Chapter 80.5: Kai’s 8th birthday

The sun shone brightly on the morning of Kai's 8th birthday, casting golden light across the grand Suzuki estate.

The air was filled with a sense of excitement that matched the vibrant decorations strung across the garden, where the party would soon take place.

Bright balloons, colorful streamers, and long tables laden with food, sweets, and gifts filled the space, creating a picturesque scene that seemed fit for a young prince.

And in many ways, Kai Suzuki was just that.

A little prince in his own right, the son of one of the wealthiest, most influential families in the region.

But he's not to blame, nor his family.

They're rich but they also are good people, and that's why they were "loved" by the people.

"Kai, darling, are you ready?" His mother, Suzuki Haruka, called from the foot of the grand staircase.

"Yes, Mom!" Kai's small voice echoed from his bedroom upstairs, where he was adjusting the bow tie on his outfit.

He was wearing fine white shirt tucked into tailored pants that were a bit too formal for an 8-year-old's birthday party but seemed to be the norm in the Suzuki household.

Kai looked at himself in the mirror, smoothing his hair down.

He had always liked the way his mother made sure every little detail was perfect for him.

His parents, Fumihiro and Haruka, were nothing short of doting.

Despite their busy schedules managing the empire they had built, they always made time for him, especially on days like these.

No matter how many business meetings, international trips, or gala events they had to attend, his birthdays were sacred.

They were a family that never missed an occasion, and for that, Kai was grateful in his little heart.

Yet, as he stared at his reflection, a strange, familiar feeling gnawed at him.

A soft tug at the edge of his consciousness.

It wasn't sadness, and it wasn't dissatisfaction, but something in between.

He felt… alone, in a way he couldn't quite explain.

"Kai!" His mother's voice broke through his thoughts again, more urgent this time. "Your friends are here!"

Kai hurried down the stairs, his footsteps quickening as he felt the rush of excitement.

As he descended, he spotted his parents waiting at the bottom.

His mother, always elegant, smiled warmly at him, her hand extended to guide him.

His father, Suzuki Fumihiro, stood tall and proud beside her, his hand resting on Kai's shoulder as he passed.

"You look sharp, son," his father said, giving him an approving nod. "A true Suzuki." He said with a proud tone of voice.

Kai smiled up at them both, feeling a swell of pride.

His parents had always made him feel special, not just on his birthday but every day.

They were there for every important moment, every single event that he did, every milestone.

And yet, that feeling, that faint thread of loneliness, still clung to him, elusive and persistent.

"Kai-kun!" A voice called from the garden, and Kai turned to see his friends: Hiro, Hana, and Emi Fujimoto running toward him with wide smiles.

He immediately felt lighter, happier, as he ran out to meet them.

He was even happier after seeing that Emi Fujimoto returned for that special occasion of Kai's birthday.

"Happy birthday, Kai!" Hiro said, clapping him on the back with the kind of enthusiasm that only an 8-year-old could muster.

"Happy birthday!" Hana and Emi echoed, both of them giggling as they handed him their carefully wrapped gifts.

"Thanks, guys!" Kai grinned as he looked at the presents, feeling a genuine warmth in his chest.

His friends had always been there for him, and he cherished the moments they spent together, even if their gatherings were usually smaller than the extravagant parties other children of wealthy families often had.

They always stayed with him despite they couldn't see each other often due to Kai's status.

He couldn't go out so many times , and he spent most of the time in his house or his room by playing alone.

The four of them ran off to play in the garden, their laughter filling the air as they played tag around the neatly trimmed hedges and flower beds.

Hiro was, as usual, the fastest, darting around with a wild energy that kept everyone on their toes.

Hana and Emi were close behind, their dresses swirling as they twirled and ran, their giggles contagious.

There weren't a lot of children, but Kai didn't care.

He just loved his few friends.

For a moment, everything was perfect.

The sun was shining, the breeze was gentle, and the joy of being surrounded by his friends made Kai forget about that strange feeling.

They played for what felt like hours, the world slipping away as they chased each other across the sprawling lawn while Kai's parents were carefully looking at them, enjoying a small glimpse of happiness.

They didn't waste any single moment.

They perfectly knew that any second that passed with their son was pure gold

But as the games slowed down and the four of them sat beneath the shade of a tree, sharing slices of birthday cake, that old feeling returned to Kai.

He watched his friends laughing, saw the way they talked so freely, and felt, once again, that slight distance between him and them.

He was also sad because the party was almost over and they were gonna go to their home.

"So, what did you wish for, Kai?" Emi asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she leaned in closer.

Kai hesitated.

He hadn't really thought about it.

When he blew out the candles earlier, his mind had been blank.

But now, as he looked at his friends, he realized what he wanted most.

"To always be with you guys," he said, smiling, but the words felt heavy in his mouth.

Even at eight, Kai could sense that things would change.

His parents' world was one of constant movement.

Dinners with important people, trips overseas, and long nights spent in meetings.

Would his friends still be around? Would he?

Hiro, always the optimist, clapped him on the back again.

"Of course we'll always be together, Kai! We're best friends, aren't we?"

"Yeah!" Hana and Emi chimed in, their voices full of confidence.

Kai smiled again, but deep down, the loneliness remained, tucked away where no one could see.

He didn't fully understand it, but it was there, whispering to him in the quiet moments between laughter.

As the afternoon wore on, the party wound down.

Kai's friends said their goodbyes, their parents arriving to pick them up one by one.

Hiro was the first to leave, running off with a promise to come over the next weekend. Hana and Emi lingered a little longer, hugging Kai tightly before finally waving goodbye.

"Thanks for coming," Kai said softly as they disappeared down the driveway, his smile fading as he watched them go.

Back inside the house, his parents were waiting for him in the living room, their smiles just as bright as they had been that morning.

His mother handed him a beautifully wrapped box, and his father stood beside her, his arms crossed but a look of satisfaction on his face.

"Open it, sweetheart," Haruka urged gently.

Kai carefully peeled back the wrapping paper, revealing a brand-new watch—sleek, elegant, and far too grown-up for an 8-year-old.

But Kai knew it wasn't just a gift; it was a symbol, a reminder of the expectations that came with being a Suzuki.

Despite that, Kai truly appreciated his parents' gift in his little.

But that wasn't something he "wanted" in a certain way.

He didn't care so much about material objects.

Instead, he always liked the meaning behind a gift or a gesture.

"Do you like it?" His father asked, his voice deep and steady.

Kai nodded, forcing a smile. "I love it. Thank you, Mom, Dad."

They both embraced him, their love tangible and real, but still, that emptiness remained, hiding in the shadows of his heart.

The house was full of everything a child could ever want.

Luxury, love, attention… and yet Kai felt something was missing, something he couldn't quite name.

That night, after the party was long over and the house had gone quiet, Kai lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

His new watch sat on the bedside table, gleaming in the dim light of the lamp.

He could hear the soft murmur of his parents talking downstairs, their voices calm and composed, as they always were.

Kai's mind wandered back to his wish, the one he had made earlier.

To always be with his friends.

But as he lay there, alone in the dark, he realized that no matter how many friends he had, no matter how much his parents loved him, there would always be a part of him that felt… separate.

It wasn't anyone's fault.

His parents were perfect in their own way, and his friends were loyal and fun.

But Kai couldn't shake the feeling that he was different, that there was a distance between him and the world around him.

A distance that was getting bigger everyday.

It was a quiet kind of loneliness, one that didn't scream for attention but settled deep inside, lingering long after the laughter had faded.

Kai turned on his side, pulling the blankets closer around him, and closed his eyes.

The house was silent now, save for the faint ticking of his new watch.

He drifted into sleep, the sound of time passing echoing softly in the quiet room, a reminder of the things he couldn't quite understand yet, but knew would shape him in ways he couldn't foresee.