The cream fight finally subsided amidst laughter and pleas for mercy. Everyone was exhausted, but their faces were filled with genuine joy.
The party wasn't over; it just entered a more relaxed phase.
The women were scattered in twos and threes throughout the backyard, enjoying this rare moment of relaxation.
Akemi, Ayako, and Natsumi, a group of gentle girls, gathered together to chat about everyday life and their experiences in making sweets.
Reiko Akiba sat at the piano that had been prepared in advance, playing a melodious tune.
Sonoko Suzuki, carrying her beloved suona, was eager to try playing along, while Masumi Sera brought out a large drum from somewhere and started banging it, forming a uniquely styled band.
Xiaolan and Qingzi, two girls who look almost identical, are huddled together, using their phones to record this unforgettable night, their smiles radiant.
Kazuha Toyama and Momiji Ooka, these two "old rivals," have already laid out their karuta and begun a new round of fierce competition, exchanging glances and sparks flying.
Perhaps because she had drunk a little too much, Ai, who is usually calm and composed, was now pulling Ayumi along, seriously explaining to her the transformation poses of a magical girl, completely forgetting what shame was, her big, icy blue eyes filled with a hint of dazed excitement.
Kuroba Chikage, Vermouth, and Kudo Yukiko, this complicated "master's wife and disciple" group, were gathered in a corner, exchanging knowing smiles and talking in hushed tones. Occasionally, their eyes would sweep across the room with a hint of playful control.
Pu Siqinglan stood faithfully by her side, her eyes shining, frantically recording this precious gossip material in her mind.
The three policewomen, Sato Miwako, Miyamoto Yumi, and Miike Naeko, were still awestruck by the sight of a "hundred flowers blooming" before them, which encompassed almost every type of beauty.
Miyamoto Yumi swallowed hard, nudged Sato Miwako with her elbow, and whispered, "Miwako, a man like that... you definitely can't handle him alone! It's too much pressure! Why don't you let your sisters, Naoko and me, share the burden? We should share the good times!"
Sato Miwako's eyebrows shot up in anger, her sisterly bond instantly shattered, and she chased after Yumi, determined to "execute justice."
Kimie Shimabukuro did not participate in the commotion; she stayed quietly in the shrine, devoutly praying.
For her, a shrine maiden who serves the gods, today is not only Hanyu Nan's birthday, but also the "birthday of the gods" in her heart, which is of great significance.
On the other side, Tomoko Suzuki, the Iron Lady who heads the Suzuki Group, for some reason, is having a very pleasant conversation with Mary Akai, a former MI6 ace agent.
Perhaps it was because, among everyone present, only the two of them were mothers with experience raising multiple children, sharing common topics and feelings.
Meanwhile, Shizuka Ikenami and Eri Kisaki were playing chess on the sidelines, and the game was at a stalemate.
A certain idle and clumsy apprentice, Yuzuru Hanyu, would occasionally linger near Eri Kisaki, trying to turn the tide of battle with his "special skills"—"Dumbo" and "Battle Tank"—but he was inevitably "expelled" by his master and lawyer Eri Kisaki.
"A true gentleman observes a game of chess without speaking!"
Master Jinghua gracefully placed a piece.
"Xiao Nan, stop causing trouble."
Eri Kisaki adjusted her glasses, her tone helpless.
Feeling slighted, Yuzuru touched his nose, not angry at all, and smiled as he stepped aside.
He surveyed the entire backyard—
The lights were warm, and laughter filled the air.
His beloved girls, close friends, respected elders... everyone gathered here to celebrate his birthday.
Each of them radiated genuine joy and relaxation.
Magical girls are transforming, karuta cards are being played, pianos and suonas are trying to play together, secret agents and tycoon tycoons are exchanging parenting tips, witches are praying fervently, and Pokémon are burping...
All of this seemed chaotic, yet strangely harmonious.
It was full of life, full of... the taste of home.
Yuzuru leaned against a pillar, gazing at the lively and heartwarming scene before him, a picture he had personally painted and was constantly enriching, a gentle and contented smile playing on his lips.
While possessing immense power upon arriving here is certainly exhilarating, perhaps the greatest gift fate could bestow upon him is the precious bonds he forges and the vibrant, bustling "home" that belongs to him.
His gaze swept over every smiling face, deeply imprinting the beauty of this moment in his heart.
My mood has never been so peaceful and beautiful as it is now.
This is his world.
And he will protect all of this.
...
As night deepened, the moonlight shone like water.
Yuzuru suddenly sensed something and looked up at the night sky.
Against the backdrop of the bright moon, a graceful figure riding a magic broom was flying rapidly toward the villa, her long red hair fluttering in the night wind.
It's Koizumi Akako.
Miss Witch, riding her broom, executed a beautiful, witch-style dive, landing precisely on the backyard open space with light, elegant movements and her skirt fluttering in the wind.
She jumped off the broom, habitually raising her chin with a hint of the witch's innate arrogance.
"Hmph, don't get me wrong, I was just passing by and happened to come see how your half-baked shrine maiden's magic training is going." Koizumi Akako said sarcastically, but her eyes couldn't help but drift towards the meticulously decorated backyard and the huge cake.
She casually tossed a beautifully packaged little box, emanating a faint magical aura, to Yuzuru, her tone still awkward: "Here, this... consider it a... birthday gift for you. Happy birthday."
After saying that, without waiting for Yuzuru's response, she quickly walked towards the shrine to "talk" to Shimabukuro Kimie.
Yuzuru accepted the gift that carried the witch's heart, and watching Koizumi Akako's somewhat hurried departure, a knowing smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
What a tsundere witch who isn't honest!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
