Redeeming Light

Ch 12: A Cake Full of Love

Am I late?

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"Mom, Dad! I made you guys something special for your Anniversary!"

"That's so nice of you, Angin!"

"You didn't have to sweetie!"

"It's this cake I've been practicing for the past week and-"

Angin opened the fridge to find said pastry missing.

"Wait...what?"

His mother knelt behind him, "What's wrong?"

"The cake I made... it was just here!" He exclaimed while taking out the food one by one, "It was just right next to the cream puffs and I made sure to hide it so no one could see it!"

"Hey, bud. It's okay." Amato hastily knelt next to him as his eyes started to tear up in frustration, "Your mother and I will always be grateful for having such a considerate son."

"B-but-" Angin paused when he saw Cahaya enter the house, looking cheerful for some reason before quickly heading up stairs, completely unaware of the situation in their kitchen.

And then it clicked.

The only person who knew about the cake.

It was Cahaya.

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"I can't believe we're actually going out over batteries." Cahaya said in amusement, "We could've just bought it after school last week."

"Cahaya, the battery thing was just a ruse." Tanah explained with a chuckle, "Air only used that as an excuse so we can all bond together."

"Wait... really?" Cahaya looked at Air who hummed in agreement.

"I'm surprised it took you this long to realize it." Air said blankly, "You do know we have a bunch of batteries at the living room, right?"

Cahaya flushed, "I-I mean I just thought..."

"You thought what?" Tanah asked curiously, kind enough not to make fun of his lack of observation.

"I did kinda know about the spares..." Cahaya admitted as he scratched the back of his head, "I guess it just sounded more believable that you'd go out of your way to buy a pair of batteries over wanting to hang out with someone like me."

"Alright. That's my limit." Air pulled him aside the bustling streets to give Cahaya a big hug before letting him go immediately.

The youngest septuplet stared back at him, dumbfounded, "What was that all about?"

His brother shrugged, "Every time you say something pathetically sad, I respond with a hug."

"But it's true- no! Don't hug me!"

"Cahaya..." Tanah sighed as he joined them to the side, "We do want to hang out with you. That's why we're here roaming around, looking for a place to eat, instead of looking at grocery stores."

"I thought you wanted to buy the batteries last...Air, stop!"

Tanah chuckled and gave him a knowing look, "Well, it's good to know that you wanted this hang out as much as we did."