Vol. 2 Chapter 106 – Adult Birthday (3)

“Th-this is…” (Hikaru)

“Yeah, Plum Software’s latest release that came out yesterday.” (Reiya)

I followed up with an explanation as Hikaru remained frozen, staring at the screen.

The latest entry in the wildly popular Armored Ring series.

Being the first new game in ten years, the announcement had caused worldwide celebration.

Naturally, Hikaru would know about that excitement.

She must have played the previous games, so this surprise attack should have been quite effective.

“That’s cruel… so cruel, Reiya-kun…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru started trembling while remaining glued to the screen after receiving my preemptive strike.

“Cruel?” (Reiya)

“You know I’m going to America at the end of this month, right…?” (Hikaru)

“Of course, I heard about the tennis tournament a long time ago.” (Reiya)

She’d won the tournament in June and earned an organizer’s recommendation slot for a tournament in America.

I’d known about that for ages.

“That’s why I was planning to wait until I got back… to play this…” (Hikaru)

“I see.” (Reiya)

“I was holding back… holding back… and when I came back I was going to reward myself for working hard—” (Hikaru)

“But today’s your ‘birthday,’ so isn’t that fine?” (Reiya)

Here, I drew my legendary blade.

“B-birthday…!?” (Hikaru)

Hearing those three syllables, Hikaru looked shocked as if she’d forgotten.

“That’s right, today is August 8th… Hikaru’s birthday.” (Reiya)

“Oh yeah… today is my birthday… so maybe a little bit would be okay… ugh… but…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru desperately held back her hand reaching for the controller.

I want to play, I really want to play.

I want to play the new game all night until morning.

She was desperately resisting a temptation that would have made me last zero seconds.

The iron will to see through what she’d decided once.

That stoicism as a first-class athlete was truly admirable.

But today was her birthday, which only came once a year.

And it was the first anniversary we were spending together as a couple.

Unfortunately, I had no intention of letting the word “restraint” into the equation.

“You’re not going to play?” (Reiya)

“I want to, but…” (Hikaru)

“But?” (Reiya)

“I should hold back and save it for when I come back…” (Hikaru)

“…Even though it’s your birthday?” (Reiya)

“Ugh… even though it’s my birthday…” (Hikaru)

“I see… that’s too bad. Actually, I played it a little yesterday, and this really is Plum’s masterpi— no, if Hikaru says she’s going to hold back, I’ll stay quiet about—” (Reiya)

“AAAAHHHHH!! My body craves conflict!!” (Hikaru)

Unable to withstand my psychological attack, Hikaru lunged for the controller.

And so began the most decadent and most enjoyable birthday ever.

“Another! One more!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru raised her mug after instantly draining a 500ml energy drink.

Without missing a beat, I pulled another one from the mini-fridge and poured it.

“Ahh…! Birthdays are the best…!” (Hikaru)

She downed about half of it in one gulp.

I immediately picked up some potato chips with chopsticks from a plate of snacks and held them to her mouth.

While operating the controller with her hands, Hikaru opened her mouth wide to eat them.

“Ahh… mmm… the salty taste really hits after all that sweetness…” (Hikaru)

“How about some chocolate next?” (Reiya)

“Eh? That’s the kind of thing I’d eat endlessly. Are you sure?” (Hikaru)

“Of course, after all, today is Hikaru’s ‘birthday.'” (Reiya)

“If it’s my birthday, I guess it can’t be helped… ahh… so sweet…!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru showed a blissful expression while savoring the chocolate from my hand.

Just watching her indulgence made me happy too.

“Now then, what build should I go for… maybe a two-legged magic swordsman? But doing this prayer thing with four legs looks interesting too. Or maybe an all-strength tank build…” (Hikaru)

And while indulging in such pleasures, her eyes remained glued to the screen.

The game we’d both been eagerly waiting for was apparently the masterpiece we’d expected.

While satisfying her appetite, her hands continued playing the game nonstop.

I could definitely be proud that I’d given her the best birthday in the world today.

I smirked inwardly while watching her completely decadent profile.

But my hospitality skills were far from done.

I’d deliver my next move to that defenseless back of hers…