Chapter 06: Late Gift
After getting Aijin's LINE ID, Yasmine scrolled through his profile and froze. Aijin's birthday is the 4th of May… She checked the calendar. June 2nd. Oh no — it's already June.
Her heart thudded. What should I do now? Maybe I should talk to Kei and Aijin's friends.
"Yasmine, dinner is ready," her mother called from downstairs.
"I'm coming," she answered, forcing a steady voice as she went down.
They ate together in the warm kitchen light. Her father smiled across the table. "How is high school going?"
"It's going well," Yasmine said.
"I'm glad to hear that," he replied.
Her mother leaned forward with a teasing smile. "By the way, Yasmine — why did you run off earlier? Did someone come?" she asked, clearly enjoying herself.
Yasmine sputtered and almost choked on her water. "H-huh!?"
"It seems like someone very special," her mother sang.
"MOM! STOP!" Yasmine burst out, cheeks flaming.
"It was a boy, right?" her mother pressed.
"MOM, PLEASE!!" she squealed.
Her father regarded her gently. "Is that true?"
"Y-yeah," Yasmine admitted, flustered.
"Just a friend… or…?" he tried.
"FRIEND! Nothing else," she blurted, trying to sound firm.
"Ooh~" her mother hummed, delighting in the tease.
Yasmine gave a long sigh. "What now?"
"Nothing~" her mother answered lightly.
Little Jemi only watched, confused by all the commotion.
The next morning Yasmine put on her shoes and announced, "I'm leaving for school now."
"Take care, sweetheart," her mother called, voice warm.
"Whatever," Yasmine muttered and left, cheeks still flushed.
Her mother stood at the doorway watching her go. She's been so much brighter since the transfer, she thought. A memory pressed warm and clear to the surface: the day Yasmine had come home from her first high school, beaten down by relentless bullying and unable to speak openly with the people who loved her. When we found out, we transferred her right away. She couldn't even open up, so I teased her a bit to bring her back to herself. Now… it looks like she's found someone she can confide in. Her eyes softened. Maybe I should tell her to invite that person sometime, she mused with a small, guilty smile.
---
At school, Yasmine found Kei and lowered her voice. "Kei… I need your help with something."
Kei blinked. Yasmine asking me for help? she thought. "Yeah? What do you need?"
"Can you call those two?" Yasmine asked.
A short while later, Mui and Jirou arrived.
"Why did you call us, Kei?" Mui asked.
"Yasmine asked me to," Kei explained.
Yasmine drew in a breath. "Did you… celebrate Aijin's birthday?"
"No," Mui said simply.
"Why not?" she pressed.
"He's not the type to celebrate his own birthday," Mui explained. "Even if we wish him, he thanks us and says it isn't necessary."
"Yeah," Jirou added. "He really doesn't care about birthdays."
Yasmine's voice dropped to a whisper. "Then… I was thinking… we could arrange a late surprise birthday party for him."
All three stared — Yasmine Mizuno, the quiet transfer girl, planning a birthday surprise. Mui thought, This can't be a coincidence—Mizuno doing this for Aijin… Kei felt a prick of jealousy underneath something like happiness; she never did this for my birthday, she thought, and then she smiled inwardly at Yasmine's courage.
"So… are you all in?" Yasmine asked.
They agreed.
"When should we do it?" Mui asked.
"June 4th," Yasmine said. "It will be a month late, but that's okay."
At that moment Aijin appeared. "Did you call a meeting?" he asked coolly.
Everyone froze. "No—just talking," Mui stammered.
"Yeah, just talking," Kei echoed awkwardly.
Aijin's gaze lingered on them, unconvinced. Then he turned to Yasmine. "By the way, we still have to fill in the other students' names for the list. Did you forget?"
"Ah—yeah. Let's go," she replied, trying to act normal.
They walked off together, leaving the others exchanging worried looks. In the hallway, Aijin glanced at her again.
"Are you hiding something from me?" he asked softly.
"N-no," Yasmine lied, trying to keep her voice steady while her hands trembled.
She's pretending, he noticed, but he didn't press. I won't make her uncomfortable.
---
That night Yasmine messaged the group.
Yasmine: How's the planning going?
Kei: We listed everything — you can relax.
Yasmine: Alright. I'm counting on you all.
Kei: Roger that.
Everything seemed to be falling into place — except the one question that wouldn't leave her head: What should I give him? And how will I give it without turning into a scaredy-cat in front of him? She stared at the ceiling, then remembered his calm words: Relax, rely on others, then you can stand on your own. A small idea clicked into place and she felt it warm in her chest.
Meanwhile, the three friends gathered to prepare. "We listed everything; now we just need to go shopping," Kei said with a sigh.
"Good," Jirou replied.
Mui folded his arms and grinned. "Honestly, Mizuno likes Aijin."
Kei rolled his eyes. "I told you."
"Still," Jirou said, "at least we have confirmation."
Kei's phone buzzed. "It's from Yasmine," she said. "She wants to go shopping tomorrow after class."
"Say yes," Mui urged.
Kei typed back Sure, and the thumbs-up emoji came almost immediately. The three exchanged glances and, in low voices, said together like a secret: "She's fallen in love."
---
After class the four of them walked into the gift shop. Kei held up a polished photo frame. "This would be nice."
"It's really pretty," Yasmine admitted, but Mui pointed out that Aijin didn't take many photos. Kei's shoulders drooped a little.
"Did you find anything?" Jirou asked.
Yasmine wandered past the displays and then froze when something small and honest caught her eye: a neat, modest wristwatch that felt exactly right — useful, understated, and personal without being extravagant. Her lungs seemed to fill with courage. This one, she decided.
---
June 4th arrived bright and warm. Aijin was enjoying a quiet moment on the rooftop when Jirou and Mui burst through the door, shouting, "AIJIN!!!" He closed his eyes and sighed. There goes my peace.
"Come with us," Jirou said.
"Why?" Aijin asked.
"No time — just wear this." Mui handed him a blindfold.
He allowed them to tie it on. Alright. Show me.
At the picnic spot Kei whispered, "He's coming."
"Okay. Everything's ready," Yasmine said, her heart racing.
They arrived. Mui told him to take off the blindfold. Aijin blinked; the group gave one loud cheer. "Happy Birthday, Aijin!" Yasmine's voice was softer than the rest but full of feeling.
"…Isn't my birthday May fourth?" he asked slowly.
"We know," Mui said. "If we'd done it on the actual day you'd have figured it out. So—late surprise."
"No buts. Just enjoy it," Jirou said, grabbing Aijin by the arm and pulling him toward the cake.
Aijin's gaze landed on Yasmine. "You were in on this?" he asked.
"She planned it," Kei blurted.
"Kei!!" Yasmine hissed, crimson.
"Is that true?" Aijin asked.
"…Yeah," she admitted in a small voice.
"You didn't have to go to such trouble," he said.
"After all you did for me… I wanted to do a little for you," she mumbled.
He smiled, a quiet thing that warmed her. "Alright. You win."
They sang, cut the cake, and laughter lit the afternoon.
---
Gifts were handed out. Kei's present was a photo frame. "It's nice," Aijin said. Mui teased, "Don't tell me you didn't actually buy it," and Kei grinned, unashamed. From Mui and Jirou came a mini fan — perfectly practical for summer.
Finally, Yasmine stepped forward with a small, trembling box. "A-Aijin," she said.
He opened it. A modest wristwatch sat inside, clean and simple.
"I—I don't know if you'll like it. It isn't expensive—" she stumbled.
"Relax," he said softly, fastening it to his wrist. "I really like it. It's my favorite so far."
"You… really?" She brightened.
"Yeah." He looked at Kei. "Yuzuhara — group photo?"
"Right!" Kei answered, already reaching for his phone.
Before they lined up, Aijin turned back to Yasmine. "By the way… when's your birthday?"
"M-mine? August eighteenth." The answer came out before she could blush.
"Got it," he said simply, then joined the others. They leaned in close and the shutter clicked, freezing their laughter and warmth in a single frame.
---
The next morning at Aijin's house his sister popped her head in. "Aijin, can I take your watch on the table?" she asked.
"Nope," he replied with a small smile. "You can take my old one from the cabinet."
On his desk the new photo frame stood. Inside it, their first group photo glowed in the morning light.
[ End of Chapter 6 ]