The Final Piece. Shiori's Birthday Party

Amber gasps and jumps back in fear.

"Commander Spark? What are you doing here?"

She asks with terror lining her voice. He just stands there smiling at her before responding.

"Oh you know, just out for a nice walk. The air feels great today. What about you? What are you doing out here so late?"

"I was just… doing the same. It's.. exciting news about phase two."

She tries to play it off cool, hoping he didn't hear her.

"It is, isn't it? We've put a lot of effort into this plan and pushed through every set back."

"Yeah… It's truly admirable."

He smiles at her and slightly nods as they now stand in silence. She looks for a way out.

"Well, I really should be heading back. Gotta make sure I'm doing my part to help out."

She takes a step forward but is stopped by Spark's words.

"You know, loyalty is something we think is very important here."

As he says this, she hears rustling behind him.

"Ngh! Let me go!"

She sees a couple of people drag Alexi by his arms to them. He stops struggling when he sees Spark and Amber. They both look at him as the others stand him up. Amber has a look of fear as Spark turns back to face her.

"Loyalty can also be quite the valuable resource."

He says softly before a whip of plasma strikes past Alexi. He yells in pain as his leg, halfway between his knee and ankle, is severed from his body. He cries in pain and slumps over but the two people prop him back up.

"Shut up, we can fix that, see? No harm done."

He gives Alexi a crooked smile as he shows off a cybernetic hand. It moves awkwardly and isn't extremely advanced but does the job. Alexi sweats and winces in pain but composes himself the best he can. Amber's eyes are filled with horror as she covers her mouth.

"See what I mean? With loyalty, you can get trusted workers who never betray you. … Or even friends."

He says with an ominous tone. He looks at her as she looks at him for a moment before he speaks again.

"Lower him."

"What??"

The two push Alexi down to one knee and keep him there. Spark then raises a plasma tentacle and puts the tip to Alexi's temple.

"How do you think Fullsky found out again?"

He asks Alexi as he begins to press the tentacle into his head which starts to bleed just a little. Alexi flinches in pain but doesn't give in.

"They must've seen them."

He says. Spark squints a little as he presses harder.

"How did they find out?"

"They must've seen them!"

"How did they find out?"

"They must've seen them!!"

Spark raises his voice every time he asks and presses harder as more blood comes from the side of his head. Amber watches in horror and shakes with fear. She closes her eyes tightly.

"It was me!"

They stop and Spark pulls the tentacle away a bit. He looks at her. Alexi gives her a sad look.

"Don't…"

"It was me. I told her, so please don't hurt him."

Spark smiles at her.

"Let him go."

They release him and he falls to the ground. Amber quickly goes to hold him as she grabs his legs.

"Loyalty is such a powerful thing, isn't it? Without it, we are nothing."

He says while looking down at them.

"It doesn't matter if you told her what little information you have, our plan will still go on without a problem. And perhaps we can even use this to our advantage. As long as it doesn't happen again, got it?"

Amber helps Alexi to stand up.

"You better head back to the compound and get cleaned up. There's blood everywhere."

Spark says, kind of disgusted at the mess. Amber gives him a look as she walks past him with Alexi limping by her side.

"I am sorry Amber…"

"It's okay, you didn't-"

Before she can finish her sentence, Alexi's head is severed from his body and sent flying through the air. She screams out as his blood is sprayed across her face. Amber stares, horrified, as she falls to her knees and Alexi's body falls limp.

"Like I said, there's blood everywhere."

Amber turns to him with horror and instant rage in her eyes.

"You said it didn't matter! You told us to go back!"

"I told you to go back. Not him."

She grits her teeth at him as tears form in her eyes. He stares at her then smirks.

"You know what, scratch that, I changed my mind. Being clean is the least of your worries now."

The two others come over and grab her by the arms. She struggles a bit but knows there is nothing she can do. Spark steps close to her and she stares him down. He looks down on her.

"You forgot to tell Fullsky the most important part of our plan."

Amber stares with slight confusion but still rageful. He smiles evilly and leans in close.

"The hostage situation."

Her eyes widen as she's dragged away. Spark stays there for a moment before following.

"Soon, we'll be free of them permanently. The boss will be very pleased." He walks back to the compound as it fades to black.

Back home, some time later, Shiori is in her room looking under her bed. She grunts a little in disappointment as she sits back. Hikigaya walks past her room and as he does she perks up a bit.

"Oh, Hikigaya. Do you know where Ace is? I think I gave her a notebook a few days ago but I'm not sure."

"Oh Amber left like yesterday."

Shiori suddenly freezes as her eye widens.

"Who left yesterday?"

"Amber? My sister? She left to head back to her dorm for something. She said she'd be back soon though."

Shiori stares with wide eyes.

"Your sister's name… isn't Ace?"

"Nah, that was just a nickname my mom gave her since she was so good at baseball. Then it just stuck I guess."

He notices her staring off.

"Hey, you okay?"

She blinks out of her spacing and smiles a bit at him.

"Oh, yeah sorry. That's pretty cool. I guess I'll get it back from her when she comes back."

Hikigaya looks at her questioningly for a moment before continuing down the hall. Shiori's face goes neutral once he leaves as she stands up and spaces out once again. She stands in the center of her room, the room around her seemingly fading and twisting around before she clenches her fists tightly.

Hikigaya is downstairs in the fridge looking for a popsicle. When he stands back up and closes the door, Shiori is standing behind it which startles him a little.

"Why were you standing behind the door like that?"

"I need you to cover for me Thursday next week." She says with a serious look.

"Cover for you, what does that even mean?"

"It means I'm gonna head out that day but I need you to tell my parents I'm hanging out with the others."

"Yeah right. School is a little over a week away and you're heading out? Besides, I already got plans that day."

She gives him a look of disbelief as he flips his popsicle around with attitude. 

"You have plans that day?" She asks.

"Yep."

"Like what?"

"I'm gonna.. hangout with a friend." He answers, a little nervous.

"Do I know this friend?"

"No but that's none of your business."

He sticks his tongue out at her as she puts her hand on her hip. She looks down in frustration before her eye lights up a bit. 

"Well if we're both busy that day, why don't we just say we're sleeping over with the others."

"Hm. Not a bad idea."

"Of course it's not, it's my idea."

She gives him a cocky smile as he just smiles and rolls his eyes in return. 

"Shiori~!" Riku trots down the stairs, whining out his sister's name.

"What is it, Riku?"

"I can't find big sis Ace anywhere! Where did she go?"

Shiori turns to Hikigaya and gives him a soft look.

"She really just left without saying anything?"

Hikigaya just shrugs in response. Shiori turns to face Riku again and picks him up.

"Don't worry Riku. Ace is gonna be away for a little while but she'll be back, I promise. For now you get to hangout with your cooler, first big sis."

She smiles at him as he gives her a very blank, unamused look. She gets mad and starts pulling his cheeks.

"What's with that look, huh!? I'm cool too, you know!"

Hikigaya laughs as the siblings fight. As he does, the front door opens and the three parents come through with bags of groceries and decorations.

"Oh Shiori, guess what? I got all the makings for your favorite foods!"

Hamasaki says excitedly. Shiori puts Riku down, who pouts and rubs his cheeks. She looks confused.

"What's the occasion?"

"Your birthday, silly! It's only in a couple days." Her mother responds.

"Oh yeah. My birthday…"

Her mood drops a bit which they pick up on. Asami continues to the kitchen with her bag as Takanou and Hamasaki look at each other with slightly worried looks. Hikigaya notices too and speaks up.

"So you're finally turning 15 huh?"

Shiori looks at him with a more lively, annoyed look now.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, you know, just that it took you long enough. I've been 15 for, like, eight months now." He teases.

"Whatever. Not like I can help it." She rolls her eye.

"Sounds like an excuse to me."

He smirks at her while she gets angry in response.

"Oh yeah? How about I excuse my fist in your face?"

She says through gritted teeth. Hikigaya continues to poke fun at her while her parents sigh in relief.

"No more birthdays alone." Takanou says softly.

"Mhm."

Hamasaki hums. They smile warmly while the two playfully argue.

"Sorry, I can't go. I'm… busy…" Chizuru says over the phone.

"Yeah, sorry, I can't make it." Lucy says as well in a different phone call.

"Oh, yeah, no it's okay. Don't worry about it.."

Shiori says back to both of them separately. She hangs up her phone and lowers her head a bit, super sad they won't come. Hikigaya watches with a sympathetic look from her doorway. He decides to step in.

"They can't make it, huh?"

Shiori is caught off guard by him and quickly perks up, trying to hide her being upset.

"Yeah, I guess not. It's okay. At least the others can make it so it'll still be lots of fun, I'm sure."

"Look on the bright side, at least you'll have Ryuji all to yourself tonight."

Hikigaya says in an attempt to cheer her up. Shiori just lowers her head at his words, surprising Hikigaya.

"Yeah… about that."

He looks at her confused.

"I… don't think I like him anymore…"

Hikigaya is shocked at this reveal.

"What?? Really?"

"Yeah, it's just, I feel really awkward when I'm with him and Lucy and he obviously likes her and I don't want to ruin the friendships I have with either of them." She says with a sad but clear tone.

"It's just all so complicated and I don't want to stress about that right now. He's really nice but, I don't know."

She sits on her bed while explaining this to Hikigaya. He pauses for a moment before responding to her.

"It's okay, Shiori. Emotions are complicated. You don't have to justify yourself, especially not to me. Just go with the flow, everything will work out eventually."

He says with a supportive tone. She looks up and sees him smiling warmly at her. She smiles back as he speaks.

"Now come on, we got some more preparations to do before the others come over." He walks out of her room and she follows.

Later that night, just after dinner, the group all sits at the table happily eating or hanging out.

"Ah, that was so yummy! Thank you to the chef of this meal!"

Haru raises his fork in the air as Hamasaki giggles.

"I'm glad you like it."

She says happily. Sugawara turns and looks at Shiori with a smile.

"Happy birthday, Shiori."

"Thanks Sugawara."

He gives her a soft smile and she smiles back.

"I'm sorry Chizuru and Lucy couldn't make it." He says sympathetically.

"It's okay, it's not your fault." She responds kindly.

"Yeah, where are they?! Don't they know how important this day is?!"

Haru says enthusiastically and scrunching eyebrows.

"I'm very disappointed."

He crosses his arms and shakes his head.

"They had a fight."

Ryuji says casually. The others look at him with confusion and interest as he continues.

"They probably haven't made up yet and were scared to see each other here."

"Chizuru and Lucy had a fight..?"

Hikigaya says in disbelief as he looks at Haru, who feels the same way.

"But they never fight! They're the only two who don't."

Haru looks back at Ryuji as if searching for answers but he just shrugs. Haru presses his lips together as if he wants to continue to talk about it but won't.

"Well, no matter. Today is about Shiori! Our dear friend who has never let us down or cease to keep things interesting! To you, happy birthday Shiori!"

Haru cheers and lifts his cup, the others do the same with smiles on their faces. She stares in awe at the sight of her friends all cherishing her. The feeling she's so unfamiliar with builds up in her chest before she blushes with tears beginning to form in her eye. She covers her mouth and looks away.

"Thank you guys.."

She whispers as Sugawara pats her on the back. Hikigaya looks at her with a warm smile on his face when Hamasaki leans over a bit.

"Thank you so much for doing this."

He looks at her confused.

"Doing what?"

"Making her birthday special. She's always had rough birthdays growing up since no one would ever come. Oh, well there was this one time a boy came when she was in elementary school. He had the cutest crush on her."

"Maaa! Don't tell him that!"

She shouts, embarrassedly between sniffles. She looks over, all blushing from embarrassment and calming her almost tears. Hikigaya giggles a little to himself at the sight before him.

'So cute.'

"Alright, enough of this. Bring out the presents!"

Haru proclaims. Takanou brings over a few boxes of presents to Shiori's seat at the table. She begins opening them one by one and is surprised by the little gifts she receives. She eventually gets to Hikigaya's gift. It's small and rectangular. 

"What is it?" She asks.

"Like I'm gonna tell you. Just open it."

She rolls her eyes and smiles as she takes the wrapping paper off. She looks at the item in front of her and stares for a moment. She picks it up as her eye shines.

"No way…"

"Alright, alright, calm down. I know it's just another journal but I thought you might want-"

"Are you kidding? This is the Moshimoto Refillable Log 2! I've been looking at this one for months!" She shouts excitedly.

"Haha, it was either that one or the third one."

"Well, I'm glad you did this one cause the other is definitely not as good. But how did you know I wanted this one?"

"Eh, you seem like a Moshimoto brand fan."

She smiles warmly as she holds the book in her hands. It has a brown leather cover with a tight glued spine and a band to keep it closed. The best feature is the pages can be taken out and replaced once it runs out of room. 

"You better do lots of writing in that thing and not those old notebooks anymore because I also got like three paper refills for it." Hikigaya says confidently.

"I love it…"

She says under her breath while blushing. Hikigaya looks at her surprised as he didn't hear what she said.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." She says defiantly with a smile on her face.

"Last but not least."

Asami says as she hands Shiori an envelope with a card inside. Shiori takes it and looks at the front.

'To Shiori - From Amber'

She looks at Asami with a slightly confused look.

"She knew she needed to head out before your birthday and wouldn't make it back in time so she asked me to give it to you. Even I don't know what's inside."

Asami says with a smile. Shiori looks back at the card and begins to open it. She takes out a card with a silly joke on the front. She smiles and opens it where it reads:

'Dear Shiori,

I'm sorry I can't be there for your birthday. You know I would be if I could. I hope this day treats you well and even if it's not, just remember that good days come and go just like the bad ones. Just keep your head up little sis and everything will be better one day. I'll try to get back as soon as I can and then we'll have a real party as a family.

- Love, Amber.

P.s. Take care of Hikigaya for me while I'm gone. I know he can be a lot sometimes but he's nicer on the inside. And take this to remember me while I'm away.'

After she finishes reading, she looks at the corner of the card to see an enamel pin poked into it. It's kind of small and round. It says 'Stray Cloud' on it with pink puffy clouds behind it. She takes it off and looks at it. Hikigaya leans over and looks at it too.

"Hm…"

"What is it?"

"Nothing. I thought I recognised that pin but I guess not."

She smiles at it and holds it close in her hand.

"So, how was this year's birthday?"

Hamasaki asks softly. Shiori looks around at her friends and family, all of them smiling happily at her. She smiles warmly.

"It was great…"

She says softly. Everyone smiles as Haru throws his fist into the air.

"Hell yeah! Another successful birthday! We're the best friends ever'!"

He shouts as Ryuji sweats.

"This is our first birthday with her.."

Soon, the party continues on as they all hangout, enjoying their time. Shiori's new notebook lays on the table with the pin now pinned into the cover.