoyed at Ryuuen's approval. They seemed thrilled that he liked their gift.
"Boss."
"Congratulations, Ryuuen -san."
Next were Albert and Kaneda. Albert handed over a bath towel with a national flag pattern. I had heard that Albert likes flag designs.
Kaneda presented a high-end pen, which seemed like it came in a fancy box.
"Now it's my turn."
Hiyori presented the book she had chosen earlier.
"A mystery novel."
"Yes! Would you like to go to the library with me sometime? Hikigaya-kun will come too!"
It sounded like she was suggesting that Ryuuen would come if I was there, which was kind of implied...
"…Well, I'll think about it."
Ryuuen didn't strongly deny Hiyori's suggestion, probably unable to resist her hopeful gaze. Hiyori might be the strongest in Class B after all.
"Now, it's my turn."
The last ones to present were Ibuki and me. Ibuki, though awkward, presented the aromatherapy set she had bought.
"Heh, I didn't expect you to be the one giving me this."
"Shut up. If you don't take it quickly, I'll kick you."
"Scary, scary."
Despite Ibuki's fierce glare, Ryuuen accepted the gift with his usual smile.
Finally, it was my turn. Everyone's attention turned to me as I went to retrieve my gift.
"Just wait a moment."
I left the room briefly and moved to the kitchen. I covered the finished dish, which was in the shape of a gift box, and carried it back. The roast beef tower I had made was quite large, about 25 centimeters tall, making it challenging to carry.
When I returned, everyone seemed astonished by the sheer size of the box.
"Oh!? What is that!?"
"It's huge!?"
"What did you bring?"
"Wow, this is amazing!"
Everyone reacted with shock and curiosity, clearly impressed. It seemed my creation had a significant impact.
I opened the box to reveal the roast beef tower I had made. I had thought of Ryuuen's favorite foods, and meat was the first thing that came to mind. It was quite expensive, but creating something interesting was a valuable experience.
"Wow!! This is amazing!?"
"You made this, Hikigaya!?"
"Yeah, I thought meat would be a good choice considering what Ryuuen likes. And if we're going to do it, might as well make it flashy, right?"
I wasn't sure how much to make, so it was quite a hefty amount, likely more than everyone here could finish...
"You're amazing. No one could normally make something like this."
"Really! It's incredible that Hikigaya-kun could make something like this!"
Everyone gave various compliments, but the real test was the taste. I knew it was good from tasting it myself, but I needed to see if everyone else liked it.
I drizzled the pre-made sauce over the roast beef and served it. Even though the amount seemed enormous and didn't seem to decrease much as everyone took their portions, it was time to dig in.
Hmm. I think it turned out well, but I hoped it matched everyone's taste...
"Delicious!"
"This is so good!"
"It's amazing!"
"It tastes fantastic!"
It seemed everyone enjoyed it. Ishizaki and his friends ate with great enthusiasm, and Ibuki and Hiyori also enjoyed it.
As for Ryuuen ...
"Heh, this is really good."
He was eating heartily, and I was relieved that the dish I made for his birthday was to his liking.
"There's plenty more, so eat as much as you want. In fact, if you don't, it'll be a problem."
"Alright! Then let's enjoy ourselves until morning!"
From there, we spent the entire night using all the entertainment facilities at the venue. Ryuuen , initially reluctant, eventually seemed to genuinely enjoy himself, though he didn't openly admit it. By the end of the night, all of the food I had prepared was completely consumed.
…
The current time is 7 a.m.
Everyone looks sleepy, perhaps a consequence of the noise we made until morning.
"I appreciate the celebration, but you guys haven't forgotten about the exams, have you?"
"Y-yes! Of course! I've been studying with Kaneda recently!"
"Heh, good. I'm expecting great things from you."
The mention of expectations from Ryuuen seems to move Ishizaki and the others. As I watch the three of them, I notice that Hiyori, who was sitting next to me, is rubbing her eyes and leaning towards me, apparently tired.
"Ah… sorry."
Realizing she was leaning on me, Hiyori quickly adjusts her posture. We did a lot of things until morning, so it's no surprise she's exhausted.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes… I've never stayed up this long, so I'm really tired…"
Her aura seems more sluggish than usual, possibly due to the tiredness making it more noticeable.
"Please continue to take care of me from now on!"
It's already a reasonable hour, so it looks like it's time to disperse. Ishizaki says his goodbyes to Ryuuen and heads home. The others also seem to be going their separate ways.
"Ibuki, could you see Hiyori home?"
I can't let Hiyori, who's swaying and on the verge of falling asleep, go home alone.
"Ah… yeah, she definitely needs someone to accompany her."
Seeing Hiyori's current state, Ibuki seems to agree.
Ibuki helps Hiyori as they leave together. Since I can't stay here forever, I head back to the dormitory.
Given that staying up all night has taken its toll, sleepiness is starting to overcome me, but I have another task, so I yawn as I head towards my destination.
I arrive at the dorm, take the elevator, and instead of pressing the button for my floor, I press the button for a different floor. Walking down the corridor of the dorm, I reach my destination: Ayanokōji's room.
It's a bit past, but October 20th is Ayanokōji's birthday. I debated whether to give a present or not, but knowing it's his birthday and not giving anything would be unpleasant.
It's a bit strange to give it in the morning, but I want to do it as soon as possible.
After a moment of hesitation, I ring the intercom, and footsteps can be heard approaching from inside the room. It seems Ayanokōji is awake.
"…What do you want at this hour?"
After a while, the door opens, and Ayanokōji appears in his loungewear. He seems wary of my visit so early in the morning.
"Here, take this."
"…?"
Ayanokōji looks puzzled as he takes the decorated bag from me, seeming unusually flustered.
"It's your birthday, right? It's a birthday present."
It seems he finally understands what I'm handing him and relaxes a bit.
"…I didn't expect you to give me something."
"Well, it's not like we're strangers."
It's strange. Our relationship is hard to put into words, yet here I am giving him a present…
"A scarf."
Seeing the contents of the bag, Ayanokōji examines the scarf as if it's something rare. It's a black scarf. It should be just right for the coming cold season.
"I'm sorry. I haven't celebrated your birthday myself."
"It's fine. I just gave it on my own accord."
Given our time in the White Room, we've shared basic information about each other. I knew Ayanokōji's birthday through the White Room.
"Well, I'll head back to my room now. Happy birthday."
I'm now so sleepy that I'm on the brink of falling asleep immediately if I lay down.
"Ah, thank you."
Seeing Ayanokōji's usual expressionless thank-you, I head back to my own room.
=================================
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REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES 
ShirooYuki
ShirooYuki Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
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