Title: Asuka's 18th birthday
Rating: G
Fandom: Tokyo Xanadu
Relationship: Hiiragi Asuka/Kurashiki Shiori
Wordcount: 1317
Short summary: Shiori makes a cake for Asuka's birthday and they have a small group celebration.
“Hey Shiori, what’s…baking?”
Shiori hears Kou’s voice but being in the middle of pouring batter into the pan, she can’t turn around to greet him. She’s surprised that he’s here, considering it should still be sometime before 5 PM and they weren’t going to have dinner anytime soon. He must have ditched Ryouta and Jun early?
Kou enters her field of vision just as she finishes pouring. He gives her a sheepish smile as he watches her set the big bowl aside. “No wonder you didn’t respond to my message earlier.”
Shiori smiles. “Hi Kou-chan. I’m making Asuka a cake.”
“That means I don’t need to help you look for one then.” Oh, now things make sense. Kou probably stopped by to see if Shiori wanted help picking a cake to buy, but obviously there is no need to buy a cake. “Anyway, uh…do you need any help?”
“No, it’s just a simple strawberry shortcake cake.” Shiori carefully walks to the oven with the filled cake pan, sliding it into the middle rack of the preheated oven. Now all that’s left today is for the cake to bake and then cool overnight. The rest of the work would come tomorrow before the small party they would have. And then there is also this…pile of things to clean up before dinner. “I guess you could help wash the dishes?”
“Sure.” Kou rolls up his sleeves and turns on the faucet. “You won’t need any help bringing the cake over?”
“Nope, I’ll probably finish it at the café, so make sure Asuka doesn’t show up any earlier than 4:30 tomorrow, okay?” Shiori has a rather tight time-table for tomorrow, so she can’t afford Asuka showing up early and ruining the surprise. That’s why Kou is tasked with keeping Asuka occupied until then.
Kou slams his fists together. “I’m on it! I’ll even make sure she’ll be hungry.”
Shiori frowns. That doesn’t sound good? “What are you planning…”
“We’ll train in the Eclipse,” Kou replies. He smiles sheepishly. “I’m a little out of practice so she’ll probably scold me but…”
Shiori frowns. “Kou. Do I need to tell on you?”
“No, no, I’ll be good!” The threat of sending him to Grandpa Kokonoe’s training is enough to have him retract his flippant attitude. Shiori has accepted that he and Asuka…Asuka especially…will go into the Eclipse to fight Greed to stay prepared for the threat they will swell again. She has accepted that they head into danger, that they can be hurt. But it doesn’t mean that they should neglect caution.
“Good.” Shiori lightly kicks Kou’s legs as she goes to gather the dirty dishes. “I hope Asuka kicks your butt.”
“Shiori!”
And then if the two of them are hungry for cake afterwards, Shiori will serve them the best cake she can.
*****
“There we go.”
Shiori had done her best to flee from school as soon as the school day was over without arousing Asuka’s suspicion. It helped that Jun and Ryouta provided some cover, with Ryouta desperately needing to jet to get the special limited SPiKA wall scroll or something? Shiori obviously wouldn’t be headed that direction, but it’s enough to get her out of the school building without suspicion.
And now, with the whipped cream spread evenly over the bottom layer, she puts sliced strawberries, coats another layer of cream, puts the top layer on. Phew, it looks balanced. Shiori wipes her brow. Just the final coating and the strawberry decoration for the top and then the candles…
Shiori nearly jumps when she hears the door open. She soon relaxes when she hears Sora’s voice. “Sorry if we’re too early,” Sora says with an apologetic smile. Shiori smiles back.
“It’s no problem. I’m just…” Trying her best to get this cake finished in time.
Sora laughs. “Well, I can at least help clean up?” She turns to the boy next to her and grabs his arm. “Yuuki, don’t wander off already.”
“I’m just going to stand by the door,” he replies. Sora sighs. Well, Shiori actually doesn’t mind. She thinks she has maybe 10 minutes until Kou and Asuka arrive, so having a “guard” in front of the door wouldn’t hurt, considering all that’s left to do. Sora and Yuuki coming early is actually a blessing.
“Thanks,” Shiori says as Sora passes by her to bring dirty utensils to the sink.
Sora stops and whispers, “Yuuki will probably say he’s just here for the cake but he really does want to wish Asuka a happy birthday.”
Shiori chuckles. “Well, I don’t mind. Some boys take a while to grow up.”
“Seriously.”
They settle into a silence only broken by the quiet sounds coming from Yuuki’s phone game. Alright, Shiori has managed to put the strawberries on, now she just has to put on the…
The sound of the door opening almost makes Shiori drop the candles. Yuuki has blocked the door though, so Shiori quickly scrambles to finish putting the candles on as Yuuki greets the newcomers.
“Happy birthday sempai.”
Shiori sighs. A louder sigh comes from the back where Sora is.
“Sheesh, Yuuki, couldn’t you have waited until we could all say it together?” she scolds him.
Asuka laughs. “I don’t mind.” She and Kou finally enter the café, Yuuki letting them past. She looks at the cake with bright eyes. “That looks so good.”
“All courtesy of Shiori,” Kou says, giving Shiori a thumbs up.
Asuka looks directly at Shiori. Shiori can see how happy Asuka is and feels honored to receive such a look, especially when Asuka adds softly, as if no one else is in the room, “I’m looking forward to it.”
Shiori is probably blushing, but there’s no time to worry about that. Kou grabs the lighter and lights the candles. The five of them gather around the cake.
“Wait, photo first.” Yuuki stops them to take a photo of the cake. “Alright, I’ve saved you from a scolding from Mitsuki-sempai.”
Everyone laughs. Then Asuka, instead of making a birthday wish, makes a comment instead. “It’s basically the same group as last year. Too bad Takahata and Mitsuki couldn’t make it.”
Shiori had actually reached out to the two of them, but the schedules just wouldn’t work out, especially with Asuka’s birthday landing on a Wednesday…
“But the one additional person is very special, isn’t she?” Kou says.
“Yes, of course.” Asuka reaches out to take Shiori’s hands in hers. “Thank you so much, Shiori. You really are the best.”
“Asuka…” Shiori really wants to kiss her, but not with other people around, even if they are their friends.
“Are we going to sing already?” Yuuki grumbles, breaking the moment. Sora hits him lightly on the arm.
“Yuuki, can’t you be nice…”
“Well, if we hurry up, then Shiori-sempai can feed Asuka-sempai, right?”
Shiori blushes. She hadn’t thought about doing that, but the idea is very appealing. She wonders if Asuka would keep her eyes opened or closed or…
Kou claps his hands, blinking Shiori out of her thoughts. “Alright, let’s do this.”
Ah yes, singing. They sing “Happy Birthday” before Asuka thoroughly blows out all 18 candles. Asuka refuses to tell everyone what her wish is, but she squeezes Shiori’s hand tightly in a way that suggests Shiori might find out later. Which makes Shiori’s heartbeat increase in anticipation, but first there is cake to be had. As Asuka cuts the cake and portions it out to everyone present, Shiori watches with a big smile. A lot has changed in a year, in a few months even. There were some unpleasant memories, but many good ones too. And Shiori would do it all again, as long as it leads to this moment of having Asuka here, as her girlfriend, in her life. This might be the first birthday they celebrate together as girlfriends, but Shiori hopes it is not the last.
Shiori bday fic 090821 – takes place Sunday September 8, 2019 (Shiori’s 21st bday)
Asuka wakes up to the sound of rain. Not just any rain, but rain that is falling down in buckets, enough to drench an unprotected person in mere seconds.
They have…or rather, they had plans for today, but it seems the predicted typhoon rains came early. With the rain unlikely to stop anytime soon, there’s not much incentive to go through with those outdoor plans. The plan had been to enjoy the view on the water, not in water.
“Mmm…”
It sounds like Shiori is stirring awake. Asuka lightly caresses Shiori’s face with her right index finger.
“You can keep sleeping,” she murmurs as she touches Shiori’s cheek. “It’s raining.”
Shiori’s eyes open and look upon Asuka in confusion. “Asuka? Why are you awake?”
Asuka chuckles. That’s a good question, actually. Her slides her right hand to touch Shiori’s ear. “I couldn’t help it. I wanted to treat you well today but—“
“It’s too bad it ended up raining.”
“Yeah.”
Shiori reaches up to catch Asuka’s hand, drawing it away from her face so that she can entwine her fingers with Asuka’s more easily. She gives Asuka a small smile.
“Well then, what do you want to do?” she asks Asuka quietly.
Asuka bites her lip. Honestly Asuka is a little bummed that their plans were ruined even though she knew that the rains might come. She really wanted Shiori to have a nice memory today, or at least have a good, happy day. “It’s your birthday. You should decide.”
Shiori pouts. “Asuka.”
It’s the look Shiori can give anyone, but especially Asuka or Kou, that makes them give in to her wishes. Asuka sighs. “Okay, fine. I’d maybe…watch a movie or show and cuddle on the couch?”
Shiori smiles. “That sounds good…” A yawn escapes before she can stop herself. “Later…”
“Yeah…” Asuka puts her left hand on Shiori’s waist. “I don’t want to leave the bed just yet.”
“Me neither.” Shiori closes her eyes and shifts forward just slightly. Her breath tickles Asuka’s neck. “Just keep holding me, Asuka.”
“Of course.” Asuka knows Shiori can’t see her smile, but she smiles anyway before pressing a light kiss to Shiori’s forehead. “Happy birthday, Shiori.”
She secures her hold on Shiori’s waist before closing her eyes too. Sleeping a bit longer with Shiori in her arms is never a bad way to go, especially when other birthday plans are ruined, Asuka thinks before she finds herself succumbing to the allure of sleep once more.