With Ichinose watching so assertively from the sidelines, Kei certainly wasn't going to kiss him.
Kaoru didn't know what they had bought, but he faithfully conveyed Asahina Nazuna's message nonetheless.
They were initially surprised, then promptly blamed Kaoru for not informing them earlier, saying he should have brought Asahina Nazuna back with him.
Considering certain factors, Kaoru chose not to mention that Asahina Nazuna was afraid of Ichinose Honami.
The two girls cheerfully started heading back to the dormitory, leaving Kaoru somewhat confused. He had no choice but to follow them.
Just as expected, they simultaneously pressed the button for the second floor in the elevator.
Kaoru had a premonition that something was up.
The moment the door opened, Kushida Kikyo and Tachibana Akane were standing in the entranceway.
With lightning speed, they placed a sparkling crown on Kei Karuizawa's head.
"Though it's simple, happy birthday!"
Kushida Kikyo raised both hands, though the gesture wasn't exactly one of celebration.
"A birthday that comes one day early is still a birthday! That's life!"
"Happy birthday."
Tachibana Akane, lacking Kushida's exuberance, simply smiled gently at Kei Karuizawa.
Kei was stunned for a good while. Her gaze fell upon Ichinose Honami beside her, as if asking "Shouldn't it be tomorrow?"
"I was actually quite surprised too."
Ichinose Honami looked somewhat embarrassed. "It was a last-minute decision. They thought this would be better."
"Today is our surprise for you. We won't interfere with your tomorrow."
Kushida pulled Kaoru inside from the doorway.
"We all thought tomorrow should be reserved for you and him, so you should come in quickly too."
The last remark was directed at Kaoru.
With an air of finality, she grabbed hold of him and closed the dormitory door.
"Couldn't you have discussed this with me?"
Kaoru sounded somewhat displeased. "I can understand keeping it from Kei, but why was I kept in the dark too?"
"Didn't you say you were preparing a gift yourself?"
Kushida stated matter-of-factly. "In that case, there was no need for us to consult with you."
"..."
That wasn't what had been said originally, but Kaoru decided not to argue with her about it.
"This is my gift. I wasn't sure what to get you, so please forgive its simplicity."
Tachibana had already handed her gift box to Kei Karuizawa.
It was clear she wanted to build a good relationship with them.
Kei carefully accepted the gift.
Perhaps from nervousness, her voice came out slightly airy. "I-I'll treasure it properly."
"Ehehe, I have one too!"
Kushida moved close to Kei's face, attaching a cute hair clip to the side of her bangs.
It transformed Kei's appearance like the final stroke that brings a dragon to life.
"Wow! You look even cuter now!"
Tachibana's eyes lit up. "It feels like I'm facing a kouhai!"She is your junior though," Kaoru internally complained.
Still, the hair clip indeed made Kei Karuizawa appear more like a junior student, softening her usually strong demeanor and adding a delicate, dependent quality to her presence.
Unable to see her own appearance, Kei took out her phone and finally saw the hair clip beside her bangs reflected in the screen, a slight smile touching her lips.
"Is it cute?" Kushida asked.
"It's cute, but... does it really suit me?"
Kei sounded somewhat concerned.
"As long as it's cute, that's all that matters." Kushida Kikyo didn't mind, "No one would say anything about you. If you don't believe me, ask him."
Under her pointing finger, Kaoru nodded, which made Karuizawa Kei feel much more at ease.
"Ahem, let's continue inside!"
Ichinose Honami pushed a few people toward the direction of the living room.
Seeing them enter, Horikita Suzune said to Karuizawa Kei, "Happy birthday, Kei."
Karuizawa Kei whispered, "It sounds so awkward. I suddenly understand why you all had such stiff expressions back then."
"You'll get used to it next time. After all, our relationship is just too twisted."
Kushida Kikyo sat down next to Horikita Suzune, "Thinking about it carefully, we were all originally enemies. I could never get along with this person here, yet now we're sitting together, dropping all pretenses, celebrating another's birthday. In the past, this would have been utterly unimaginable."
Yes, indeed everyone present were originally love rivals.
They all knew this—their relationship shouldn't be this friendly and harmonious.
This was exactly what made Karuizawa Kei feel uncomfortable.
"I prepared a gift for you. I hope you'll like it."
Horikita Suzune gave her a book, "I'm sorry, I didn't know what you'd like."
As Karuizawa Kei accepted her gift, she noticed the cake and delicious food on the table and couldn't help calling out her name.
"Suzune..."
No words followed; she didn't know what to say.
"The one who should apologize is me. Today and tomorrow should both be my responsibility."
Kaoru spoke up, "It feels like you've all been accommodating me all along."
Tachibana Akane looked at him, then at the others beside her.
Was the topic getting a bit off track?
"Hey, don't say things like that now. You're ruining the mood."
Kushida Kikyo was very displeased, "I'm going to hit you with cake later, you foot fetish pervert."
"I was just subtly reminding you all—can you include me in the future?"
Karuizawa Kei and Tachibana Akane couldn't hold back their laughter.
Even though he wasn't joking, why was it so funny?
"Someone didn't include us either."
Kushida Kikyo snorted, "Now you should stand up and sing. The Happy Birthday song."
Since they had all heard Kaoru's singing before, this task could only fall to him.
"Can I request a song?"
Ichinose Honami eagerly raised her hand.
"No."
Kaoru refused without a second thought.
He wasn't a jukebox.
"Yes, you will!"
Ichinose Honami's attitude was firm, "Otherwise, I'll hit you with cake too."
Kaoru had no choice but to yield and asked, "What song do you want?"
However, Ichinose Honami named a song he hadn't expected.
"Can't sing it? Do you need to practice for a bit?"
"I know a little."
"As expected, nothing can stump my boyfriend."
Facing her smile, Kaoru felt a bit creeped out.
How did she notice this song?
No, this song was popular; it wasn't strange for her to have heard it.
Still, Kaoru couldn't help overthinking it because he was the composer and lyricist of this song.
The performers were ALSTROEMERIA, the idol group that a certain pair of twin sisters belonged to, and this was one of their representative works.
Kaoru sang the Happy Birthday song full of anxiety.
After he finished, Kushida Kikyo offered one comment.
"So amazing! You can even do a fake voice!"
Next, under Ichinose Honami's faintly melancholic gaze, he got hit by a cake.
...
"Your singing is really beautiful."
In the steam-filled bathroom, Karuizawa Kei sat in Kaoru's embrace, both soaking in the water.
The narrow bathtub bubbled as a little yellow duck floated before her.
At this point, they had already returned, saying they wanted to leave time for Kei Karuizawa and Kaoru.
Before they left, the look in Tachibana Akane's eyes made Kaoru realize this girl was here for the Sound party.
Damn, Ichinose Honami had given this junior some strange ideas.
"Kei's voice is more pleasant than mine. With a little practice, she could master singing techniques."
Kaoru held her slender waist, no longer dwelling on what had just happened.
The girl's bare skin was like milk, and glimpsing her smooth back involuntarily made him think of cupping therapy.
"You're just flattering me again."
Kei Karuizawa felt somewhat shy, then her expression turned serious.
"With your level, you could definitely become a celebrity, really."
"Why would you say that?" Kaoru felt a bit frustrated.
"You're good-looking and sing well. Aren't all celebrities like that?"
Kei Karuizawa began fantasizing about the future. "When you become a celebrity, I'll be the celebrity's girlfriend."
Kaoru had to dismiss her unrealistic fantasy. "Celebrities aren't allowed to date. It's an industry rule."
"Hah, what kind of stupid rule is that?"
Kei Karuizawa deflated immediately.
The person beside her would never follow rules, and truth be told, she wouldn't let him either.
Kaoru quietly held her, enjoying the tranquil moment.
The feel was exquisite—her fair, delicate skin tinged with a faint blush, her soft body pressing against his chest, her round and full petite bottom perfectly fitting against his thighs.
"I really like you."
Kei Karuizawa suddenly spoke, her voice very soft. "Just like you said, I don't know if I'll like you as much in the future as I do now, but I really like you right now."
Finally, she added another sentence.
"I've started liking Honami and the others too now, though I still want to have you all to myself."
A parasite falling for its host was reason enough—she had no room left for doubt.
"I have something to give you."
These were Kaoru's words after a moment of silence.