The apartment living room was shrouded in the thick silence of midnight, broken only by tense, hushed whispers.
"Hey, move quietly, you'll expose us!" Allya hissed, her voice barely a breath. She nudged Reno with her elbow, who nearly stumbled over a rug.
Sam stood a step behind, carefully balancing a multi-tiered cake, the heavy cardboard box feeling surprisingly unwieldy. "Allya, open the gate. I'm holding the cake."
Allya, her eyes wide with mischief and excitement, put a finger to her lips. "Reno, start the recording."
Slowly, carefully, she twisted the knob and slightly opened the door to Kirito's room. The door let out a chilling, drawn-out creak that seemed deafening in the stillness.
"Happy—" they all shouted in a joyful, synchronized chorus, bursting into the dark room.
The word died in their throats.
The room was empty.
The shock was immediate. The four conspirators froze.
"Where did he go?" Reno mumbled, lowering the phone he was using to record. His face, moments ago flushed with excitement, was now a mask of confusion.
Sam sighed, setting the cake on a nearby table. "Hoh, why do I think he's gone outside? It's too late. We have to wait for his return."
The adrenaline faded, replaced by exhaustion.
"I'll wait in the living room," Reno said, shuffling out.
Allya yawned, rubbing her eyes. "Me too."
Kirito sat on the cold terrace floor, his gaze fixed on the dense, inky black of the night sky. The city lights below seemed distant, incapable of reaching the solitude of his perch.
It is already my 18th birthday, he thought, pulling his knees up to his chest. Time runs too fast. A lot happened in the last two months.
He didn't need to count the changes; he felt them. He knew the truth: they—Sam, Allya, Reno, and the others—were not his real blood relatives. They didn't have to want him, yet they had offered him a love he'd never known, fulfilling every need. They were the only ones he could truly call family.
But how... when I remember them...
A sudden, sharp pang of sorrow pierced his chest. His eyes blurred, filling rapidly with tears. He missed his parents, a hole in his heart that no amount of happiness could entirely fill.
"Just… just miss them," he whispered, feeling a slight sniffle escape his control. "It's my birthday. Why am I crying? Yes, they will be sleeping. I shouldn't awake them."
Kirito drew a deep, shuddering breath, using the back of his hand to wipe his tears, and then stood. He moved to the stairwell, his soft footsteps echoing slightly as he descended.
Clank.
He stopped. The apartment door was open. When he walked through, his eyes widened in surprise. Allya and Reno were sprawled on the living room couch, fast asleep.
Why in the world are they sleeping here?
A small, tender smile touched his lips. He returned to his room, retrieved a blanket, and placed it gently over them with a soft, careful rustle. He then went to his own bed, the warmth of their gesture wrapping around him better than any blanket.
The Morning.
When they all woke up, a wave of collective guilt washed over the conspirators.
"Hey Reno, what happened last night? Did we forget to wish brother?" Allya asked sleepily, sitting up on the couch.
"Yes, I think so," Reno replied, his voice still thick with sleep.
Sam emerged from his room, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, a slight frown on his face. "Why didn't you wake me up at night?"
"We fell asleep too," Reno shrugged.
"Where is he?" Sam looked around the quiet apartment.
"He is making something from the bread," Reno said, already drawn to the kitchen by the scent of spices and sizzling butter.
"Hmm. What is he making today? Every time he cooks, he makes something delicious," Sam said, his expression softening.
Allya tapped her head—a light pop sound of realization. "Wait, is he making it?!"
"Wha…?" Reno looked confused.
Allya's face lit up with excitement. "He always makes Pav Bhaji on his birthday!"
"What is that?" Reno asked, scratching his head.
Sam smiled, a nostalgic look in his eyes. "It's an Indian dish. It's been a while since I last ate it."
A few minutes later, Kirito called out from the kitchen, his voice warm and affectionate. "Come fast, the food will get cold!"
As they sat down, Kirito turned to his younger sister. "Yes, Allya. Why are you not going to school?" He delivered the question in Hindi.
Reno squinted his eyes at Sam. "What did he say just now?"
Reno squinted his eyes at Sam. "What did he say just now?"
Sam chuckled, grabbing a piece of the soft bread. "He is teasing Allya."
"What is going on between them?" Reno looked utterly baffled.
"Out of your league," Sam simply said with a grin, before taking a big bite of the savory dish—a loud chomping sound.
"It's delicious!" Reno exclaimed, his mouth full.
"Great as always," Allya agreed appreciatively.
"You should become a chef," Sam stated proudly.
Kirito beamed, a rare, genuine warmth filling his chest. "Thank you, very much. Reno, want more?"
"Yes, Kirito!"
The atmosphere crackled with anticipatory energy.
"Cheer, everyone, the hero is here! Get ready!" Neji shouted, pumping his fist.
Hanamonri, standing with a few other students, looked tense. "What are the boys planning to do?"
Sherry stood ready near the doorway, holding a bucket of water high over her head
Kirito walked calmly down the hall, sensing the shift in the air. Reno walked right behind him, blissfully unaware.
"Kirito, why are you wearing a bulletproof jacket under your clothes?" Reno asked, confused by the odd stiffness of his friend's torso.
"Nothing," Kirito replied dryly. "Just a ritual. You are new, you don't know. Get inside!"
With a swift, unexpected kick, Kirito propelled Reno into the classroom—a loud thump! that coincided with a roar.
"Happy Birthday!" Sherry and the others shouted, mistaking the pushed figure for Kirito.
"Muh… No!" Reno stuttered, his eyes wide in sudden realization.
Water Splashing Sound! Sherry dropped the bucket, drenching Reno. Before he could react, the crowd was on him—jumping and hitting him with playful birthday blows.
"Ouch… ouch… ouch! Guys, it's me!" Reno shouted in pain.
"I knew it!" Kirito's voice rang out from the hallway, followed by loud, joyous laughter. He turned and ran—quick footsteps echoing down the hall.
"Guys, he is getting away!" Shenny shouted.
"Not this soon!" Neji roared, running after him, followed by the rest of the mob.
"Wait for me!" Shenry yelled, joining the chase.
Reno slowly got up, holding his head. "What is going on here?"
Setting: 1:00 PM. Tokyo Branch Office.
The room was sleek, cold, and quiet, reserved for the highest-ranking members of the organization. A large holographic screen showed the faces of five stern-looking Elders.
"Hello, I see everyone is here." Sam, or as he was known in this world, Shinkai, sat down, his composure unnerving.
A gravelly voice emanated from the screen. "Shinkai, you know what a great fuss you created with Akira."
Sam's eyes narrowed. His voice dropped to an icy, dangerous whisper. "I know. And you, who gave you permission to address me with my name?"
The air in the room grew heavy, thick with oppressive energy. A dense, sustained Mana pressure—a Grandmaster's aura—flowed from Shinkai, pressing down on the holographic Elders.
"So this is the power of the Grandmaster… I can barely stand in this pressure!" gasped Taksh Jain, the Supreme Admiral, his holographic form struggling.
"Is this how you talk to an Elder, Shinkai?" A sharp, irritated female voice cut through the tension.
"Yes, and think before you talk, Lady Indra," Shinkai replied, his tone chilling.
"Let her go, Shinkai. These old hags never stop acting like they're the boss," a gentle, melodic voice offered, accompanied by the faint clink of a teacup. It was Cloie, the 3rd Grandmaster.
"Have you done, Sam? Tell me what happened with Akira," Premanand Ji, the most senior Elder, spoke with paternal weariness.
"Yes, sir," Sam replied, the coldness returning. "On June 14th, Akira Kenji planned an attack on the siblings living with me. His goal: to extract mana cores from them." Sam paused, letting the silence draw out. "They can be harmful. But… what if I say they are my nephews?"
A collective, stunned gasp—a sharp whoosh of surprise—came from the Elders on the screen.
"What?!"
"Then he was behind…" Sam continued, the realization dawning on him. "The bloodline of God… The Blood of Lord Shiva flows in them."
"Capture him!" someone on the screen suddenly shouted. Two figures jumped from their chairs to restrain Sam.
Sam's eyes snapped wide open, a terrifying, utter flatness in his voice as the low subsonic hum of his power increased.
"Awakeing Crimson Moon."
Outside the Tokyo Branch Office, a sharp, distant BOOM sound was heard—Sam's awakening had affected the entire Earth.
"We are sorry, I know how you're feeling, Shinkai," Premanand Ji said hastily.
The humming stopped. Sam cancelled his awakening, the silence that followed heavier than the mana pressure had been.
"It's not your fault, sir. But from today, I declare: If somebody tries to lay their hands on my nephews, I will not see who he is. Without a thought, I will kill him with my own hand."
Sam stood, his footsteps fading as he left the conference room.
Premanand Ji turned his gaze to the figure who had tried to call for Sam's capture. "Zeno! You tried to talk on others' family members' lives today. If this happens again, and you try to do something to those children, I will end your life before Shinkai does."
The resulting silence was absolute, broken only by a soft whimper from the stunned Zeno.
Setting: Afternoon. At School.
The School Bell rang out the end of the day.
"Kirito, what happened to your face, and what is going on here?" Reno asked, looking at Kirito's smudged cheeks.
Kirito let out a dry, amused chuckle. "Nothing. Just a ritual. Those who know, or who want to know, were here." He picked up his blazer, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
The door burst open—a quick creak, followed by enthusiastic footsteps.
"Kirito! Come fast, cut them! You're the star of the show today!" Neji and other boys rushed in, holding three cakes and lighting the candles on one.
"Yes." Kirito picked up the knife.
The air filled with the familiar, cheerful melody of everyone singing the birthday song.
As Kirito prepared to make the first cut, Neji executed a lightning-fast slide—a quick SHFFT—and bumped Kirito's head from behind. Kirito's face plunged into the cake with a sickeningly sweet, wet SPLAT sound.
"Happy Birthday, Bro!" Neji roared triumphantly.
"Neji, we only decided to destroy one cake!" Sherry shouted, half-scolding, half-amused.
"Sorry, ma'am!" Neji whined, instantly submissive.
The sight of Kirito, his face smeared with icing, set off a wave of loud, infectious joyous laughter. Everyone enjoyed their moment of fun.
Setting: Evening. Home.
When Kirito opened the door of the apartment, he reached for the light switch.
A loud POP! followed by a WHOOSH of sparkling confetti and party papers erupted in the air.
"Happy Birthday, Kirito!" Sam, Allya, and Asuna shouted in unison.
Before Kirito could fully process the scene, Allya was on him, jumping up and hugging him tightly—a happy OOF! "Happy Birthday, brother!"
Kirito was totally surprised, speechless at the second, final birthday celebration.
"Brothers, come fast, try this!" Allya was already pulling Kirito toward a bowl of snacks.
"That was too early!" Asuna laughed gently. "She cannot wait."
"More!" Sam said, stepping forward. With a soft rustle of fabric, he picked up an object. "Allya, give him the Jacket she brought for him."
Kirito put on the jacket. It fit perfectly. He looked down and saw a box on the couch—a silent, unassuming presence.
He picked it up, tears welling up in his eyes—a final, overwhelming wave of emotion.
"Thank you," Kirito said, his voice choked with pure, absolute gratitude. He was home.