Akira stood outside the restaurant, arms crossed, still in his loose nightwear. The faint breeze tugged at his sleeves as his parked car rested behind him under the streetlight.
He glanced around, confused.
"J, where are you, huh?"
J's voice came through his earpiece.
"Boss, come inside the restaurant."
Akira exhaled a long sigh. "Better be important…"
He stepped through the front doors of the restaurant—
BOOM!
Party poppers exploded. Lights blinked. Music erupted all around.
"Happy Birthday!!"
Akira froze, eyes wide, genuinely shocked. His mouth dropped open.
"Oh my god… you guys really shocked me—!"
Laughter surrounded him. Everyone stepped in to hug him one by one.
"I didn't even remember it's my birthday today," Akira admitted with a smile tugging at his lips.
J grinned, "We did, Boss."
K walked up with a smirk. "How could we forget March 5?"
Akira's eyes shone with happiness, a rare smile blooming on his face as he looked at everyone.
Soon, the cake was brought out. Everyone clapped and cheered as he cut it.
Then chaos broke loose.
"It's cake attack time!" K shouted.
Suddenly, multiple cakes were revealed—just to play with. Cream flew. Frosting smeared. People were chasing each other with handfuls of cake. Champagne bottles popped open, spraying the floor and walls. Laughter echoed all around.
It was pure, messy, glittering chaos.
By the time the music began to slow, Akira looked around, blinking against the rising sun.
"Look—it's morning already…"
He clapped his hands, trying to calm the crowd.
"Okay, okay, calm down, guys! Enough fun. Let's pack up and go home, alright?"
"Yes, Boss!" everyone replied, some wobbling, others laughing uncontrollably, their black suits stained with cake and champagne.
Akira squinted at J, then glanced at K.
"K, don't let J drive. He drank too much today."
K nodded. "No worries, Boss. I'll take care of him."
Akira stepped back. "All of you, be careful on the road. You guys are way too drunk."
"Yes Boss!" they shouted again.
Later, Akira finally arrived back at the mansion. He opened the door—
POP!
Party poppers again.
Everyone clapped and cheered, "Happy Birthday, Brother Akira!!"
Akira paused in the doorway, overwhelmed, eyes glossy. A deep smile spread on his face.
"Thank you guys…"
He cut another cake while his family gathered around, hugging and kissing him lovingly.
Then, at the company, the moment he entered the building—
"Happy Birthday, Boss!!"
Party poppers. More cake. Colorful decorations stretched through the halls. Akira chuckled softly, thanking his employees.
"Thank you so much, my colleagues."
His office and half the hallway were filled with wrapped birthday presents. He blinked in disbelief.
Evening wrapped the world in a hush as the sky faded into soft shades of indigo. The wind had grown quieter, cooler. Crickets chirped in the distant grass as Akira stood alone in the cemetery, a single bottle of champagne in his hand.
The path beneath his feet crunched softly with gravel. His eyes moved slowly over the rows of graves until he stopped in front of one—the name carved in stone lit faintly by the last light of the day.
He stared for a moment, saying nothing. Then he slowly knelt down.
"…Long time no see, old man."
His voice was quiet. Not bitter. Not angry. Just… tired.
"I know you never really saw me as your son," he murmured, brushing some leaves away from the base of the grave. "But still… this brat came all the way to wish you a happy birthday Father."
A faint, dry chuckle escaped his throat.
He gently placed the champagne bottle beside the gravestone, fingers lingering on the cold glass.
"Look—I even brought your favorite. You always said this one had a 'bite' you liked. Tch. Typical."
He looked up at the sky for a long moment, as if expecting an answer that would never come. The breeze played with the collar of his jacket, tousling his hair.
Footsteps.
He turned slightly at the sound, surprised.
"…Mom?"
Astra stood at the edge of the path, a bouquet of roses in her hands. His brows lifted as he saw him.
"You're here too… and before me?" he asked softly.
Akira stood up slowly, brushing his knees. "So… you remembered his birthday too."
Astra walked closer, his voice gentler now. "I always do."
he bent and placed the roses against the gravestone, his fingers brushing over the name carved in stone.
"Happy birthday… honey."
Then his eyes moved to the bottle resting by the stone. His smile softened, touched with something unspoken.
"You remembered his favorite?"
Akira shifted awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah… kind of. The old man… had good taste, after all."
Astra looked up at him. His eyes weren't sad—just full of a quiet understanding. He stood and reached up to gently pat his head, the way only a mother could.
Akira didn't move away.
They stood like that for a while. No more words. Just the wind. The stone. The memory.
And the night finally closing in.