Chapter 53

In the morning Nanaka suddenly told me to come back home after six. She didn't tell me the reason, but I actually know. Today, the 29th of June is my birthday.

For me who has a very acute sense, a surprise is kinda hard to do. For that reason, I intentionally limited my sense presence to only five-meter.

"Kitahara-san, please come to my office." Natsuki, who was about to head back to her office, suddenly said.

"Okay, sensei." I nodded and said.

"Hehehe..." Kaori, who heard it suddenly giggled as if she knew something.

"Are you heading to your club right away?" I pretended to ask if she was going to the club because I know she is going straight to the apartment preparing for the surprise party.

"Eh, you already know it, right? I'm going home right away." Kaori answered with a smirk.

"Hehe...yeah..." I caressed the back of my head and smiled wryly.

"Your task is to come back home a bit late. We will do the rest." Kaori said with a smile.

"Then, I look forward to what are you guys prepared for me." I smilingly said.

"You should! See you later, Izu!" Kaori waved her hand and went out of the classroom.

After Kaori went, I immediately went to Natsuki-chan's office. In the middle of my way suddenly there is a group of girls approaching me.

"A-ano, Kitahara-sama.... T-This is for you, happy birthday! A-and I have seen the magazine, you are so cool!" A girl who stands in the front shyly said as she gave me a wrapped gift.

"Eh? Haha...Thank you..." I said with a gentle smile. The group of girls suddenly blushing fiercely and smoke coming out from their faces. Then one of them albeit nervously giving me the present she prepared.

"M-me too! Here is a present from me, Kitahara-sama. I also saw your photoshoot you are so handsome. A-and I wish for your happiness!" Another girl said and gave me a present.

"W-wait, me too!"

"It's my turn after that!"

After the girl bravely had said that one after another followed her causing my bag full of gifts. I said my gratitude to them and excuse myself before more girls coming here. And Natsuki-chan has been waiting for me.

Without knocking the door I directly went into Natsuki-chan's office.

"Yo, what's up Natsuki-chan?" I asked as I sit in front of Natsuki who has been waiting on the sofa. Natsuki didn't tell me to knock the room first as if she already knew I would do that.

"The first week of the summer holiday, please come with me to Tokyo." Natsuki casually said.

"Eh? You're inviting me to a trip just two of us? I don't know you are this blunt, Natsuki-chan." I smirked and said.

"*Sigh* I know you would say that. At any rate, we prepared a party for you to becoming a Campione." Natsuki sighed and explained.

"Isn't that a bit too late?" I wonderingly asked.

"I know. They want to hold a party as soon as possible, but I told them not to." Natsuki answered.

"Why, though?" I tilted my head and asked.

"Because you are a student. And I don't want my student to abandon his study for that." Natsuki gently said.

"Hehe... But you did know it wouldn't be a problem for me, right?" I said with a confident expression.

"Well yes, but your place is here to experience youth. Don't worry about other things as I will help you with that. Because I am your assistant, right?" Natsuki gently smiled and said.

"...I didn't know you were that caring toward me, Natsuki-chan." I said with a smirk, but I'm actually embarrassed and I'm holding back my embarrassment.

"*Chuckled* So even you can get embarrassed, huh.." Natsuki said with a smile.

"Damn, you are too strong, Natsuki-chan. At any rate, is that the only thing you want to tell me?" I said to change the topic.

"There is one more. Today is your birthday, right? Here is a present from me." Natsuki said as she gave me a box of high-quality black hand watch.

"...You even prepared a gift... Thank you I really like it." I opened the box and smilingly said. Then I wear the watch and displayed it to Natsuki-chan.

"That's good..." Looking at me, Natsuki said with a dazzling smile.

---

Because it still not 6 pm, I decided to just stay around the school as Shishou was absent today so I don't need to go to the Kendo Club. But suddenly my phone ringing, it was from Ai-chan.

"Hello Ai-chan, what's up?" I answered the call and asked.

"Izumi, can you come to the McD near the school? Ai said.

"Sure thing, I will be there in five minutes," I answered.

"Thanks, I'm waiting, okay. See you later, Izumi" Ai delightedly said.

"Ou, see you later, Ai-chan," I said with a smile. Saying that I promptly went to the McD near the school. Not long after that, I arrived at the place. Ai was there waiting for me alone in front of McD while playing with her phone.

Because she looks at her phone intently, she didn't realize I was behind her. Therefore, I gently covered her eyes with my hand and said, "Who is it?" Naturally, I didn't mask my voice because I didn't want to get shouted by her.

"*Chuckled* You didn't even bother to hide your voice even a bit, Izumi," Ai said with a smile without turning back and my hand still covering her eyes.

"Well, that's the point. I don't want to get shouted after all." I answered.

"Should I shout now?" Ai said with a smirk.

"If you do that I will kiss you," I smirked and whispered tenderly.

".... That's unfair..." I can't see her face from here, but I felt like she was bashful about it.

"Hehe, sorry sorry. Anyway, what's up today?" I smilingly asked. Ai rotates her body facing me and looked at my eyes.

"Hmmm before that how about us go Karaoke for a while?" Ai suggested with a smile.

"Oh, sure! But you need to know this, I rarely sing. So, for now, my singing skill just so-so." I nodded and said.

"Hehe, that's fine." Ai laughed gently and said.

"What are we waiting for, let's go!" I gently held her hand and walk to the Karaoke in the shopping center near my apartment and Kaguya's house.

"Nn!" Ai nodded with a smile.

Because it was after school, many students are walking with their couple or friends. Good thing I use a health mask and hat to hide my face.

Because my photoshoot in seventeen went virals. They even made a fanbase for me who merely appears in one magazine.

For that reason, I need to use a health mask and hat whenever I went somewhere. While merrily chatting, we have arrived at the Karaoke. We went to the employee and rent a room for two.

"You sing first, Ai-chan! I want to hear your voice." I excitedly said.

"Sure, I'm going to sing this Pretender from Higedan." Ai selects the song on the pad and went to the center to sing.

Her singing voice was so beautiful I think it's at the level of a popular singer.

*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

"Very beautiful, Ai-chan. You can even become a singer." I said with a smile.

"Hehe, thanks... Now it's your turn." Ai joyfully said.

"Then I will sing this Shukumei also form Higedan"

As expected my singing voice is just so-so. Good thing it's not bad or horrible.

*Clap* *Clap*

"Indeed it's just so-so," Ai said with a teasing smile.

"But you like it, right?" I smirked and said.

"*Chuckled* Anyway, how about duet next?" Ai chuckled and suggested.

"Sure thing. Let's sing this song Chiisana Koi no Uta." I searched the song on the pad and showed it to Ai-chan.

"Nn!" Ai nodded with a smile.

The song was about an encounter with someone who changes your world and love. We sing this happy song with a very joyful smile while looking at each other.

"..." After the song ends I affectionately looked at Ai.

"..:" Ai also looked at me with an affectionate smile.

"Well, let's sing more?" I asked with a smile.

"Nn!"

After that, we sang many popular songs for almost an hour. Our rent time was just ten minutes left, and Ai wanted to sing something for me.

"I want to sing something for you for the last song," Ai said while gently looking at me then she went to the center without choosing a song in the pad. Looks like she is going to sing in Acapella.

"Happy birthday to you....

Happy birthday to you...

Happy birthday dear my most important person...

Happy birthday to you..." As she sang the last phrase in the lyric, she looked at me with an affectionate smile.

"...." I stunningly looked at Ai who smiling there, after sang a birthday song for me.

"How is it?" Ai smilingly asked.

"Hehe...it's awesome, thank you," I said with a beaming smile.

"This is my present for you." Ai gave me a red dolphin strap and said.

"And this is mine" Then she showed me a blue dolphin strap she used on her phone. It was the same one she gave to me but with different color, which means it was a pair.

"Thank you, Ai-chan..." I said while looking at her affectionately.

"Nn!" Ai nodded with a blissful smile.

---

After that, because it's already six, we decided to head back home. I intentionally didn't teleport this time and inactivated my presence sense when I was near my apartment.

When I arrived from outside, it can be seen that the room was dark. I slowly opened the door and went inside. Then I walk to the living room after gently closing the door.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY IZUMI!" Suddenly everyone shouted simultaneously as small lamps started to light on the wall producing two words 'Happy birthday.'

I can see many faces I didn't expect to be here for my birthday since they're in a different prefecture. They were Kousei, Tsubaki, and Ryouta. Nanaka even invited Alice to the surprise party. Beside them, Miyuki, Kei, Chika, Kaguya also here.

"Hahaha, I think I have been surprised many times today. Not even counting how many times I said 'thank you'. But allow me to say this, thanks for being here, everyone." I said with a delighted smile.

After that everyone gave me a present then we are partying merrily until midnight. Because of that, everyone decided to sleepovers in our apartment as tomorrow is the weekend.