Memories

[heavyliesthecrown]

Memories, Memory Bingo, and More.

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[heavyliesthecrown]

Birthday

Location: Suou Mansion, Ensemble Square - New Dimension meeting room, and his ES Dorm room.
Time: 5th- 17th birthday; A montage...
Notes: Tsukasa's real name is always obscured.

Story:

"Blow out the candles, young master!"

Seated at the head of the table atop a seat cushion in order to make up for your smaller height, you glance to the beautifully dressed maid and butler at your side. Both are with you most nights and days. You're glad to see them here at your party! Head tilted, a small frown mars your features, however.

"What about mother and father?"

They were supposed to be here. Today, you are turning an entire five years old. You're already a big kid now. You've been ready all morning to show them just how much you have grown. Yet, the two servants exchange a look with one another before turning back to you. And before they open their mouths, you already realize what they are going to say.

"I apologize, young master. Your parents were caught up in business, and so are unable to attend. But they have promised to bring you something extra special once they return."

The smile upon your face fades a little to something more polite, gaze turning back to the massive cake in front of you and the dozens of empty chairs in the room. It's alright! Because they are working extra hard in order to help the family flourish. Someday, you'll be able to help the family just like them. You've got to work hard. The harder you work, the more they can relax, right? And the more time together you'll have! Next year for sure you'll get to celebrate together.

Yet the next year they are unable to make it either. The apologies are genuine, and you speak to both over the phone. They share how much they love you and apologize for being unable to make the flight. Sometimes, it is just like that. It's alright. The servants are all around, and you'll have a lot of fun with them. No one can even lecture you about eating too much cake on your birthday! And it isn't as though every birthday is spent without them. While they do miss some, others are made up by a weekend trip to a ryokan, or a splurge on treats. Always, they are spent with only the adults in your life. All except for one, that is-- a high society function. Tori, your pink-haired nemesis and sometimes class companion does attend that. But while the adult's backs are turned he has the nerve to purposefully step on your foot which results in a retaliatory cheek pinch. 

Ugh...! Why did he have to come?

If you have to listen to one more boast or another insult about how old and poor your family is you will not be held responsible for bodily ejecting that new money from the soiree.

On your seventeenth birthday, you're far too busy with your idol work and schooling to even focus on your birthday. There's an upcoming performance to prepare for, and with your senpais scattered across the winds, it's important to coordinate with them now. Not only that, but Sena is out of the country, which means they will likely have to zoom him into the meeting tonight if they want to get anywhere. Knights are talented enough to pull things together quickly, but that does not mean they do not need the practice or to discuss their battle plans ahead of time. Which is why when you arrive at your meeting room in Ensemble Square, you feel exhausted when you open the door to the room and it is empty, the light off. With an exasperated sigh, you lift a hand to your head and shake it. All day you told them to meet you up here in order to discuss the upcoming live. You had even warned Narukami and Ritsu to hunt down Leo and secure him. Surely they have not forgotten.

Sliding your coat from around your shoulders you feel blindly along the wall until you find the light switch. And nearly jump back in fright, stumbling backwards onto your bottom when bodies suddenly emerge from around tables and corners, jumping up with a loud shout.

"SURPRISE!!!"

Heart pounding, you stare in shock from your spot upon the ground as two of your senpais, Narukami and Ritsu, help you up off of the floor, everyone laughing in good cheer. In confusion you stare, utterly dumbfounded. All of this is for-

"WAHAHAHA! You look like your spirit left your body, Suo~!" Leo's laugh rings loud in your ear as Ritsu chuckles quietly beside you, wiggling his hands and baring his fang-like teeth in your direction.

"Fufu...in that case, leave yourself to me, Suu~chan. Let me take you quietly to the underworld~." 

Leo pipes back up as he places a triangular hat upon your head, speaking to your 'vampire'-like senpai.

"Rittsu!! Don't you know that death is a bad omen on your birthday? We're celebrating life!! Although I guess I was the one to mention spirits, to begin with! So I can't talk!"

"My baad~"

Arms crossed, Sena stands somewhat to the side and rolls his eyes.

"Uh? Kasa-kun? We just went through all this trouble to throw you a surprise party and you still haven't even got something to say yet? My time is like, super valuable you know? I flew all the way here, so you should show proper gratitude toward me already? Soooo~ annoying." Yet despite his words, there's a smile on his face. And he's interrupted anyway when Tsukasa suddenly finds himself being squeezed against Narukami's chest.

"Now, now~ Can't you see that Tsukasa-chan is surprised? But oh my~ His shocked expression is just SO cute, isn't it?" And suddenly, their 'protective' hug transforms into nuzzling their cheek against your own. "Our cute lil' king still has an innocent side like this."

Sena responds once more while batting Leo away as he tries to place a hat upon his own head. 

"Isn't it because you spoil him too much?"

"Aha..." An amused chuckle from Ritsu. "You say that, Secchan, but weren't you the one fussing the most about making sure everything was perfect?"

Sena can only grump in response. "Kuma-kun, you talk too much."

"Fufu."

You feel overwhelmed. Looking between them all and into the rest of the room, there are others here too, including your friend Harukawa-kun. Presents are piled up on a table, and a large, extravagant cake sits as a centerpiece between them all. Finally breaking away from Narukami's grip, you find your words.

"I thought we were to have an important meeting today? Instead, all of this is... for me?"

"Is something wrong with your ears, Suo~? We've made it pretty clear since you stepped through the door, you know!"

Leo looks at you with amusement but suddenly you can't contain the way your emotions abruptly spill forth, and a tear rolls down your cheek. Of course, at once you lift a hand to brush it away. It's no good to cry in public-- that is embarrassing, improper, and not fitting of someone of your birth. And yet it still falls. Narukami rests a hand upon your shoulder.

"I do not know what to say. To my noble seniors in Knights and everyone else here from New Dimension... my friends? Thank you!"

You're dragged into a tight four-way hug and laugh, before they pull you forward to celebrate with the rest. You're just... so happy! The presents are nice. Well... most of them. The signs in Italian warning you to be careful of what you eat from Sena are a little... questionable. But it's the thought that counts and you're grateful toward everyone. Including, to your surprise, Tori-- the same childhood fremeny who once antagonized you on your birthday at the social function all those years ago. He isn't here... but it seems that he was the one responsible for ordering and sending the cake over? He even knew his favorite cake shop.

. . . You hate to admit it, but that makes you happy too. You'll have to thank him later. Somehow, he keeps maturing and shooting farther and farther ahead of you, doesn't he? But someday you'll catch up. I vow that I will catch up.

Before the end of the night, Mikajima-senpai approaches you too. You do not speak very much, even though you are in the same agency. There just hasn't been much reason or opportunity to, despite his very loud and boisterous presence. Holding a small, white bag, he hands it over to you. It... is from your cousin? For some reason, he didn't come to the party... and you're a little sad about that. Mikajima explains that he was unable to make it, but that he still wanted to give you this. Inside, is your favorite flavor of cake from the little dessert shop you had told him all about before. So your cousin remembered too. Eyes closed, you smile and accept it, both sincere and grateful. 

You've never felt this happy before on your birthday-- having the opportunity to spend it with so many important people to you. Every single moment... you want to engrave it into your heart.

"With all of my gratitude... thank you, everyone!"

That night, you happily line up the cards and gifts you received earlier in the day- a reminder of how much fun you had, including a picture you've already printed out from your phone. So many of the people who you've come to care about are there in the picture, smiling brightly behind you as you all smile for a group photo.

. . . For some reason, a couple of tears burn the corner of your eyes. Every birthday before now you had always spent it alone. Until now, you hadn't known how fun it could be to spend a day like this with... with friends.

Crawling into bed with the picture, you smile, reminiscing over it and the various antics you had experienced earlier, before closing your eyes. You will keep this close to your heart, and frame it tomorrow to sit on your bedside table. And tonight, you'll sleep soundly. This is one birthday you do not believe you will ever be able to forget.