At dinner, everyone celebrated Natsume Ruri's birthday and sang her the birthday song.
When the song ended, Natsume Ruri blew out the candles on her cake.
After making her wish, she stole a shy glance at Natsume Chikage.
Fujiwara Aoi asked curiously, "Ruri, what did you wish for?"
Natsume Ruri's eyes darted nervously. There was no way she could say what her wish was.
Akita Sana retorted, "You dummy, Aoi! It's a birthday wish. It won't come true if she says it out loud!"
"That's right," Yukimura Suzune agreed.
Fujiwara Aoi sighed. "All right."
Natsume Ruri breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, Natsume Chikage gave her his present.
"Happy birthday, Ruri."
"Thank you, big brother!" Natsume Ruri accepted it delightedly.
The others who hadn't given her their presents yet followed one after another.
"Thank you, everyone!"
After giving her present, Ando Chizuru excitedly waggled her eyebrows at Natsume Ruri and kept glancing at Natsume Chikage beside her. She was plainly asking Ruri to help her make a move.
"Ruri, Chikage, everyone, let's play a game."
Natsume Ruri's mouth twitched. All she could do was blink and pretend she had no idea what Chizuru meant.
But as she looked at all the girls there, her expression turned strange.
There are way too many girls around my brother, aren't there?
Saionji Nanase brought her hands together lightly and suggested with a smile, "Before we play, why don't we take some photos to remember this birthday?"
"Good idea." Natsume Chikage agreed at once. He had already wanted to record Ruri growing up, and the other girls agreed as well.
They knew Chikage was the devoted type. If he started dating a girl, he probably wouldn't break up with her easily.
Besides, they had seen a future with Chikage—a future where each of