Seventeen!

-----Yui's POV

I could hardly sleep that well last night as today would apparently be the last day of the three days that Mai said we had. However-

Everyone: "Surprise!~"

Yui: "Eh?"

Upon walking downstairs, everyone yelled out in unison, leaving me shocked as I find myself quickly woken up in the moment.

Iris: "Fufu. Did you forget? It's your birthday today."

Yui: "Huh?"

Luna: "Hehe. Happy 17th birthday, Yui."

Yui: "..."

I stare down at the table where a massive cake has been made. I've been frozen in place at this sudden surprise, but now all my emotions comes spiraling back as I feel my vision getting a little blurry.

Olivia: "Mm! Happy birthday."

Nick: "Happy birthday."

Everyone voiced their celebrations as I feel my vision growing more and more blurred by the second as I quickly wipe the couple tears that have built up.

Kaede: "Happy birthday, Yui."

But out from behind me, Kaede wraps her arms around me as she looks at the cake from over my shoulder.

Natalie: "I hope you like it! We stayed up all night making it."

Yui: "...You really didn't need to."

Maid1: "Yes, but we wanted to."

Maid2: "Mhmm! Don't worry about us, my lady."

I'm not really all that into sweets, but if Natalie and the other maids stayed up through the night to make this for me, then isn't it impossible for me to deny it? I've been so focused on so many different things that I must've completely forgot about my birthday. Not that I really care about it, but seeing so many people care about it, even to go as far as doing all of this is pretty overwhelming.

Yui: "Th-thank you!"

Iris: "Fufu. Well, it might be early, but let's get right into it!"

Yui: "Pfft."

Cake for breakfast? I don't think I've ever done that before, not even in my old world. This almost feels wrong, but I can't deny that it's tempting.

...

And so, we all gathered around the large dining table. Natalie did the honors of cutting the cake as the other maids and butlers helped distribute the cake around. Back in my old world, usually the person who's having the birthday cuts the cake, but apparently that custom isn't shared here.

William: "Oooh! What sort of cake is this?"

Maid3: "Carrot cake, sir."

Elira: "Oh my~ Sure does look lovely."

Butler1: "Thank you, ma'am."

Carrot cake, huh? Maybe it might not be as sweet as something like a chocolate cake. I wonder if Natalie had the idea of making this sort of cake to cater towards my tastes? And upon glancing at Natalie slicing the cake, she gives a cheeky smile, almost as if she knows what I'm thinking. I swear, she's getting too cocky, that maid...

Yui: "Fufu."

Kaede: "Cute."

Yui: "Eh?"

Kaede: "That smile just now. Haven't seen it much lately."

Yui: "D-don't say something like that. It's..."

Luna: "I agree!"

I swear these two... I'll admit that this atmosphere is very warm and pleasant, it's hard to not smile as I look at everyone's faces.

Gabriella: "Can I have more?"

Olivia: "Hey, Gabriella. Don't be rude."

Butler2: "Haha. If there's any left after everyone has eaten, then I'll serve you another piece."

Gabriella: "Thank you very much!"

Olivia really does look like a big sister now.

Yui: "I'm surprised you didn't ask for more, Luna."

Luna: "Hey~ I'm not about to start asking for more. Like what Olivia said, it's rude."

Yui: "But I know that slice isn't enough for you, right?"

Luna: "...Maybe, hehe."

Kaede: "You can have some of mine if you want."

Luna: "Eh? Really?"

Kaede: "Mhmm. But I still want to eat some of it, even if I can't really taste it."

Mell: "Mmmm. It looks so delicious though..."

Fleur: "Hehe, yeah."

Faye: "Nothing we can do about it now though, haha."

Sicily: "Hah!"

Lillian: "Sis."

Sicily: "I know~"

Yeah... Everyone's so lively. It's like no one is worrying about what happens after today, and in a way, I don't really care either. And very soon, after everyone got their slice of cake, at my signal, as I take the first bite, everyone else followed suit with big smiles on their faces.

Iris: "Hah~ If only-"

Fabian: "I'm here!"

Suddenly, cutting off what mom was about to say, Mai returns with Fabian at her side.

Mai: "My apologies. Sorry for disturbing."

And in a flash, Mai disappears as Fabian quickly takes his seat at the table.

Priscilla: "F-Fabian! Here, you go!"

Fabian: "Haha, thank you."

And his maid quickly rushes to serve him the slice of cake.

Fabian: "Happy birthday, sis."

Yui: "Thanks."

I wonder if Mai realized what was happening here and quickly went to grab him. I know she's busy, but I'm thankful that Mai managed to squeeze Fabian in last minute.

Iris: "Hahh~ Now this is perfect."

Yui: "Yeah."

...It is.

.....

...

Luna: "Ah~ I'm stuffed!"

Nick: "I swear, with how much you eat, I don't know how you're not fat."

Luna: "Hehe, you jealous, huh?"

Nick: "Not in the slightest."

Alice: "Alright, then help me finish mine. Ah~"

I watch as Alice feeds Nick the last of her cake with a bright smile on her face.

Luna: "Mmmm."

Yui: "Here, say ah~"

Luna: "Huh?"

Yui: "You looked like you wanted to try it. Here, ah~"

Luna: "...Ahh-"

I only had a little bit of cake left, but I'm honestly full myself. And I know Luna has a second stomach somewhere hidden inside that body of hers, and in no time at all, she takes the piece of cake from my fork as a smile quickly surfaces on her face.

Luna: "Thank you, Yui."

Yui: "Mm!"

Sicily: "Gotta say though. I didn't know carrots could be this delicious."

Lillian: "Pfft, haha. Yeah. Thank you very much for having us."

Iris: "Anytime~ Thank you for being here."

...

And soon after, with everyone having finished their cake and having some idle chatter here and there, I make my way back up to my room, moving out to the balcony just outside my room as I take in the ocean atmosphere.

Yui: "Is today really the last day?"

It's hard to imagine. Looking out in the world, nothing seems to be going on. I can hear everyone still chatting downstairs, having a good time, but apparently somethings happening anyways.

Kaede: "Who knows."

And coming up from behind me, Kaede ends up resting on the railing of the balcony, looking out at the ocean with me.

Kaede: "Mai still refuses to explain anything. To be honest, I think nothing will change."

Yui: "You think?"

Kaede: "Yeah. This world seems happy, so why would something happen here. Mai did say that something's happening with our old world, but that shouldn't concern us right now."

Yui: "...True."

I can't say that it doesn't concern me. I really want to know what's happening there for Mai to be acting strange like this the past few days. Does it affect my old parents?

Kaede: "Hehe. But I guess you're still worried."

Yui: "Mm... I'm worried about them."

Kaede: "I'm sure Mai has everything under control."

Yui: "Yeah..."

Mai's been busy enough to be out of touch with Kaede, so I'm sure we'll be alright. But just then, my drowsiness soon catches up to me as I fail to hold back a massive yawn.

Yui: "S-sorry, haha."

Kaede: "Didn't get enough sleep?"

Yui: "Mm."

Kaede: "We can take a little nap if you like. Everyone's still downstairs."

Yui: "Hmmm. But if today is the "last day," then I'd like to stay up for it."

Kaede: "Fufu. Okay."

Just then, Kaede rests her head on my shoulder as a flashback of the time when we were sitting under a tree enters my mind. Sitting on the cool grass, watching the cherry blossoms fall as we look over the river.

Yui: "Hah~"

I guess the ocean in front of us is close enough to that river. And the wharf down near the shore is sort of like a bridge. But the one thing that's missing are those cherry blossoms.

Yui: "...Kaede."

Kaede: "Hmm?"

Yui: "You'll stay with me tonight. Right?"

Kaede: "Mhmm. Of course."

With Kaede beside me like this, it almost feels like I'm back home. But I guess I had that same feeling from way back then. And I guess we somewhat did find a home for us here in this world. Our hands soon meet up on the balcony as our fingers slowly intertwine with one another as our gazes refuse to leave the ocean.

Kaede: "I love you."

Yui: "Love you too."

I end up resting my head on top of Kaede's as she continues to rest her head on my shoulder. Hahh~ I honestly could just fall asleep like this, but I want to enjoy this moment for a little longer.