"Wait for me, senior brother! I can't keep up if you're going so fast!" Elijah shouted, struggling to catch his breath.
Alfie laughed, his eyes bright with excitement. "I just turned ten today! I can't hold all this energy in—I need to let it out!" he yelled, racing up the hill toward the cliff.
"You know Father warned us not to go anywhere near the cliff! He'll be mad if he finds out!" Elijah panted. "Let's just go back home. I'm sure Mum and Marcus are already there."
"Oh, little Eli... You don't know what it feels like to have two numbers in your age. You're still eight, so I won't blame you," Alfie said, chuckling.
"Don't worry, big brother. Just two more years and I'll finally feel what you're feeling now. But... what is that feeling like? Tell me!"
Alfie looked toward the sky, smiling. "It's like I'm floating in the clouds—like I can do anything. Like I could even join the Shinra Academy!"
"You know Father will never let you hunt those evil monsters," Elijah replied calmly.
"I know, Eli. But that's why I said I can do anything now. I'm ten! I can make my own decisions. And it's not 'evil monsters,' they're called 'Darkside Spirits,'" Alfie corrected with a serious tone as they approached their home.
"How do you know that?" Elijah asked in surprise.
"Don't underestimate your big brother's knowledge," Alfie grinned.
---
They finally arrived home, both of them sweaty and worn out.
"Don't tell me you took him running again, Alfie," their father, Falco, called out from his seat near the corner of the house, holding his usual herbal shake. "You need to stop all that running around before you hurt yourself someday. And for heaven's sake—it's your birthday!"
"We can't give you the best gifts, but we've got something special planned," he added, giving a small grin through his rugged, sweat-covered face.
"Ugh, Dad, you stink of sweat," Alfie teased, wrinkling his nose. "Don't tell me you've been working all day and skipped your bath again. Even on my birthday?"
"Don't change the subject, boy. You two didn't go near the cliff, did you?" Falco asked seriously.
"No, Dad! We didn't!" Alfie answered quickly, trying to look innocent.
"Haha! Don't make that face like you just drank my shake. I'm only looking out for my boys," Falco said, laughing. "Don't be a scaredy-cat. Act like a man already!"
---
The front door creaked open, and in came Marcus, their little brother, with their mother, Margaret, right behind him.
"Happy birthday, big brother!" Marcus said as he ran up to hug Alfie.
"Careful, Marcus! Don't trip," Alfie laughed, hugging him back.
"My little boy is growing into a man," Margaret said, embracing all three of her sons.
"Haha, he's still just a kid," Falco scoffed from the corner. "Stop all that motherly whining, Margaret."
"I'm not a kid, Dad!" Alfie protested. "I'm practically a teenager already!"
"You've still got a long way to go before that," Falco chuckled, standing up. "Alright, let your mother rest. Time to give you the best birthday party we can!"
---
As the sun began to set, the sky turned golden-orange. Summer made the air soft and warm. In front of Margaret's garden, a small table and chairs were neatly arranged, decorated with flowers from the yard. Drinks, shakes, and barbecue beef covered the table.
Margaret had prepared everything herself for Alfie's special day.
"Oh Mama, this is beautiful!" Alfie shouted as he ran outside with Elijah and Marcus. "The beef smells amazing! I'm gonna eat so much today!"
"Hey, big mouth! Stop whining and just sit down already before you ruin something!" a voice called out from a short distance away.
"You better hurry up before I eat all the beef, you rock-head!" Alfie shouted back with a grin.
"Not today, Alfie. You two shouldn't fight over everything," Margaret said gently, smiling.
"But he started it, Mama! I'm older than him by a month—he should respect me!" Alfie protested as he ran toward the voice.
"No fighting, Alfie! It's your birthday. Everything needs to be perfect," Margaret warned.
"Okay, Mama! I just want to give him a welcome punch!" Alfie called over his shoulder.
"There they go again," Falco said as he stepped out of the house. "Alfie, don't trip over your feet!"
Just ahead, Alfie's friend Gusto stood with a cocky grin.
"You'll never land a punch on me!" Gusto taunted.
"Stand still, Gusto! I'm gonna smack you right in the nose!" Alfie yelled as he charged forward.
"Hey! No fighting—not today!" Gusto's father said, grabbing Alfie just before impact.
"Let go, Gusto's papa! He needs to learn to respect his elders!" Alfie shouted, struggling.
"Maybe another time, Alfie," Gusto's father said, laughing. "Besides, Gusto's already in the Shinra Academy. You can't fight him anymore."
"Shinra Academy, my ass. I'll still kick his butt!" Alfie said, still wriggling in his grip.