Yamada Hana : [See you after work, hotshot.]
She knew I was going to be at her house after work, I had told her that myself in school, but she had no idea what was going to happen, after school I waited in my house until 3:50 when she left for work, took the gift bag from my closet and my video game console and bolted towards her home. When I was outside her house I was met with my clubmates Matayoshi, and Sasaki in casual clothes, and a ton of party supplies laid on next to the front steps of the home, but Haga and Kido were nowhere to be seen.
"Where are the others?"
Sasaki pointed back towards the backyard of Hana's house.
"Hana is actually smart and locked the front door, Kido and Haga are checking to see if the back is too."
Soon enough they came back, both Haga and Kido were dressed in their school uniforms.
"The back door is locked, and so are all the windows, we can't get in."
Visible on everyone's faces, panic started to set in, however I had an idea.
"What about the doggy door?"
While everyone was busy finding a rational way in, they had failed to notice the small slit underneath the door, blocked by a small wooden hatch.
Kido had a slightly exasperated look to his face.
"Does Hana even have a dog?"
"No Kido, I don't think she does."
I bumped into the conversation between Sasaki and Kido, I knew she didn't have a dog.
"She doesn't, I have been in her house before."
"Alright but how will that small door help? None of us will fit."
"Actually, I think I know someone who will."
Matayoshi, who had up until now not talked at all, looked towards the direction of Haga.
"Eh?"
She pointed at herself.
"You mean me?"
*****
It was a tight squeeze of course, and Haga had every right to complain about it the whole time. Shoving someone who looked like they were in middle school through a doggy door wasn't the most inconspicuous thing ever, and plenty passerbyers gave us strange looks and quickened their pace.
"Hurry up, I feel like someone's going to call the police."
"Dont push me harder, I feel like I'm being crushed!"
"Quit whining, just grab the door handle."
"My arms are too small, bean brain!"
"Can you at least reach the lock?"
"No!"
Haga was shoved halfway through the door, before her abdomen stopped her dead in her tracks, her body refusing to nudge any further.
"Ugh, pull me out."
"What are you kids doing?!"
"Uh oh."
In the distance I saw someone running towards us clad in a neat tie and suit, clutched tightly in one of his hands was a duffle bag, it was Hana's father.
He reached us and looked slightly out of breath, he didn't look like he was used to running that much.
"Sato, I was expecting you but not all these people!"
He looked around and noticed Haga was wedged halfway into his house.
"What are you doing?"
"Hi, nice to meet you Yamada's father."
He sighed, he looked like he did not have the energy to deal with this.
"I'm not angry, I'm just expecting sato over there was the only one coming, I assume you're all here to surprise Hana?"
*****
Setting up was the easy part, we put up a massive sign that read "happy birthday Hana!" in the living room, which would be the first room Hana would enter, laid around the room was games including the video game console I was told to bring,
in the kitchen was an array of pizzas, sodas, and Hana's gifts.
Hana's father said he was wiped out from the day, but would stay around to surprise her with us and then go to bed, he looked horribly exhausted.
It was nearly 8:00, Hana should have gotten out of work but was taking longer to get home for some reason.
"Do you think someone told her about the surprise?"
"Nonsense, the only people that know about it are us."
"Are you really sure, Matayoshi?"
"Yes, Kido."
Before I had time to think about what could have delayed her, the doorknob of the front door slowly turned and with a quiet click opened inwards towards Me, Hana's father, and our clubmates, while she opened the door her voice boomed through the house.
"Hey dad sorry I'm late, I had to clean the count-"
She stopped halfway into the doorway, staring in shock at the sign we had put up.
"What the..."
Almost all of us unison greeted Hana with the phrase: "Surprise!"
After saying that Hana stood there, her face emotionless, until a single tear escaped her eyes and rolled down her face.