Birthday Celebration

"Yes, it's arranged."

Similarly, Aoyama extended his little finger to hook Ichinose's outstretched hand, then shook Ichinose's hand, thus making a promise.

On August 29th, he will come to see Ichinose, who is facing himself with Ichinose.

After making a promise with Ichinose, Aoyama Shiki reduced the time he spent in Ichinose's room, and soon it was August 29th.

Early in the morning, he opened the door of the black Sakayanagi Family car he had ridden in before in the parking lot near the dormitory building.

The driver was still the same driver, and Sakayanagi was still the same Sakayanagi.

"Surprised? Shiki." Sitting in the back seat of the car, Sakayanagi Arisu, wearing an expensive-looking dress, had an elegant smile on her face.

"You really like wearing white dresses, but they are indeed quite cute."

He replied calmly, Aoyama got into the car and gave the driver an address.

He had considered that Sakayanagi Narimori might have a teacher accompanying him, or that there was a possibility that he wouldn't, but he never expected it to be that brat Sakayanagi Arisu.

It's unclear whether this was Sakayanagi Arisu's own idea or Sakayanagi Narimori's.

Sakayanagi Arisu's smile deepened. "Thank you for the compliment. May I ask if there's a birthday cake in the insulated box?"

Placing the box in the middle of the back seat, Aoyama nodded. "Yes, it's Katsuragi's birthday today, and I accepted Katsuragi request to go celebrate with her."

Although Katsuragi said that it would be fine to just buy one outside, Aoyama felt that it would be better to let Katsuragi choose one, as the sentiment would make Katsuragi's sister happier.

It's just carrying a large insulated box; it's not a big problem for him.

"It seems Katsuragi will be even more loyal to you now."

"Um."

Without offering any rebuttal, Aoyama closed his eyes after finishing his sentence, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

Sakayanagi is right.

For someone with a high sense of morality like Katsuragi, the hardest debt to repay is the debt of gratitude. After this incident, Katsuragi's likelihood of betrayal may be greatly reduced.

However, if that were the only reason, he wouldn't have made a special trip.

"We've arrived at our destination, Miss, Young Master Aoyama."

After a period of silence, the car slowly came to a stop in front of a house, and the driver turned his head to the side and respectfully said to the person behind him.

"No, just call me Aoyama or young man, please don't call me 'young master'."

Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Aoyama quickly spoke to the driver.

The title "young master" gave him goosebumps and made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Whether it refers to an arrogant and domineering rich kid or to a duck, he dislikes it. In his mind, the idea of a "young master" should be swept into the trash heap.

Sakayanagi looked at Aoyama curiously, "It's just a form of address, there's no need to make such a fuss."

"The word 'young master' has a different meaning to me, you wouldn't understand, and I'm too much trouble to explain." Aoyama's gaze fell on Sakayanagi's hand on the car door. "I'll be out soon, you don't need to come in with me."

His first stop was to visit the Horikita family to collect some cash. Based on Horikita Manabu's description of his father, he estimated that he would be released soon.

Going in with Sakayanagi would waste time explaining things.

"Okay, I'll listen to Shiki." Sakayanagi remained unchanged.

She agreed so easily; it seems that coming along was her own decision.

He got off the train carrying a bag, and it was clear that Aoyama had deliberately eliminated the possibility that Sakayanagi Narimori had sent Sakayanagi Arisu to follow him.

He arrived at the large apartment with the Horikita family's nameplate, rang the doorbell, and soon a man who looked somewhat like Horikita Manabu, but much more mature, opened the door.

"Excuse me for bothering you, Uncle Horikita. I am Aoyama Shiki, your daughter's classmate. This is Horikita Manabu, and also Suzune that she asked me to bring home."

"Also, there's something I need to trouble Uncle Horikita with; details will be mentioned in the letter."

Aoyama took two envelopes out of his bag, then folded several photos on top of them and handed them to the man.

He was quickly invited into the room, and after a long discussion, he took his leave, having achieved his goal in less than half an hour.

As Horikita Manabu said, his father was an even more decisive and efficient man than he was.

"Shall we celebrate Katsuragi's birthday together?"

Back in the car, after giving the driver another address, Aoyama looked at Sakayanagi, who was propping his elbow up on his cheek and looking utterly Sakayanagi.

After thinking for a while, he roughly guessed why Sakayanagi would come along on his own initiative.

She was so bored.

Having lost all her friends, she spent most of her summer vacation alone.

"Well, since you've put it that way, Aoyama," Sakayanagi's lips curled into a slight smile.

She knew that Aoyama was more responsive to gentle persuasion than force; once she went along with him, he was quite easy to talk to and sometimes even showed her sympathy.

"If you don't want to go, that's fine too."

"I didn't say I didn't want to."

"That's fine then. Just follow my instructions."

After opening the insulated box to check the cake's integrity and finding no problems, Aoyama closed the box again.

After pouting, Sakayanagi suddenly spoke up, "My birthday is March 12th."

Given her current situation, the only student at the school who will be able to celebrate her birthday is probably Aoyama Shiki.

If none of her students celebrate her birthday, her father will probably tease her that she's not happy.

"Okay, okay, I'll just buy you a random gift then." Aoyama noted down the time and then forgot about it. There were still more than half a year until March, and he didn't understand why Sakayanagi was telling him this so early.

Sakayanagi raised her purple eyes slightly, feigning a pitiful look, "Even if it's a gift that Shiki- kun just bought casually, I'll be very happy to receive it and will cherish it."

"Can't you be a little more serious about lying?"

"If you take things too seriously and people notice, you're not cute at all." Sakayanagi covered his mouth and chuckled.

She was, after all, a girl, and she wanted to be seen as cute, not pretentious, in Aoyama's eyes.

Chapter 202 Birthday Celebration

"The landlord said he's moved to the fifth floor; the rent is cheaper on higher floors."

"Do you mind if I carry you up, or would you like to walk yourself?"

After thanking the landlord on the other end of the phone, Aoyama turned to look at Sakayanagi, who was leaning on his cane.

Wearing a white dress, white stockings, and a white beret, Sakayanagi Arisu in white today. With her delicate and lovely face and elegant aura, she looks just like a little princess.

After a drive of more than an hour, they arrived at the apartment address given by Katsuragi, an old apartment building without an elevator that looked quite old.

After knocking on the door and receiving the first-floor apartment number from Katsuragi, an older man who had no connection with Katsuragi opened the door. From him, Aoyama obtained the apartment owner's (landlord's) phone number.

Sakayanagi laughed mischievously, "Don't move your hands around!"

"I have no intention of ruining my future."

With a pout, Aoyama squatted down in front of Sakayanagi, and waited for Sakayanagi to put her hands on his shoulders before slowly standing up and using his forearms to wedge Sakayanagi's knees.

If Sakayanagi Arisu indecent assault, then Sakayanagi Narimori will definitely not let him off the hook. There's no need for him to seek momentary pleasure and cause himself a lot of trouble.

"How much do you weigh now, Sakayanagi?"

Carrying the insulated box and carrying a person up the stairs, Aoyama didn't feel any strain at all. Compared to Shiranami, whom he carried on the Uninhabited Island, Sakayanagi was much lighter.

"A girl's weight is Naoko, Shiki- kun."

"We're not at school now, so we don't need to call each other that so intimately."

Now that Kouiku, there's no need for them to pretend to be close, because it's pointless.

"Do you hate it?"

"No, not Sakayanagi all. Although you have a terrible personality, you're quite good-looking." Aoyama spoke frankly, not caring at all about Sakayanagi's feelings.

Just because she's pretty isn't enough to make him indulge Sakayanagi any more; after all, she's not his woman.

I don't think there's anything wrong with my personality.

"That alone is bad enough," Aoyama sneered. "Alright, we're here."

After setting off Sakayanagi on the fifth-floor corridor, Aoyama slowly walked to the end of the corridor and stood in front of a fairly clean-looking iron door.

After gently knocking on the door, he explained his purpose. Soon, the distinctive sound of the locked door being opened came from inside, followed by a creaking sound as the iron door was pulled open a crack.

"No girl this cute would ever rob someone, Kyoko."

With a gentle smile, Aoyama pushed the Sakayanagi -like Sakayanagi in front of him, showing it to the wary girl in the room.

He had, of course, already known Katsuragi's sister's name from Katsuragi himself.

"My brother said that once you enter Advanced Nurturing High School, you can't come out again." Katsuragi Anko's voice was soft and cute, with an innocence similar to Shiranami's.

"This is also your brother's classmate, Sakayanagi Arisu, the daughter of the school's Chairman. Thanks to her, I was able to leave the school, and I even have a photo with Katsuragi."

Through the crack in the opened door, Aoyama showed Katsuragi Anko pictures on his phone.

"Sorry, I was being extra careful because I was home alone."

With the remaining chain lock opened, Katsuragi Anko opened the door and stood somewhat shyly and uneasily in front of Aoyama and Sakayanagi.

Although they are twins, Katsuragi Anko did not inherit her brother's hairlessness; instead, she has long, shiny black hair and a delicate, shy appearance that makes her very cute.

Judging from her fair and delicate shoulders revealed by her short-sleeved shirt, she probably doesn't weigh much more than Sakayanagi.

"No need to apologize, this is commendable. Better safe than sorry." Aoyama smiled gently, seeing a reflection of Yamamura in Katsuragi Anko.

He followed a somewhat flustered Katsuragi Anko into the room, silently scanning the single room that had no living room.

The double iron bed, cluttered with various items, was placed in the far corner of the room. On the wooden desk covered with a white veneer, there were open notebooks and books.

Perhaps when they knocked on the door, Katsuragi Anko was studying at her desk.

"Sorry, the room is a bit messy."

Looking embarrassed, Katsuragi Anko found two newer cushions and carefully placed them next to the dining table.

"It's already very clean, at least cleaner than my room." With a light laugh, Aoyama opened the insulated box, took out the cake, and placed it on the table.

"This was specially picked out by your brother at school, and this is a gift from your brother, and this is mine."

Happy birthday, Anzu.

Aoyama took out two small gift boxes from his bag and handed them to Katsuragi Anko, who was overjoyed.

As someone who helped celebrate his birthday, he naturally prepared a gift as well.

"Happy birthday, Kyoko-san," Sakayanagi offered his birthday wishes generously. "Because someone didn't tell me in advance, I didn't prepare a gift."

"Thank you... thank you, Aoyama -san, thank you, Classmate Sakayanagi."

Although Sakayanagi didn't bring a gift, Katsuragi Anko, who was overjoyed, expressed her gratitude.

She then asked about her brother's situation at school, to which Aoyama naturally only spoke the good things, even boasting that he had a very good relationship with Katsuragi and received a lot of help from Katsuragi.

The general idea is that Katsuragi is doing well at school, is well-liked, and doesn't need anyone to worry about him.

Sing the birthday song, blow out the candles, and make a wish.

With great patience and gentleness, Aoyama completed the birthday celebration for Katsuragi Anko. While eating cake together, he took the initiative to start a conversation, subtly inquiring about her recent situation.

He breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that his relative's guardian was staying in the next room, and that they hadn't abandoned him just because Katsuragi wasn't there.

Are you in a hurry, Shiki?

After pulling Katsuragi Anko aside for a whispered conversation, Sakayanagi stood next to Aoyama again and spoke.

Aoyama glanced at his phone; it was just past midnight. "Whether we make it or not, I plan to leave for the next place around 4 PM."

He had two purposes for leaving school: one was to celebrate Katsuragi's sister's birthday, and the other was to go to the Ichinose home to clear up Ichinose's misunderstanding about his sister.

Ichinose felt guilty about the fact that the birthday present she gave to her younger sister was stolen, and she believed that her sister must hate her.

"Let's go to the amusement park together later, consider it my birthday present for Kyoko-chan." Sakayanagi put his hand on Aoyama's shoulder. "Kyoko-chan wants to invite her friends too."

When did you two become so close? And are you really okay with each other?