They'll Be Waiting in the Stars

Fatal Birthday ( I )

“He’s already been in there for weeks, maybe this is a good chance to—“

“Ssh!” A woman with calloused hands and heavy glasses placed a finger to her lips, eyes darting up towards the second floor where, just barely, the sounds of pattering footsteps could be heard. “I think they’re about to come down. We should talk about this later.”

Her companion, sitting across the table with a casual posture that hardly matched the seriousness of her tone, leaned over the cup of tea in front of her, partially to hide the hurt pride of judgement in her gaze.

“I’m just saying, isn’t it a bit cruel to put him with the rest?”

“No, I think it’s good for them. They’re just kids, after all. Wait.”

The conversation was abruptly ended by a string of said kids attempting to sneak their way down the squeaking staircase towards the front door.

“Souta?” She turned to the quickest of the bunch, who already had a hand eagerly wrapped around the doorknob. “Where are you going?”

The child froze at the sound of his name, as if he had hoped that even with all the creaking of winter-worn wood they might escape unnoticed. But he wasn’t one to be easily deterred, instead doubling down with a playful grin.

“We want to visit Setsuka. It’s okay, isn’t it, Miss Hisakawa? Today’s his birthday.”

“Ah, right. Hmm… I’m on traffic duty with the toddlers, so I told him I would come tomorrow….”

The five boys in front of her weren’t the only ones Hisakawa had to worry about. There were a total of 14 at the house, the majority under the age of six given her background as a daycare teacher. As such she often had her hands full not just tending to her many wards, but also keeping up with the community responsibilities required of her position. Even though the others said they would understand, Hisakawa always volunteered for double traffic duty, and was never once late.

“And I told you I have a vet appointment. My poor Isabella’s due any day now.”

The second woman stood, lifting her tea cup to finish it in one satisfied chug. Wrapping around herself the scarf and jacket that had been draped on the chair behind her, she walked past the children to open the door they so coveted to leave.

“In fact I was just on my way out.”

“That’s fine, Minori. And I’m sorry, boys, but we just don’t have anyone to walk you.”

At that a tall child with a smile gentle enough to woo any adult (and the poise behind it to suggest he was well aware of this fact) spoke up in a resolute tone.

“It’s okay, Miss Hisakawa. We’ll be alright on our own.”

“Yeah! I know the way to the hospital really well!” A third boy beside him spoke, puffing out his chest while he cheerily flexed an arm covered in bandages to emphasize his point.

A fourth added with a concerned mutter, “It’s his birthday, he’ll be sad if he’s all alone…”

Now with four against one and Minori not having waited long to shut the door behind her, Hisakawa found herself at a disadvantage. But as their hearts were in the right place, and it was only their second Christmas as a family, she didn’t feel like today was the time to argue.

“Right, right. Okay.” With a short, sharp breath and a shake of her hair that the children knew always signaled a final decision, Hisakawa turned towards the tall boy and the one with the bandages. “Mikage, Narumi, if you promise you’ll watch over the others, I’ll phone the hospital now.”

“Yay! Adventure! Adventure!” Before either of his friends could answer Souta, always quick on the uptake, began to loudly chirp.

“I’ll pass if you’re gonna keep screaming.” It was enough to finally get a word out of the last of the five, dour-faced as usual as he blew the long hair he was too stubborn to cut out of his eyes.

“What about if I sing it instead? I~~LOVE~~~ADVEN~~~TURE~~~”

“Stop that. Or Setsuka won’t be the only one in the hospital.”

“Don’t worry, Miss Hisakawa. Narumi can lead the way, and I promise to watch over them,” Mikage, expression unfaltering despite his friends’ antics, finally gave his response. His adult-like mannerisms were something that Hisakawa was ashamed to admit she both too often depended on and which somewhat unsettled her. But today was time for the former, so she merely nodded before heading into the kitchen to make the aforementioned call.

“I-Is it really alright?” The timid voice which had earlier defended his friends now shrunk to Mikage’s side. The shyest of the boys was hunched over a bag clutched tightly in his hands, the unsure expression he always wore wavering over a sweaty face. But Mikage gently patted his shoulder, showing him one of his careful smiles.

“We’ll be fine, Rikuto. It’s only a few blocks away. Right, Narumi?”

“Yup!”

At that Hisakawa returned.

“Alright, I phoned the nurse to let them know you’re coming. Say ‘happy birthday’ to Setsuka for me, okay?”

“Okay!” sang Souta, already a foot out the door.

“And don’t forget your hats! Just to be safe.”

A bobbing trail of yellow snaked its way through the cold December streets, past couples sharing the warmth of each others breaths and hands, mothers frantically shopping for last-minute KFC, and only the occasional passer-by who might wonder what elementary children were doing out at such a time. But true to his word, Mikage made sure the others dutifully doddered along, single-file so as to avoid clogging up even the mostly-deserted sidewalks, with sprightful Narumi buoyantly leading the way, and Souta providing accompaniment in the form of the newest carol he had picked up. “It’s American!” He would say. “It’s annoying,” Ren, his grouchy friend, would respond. Rikuto said nothing, trailing near the back, hands still clutching his bag as he stared at the ground, deep in thought.

“Ah, Narumi! Miss Hisakawa told me you’d be coming. Visiting your friend for Christmas, how nice.”

“It’s not just Christmas, Miss. It’s his birthday!”

“Oh? What a day to have been born. Anyway, I know you’re here to visit Setsuka, but do you need a refill?”

“No, I’m good for this week. But thanks!”

“Are you sure? I can give you a bottle now, I don’t mind.”

“Hmm…Okay then! It can’t hurt.”

This exchange unfolded between Narumi and the woman behind the hospital counter as the others continued to file in, dramatically shaking off the brisk winter air. Though it wasn’t frequent, they had all been here to visit Setsuka at least a few times since the accident, but that didn’t keep their eyes from wandering around, still taking in this unfamiliar and slightly intimidating place where Narumi somehow managed to feel at home.

Ren, however, was never able to contain himself, especially when he was bored, and Narumi was too easy a target of his jabs.

“It will hurt when that backpack of yours explodes,” he threw out, almost on principle.

“Good thing then it won’t!”

“Carrying around 3 different types of bandages is a bit obsessive…” Souta couldn’t help but chime in.

“Is not! And I thought it worked out pretty well for you when you fell off that slide.”

“Well it’s not like a cut’s gonna kill me.”

“But it could kill me, so I won’t apologize for being careful.” Narumi folded his arms defiantly. “And that goes for all of you! Health is the most important thing we’ve got, so you better take care of it!” This stopped the teasing for a moment, the others shuffling awkwardly as it was hard to keep attacking this point when considering the defender’s position. Except Ren, of course.

“We ditched the adults but Narumi’s just as bad.”

“Hey!”

Eventually the group managed to make it from the counter to the notoriously slow elevator down the hall, impatiently joggling as they waited for it to arrive.

“You know, as many times as I’ve come here I’ve never been to the top floor.”

“So what? I bet it’s the same as the rest.”

“It’s not! I heard a rumor about it the other day.”

“A rumor?”

“Yeah. That it’s haunted.”

“H-H-H-Haunted!?” Rikuto, who had been silent since they left the house, couldn’t help but yelp at this account.

“Narumi, I expect this from the younger ones. But you?”

“Sorry Mikage, the elevator just reminded me of it.”

“Don’t mind him, Rikuto. And Ren? Souta? Not another word.”

“No promises.”

Mikage shook his head, turning to watch the elevator doors trundle open before them. Already many months experienced in how impossible it was getting Ren to listen to any sort of reason, he sought to diffuse the conversation by changing its topic instead.

“By the way Rikuto, you still have the gift, right?”

“Uh…y-yeah! Right here.”

As they hurried inside the reason he had been so attached to his bag was revealed as he produced from it a large, clumsily wrapped square which he uncertainly reached out towards Mikage.

“Why are you offering it to me?”

“W-Well, I mean…this whole surprise was your idea, so…”

“I just suggested what any of you would have had you paid more attention to the calendar.”

“Hey!”

Ignoring Souta’s outburst, Mikage patiently continued, “But you’re the one who picked out the gift, so you should be the one to give it.”

“I still can’t believe we pulled all that money for a stupid book.” Ren, perpetually in the state of rolling his eyes, huffed from the corner.

“And my cake!” Narumi felt it was important to add.

“I-It’s not stupid…” Rikuto stumbled, “I’m sure Setsuka will—”

“Yeah, probably. Setsuka’s a big nerd so of course he’ll love it.”

Rikuto turned towards Ren. There was always this air of tension between them that the others pretended not to notice. The friction of the tormentor and the tormented.

“That’s not a very nice thing to say about someone on their birthday.”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. You’re a big nerd, too.”

Thankfully Souta was never slow on a tease. “Yet you still hang out with us.”

“Keep reminding me and maybe I’ll forget to.”

“Classic Ren. It’s already been a year and he’s still not mature enough to admit we’re friends!”

“Like the one who sang the whole way here can talk!”

Mikage let out a sigh as long and suffering as the elevator’s painfully opening doors.

“How is Setsuka just turning 10 when he’s already more grown up than the both of you combined?”

“Alright, Mikage. You really wanna take us on?”

“Truce to take down Mikage? I’m in.”

“Ssh. This is the room.”

“Knew it.”

“He’s too scared.”

“Come on guys, focus.” Narumi stepped in front of the group, protectively stretching out his arms. “The important thing is that we’re all here for Setsuka. Mikage, it was good you brought up the day. Souta helped me with the cake. Rikuto picked out the present, and Ren collected the money to go help him buy it.”

“Right…this is from all of us. T-That’s why…is it really okay for me to be the one who…?”

“Of course! I’m sure Setsuka will love it. And even if it’s a gift from all of us, he knows you like books so he’d figure it out.”

“Yeah…Setsuka is really smart… Alright. Thank you, Mikage. Everyone.”

“Don’t start crying, you’ll spoil the fun.”

“Ren, please. If that’s all, on the count of 3, let’s get ready to shout surprise.”

3…

2……

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