19 Birthday Party

Fumi smiles brightly as she runs to me,

"Hey, Kenji when is Kanna's birthday?"

Fumi asked me a really random question.

"Oh now that you asked for it next week, September 18th."

Come to think of it, I just remembered.

"SEPTEMBER 18th"

Fumi is surprised about someone's birthday?

"Yeah, why are you surprised?"

I gave her a confused look.

"I mean it's Kanna's birthday we should celebrate it."

I guess we can do what Fumi suggested, however

"Eh, celebrate? We don't actually celebrate with other people other than our family."

It would be our first time celebrating outside,

"As her big sister and club member, I want to celebrate her birthday too!"

I don't know what Fumi is planning but why not.

"Big sister?"

What is she implying about being a big sister?

"Hehehehe"

What do you mean, hehe?

"Speaking of which, I guess Kanna would be so happy to be celebrating her birthday with everyone."

This could work out for everyone taking a little break

At the clubroom.

"Everyone, listen up I have an announcement to make. You know my sister Kanna is having her birthday on September 18th, and Fumi and I decided to make a surprise birthday party for her."

I gathered everyone in the clubroom to hear their thoughts.

"It's our first time to celebrate a birthday with people aside from our family. So I'm sorry if I don't know what to do."

Well, I'll leave it to the people in the club.

"Kenji, leave it to us!"

Nagi and Nami seem to be optimistic, maybe they know something.

"I heard people throw birthday parties for their close friends."

Kozue is deep in her thoughts again.

"Yeah seems like it, but because of my birthday during summer break so that never happened and that is the reason why we only celebrate with family."

I was born on July 30th what else can I do?

"So you blame the date for celebrating your birthday friendless. HAHAHAHA"

Hanako finds it the reason to make fun of me.

"Shut up Hanako, it was just that the only thing that happens every summer our family was going out on a vacation someplace else."

I guess I'm that unlucky guy who gets to spend the rest of his life with his family.

"......A birthday party huh?"

Yasu seems to be thinking deeply about birthday parties, when did he have one?

"I guess it is also good for our club to take a break and create a tradition."

Kozue suggested something we can live on for the rest of our club and school years.

"Well since we have the chance and it's on the weekend!"

Nami continues to read a manga.

"YAY! LET'S GO!"

Everyone was excited to give my little sister a birthday party. Then that night,

I received an email from Fumi.

'Kenji, let's go to Akihabara tomorrow and buy a present for Kanna. We're gonna get her a totally amazing birthday present.'

Fumi sure is excited

'Got it, after school let's head to Akihabara.'

I thought that was just it but, I got another email from the twins,

'Hey, Nagi and I are thinking about what your sister likes? We don't want to get the wrong present for her.'

Nagi and Nami, combined effort huh.

'She's just simple, annoying but reliable, she likes manga and anime especially, Poly Cure.'

I never thought about having to know what my sister likes.

And another one from Yui,

'Sorry for the late message, but I want you to help me pick out a birthday present for your sister. Her birthday is coming up soon so tomorrow would be nice. But it's not like you really need to come, so I don't really need care if you can't really make it. It's not like you really need one more person to pick a present or anything at all. So don't bother even coming, But since you're her brother I figured out I'd at least ask you what she likes, even if you can't I won't really mind at all.'

There is a lot of really's here,

'First of all, make up your mind if you want me to come or not. Well, she likes anime and manga like Poly Cure.'

That's right make up your mind.

'Seriously, it is not like really I want you to.'

What the hell is this, a tsundere mail??!

'YUI, WHAT IS IT! THAT'S A LOT OF "REALLY".'

Sheesh, it's all our first time but don't make it obvious.

Lastly from Yasu,

'Don't get this the wrong way but what does your sister want from a guy?'

What the hell is this kind of message!

'WHAT THE HECK! THAT'S SO WRONG IN MANY TERMS!'

Is Yasu aiming for my little sister?!

'Sorry I don't know what to say.'

Better be or I'll kick your ass!

'You can just get her the usual.'

That's it I would finally get to my favorite time of day, sleeping. And the next day, all the girls except Yasuyuki and Hanako are with me tonight.

"So Kenji, What is this, why is everyone here?"

Why is it like I did something really terrible?

"Well, I figured out since we all want to buy a present for my little sister then, we should all go look together right?"

So that's what I thought,

"You didn't even mention it in your email."

Nami seems to be upset, I don't know why.

"Ah, yeah I forgot to tell you guys but since we're all buying gifts for my sister then the more the merrier right."

Did I make the environment really hostile?

"There's nothing wrong with that….but still, I'm not happy with that answer, especially that part where you could really be dense."

Nami continues her tantrums, what is she implying?

"I'm what now?"

I questioned her directly,

"Nothing."

Clearly an outright excuse.

"I really thought it would turn out into something like this, it is important to know when to give up for all of us."

Nagi breaks her silence, what is it now.

"Yeah, right."

Kozue agrees with her but I really don't get it.

".....But could you be an airhead or that dense, maybe he wanted this all along."

Nagi continues voicing out her thoughts.

"Nagi?"

I turned around to Nagi wondering what is she talking about.

"Nothing, I was just thinking about how funny this is."

Another outright lie.

"Okay,"

There was really something in Nagi's mind

"Did you just think of it as weird?"

Nagi spoke to me directly.

"Weird, not really? But you know I'm happy to be able to gather this group of talented and awesome people or friends that if you considered me as one. I wouldn't be able to make this decision without your help, so thank you very much, everyone."

It was clear to me now that they thought of this as something different.

"I knew it, you're so dense."

Nagi looked away as if she was disgusted by my answer.

"Nagi, cut it off."

Fumi sounded irritated by the other girl's attitude.

"Sorry."

Did they have a fight?

"So, then let's go buy presents!"

Fumi calmed down a bit and entered the mall.

"Sorry, Kenji, everyone, I am going first, my mom was rushed to the hospital because of a kitchen accident."

Kozue surprised everyone but we have no other choice.

"Eh, don't worry, just go!"

I feel bad to keep her along with us if there was an accident,

"So what should we do now?"

I asked Nagi, Nami, and Fumi.

"It's too bad we just got here and we will leave."

Fumi seemed down but I know she is worried.

"Nami and I will go to the department store."

The Twins chose to separate from us, it feels like they're distancing with us.

"Okay good luck guys, I already told what she likes."

I knew that, however, I don't want to make things worse.

"Well, we should go look around for your choice of a birthday present. Fumi where do you want to go?"

Since I am left with Fumi then I guess I should stick around her.

"Yeah, I was looking forward to seeing the anime shop."

After this and that Fumi and I arrived at the anime shop.

"How's it look, found something?"

We were scanning for about a while now, I'm sure she found something.

"What do you think, its a poly cure limited edition figure."

I remember my sister literally jumping like crazy wanting to have that figure.

"Oooh, she wanted that so bad, she showed it to me and to our father, but you know she is working hard to get that."

I told Fumi about Kanna's promise.

"I see, I might get in the way maybe I'll just leave it for now."

Why chicken out now, go get it.

"Hmm, maybe just buy it in case."

I gave Fumi a little push.

"Are you sure?"

Fumi's a little hesitant, she was all excited about this at first.

"Look there are two different models, so just get one, maybe having two of them will surely make her happy."

I found an opportunity for a little explanation, hope she finally buys it.

"Right, I'll buy both of them."

Seriously, after all that hesitation and my efforts,

"Eh? That's it, shall we meet up with others?"

Anyway, we don't have much time and we took too long.

Then an email came,

'Hey, Kenji, we're sorry but we have to go first. Something came up, Nagi forgot to do her assignments.'

That's bad, no choice.

"Fumi, the twins just left because Nagi forgot to do her homework."

So we are all alone here in Akihabara,

"I see, hey just asking what do we know about a good present?"

What now?

"You're asking that now?!"

I am utterly confused.

"I don't know something just came up on my mind, are you buying her a gift."

I see, Fumi next time you say something please be specific. I am a bit of an airhead.

"Ah, well she wanted a dakimakura so I got her that, she doesn't know it yet."

"I never thought you're a good brother."

"Just what do you think of me."

"Maybe I should buy another kind of gift."

"What is it?"

"Maybe a Poly Cure cosplay set."

"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!"

"Nothing, is there something wrong?"

"You sounded like you are selling my little sister to the old geezers."

"WHY WOULD I DO THAT?"

"Forget it, how about we buy something for ourselves?"

"..."

Fumi was shocked and her face was red.

"AAAAH, NEVERMIND NEVERMIND!"

"Yeah, let's forget about that."

"Yeah, right."

"..."

Fumi went quiet for the whole minute we walk around Akihabara.

"Hey, isn't there really anything else? Something that Kanna will forever keep?"

"I guess, there is something."

"What is it?"

"Happy memories."

"Eh, how do we do that?"

"I don't know, maybe give her the best party we could ever give."

"Yeah, let's do that. I'm sure she'll be so happy."

"Let's take photos too, she loves photos to let her remember everything."

"Maybe I'll invite my uncle."

"Sure."

"Invite, Mr. Kiichi and editor-in-chief too."

"HAHAHA, I do hope they'll agree."

"Or maybe we can ask them to let Kanna tour around the editorial apartment."

"Yeah, she would love that, nice ideas Fumi. I'll make sure to tell her that it was your idea."

"Yay, leave it to me, Fumi, I'll do my hardest as her big sister!"

That's how our conversation went until the end of the day and we went home together.