The 2nd day of the second Fire Month. I was at Alice's grocery store as
usual, when Alice spoke to me with a really smug look on her face.
[Look at this, Kaito-san! Look at all these new products I've created!]
As she said this, Alice laid out on the counter a number of magic tools
that seemed to be around 20 in number. Since she said they're new
products, that should mean all of them are magic tools that have never
been used before.
Thinking about it again, being able to make 20 new products sounds
like an awful lot to me…
[Heehhh… That's quite a lot. Since when have you been making those
large numbers of new items?]
[Fufufu, don't underestimate Alice-chan. Since I was able to use all the
materials I could at the Six Kings Festival, I made some items for
myself!]
[…I don't know if I should be impressed or be astounded…]
[That's how I was able to create new products that I had only been
planning to make because their materials were too rare and difficult to
make!]
I'm not sure if I should say she's shrewd or she's greedy, but well, that's
just like Alice.
Even though I said that, I'm also interested in the new products that
Alice has created. I have a feeling that some of them might be joke
products but…
[…So, what items are they?]
[Well then, let's start with this one! Kaito-san, do you have any guess
what item this could be?]
[H- Hmmm… It kinda looks like contact lenses so…]
[That's correct. To be precise though, they're like the colored contact
lenses in Kaito-san's world…]
The first thing Alice showed to me were colored contact lenses… Is this
the new product? Could it be that it has some kind of function that's
unlike the usual contact lenses?
[Fufufu, these may look like they're just another fashion item, but these
contact lenses actually have an amazing function!]
[Fumu fumu.]
[Surprise, surprise… It actually "glows when you hold your hand over
it" like this!!!]
[Ohhh… Unnn?]
[Like I said, when you hold your hand over it like this, it gives off a
strong flash of light!]
[…U- Unnn… And?]
[Eh?]
The colored contacts certainly emit a rather strong light when Alice
holds her hand over it but… what's the point?
[Errr… It just glows?]
[It just glows?]
[…What happens after it glows?]
[Isn't it cool when it glows!?]
[...…]
What should I do? From the very first item, it's already a joke product.
What kind of reaction am I supposed to have to this mysterious item?
[Errr, what's your target audience?]
[…14-year-olds who want to have the Tyr*nt's Eye?]
[What's with that oddly specific target audience!?]
[No, no, this is still making use of an earth-shattering technology! I
needed terrific technology to imbue the magic circle in this thin lens.
The intensity of the light is adjustable, and you can even choose the
color!]
M- My head is starting to hurt. I feel like I'm seeing someone putting
effort in the wrong direction.
[…What a waste of technology. I mean, wouldn't it be more expensive if
it took that much effort?]
[Well, a set would roughly cost one silver coin!]
[…It will never sell.]
Who would pay 100,000 yen for a toy like this… Seriously, what's on her
mind when she decided to make this… She should have just stopped at
the planning stage.
[T- Then, how about this?]
[…It looks like a "firecracker", but I have a bad feeling about that.]
[These are great because as soon as you pull the string, the contents
would break apart and disperse it over a very wide area!]
[...…]
[I- Incidentally, it has a maximum range of "2 kilometers"!]
[…This is a weapon, you know?]
Now, I know. What she created weren't "new products to sell in stores".
They're "joke goods that she came up with but didn't make because of
the cost".
At this rate, the other products will most probably be of very limited
use. Eh? In other words, am I going to have to sit through her
presentation of stupid joke goods for a while?… Would she mind if I go
home already?
[Hmmm. I think it would bring lots of fun at a party or something…
Speaking of parties, when is your birthday, Kaito-san?]
[What? That came out of the blue…]
[Well, not only just because I'm your best friend and lover, I was just
thinking that I would like to know that information… It's fine if it's in
the calendar of your world, Kaito-san, so just tell me.]
[Putting aside how you're shamelessly brandishing your position as
usual… It's on July 2.]
[Heehhh… Then, that would mean it's on the "2nd day of the second
Fire month" in this world… Eh? Eeeehhhhh!? W- Wait! Kaito-san,
doesn't that mean today is your birthday!?]
[…Now that you mentioned it, indeed…]
Since the New Year transitions between Heaven month and Fire month,
if I consider the Heaven month as December and Fire month as
January… That would certainly make today my birthday. However, if I
were to be asked if I think it actually was my birthday today, I would
have to say no since I was caught up in the Hero summoning in
summer…
(T/N: Kaito is summoned around June to August, while 6 months have
passed since then, so he never thought it would be his birthday.)
[Indeed… is the wrong reaction here! Why didn't you tell me this
earlier!? I wasn't able to prepare any presents, you know!!!?]
[N- No, you don't have to worry about it. I mean, I also forgot about it…]
[No, no, as your lover, this is an extremely important event to take note
of… I mean, you forgot about it…]
[Hmmm. I haven't celebrated my birthday for around 10 years already,
so I just forgot.]
[...…]
Since my parents died, I don't remember celebrating my birthday. In
fact, I rarely even told anyone about my birthday.
I didn't want to bother Aunt and Uncle about such things, and since I
was walking through the Way of the Loners, so there naturally wouldn't
be anyone to celebrate with.
No, perhaps, I may have unconsciously been avoiding it because it
reminded me of the birthdays I celebrate together with Mom and Dad…
As I was pondering this, Alice took out some kind of magic tool that
resembled a microphone.
[Urgent message to all! Today is Kaito-san's birthday! I repeat, today is
Kaito-san's birthday! Immediately relay this information to everyone
Kaito-san knows!!! This is a top priority order!!! I'll convey further
instructions later!]
[Wait!? Alice!?]
[I don't know how Kaito-san had been spending your birthdays in the
past but… With this attentive Transcendental Beauty as your lover,
please don't think I will let you spend a colorless birthday!]
[…You really are…]
Seeing the smug look on Alice's face as she told me this, I couldn't stop
myself from smiling.
Dear Mom, Dad——- For once, I don't feel like complaining with the
way she calls herself. In fact, I feel really happy about Alice's concern. I
admit. Alice really is——– a wonderful and thoughtful lover.
That information… shook the world.
[Today's meeting is canceled! I've got urgent business! Sechs, take care
of the rest!]
[Understood. It seems that Ein-dono is already on the move though.]
[Turn down all matters related to me today too! If I find anyone
bothering me with their unimportant business, I'm going to be angry,
okay!?]
[Understood.]
In the Demon Realm, in the conference room of a certain Trading
Company, the Underworld King hurriedly rushed out of the room…
[God of Fate! You have work to do…]
[Work or Kai-chan's birthday, can't you think what's more important!?]
[Of course, it's Kaito-san's birthday.]
[Shallow Vernal-sama!? S- Since when are you…]
In the God Realm, the top management has taken direct command and
started to move…
[Luna, what's the situation!?]
[We have already received requests from Archlesia Empire and Hydra
Kingdom's top to directly visit the mansion!]
[There's no way we could lead them here! Tell Elder Brother to secure a
place for them immediately! Hurry, or it will bring a terrible
commotion!!!]
[I- I understand!]
In the Human Realm, the head of a certain Duchy is making urgent
arrangements with tears in her eyes…
While the birthday boy himself was clueless to what's happening,
preparations for a birthday party involving all three realms were being
made at a rapid pace.