Walking up the beautiful stairs, I stood in front of the extravagantly-decorated double doors. H- Hmmm, this is the party venue... Standing in front of these doors is getting me nervous.
I mean, this door... it's so big that I don't know how to open it. Would it open up if I knock?
As I was overwhelmed by the huge door, which at least my weak arms couldn't open, Alice strod up to me and opened the door. She opened it so easily...
And behind the opened door... Arehh? It's dark?]
[Now, now, Kaito-san, come on in.]
[Ah, unnn.]
Is this that? That typical birthday act... Even so, isn't it a bit too dark? It's not just dim, it's more like a pitch-darkness where I can't see an inch...
Once inside the room, which was obviously darkened by something magical rather than a natural phenomenon, Alice quickly closed the door.
[One~ two!]
[ [ [ [ [ Kaito-kun (-san), happy birthday!!! ] ] ] ] ]
Just as I noticed Kuro's voice echo from the darkness, the room suddenly became brighter, and words of greetings echoed with the sound of party poppers from all around me.
The beautifully decorated venue, the sumptuous food lined up here and there, and the many people gathered... How should I say this... I expected that such a line up would be gathered today, but I was so surprised that it was a little difficult for me to express my current state of mind in words.
As Alice told me, all of the people that gathered here were people I knew...but even so, there are a lot of people here.
When I think of all these people who came together on such short notice to celebrate my birthday, how should I say this... Of course, I'm happy, but I'm feeling more of a strange, ticklish feeling within my heart.
[Well then, Kaito-san... Please take the stage.]
[...Stage?]
[It's over there.]
[...Eeehhh...]
Following Alice's words, I moved my gaze to the venue's seat of honor... which was placed in an area one step higher than the floor.
Eh? Is that where I'm going to stand? No, no, there's no way, right... That's where the kings or queens usually sit, you know? Eh? Seriously? I'm supposed to sit there?
No, no, that's something I shouldn't do, right? The rulers of the Human Realm, the Six Kings, and even Shiro-san are standing in the normal place, not on a platform higher than the others... If I'm the only one on the stage, it would turn into a completely strange scene. This isn't just on the level of disrespect anymore...
[N- No, I'd really like it if I could stand in a normal place if possible...]
[We've expected that you'd say that! However, it's "rejected"!]
[Ahh, wait!? Alice!?]
Against my will, Alice carried me to the stage in an instant, and then got off the stage herself.
What the heck is with this situation... Being in a situation where I look down at all these people, my heart feels like... Ah, no, I still couldn't look down at Megiddo-san and some of the others even when standing on this stage.
No, that's not it, okay!? Eh? What am I supposed to do after this? Everyone's eyes are on me, but what the heck am I supposed to do now!?
"Everyone! Thank you for gathering here today! Today is Kaito-san's birthday. Let's greatly celebrate, make some noise and have some fun!"
As I felt cold sweat running down my back, Kuro, holding a magic tool like a microphone, stepped up to the podium and began to speak with a bright smile on her face.
W- What, Kuro is making the event progress through huh... Thank goodness. Seriously, thank goodness.
"Well then, let's have "some words of toast" from today's star, Kaito-kun~~"
[!?]
That's the worst possible segue ever! Words of toast to everyone here!? No, no, no, that's too hard of a demand for a former loner like me!
Even though just standing here is making me helplessly uncomfortable... Ah, Kuro's already holding the mic to my face. Everyone's also quietly waiting for me... I guess I can't not do this huh.
With my trembling hand, I took the microphone from Kuro and looked at the leaders of the world from the stage. They were all looking at me with serious expressions on their faces... Wait, what the heck, Luna-san. Why the heck do you look so happy over there!? Heck, you're even holding in your laughter! Seriously, this person...
"...Errr, to be honest, I don't really know what to say here... but for the time being, for coming together despite the short notice, thank you very much."
Well, whatever happens happens... Let's just leave things to fate... no, destiny. Let's not leave anything to fate. Ahh, this won't do. I can't think of anything to say. All I can think of is "I'm so happy", "thank you" or stuff like that.
I mean, honestly, I think I've said all I have to say... No, but I don't know what to say after that... W- W- W- What should I do...
"Thinking about it again, it's only been half a year since I came into this world, hasn't it? I guess it was quite a short time."
However, Heaven hadn't abandoned me. Unlike the me back then, I stared straight ahead without confusion in my mind, and spun words without them getting stuck in my throat.
"However, I feel truly blessed to have met so many people in such a short time, building up so many bonds with everyone."
The reason why I, who had been panicking just a few minutes ago, was able to calmly greet everyone was because... Alice was at the very back of the venue, silently spreading out a "gigantic cue card" so that others could not see it.
A- Aliiiiiiiiice! Nice follow-up! I knew you were someone I can count on when needed!!!
Alice went on to give a brief summary of what I could say, she then winked at me. I guess that means I'll have to close down my speech with my own words... Unnn, I've been being helped so far, so I guess I should somehow handle the rest...
"...If possible, I would like to continue laughing, having fun, and being happy with all of you in the future. My greetings might be simple, but I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone."
Thanks to Alice's super fine support, I managed to finish my greeting.
Thereupon, a glass suddenly appears in my hand... which no matter how I think about it, this is the deed of the perfect maid.
"...Once again, thank you so much for your time today! Cheers!"
Raising the glass that suddenly appeared in my hand up high, everyone had raised their glasses, which had appeared before I knew it, and exclaimed "Cheers!" in response. And just like that, my birthday party began.
Dear Mom, Dad———— Well, I have a lot to say about her, but Alice did a really good job this time. It was a wonderful fine support. Unnn————- let's stop lecturing her about the seesaw.