Chapter 180: Kaede and Takuya’s Birthday ②

“Juko juko ♡ jurirurururu ♡”

“Kaede… I’m coming!!”

Woken up a bit early, I come in Kaede’s mouth, then we eat breakfast and head to school.

It’s not my usual school day, but everyone wants to celebrate my birthday, so they asked me to come.

“Takuya-sama ♡ happy birthday again ♡ I’m so happy to be with you on this special day ♡”

“Thank you, Miki-san.”

“You’re welcome ♡”

Miki-san ties my tie, and we all head to school together.

““““Happy birthday, Takuya-kun, Kaede-chan~ ♡””””

Entering the classroom, everyone’s already there, welcoming us with applause.

“Th-Thanks, everyone…”

“Takuya ♡ let’s take pics ♡”

The blackboard’s got a huge “Happy Birthday Takuya-kun & Kaede-chan” written on it, perfect for photos.

After snapping shots with Kaede, we take group and two-shot photos with the class, including our homeroom teacher.

Everywhere I go, people say “Happy birthday,” putting me in a great mood all day.

“Takuya-sama ♡ happy birthday! ♡”

For dinner, it’s my birthday, so I could’ve eaten out… but I selfishly wanted the maids’ cooking at home. Miki-san was so happy she cried.

“Your favorite karaage, Takuya-sama! ♡”

Masami-oneechan and the others helped cook, so the spread’s massive, but it’s my birthday, so it’s fine.

“M-Me too, really…?”

Rin-san’s sitting quietly at the edge. Since she’s been eating dinner here often—her workplace is our house, and my streams are usually at night—I invited her to stay over a lot.

“You’re my bride too, Rin-san… Here’s your favorite beer!”

“Ugh… thank you…”

Rin-san chugs the beer and starts eating.

“Drink too, Satsuki-san.”

“Yes, I’m having some.”

Satsuki-san’s finally started drinking recently. Mei-san says she loves alcohol, and I felt bad for making her hold back so long.

“Takuya-sama~ ♡ I’m so happy you’re eating a lot~ ♡”

“Your cooking’s delicious, Moka-san ♡”

“Oh my~ ♡ Saying that might make me cry like Miki-chan~ ♡”

“N-Nana… ugh…”

“Fufu ♡ Miki-chan’s so pure ♡”

“Ka-Kaori-sama…”

Even Mom teases Miki-san for crying, making her blush bright red.

“Takuya~ ♡ Your glass is empty~ ♡”

Kaede’s acting drunk, but she’s drinking shammeri. She’s hyped, opening character-themed shammeri bottles.

“Thanks, Kaede.”

“Nhehe ♡ Let’s do it with alcohol in the future ♡”

“Yup.”

“Until then and beyond, always ♡ forever together! ♡”

“Of course.”

“Hehe ♡ hehehe ♡”

“Oh ♡ with Onee-chan too, right, Takuya? ♡”

“Yup!”

Promising to stay with everyone forever, I munch on my favorite karaage and kakanui, sipping juice. Gotta save room for cake, though.

“Then, Takuya-sama ♡ let’s eat cake! ♡”

They light the candles and turn off the room’s lights.

““““Happy birthday!””””

““Fuu~””

Kaede and I blow out the candles together. The unique candle smell fills the room, so birthday-like.

“Takuya, aah~ ♡”

We feed each other cake, and Satsuki-san takes photos.

“So happy ♡”

“Yup, me too.”

“Takuya ♡ you know? ♡”

“What?”

“Birthdays happen every year!”

“R-Right… every year like this… e-everyone, you don’t have to go all out…”

I felt like it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, but yeah, it’s my birthday.

“Fufu ♡ Taku-chan ♡ if everyone chips in a little, we can make something amazing. And you’re the center of it all, so hold your head high ♡”

“U-Uh…”

“That’s right, Takuya! For me, getting celebrated with you, puff out your chest ♡ Especially since this weekend’s party isn’t our joint one—it’s Takuya’s birthday party!”

“O-Okay…”

If I think “someone like me” is the star, it’ll dampen everyone’s vibe.

“Then, Takuya ♡ let’s bathe ♡”

“It’s Onee-chan’s birthday too, so I’ll let you have him~ ♡”

“Yay ♡ thanks~ ♡”

Kaede pulls me to her room first to hang my uniform, since we can’t leave it crumpled.

“Undress me~ ♡ …hehe ♡ like a butler ♡”

“Oh, the cultural festival’s soon.”

“Yup, yup! ♡ Can’t wait ♡”

“Your maid outfit too.”

“Ehehe ♡”

I get Kaede down to her shirt, then we go to my room to strip me to my shirt, and we get naked in the bathroom.

“Bath with Takuya~ ♡”

“Just us today, so let’s take it slow.”

“Oh! ♡ I’ll grab a bath bomb! ♡”

Kaede, towel wrapped around her, runs to her room and brings back a bath bomb.

A nice scent rises from the tub, fizzing away.

“Mmm~ ♡ smells good ♡”

“Yeah.”

“Fuu~ ♡ so warm~ ♡ It’s getting chilly, huh~ ♡”

“Don’t catch a cold.”

“You too, Takuya ♡”

“We slept naked last night, didn’t we?”

“Hehe ♡ gotta be careful ♡”

We warm up slowly, wash each other’s hair and bodies, soak again, and get out.

“Warmed up, but let’s eat ice cream~ ♡”

Besides cake, we got fancy ice cream, so we feed each other. Birthdays justify all sorts of treats.

“I wanna do this with Takuya forever ♡”

“Me too… I wanna be with everyone forever.”

“Nfufu ♡ It’s so nice when you say that ♡ …Half a year ago, you had that ‘I’ll live alone!’ face ♡”

“Th-That’s… I didn’t think I’d be welcomed so warmly as family…”

Back then, right after losing my memories, I thought I was a different person. I was ready to live alone, apart from family.

“Obviously ♡ You’re still Takuya ♡ Even without memories, you’re our family ♡”

“Thanks…”

“Yup! ♡”

Kaede’s hug calms my restless heart, her warmth flowing into me. I hope she feels the same… no, she definitely does.

“Ice cream’s melting ♡ Hurry up ♡”

Hiding my embarrassment, I scarf down the ice cream, and we hop into bed.

“We went hard yesterday… or today… so we’re good, right? ♡”

“If you’re satisfied, Kaede, I’m good.”

“Yup ♡ I’m so fulfilled right now ♡ Just holding hands with you makes me warm ♡ Kinda childish? ♡”

“Same here… warm, but I’d get cold if we let go.”

“Ehehe ♡ warming each other up ♡”

In a bed too big for just us, we hold hands, staring at the ceiling.

“Takuya ♡ look forward to this weekend! ♡”

“Yup, I am.”

“Hehehe ♡ We all planned a ton! ♡”

“Thanks to everyone.”

“Your enjoyment’s the best ‘thank you’ ♡”

“Right… I’ll have tons of fun.”

“Yup, yup ♡ …haa ♡ I’m kinda sad tomorrow’s coming ♡”

“I’ll be with you tomorrow too, forever, like we promised.”

“Yup… ♡”

Tomorrow’s back to normal. That shift from special to everyday is the loneliest moment.

I feel Kaede’s sadness through our joined hands and squeeze back.

“Takuya ♡ …I love you… ♡”

“Me too.”

“Nfufu ♡ I knew ♡”

We’ve said “I love you” so much today, we’re beyond doubt, but saying it matters.

“Then, let’s sleep? ♡”

“Yup, goodnight…”

“Goodnight ♡ …chuu ♡”

We kiss goodnight, hold hands again, close our eyes, and listen to each other’s breathing.

※

Waking up, I see Kaede’s peaceful sleeping face and our left hands, nearly apart but still touching.

“Nnya ♡ …Takuya ♡ wake me with a kiss ♡”

“Yup… chuu ♡”

“Nfufu ♡ Morning kiss is the best~ ♡ …It’s back to normal today, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“But you know ♡ I’m super excited? ♡ ‘Cause you’re here ♡”

“That’s sweet… I hope I’m that kind of presence…”

“Ugh! ♡ Not ‘hope,’ you are! ♡”

Kaede huffs, cheering me on.

“Takuya ♡ you’re our reason for living ♡”

“Reason for living…”

“Yup! ♡ You’re why we live, why we keep going! ♡”

“That’s… maybe the same for me…”

“Fufu ♡ Then I’ll keep going for you today too ♡”

“I’ll do my best too… I’ll go to school.”

“Yup! Let’s hit the living room ♡”

Kaede pulls my hand, and we eat breakfast with our precious family, change, and head to school.