School continued as normal for the next few weeks, Me and the Boys hung out at Oki's place, and Tutoring sessions continued with Ruruko, Issei's parents even invited Mom and I to eat dinner with them once.
My Grades were still looking amazing, And the Tattoo over my heart had almost entirely disappeared.
You wouldn't even notice it was there unless you were specifically looking for it.
For all intents and purposes, things were normal.
Until my 13th birthday that is...
My Morning routine was as it always has been, nothing weird seemed to happen.
Until I went downstairs...
"Yo, Kid, Good to see you," The Samurai cosplayer we met in Kyoto called out as he saw me enter the living room, he was sitting on the sofa in front of Mom, his bamboo hat still covering his blue eyes in shadow, his blue kimono had one sleeve bare, making him practically shirtless. White baggy pants and a rope-tied belt around his waist.
He still looked like a stereotypical Shounen character, something you would find in Sengoku Basara or a similar show.
"You Remember me, don't you?" He asked as he turned away from speaking with Mom to address me.
I nodded, "Yeah, you're Koto Sano, the guy from Kyoto."
He chuckled at that response and wiped a finger under his nose, "Yep, I'm the guy from Kyoto," An Awkward silence then descended on the living room, only to be broken when Mom coughed into her hand twice.
"Yes! That's right," Sano-san said as he put his hand into a pocket and took out a small box.
"Happy Birthday," He smiled as he tossed the box to me.
I quickly stumbled trying to catch the small present, and luckily It didn't drop to the floor.
I looked at the present in my hand before looking back at the eccentric stranger from Kyoto.
"Ken, You remember what he said in Kyoto, right?" Mom asked as she looked at me from the other side of the living room.
I remembered, of course, It's hard to forget that entire debacle.
I'm still not sure what was even going on.
"Little Hero thinks he can go around Kyo and nobody will stop him," I still remember the words the knife-fingered creep said as he spit on me, It was way too realistic to just be a simple dream.
"Yeah," I responded, "Some sort of Apprenticeship, right?"
Sano smiled as he saw I remembered, "That's right! We're going to secure your future, Kid. Shin-corp really wants you," He smiled and leaned forward a bit, the smell of Saltwater drifting into my nostrils causing my face to scrunch up.
"Your Mother already signed everything," He continued talking, "The first few months will be standard introductions and such, nothing hard or anything like that, my sister will actually try to kill me if I somehow hurt you," He chuckled at that, ignoring Mom's frown.
"anyways, enjoy your Birthday kiddo, I'll pick you up tomorrow, make sure to go to sleep early!" And with that, he stood up from the sofa and walked out the door, not bothering to close it behind him.
I spent a minute looking at the door, expecting him to come back and elaborate on what I'll be doing, what Shin-Corp even is, anything really.
But he didn't.
"Cough, So... I bought Ice Cream and invited your friends over for a movie night later, I picked one of those American movies you and your buddies love so much." Mom, I love you so much!
"Oh! I also invited your two girlfriends!" Mom said as an afterthought as she walked to the kitchen to get breakfast ready.
I don't have girlfriends though, I guess she meant friends who are girls, like Ruruko, but that's only one...
Who did my Mom invite?
.....
"Senpai!!!" Ruruko yelled as she hugged me after running into my house.
It was seven in the evening, the sun was already setting, leaving a purple sky on this early may evening.
"Hello Nimura-san, thank you for coming to Ken's birthday party," Mom smiled as she looked on fondly as my Kohai hugged her super smart and amazing Senpai.
"Hello to you too, Motohamama!" Ruruko let go of me and hugged my mom instead, giving me time to breathe as I saw Issei and Oki walk up to the house, each carrying their own presents.
"Yo! Yo! Yo! Happy Birthday bro!" Matsuda yelled as he pumped his arms in the air, Hyoudou joining him in the improvised cheer by pumping his arms up into the air as If they were dancing in a rave.
All my friends are here now, So who was the last person Mom invited?
"Hahaha! So this is where you live?!" Oh no...
"Maybe living in such a suburban environment is the reason why I'll be taking first place from you!" Why is she here...
"And also, Happy Birthday, Ken-chan!" Kiryuu Aika smiled menacingly, like a shark smelling the blood of its prey.
"Why are you here?" I asked bluntly, ignoring her childish provocations.
"Why? I'm here to celebrate your birthday of course!" She said, leaning forward so she would be closer to me, forcing me to take a step back to keep my personal space.
"You wouldn't tell your Mom that she shouldn't have invited me, would you?" She asked with a frown, a dainty hand on her cheek as she looked up at me, "We are friends, aren't we?" Crocodile tears started to spill from her eyes as she stared sniffing, threatening to ruin the mood.
Damnit Ken! Man up and let her join! Do it for Mom!!!
"Fine..." I sighed as I moved from the doorway, allowing Aika to come in, "Thank you for coming- What's this?" I looked at the small box she placed in my arms.
Aika looked at me as if I was stupid, "It's a present, Baka. My Mom bought it when she heard I was invited..." She looked away, avoiding eye contact, "Don't overthink it, Just because I'm here as a friend, doesn't mean I see you as such," She said.
"I'm still going to take first place," And with that she walked inside, leaving me standing in the doorway, a present in hand, and a small smile on my face.
She's not that bad...
"Okay! Who's ready for a movie?!" My Mom yelled at the gathered group of teenagers in the living room, and I couldn't help but smile as I looked at everyone inside.
A Loud mouthed Idiot, A Perverted Idiot, An Energetic girl who talks like a delinquent, and A Smart Girl who likes to tease.
What a weird group of friends I have...