16th June, correct 12:00 A.m. Date was just changed and,
The apartment living room was shrouded in the thick silence of midnight, broken only by a few tense, hushed whispers.
“Hey, move quietly! You’ll expose us!” Allya hissed, barely louder than a breath.
She nudged Reno with her elbow. He stumbled slightly, nearly tripping over the edge of a rug as he tried to keep his footing.
A step behind them, Sam carefully balanced a multi-tiered birthday cake inside a heavy cardboard box. Despite his strength, the awkward size of the box made carrying it surprisingly difficult.
“Allya, open the door. I’m holding the cake.”
Allya’s eyes sparkled with mischief and excitement. She raised a finger to her lips.
“Reno, start the recording.”
Reno quickly lifted his phone.
Allya slowly turned the doorknob and pushed Kirito’s bedroom door open by only a few inches.
The hinges protested with a long, chilling creak.
In the stillness of the apartment, the sound seemed deafening.
“Happy—!”
All three burst into the room in a joyful, synchronized chorus.
Then the word died in their throats.
The room was empty.
The four conspirators froze.
Reno slowly lowered his phone.
“Where did he go?”
His face, moments ago glowing with excitement, had transformed into pure confusion.
Sam sighed and carefully placed the cake on a nearby table.
“Hoh… why do I feel like he went outside?” He glanced toward the window. “It’s too late. We’ll have to wait for him to come back.”
The adrenaline that had carried them through their midnight operation quickly drained away, leaving only exhaustion.
“I’ll wait in the living room,” Reno muttered as he shuffled out.
Allya yawned, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
“Me too.”
Kirito sat alone on the cold terrace floor, his gaze fixed on the dense, inky darkness of the night sky.
Below him, the city glittered with countless lights.
Yet from where he sat, they seemed impossibly distant—tiny sparks that could never quite reach the solitude surrounding him.
It’s already my eighteenth birthday.
Kirito pulled his knees toward his chest.
Time runs too fast.
So much had happened during the past two months.
He didn't need to count the changes.
He could feel them.
He knew the truth now.
Sam, Allya, Reno, and the others weren't his blood relatives. They didn't have to accept him. They didn't have to care about him.
Yet they had given him something he had never truly known before.
A home.
They had offered him love without asking for anything in return. They had cared for him, supported him, and filled the empty spaces in his life without even realizing how much they meant to him.
They were the only people he could truly call family.
But how… when I remember them…
A sudden pang of sorrow pierced his chest.
His breath caught.
His vision blurred as tears rapidly gathered in his eyes.
He missed his parents.
No matter how much happiness surrounded him now, there was still a hollow space in his heart that nothing could completely fill.
“Just… just miss them,” he whispered.
A small sniff escaped before he could stop it.
“It’s my birthday. Why am I crying?”
He rubbed his eyes.
“Yes… they’ll be sleeping. I shouldn’t wake them.”
Kirito drew a deep, shuddering breath and wiped the remaining tears from his face with the back of his hand.
Then he stood.
He headed toward the stairwell, his soft footsteps echoing faintly as he descended.
A metallic click came from below.
Kirito stopped.
The apartment door was open.
He stepped through it—and his eyes widened.
Allya and Reno were sprawled across the living room couch, fast asleep.
Why in the world are they sleeping here?
A small, tender smile appeared on Kirito’s face.
Without waking them, he returned to his room and retrieved a blanket.
He carefully draped it over the two sleeping figures.
The soft rustle of fabric was the only sound in the room.
Kirito looked at them for a moment before heading back to his bedroom.
As he slipped beneath his own blankets, a strange warmth settled in his chest.
Their gesture wrapped around him more securely than any blanket could.
For the first time that night, he felt completely at peace.
Morning
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Morning light slowly spilled through the apartment windows.
When everyone finally woke, a wave of collective guilt washed over the conspirators.
Allya sat up on the couch, still half-asleep.
“Hey, Reno… what happened last night? Did we forget to wish brother?”
“Yes, I think so,” Reno replied, his voice thick with sleep.
Sam emerged from his room, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. A slight frown crossed his face.
“Why didn’t you wake me up at night?”
“We fell asleep too,” Reno said with a shrug.
Sam looked around the quiet apartment.
“Where is he?”
“He’s making something with bread,” Reno replied.
The scent drifting from the kitchen had already captured his attention—warm spices mingling with the rich aroma of sizzling butter.
Sam's expression softened.
“Hmm. What is he making today? Every time he cooks, he makes something delicious.”
Allya suddenly tapped herself lightly on the head as realization struck.
“Wait, is he making it?!”
“Wha…?” Reno looked confused.
Allya's face lit up.
“He always makes Pav Bhaji on his birthday!”
“What is that?” Reno asked, scratching his head.
Sam smiled, nostalgia flickering in his eyes.
“It’s an Indian dish. It’s been a while since I last ate it.”
A few minutes later, Kirito called from the kitchen.
“Come fast! The food will get cold!”
His voice was warm and affectionate.
The three hurried toward the dining area.
As they sat down, Kirito turned toward his younger sister.
“Yes, Allya. Why are you not going to school?”
He delivered the question in Hindi.
Reno squinted at Sam.
“What did he say just now?”
Sam chuckled as he picked up a piece of soft bread.
“He’s teasing Allya.”
“What is going on between them?” Reno asked, utterly baffled.
“Out of your league,” Sam replied with a grin.
He took a large bite of the savory dish.
“It’s delicious!” Reno exclaimed, his mouth still full.
“Great as always,” Allya agreed appreciatively.
“You should become a chef,” Sam said proudly.
Kirito beamed.
For a moment, a rare, genuine warmth filled his chest.
“Thank you, very much. Reno, want more?”
“Yes, Kirito!”
The atmosphere at school crackled with anticipation.
“Cheer, everyone! The hero is here! Get ready!” Neji shouted, pumping his fist.
Hanamonri stood with several other students, looking tense.
“What are the boys planning to do?”
Nearby, Sherry stood ready beside the doorway, gripping a bucket filled with water.
Kirito walked calmly down the hallway.
Something about the atmosphere felt different.
He could sense it.
Reno, however, remained completely oblivious as he followed directly behind him.
“Kirito, why are you wearing a bulletproof jacket under your clothes?” Reno asked, confused by the unusual stiffness of his friend's torso.
“Nothing,” Kirito replied dryly. “Just a ritual. You are new, you don’t know. Get inside!”
Before Reno could question him further, Kirito suddenly kicked him forward.
Reno stumbled through the classroom doorway.
The moment he entered, the room erupted.
“Happy Birthday!”
Sherry and the others shouted together, mistaking Reno for Kirito.
Reno's eyes widened.
“Muh… no!”
Realization struck him far too late.
Sherry released the bucket.
Water crashed over Reno, drenching him from head to toe.
Before he could even recover, the crowd swarmed him, jumping around him and pelting him with playful birthday blows.
“Ouch… ouch… ouch! Guys, it’s me!”
Kirito's laughter rang out from the hallway.
“I knew it!”
His footsteps rapidly faded down the corridor.
“He’s getting away!” Sherry shouted.
“Not this soon!” Neji roared.
The entire mob immediately took off after Kirito.
“Wait for me!” Shenry yelled, joining the chase.
Reno slowly pushed himself upright, water dripping from his clothes as he held his head.
“What is going on here?”
"While Kirito's birthday celebration continued at school, another celebration was taking place elsewhere—one that had nothing to do with cake."
1:00 P.M. — Tokyo Branch Office
The conference room was sleek, cold, and silent.
It was a place reserved for the highest-ranking members of the organization.
A massive holographic display occupied one side of the room, showing the stern faces of Three Elders.
Sam—known throughout this world by his title, Shinkai—sat calmly before them.
“Hello. I see everyone is here.”
His composure was unnerving.
A gravelly voice came from the holographic screen.
“Shinkai, you know what a great fuss you created with Akira.”
Sam's eyes narrowed.
His voice dropped into an icy, dangerous whisper.
“I know. And you… who gave you permission to address me with my name?”
The atmosphere changed instantly.
A dense pressure spread through the room.
Mana.
Shinkai's aura flooded outward with the overwhelming force of a Grandmaster, pressing down upon the holographic figures.
Taksh Jain, the Supreme Admiral, struggled beneath the pressure.
“So this is the power of the Grandmaster… I can barely stand in this pressure!”
“Is this how you talk to an Elder, Shinkai?”
A sharp, irritated female voice cut through the tension.
“Yes. And think before you talk, Lady Indra,” Shinkai replied coldly.
“Let her go, Shinkai. These old hags never stop acting like they’re the boss.”
The gentle, melodic voice came with the faint clink of a teacup.
It was Cloie, the Third Grandmaster.
“Have you done, Sam? Tell me what happened with Akira,” Premanand Ji, the most senior Elder, said with paternal weariness.
“Yes, sir.”
The coldness returned to Sam's voice.
“On June 14th, Akira Kenji planned an attack on the siblings living with me. His goal is still a mystery”
He paused.
The room fell silent.
“They can be harmful. But…”
His eyes hardened.
“What if I say they are my nephews?”
A stunned reaction swept across the holographic screen.
“What?!”
Sam's expression darkened.
“Then he was behind…”
The realization settled over him like a shadow.
“The bloodline of God.”
His voice became quieter.
“The Blood of Lord Shiva flows through them.”
“Capture him!”
The command suddenly rang out.
Two figures immediately moved from their chairs, attempting to restrain Sam.
Sam's eyes snapped wide.
The pressure in the room changed again.
A low, subsonic hum began to resonate through the air as his power intensified.
His voice became terrifyingly flat.
“Awakening… Crimson Moon.”
Outside the Tokyo Branch Office, a sharp explosion echoed across the city.
The awakening wasn't confined to the building.
Its impact spread across the city.
Then—
Silence.
The humming ceased.
Sam cancelled his awakening.
The silence that followed felt heavier than the pressure itself.
“We are sorry,” Premanand Ji said hastily. “I know how you’re feeling, Shinkai.”
Sam slowly looked toward the screen.
“It’s not your fault, sir.”
His voice was calm.
But the threat behind it was unmistakable.
“But from today, I declare this: If somebody tries to lay their hands on my nephews, I will not care who he is.”
He stood.
“Without a thought, I will kill him with my own hand.”
Sam turned and walked out of the conference room.
His footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Inside the conference room, Premanand Ji turned toward the figure who had ordered Sam's capture.
“Zeno.”
His voice was no longer gentle.
“You tried to gamble with another man's family today. If this happens again, and you try to do something to those children…”
His eyes hardened.
“I will end your life before Shinkai does.”
Absolute silence followed.
Even Zeno appeared stunned.
A faint whimper escaped him.
Afternoon — School
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day.
Reno looked toward Kirito.
“Kirito, what happened to your face? And what is going on here?”
Kirito's cheeks were covered in smudges from the earlier celebration.
He let out a dry, amused chuckle.
“Nothing. Just a ritual. Those who know—or who want to know—were here.”
He picked up his blazer, a mischievous smile playing across his lips.
Suddenly, the classroom door burst open.
Neji and several other boys rushed inside, carrying three cakes.
Candles were already being placed on one of them.
“Kirito! Come fast! Cut them! You’re the star of the show today!”
“Yes.”
Kirito accepted the knife.
Everyone gathered around him.
Soon, the familiar birthday song filled the classroom.
Kirito smiled as he prepared to make the first cut.
Then—
Neji suddenly slid across the floor and bumped Kirito from behind.
Kirito's balance vanished.
His face plunged directly into the cake.
Cream and icing smeared across his cheeks as the cake collapsed beneath him.
“Happy Birthday, bro!” Neji roared triumphantly.
“Neji, we only decided to destroy one cake!” Sherry shouted, half-scolding and half-amused.
“Sorry, ma'am!” Neji whined, immediately becoming submissive.
The sight of Kirito sitting there with his face covered in icing was too much.
Laughter erupted throughout the classroom.
For that moment, there were no secrets.
No battles.
No burdens.
Just friends celebrating one of their own.
Evening — Home
When Kirito returned to the apartment, he reached for the light switch.
The moment the lights came on, a burst of confetti and colorful party paper erupted into the air.
“Happy Birthday, Kirito!”
Sam, Allya, and Asuna shouted together.
Kirito barely had time to process what was happening before Allya rushed toward him and threw her arms around him.
“Happy Birthday, brother!”
Kirito froze.
For a second, he was completely speechless.
Another celebration.
Another surprise.
And somehow, it meant just as much as the first.
“Brother, come fast! Try this!”
Allya was already pulling Kirito toward a bowl of snacks.
“That was too early!” Asuna laughed gently. “She cannot wait.”
“More!” Sam said as he stepped forward.
He picked up an object with a soft rustle of fabric.
“Allya, give him the jacket she brought for him.”
Kirito accepted it and slipped it on.
It fit perfectly.
He looked down.
A box rested quietly on the couch.
For a moment, he simply stared at it.
Then he picked it up.
His eyes immediately began to well with tears.
The emotions he had tried to hold back all day finally overwhelmed him.
“Thank you…”
His voice trembled.
“Thank you, very much.”
His gratitude was absolute.
He looked around at the people surrounding him.
The people who had chosen to stay.
The people who had given him a place to belong.
The people he could finally call family.
Kirito smiled through his tears.
He was home.