David walked down the narrow aisles of the grocery store, pushing the cart with practiced ease as he went over the mental checklist in his head.
He had already picked up fresh vegetables, some premium cuts of meat, and a variety of ingredients for Kaede's favorite dishes.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he glanced at it briefly, smirking at the message from his manager.
The man had transferred more money to David's account, just as he'd requested after sending those incriminating screenshots of his affair sexting.
Blackmail wasn't exactly a moral high ground, but it worked, and David needed the money to make Kaede's birthday dinner special.
He tossed a few more items into the cart and paused in front of the bakery section.
The custom cake would be delivered later today, so he didn't need to worry about that, but there were still a few last-minute things to grab.
A bottle of wine, some extra spices, and a few odds and ends Kaede might appreciate.
The total bill was roughly around $210(2024 not adjusted for inflation)—a bit pricey, but considering the occasion, it was worth it.
David paid without a second thought and loaded up his car with the groceries before heading back to Kaede's place.
---
When David finally walked through the door of Kaede's home, his arms full of grocery bags, he was greeted by Aoi who probably arrived when he was gone, Kaede's eldest son, who stood by the door with a casual smile.
[IMAGE]
Aoi was always more amicable than his sister, Rin, but David knew better than to take that at face value.
Aoi's friendliness was layered with that same arrogance he'd always had.
"Hey, David," Aoi greeted, his eyes flicking to the bags in David's arms. "What's the plan for tonight? Need any help?"
David set the bags on the kitchen counter and gave Aoi a polite smile.
"Got everything planned out. Just making sure everything's prepped. It's all home-cooked, so I'm handling it."
Aoi leaned against the doorway, watching David unpack the groceries. "You sure you don't want help? I could chop some veggies or… I dunno, stir something?"
David chuckled, shaking his head. "I appreciate the offer, but I've got it under control. No offense, but last time you tried to cook, the rice came out like concrete."
Aoi laughed, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, fair enough. I'm better at fixing things than cooking. Still, you're doing a lot. It's Mom's birthday, after all."
David nodded, sorting out the ingredients. "Figured she deserves a good dinner. Besides, I've got the time."
Aoi watched for a moment longer before shrugging. "Well, if you need a hand, just holler. I'll be around. And yeah Mom's out with Rin doing shopping."
David glanced over at him, his expression neutral but polite. "Thanks, man. I'll let you know if anything comes up."
Aoi gave him a brief nod before heading out of the kitchen, leaving David alone with the groceries.
On the surface, the conversation had been friendly, but David could always feel the undercurrent of judgment.
Aoi was an arrogant twat with a stick too far up his ass and a sociopathic tendency to be overly polite and freindly.
David sighed and shook his head. He wasn't interested in Aoi's opinion, or anyone else's for that matter.
After putting away the last of the groceries, David pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to the cake shop, confirming the delivery time.
Everything was on schedule. Tonight would go smoothly, at least in terms of the dinner.
---
The atmosphere in the room shifted as everyone gathered around Kaede and the cake.
The chatter died down, replaced by expectant smiles and hushed excitement.
Aoi lit the candles while Kaede stood behind the table, the glow of the small flames reflecting in her eyes.
"Come on, everyone! Time to sing!" Aoi encouraged, clapping his hands.
The group enthusiastically began to sing "Happy Birthday," their voices blending in cheerful, if slightly off-tune harmony:
"Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, dear Kaede,
Happy birthday to you!"
Kaede smiled, her cheeks flushing slightly from the attention, and when the song ended, she closed her eyes to make a wish.
After a brief pause, she blew out the candles to the sound of cheers and applause.
Aoi raised his voice above the clamor. "Make sure to cut a big slice, Mom!"
Kaede laughed softly, reaching for the knife.
She sliced through the cake, the first piece falling neatly onto a plate.
Without thinking, she turned toward David and, with an unconscious gesture, handed him the first slice.
"Here, David," she said, still smiling.
David blinked, surprised, as he took the plate. "Oh, uh, thanks."
The moment passed quickly for Kaede, but David caught sight of Rin's expression from across the room.
She was frowning , clearly not pleased with her mother's instinct to give him the first slice. Aoi noticed as well, but wisely chose to stay silent, focusing on the cake instead.
Rin muttered something under her breath and turned away, grabbing a slice for herself with a more forced smile.
The cake-cutting continued, and soon everyone had their slice, laughing and chatting as they dug into the custom-made cake.
David took a step back from the crowd, feeling content as he watched from the sidelines.
His eyes flicked to Kaede, who was chatting with her sister Yuki, still oblivious to the earlier tension.
As the party continued, David noticed his grandfather, Ichiro, sitting in a quieter corner of the room with a small glass of sake.
The old man seemed to be enjoying the evening but was clearly taking it easy compared to the younger guests.
David decided to join him.
He poured himself some sake, grabbed two more glasses, and walked over to where Ichiro sat.
"Mind if I join you?" David asked, holding up the sake glasses with a small smile.
Ichiro grinned warmly. "Ah, David. Always good company. Come, sit with me."
David handed his grandfather one of the glasses and sat down beside him, pouring them both a fresh drink.
They clinked their glasses together in a simple toast before sipping the smooth, warm alcohol.
For a few moments, they sat in silence, watching the party.
The chatter of the guests and the clinking of plates provided a pleasant background noise, and David found himself relaxing a little more.
After a while, Ichiro broke the silence with a soft chuckle. "You know, seeing Kaede like this—surrounded by friends and family—makes me think back on my youth."
David raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh? How so?"
Ichiro took a sip of his sake, his gaze distant as he reflected on his past. "I used to think I had all the time in the world. Chased after the wrong things—money, women, prestige. Thought that's what life was all about."
David smirked slightly, taking a sip of his own drink. "Sounds like you had some fun, at least."
"Fun? For Sure," Ichiro said, nodding. "But looking back, I see how much time I wasted. You never realize how fast it slips away until you wake up one day, and most of it's gone and all you have left is a nagging wife with a bad personality, back problems and wrinkly hands"
David tilted his head, listening but unsure where his grandfather was going with this.
Ichiro turned to face David more directly, his expression soft but serious. He reached out and gently placed a hand on David's head, a rare and affectionate gesture that surprised him.
"David," Ichiro began, his voice low but steady, "I don't care what you do with your life. I don't care if you keep living the way you are or decide to do something different. That's your choice."
David blinked, listening intently.
"But there's one thing I want for you," Ichiro continued. "I want to die knowing that you didn't waste your life away. That you found something—anything—that made it worth living. Because time... time's the only thing you can't get back."
David felt a strange weight settle in his chest at his grandfather's words. He nodded slowly, unsure of how to respond.
Ichiro chuckled softly, patting David's head once before pulling his hand back. "You don't have to figure it all out right now. Just don't let it slip away without even trying."
David let out a small, rueful smile. "I'll do my best, Grandpa."
"That's all I can ask for," Ichiro said, raising his glass again in a small toast.
They clinked their glasses together once more, the sound quiet but filled with meaning.
David sat back, sipping his sake as he processed the conversation, feeling a strange mixture of peace and pressure.
As the evening wore on and the party began to wind down, David and his grandfather remained seated, watching the rest of the guests say their goodbyes and begin to leave.
Despite the noise and the festive atmosphere, that one conversation lingered in David's mind, resonating deeper than he expected.
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