Bzzt... bzzt... bzzt...
Kaito Hattori grudgingly emerged from his slumber as his alarm blared at six-thirty, already feeling drained by the arrival of a new day.
He groped for his cellphone and silenced the annoying tone before groggily scrolling through the barrage of messages flooding his mobile.
[HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GUY!!!]
[ANOTHER YEAR CLOSER TO YOUR THIRTIES! YOU'RE GONNA HATE IT...]
[HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DUDE. TIME SURE FLIES!]
[HAPPY TWENTY-SIXTH BIRTHDAY, HATTORIIIII...]
And so on and so forth.
Seemingly everyone he knew had already sent him a birthday text so early, except for one person.
His spirits dipped slightly.
It can't be helped, I guess.
With a nine-hour time difference between Tokyo and the United Kingdom, it really couldn't be helped. The person he wanted to talk to was probably fast asleep by now.
After quickly expressing his gratitude and appreciation to everyone, Kaito got out of bed and prepared for his day.
**
"Our boss showed up today? I thought for sure you were taking the day off," a familiar voice remarked as soon as a certain individual entered the locker room. Kaito had already changed into his pristine white and navy chef uniform.
With a white beanie perched atop his thick, dark, short hair, Kaito adjusted the blue cuffs of his sleeves while casually asking the newcomer, "Why? Today's just another busy weekday."
"Right, I should've known," the other person chuckled and swiftly changed the topic while donning his own uniform.
This person was Jiro Kawasaki, Kaito's best friend, who had turned twenty-seven this year. He was a fetching tall, muscular man with neatly cropped brown hair, and tanned skin.
Unlike Kaito, who preferred a clean-shaven face, Jiro sported a meticulously groomed stubble beard.
The two had been in the same baking department during college and had become close friends due to Jiro's open-mindedness and straightforward nature. His confidence and hardworking personality had a way of winning people over.
After graduating from college three years ago, Kaito worked as a pastry chef at a renowned restaurant before saving up enough to open his own small establishment. With support from his family and friends who helped with advertising, Kaito's bakery had gained popularity in the past year.
At just twenty-six, he was already financially stable, living alone in a cozy lodge he rented. He had even recently bought a car, making his commute to and from work much easier. Kaito had amassed a considerable number of followers on his social media accounts, thanks to his bakery's success.
"So..." Jiro drawled, drawing out the word as he leaned closer to his friend and playfully nudged him, a mischievous grin spreading across his lips. "What did the missus say?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know," Jiro attempted to mimic a cute expression by pouting his lips, "Didn't you receive a sickeningly sweet 'good morning, I miss you, I wish I was there' text? It's your first birthday as a taken man, after all."
True, but did it even matter if his lover wasn't around? Today felt like any other ordinary day to Kaito.
"I don't see how that's important. Today is just the same as all the rest," Kaito replied, closing his locker door and heading out of the room. "Hurry up and help me open the shop."
Jiro didn't press further and watched as two more employees, who had just arrived, exchanged birthday wishes with Kaito at the entrance before joining him at the lockers.
"As early as always," twenty-five-year-old Hiroshi Inaba commented after exchanging greetings with Jiro.
Hiroshi had a tall, slender build and striking looks. His shoulder-length hair, often tied in a ponytail at work, was dyed a fiery red and accompanied by numerous piercings on each ear. Whenever he stepped out of the shop, people often mistook him for a mobster, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
In fact, once he shed his flashy gangster attire, put on his baker's uniform, and removed the mediocre earrings, he looked like a completely different person.
Jiro often suspected Hiroshi would never outgrow his high school gangster phase.
The other person who arrived with Hiroshi was twenty-one-year-old part-timer Shun Matsumura, a second-year college student majoring in accounting. He wore black-rimmed spectacles that gave him a serious air, but his exceptional people skills were what landed him the job.
Like Hiroshi, Shun was also quite attractive, and despite their contrasting personalities, the two worked well together.
"Is it just me, or does the boss seem a bit down today?" Shun commented quietly, capturing the attention of his seniors.
"Ah, so you noticed it too?" Jiro had actually intended to mention it first.
"I didn't see anything off about him," Hiroshi shrugged nonchalantly. Having known Kaito for over seven months, he had grown accustomed to his somewhat reserved demeanor.
"It feels different today," Shun asserted.
"Well, maybe it's too early to tell," Jiro concluded, finally finished changing and closing his locker door. "Let's observe him a little longer. He might just be experiencing some morning blues."
...
Or not.
The trio, who had decided to observe Kaito's behavior, quickly concluded over lunch that something was obviously bothering him. Wasn't he unusually quiet today?
Even Hiroshi, who rarely concerned himself with others' well-being, found Kaito's mood suspicious.
After closely watching him throughout the day, the three noticed two significant things:
First, Kaito, typically devoted to his job, never let go of his cellphone today. He clung to it like a lifeline, constantly scrolling through it without engaging in any conversations.
Second, Kaito would space out for prolonged periods of time, requiring multiple attempts to snap him out of his reverie. His colleagues couldn't help but wonder what occupied his thoughts.
"You guys, he's obviously having a fight with his partner," someone confidently proclaimed later that day.
The team gathered in the staff room, snacking as they prepared to close the shop. The bold conclusion came from Kasumi Tachibana, a twenty-eight-year-old pastry specialist and fellow coworker.
Jiro, acting as the meeting's "director," sighed, sensing the situation spiraling out of control. He held a pen and paper, ready to jot down important points regarding his best friend's unusual mood.
"Let's not jump to conclusions just yet," Jiro cautioned. "We can't assume it's related to his lover without concrete evidence."
"Hey, Kawasaki, weren't you recently dumped?" Etsuko suddenly interjected.
Jiro was taken aback. "And why am I suddenly being attacked???"
"No, it's not that," Misa chimed in, sensing where her colleague was going. "During your pre-breakup period, didn't you often space out, just like Hattori-sempai is doing now?"
Shun adjusted his glasses. "That's a valid point. It certainly makes the situation more suspicious."
"A fight, huh? Doesn't sound too complicated," Hiroshi leaned back in his chair and casually nibbled on a biscuit. "If he's quarreling with his partner, they should just take each other out, make up or something. I do it all the time with my girlfriend, and she forgives and forgets easily."
"Well, Inaba, that's a brilliant idea," Kasumi remarked, her smile barely concealing her sarcasm. "Sure, Hattori's lover might be on the other side of the world, but who cares? They can easily go out for a meal or something."
Hiroshi brilliantly stopped talking.
"Um, guys, I know this probably doesn't matter, but even if Hattori's lover were here, would Hiroshi's suggestions even work in a situation like this?"
A helpless silence fell as everyone exchanged glances.
To an outsider, Kaito Hattori was simply a tall, handsome man who attracted attention and adoration from many women. His well-toned physique and the snug chef's uniform he wore naturally drew people's eyes.
But Kaito's partner was a man—everyone knew that. Moreover, that man was incredibly wealthy, and already in his mid-thirties. He wouldn't be swayed by childish tricks like the ones Hiroshi had proposed.
Snorting, Etsuko finally broke the silence, commenting, "I'm a woman, and even I wouldn't fall for such pathetic games."
"Agreed," Misa and Kasumi chimed in.
Hiroshi scoffed, "At least I had an idea. I don't see you guys coming up with anything."
"You mentioned they've been together since last May, right? So, it's been about nine months," Shun pondered. "I've never met the boss' partner personally, but the way you talk about him indicates they deeply care for each other. Isn't it too early for them to be having major quarrels?"
"I wish I still had that youthful mindset," Kasumi groaned, expressing her near-thirty angst. "But you're right, they did care about each other. But you know... distance can change people."
The group fell into a contemplative silence as Kasumi raised that thought.
Shun had never met Kaito's lover since he had recently started his part-time job. The man had been overseas for work for the past three months, and nobody knew when he would return. Kaito's lover had been a regular customer at the bakery for over a year, so naturally, everyone else knew him well. It was in this very place that Kaito and he had first crossed paths.
Jiro rubbed the space between his brows, finally giving up. "Alright, forget it. Let's leave him alone for now. Hattori will surely inform us when--"
He trailed off as the staff room door swung open, revealing Kaito standing there. Everyone froze.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Kaito calmly asked, "What's going on?"
Jiro quickly slid the sheet titled 'Points on how to help Kaito feel better' under the desk, offering a smile and shaking his head. "It's nothing. We were just discussing... new menu ideas."
Everyone nodded in agreement, their faces wearing peculiar grins.
With such obvious reactions, Kaito couldn't help but doubt their words. However, he felt too lazy to investigate further and decided to let it slide.
"Alright, if you guys are finished, it's time to close up the shop," he announced, absentmindedly typing on his cellphone.
"Do you have any plans, sempai?" Misa suddenly inquired, capturing everyone's curious gaze.
Kaito shrugged. "Not really."
Perfect; the group thought in unison.
"We thought we'd all grab a bite to eat after work," Kasumi shared, expressing the thoughts of everyone else. "It is your birthday, after all."
"And maybe have a few drinks too," Hiroshi chimed in.
Kaito hesitated, "I don't really..."
"Nope, not today," Jiro stood up and approached the door, wrapping an arm around Kaito's shoulder. "You can't bail today. Any other day is fine, but there's no way we're letting you go home sober on your birthday, bud."
Kaito wanted to decline, but their insistence was relentless. In the end, he gave in and joined them after closing the shop.
**
Leaving his car safely parked in the bakery's lot had been a wise decision, as Kaito could barely see straight after the mini-party with his coworkers. He knew he wouldn't be able to drive in his current state.
The trains had long stopped running, and finding a ride at this late hour was honestly a stroke of luck. However, instead of heading straight home after parting ways with the group, he asked the cab driver to drop him off at a familiar park near his place, hoping the cool breeze would help him sober up a bit.
With a bag slung over his shoulder, he stumbled through the park, alone.
Initially, the world seemed to spin beneath his feet, but soon enough, he managed to adjust to the swaying sensation and the change in surroundings. Gradually, his steps became more steady, allowing him to walk upright.
Kaito's mind wandered through a flurry of thoughts. His mother and younger sister, residing on the other side of town, occupied his thoughts, as did the friends he had bid farewell to just moments ago.
And then there was Daichi, his lover.
As a cool breeze rustled through his hair, Kaito glanced up at the mesmerizing expanse of the starlit sky. Maybe today... wasn't so bad; he thought.
This park, enveloped in darkness, became Kaito's sanctuary at night, offering a respite from the city lights that obscured the stars. It was in places like these that he and Daichi used to frequent, back when the man was still in town.
With a clumsy hand, Kaito retrieved his cellphone from his hood pocket, narrowly avoiding dropping it twice. Activating the rear camera, he aimed it at the sky, eager to capture the ethereal beauty above him. Only after the fifth attempt did he find satisfaction, satisfied with the quality of the image. A thought crossed his mind—to share it with Daichi.
Yet, his finger hovered over the send button, reluctant to press it for a prolonged moment. Would he be disturbing Daichi's peace by sending it now?
Their recent conversations had dwindled to morning and evening greetings, leaving a void in their connection. It had been days since their last substantial conversation. In the first month of Daichi's absence, the distance hadn't felt so bad, since they still found solace in frequent communication. And whenever they ran out of major things to talk about, they moved on to those small unimportant matters.
But these days, Daichi seemed swallowed by an overwhelming workload, leaving them with scarce opportunities to connect. It felt like a small miracle whenever Daichi reached out at all.
Kaito had avoided acknowledging the painful truth, but the distance had become unbearable. Deep down, he had known it from the very beginning.
To think so much would change within a measly three months.
In the end, Kaito chose not to send the picture. He settled for a simple "good night" message to Daichi, closing their chat interface and tucking the phone back into his pocket.
This really is the worst.
Nevertheless, he had to endure until Daichi's return.
As Kaito prepared to resume his journey home, his cellphone interrupted the quietude with an untimely buzz. He wondered who would be calling at such a late hour.
Initially, he contemplated ignoring it, but after squinting his eyes to discern the caller ID, his heart skipped a beat. Without a second thought, he answered.
"D-Daichi..."
"Happy Birthday, Kaito," a familiar, soothingly deep voice resonated from the other end, causing his heart to tremble.
For a moment, Kaito stood rooted to the spot, unable to react. It felt surreal that the person he longed to converse with the most had finally reached out to him.
"Am I too late?" Daichi asked, his voice carrying a hint of relief.
Shaking off his stupor, Kaito stole a glance at the time. It was three minutes until midnight.
"No, you made it," he whispered, a smile forming on his lips as his racing heart found solace. "Thank you."
***
Upon hearing those words, Daichi Nakano visibly relaxed, emitting a sigh of relief. "Then that's good."
Though he maintained an outward calm, Daichi had been plagued by anxiety, fearing that Kaito was displeased and would reproach him for being an inconsiderate boyfriend. Childish as it may have seemed, his mind couldn't help but conjure up all sorts of irrational thoughts during the brief delay before Kaito answered the call.
Daichi stood by the expansive French windows of his office, gazing out at the cityscape, one hand nonchalantly tucked into his trouser pocket. The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning— he had completely mixed up the dates for Kaito's birthday. All this time, he had assumed it was tomorrow.
It wasn't that he had forgotten the date; rather, he had become lost in the whirlwind of his busy schedule over the past few days. It was only a moment ago when Kaito sent him a 'good night' text that Daichi finally grasped the truth of the date.
"Just so you know, I didn't forget," Daichi spoke, unsure of what thoughts were running through the other person's mind, prompting him to clarify.
However, Kaito's laughter resonated through the receiver, as he replied, "Even if you had, Daichi, I wouldn't have been angry. Well... maybe just a little sad."
Running his free hand down his face, Daichi, dressed in a dark grey suit, felt a pang of guilt. "I swear I didn't. Don't laugh."
"Fine, fine," Kaito conceded, swiftly shifting the conversation. "But enough about me. How's your project? Is the partnership going well?"
Daichi had come to this side to oversee a particular project that his company was financing, serving as the project director and the primary representative chosen by his superiors.
"What do you mean 'enough about you'? I want to hear how you spent your day," Daichi firmly disagreed. "And I could really use a break from all the nonsense here."
"If you're not busy, then alright," a few chuckles echoed through the receiver as Kaito proceeded to recount the events of his day.
It was a mundane description of an ordinary and uneventful day, but Daichi listened attentively, occasionally interjecting with playful remarks, expressing his envy towards those colleagues who managed to give his boyfriend a better birthday celebration than he did.
"This place, huh?" Daichi grumbled begrudgingly while scrolling through the pictures Kaito had sent of his little get-together with colleagues. The chosen venue was not bad at all. Still, he couldn't help but think he would have chosen an even better place. Casually, he added, "Did they gift you anything in the end?"
"Yeah, but I haven't taken the pictures. I'll send them once I get home; it's too dark here," Kaito spoke from the other end.
"Still out having fun?"
"No, no, the party ended ages ago," Kaito drunkenly chuckled. "It's already past midnight."
"I'm sorry I called so late," Daichi felt a tinge of guilt. "You must be tired."
"A little, but don't worry. The night breeze is helping me stay awake, so don't hang up just yet," Kaito reassured him immediately.
Daichi laughed helplessly, "You shouldn't hang out outside on the balcony so late; you'll catch a cold. Hurry up and go back inside."
"Not on the balcony."
"I thought you were home. Where are you?"
"Hehehe, you know that park near my place?"
Daichi would have been less displeased if Kaito had said he was still partying, because at least he would be in the company of other human beings, even if it was late.
But now this audacious person was taking a midnight stroll in the park? Wasn't he clearly asking for trouble?!
Judging by Kaito's slurred speech and incessant giggling, Daichi had already formed a rough estimation of just how intoxicated the fool was.
Massaging his temples, Daichi struggled to maintain composure as he uttered his next words:
"It's past midnight, and here you are, a drunken man strolling around the park as if it's no big deal. Are you trying to make tomorrow's headlines?"
"Uhh..." it took Kaito a moment to process the meaning behind those words, and when he finally did, he burst into a fit of laughter. "Don't worry about me. I'm a grown man; I won't suddenly be attacked."
"Hurry up and go home," Daichi's tone left no room for negotiation.
"Hehe~ Yes, sir."
~~~~~~
