・・・ lvii ・・・
The living room had been redecorated.
Now, balloons were on the wall and the floor.
Dozens of streamers lined the ceiling.
A large cloth was draped over the fireplace,
saying 'Happy 18th Ao!'
The table was laden with delicious-looking food.
In the center was a multi-layered chocolate cake.
Even the wall speakers were singing a birthday song.
But none of those were the ones that surprised Ao the most.
The first person that he noticed was Fujiwara Monica.
She was sitting on the couch, offering him a small smile.
When their eyes met, she nodded in acknowledgment.
Beside her, however, was Ao's father.
・・・ lvii ・・・
Ao blinked slowly.
This was the first time that he had been surprised like this.
For a few seconds, he couldn't believe what was happening.
Everyone he cared about was there.
Ame.
Leo.
His stepmother.
... Dad.
In that moment, all his uneasiness faded away.
There was only one person he knew who could have made this possible.
Ao turned to Ame.
Ame looked at him.
She smiled.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Blow the candles!"
・・・ lviii ・・・
He did.
When they were snuffed out,
Ame and Leo started singing the birthday song in English.
They clapped their hands, intentionally singing off-key.
They sounded clumsy and horrible and bad.
Unable to keep it in,
Ao laughed at them.
It was a good laugh.
One that wasn't forced or artificial.
Afterwards, Leo sliced the cake and handed them a plate each.
As he did, Ao glanced at the edge of his vision as he handed a plate to his father.
YOU ARE READING
re:Happiness | Cell Phone Novel
General Fiction「 Can you teach me how to be happy? 」 Fujiwara Ao has been living the past nineteen years of his life in ease. Born with the ideal background and blessed with enough talent, that's what most of the people presume. In their eyes, he was sim...
