Memories with the “Brat” – Part 3

The Brat and the Birthday Present

“Phew, I’m home.”

Gendoji Hanayoshi returned home after three days. Noticing his wife’s Benz wasn’t in the parking lot, it seemed she hadn’t returned yet.

With both of them busy with work, they rarely saw each other unless their schedules aligned.

“Welcome back, Master. Dinner?”

The maid, Ishikawa, appeared from the side.

“Oh, no thanks. I already ate.”

“Welcome back, Dad!”

“Oh, Asaka!”

Seeing his beloved daughter’s adorable face, his fatigue vanished instantly.

“Here, a souvenir.”

Handing her a paper bag, Asaka’s face lit up.

Having had children later in life, he couldn’t help but spoil her. Since his older daughters had become independent and rarely visited, he doted on Asaka even more.

“Let’s take a bath together.”

“Sure.”

Soaking in the tub with Asaka, he realized he hadn’t had time like this with her in months due to his busy schedule.

“Dad, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“What would a boy be happy to get for his birthday?”

“Hmm?”

A boy?

“A friend?”

“Um, not exactly.”

That slight blush and shy, soft voice—could it be…?

“Well, well.”

So, Asaka has a crush, huh.

It felt a bit lonely, but her happiness was what mattered most—though perhaps he was getting ahead of himself.

A child’s love is like an extension of playing house. Every new school year, a new boy becomes the object of affection, updating their little love stories.

Eventually, she’d find someone she truly loves and, like her sisters, leave him, but that was over a decade away.

“Hmm, for a boy, maybe a robot or something.”

“I don’t really get robots…”

“What’s popular with boys these days? When I was a kid, Kamen Rider or Mazinger Z were the big hits.”

“Um, those kinds of things…”

“Hahaha, you wouldn’t know, would you? It’s all about the thought. As long as the other person is happy, that’s what counts.”

“What would Yuu-nii like, I wonder?”

Yuu-nii?

What, an older kid?

Jeez, what a precocious little girl.

“What grade is this Yuu-nii in?”

“He’s a third-year in high school.”

“Huh?”

“Um…”

“Wait, Asaka, did you say high school?”

“Yes.”

“…”

A high schooler is way too old. Asaka’s in first grade, and a third-year high schooler would be eleven years older. A middle schooler and high schooler dating is one thing, but an elementary schooler? That’s a whole different story. Frankly, it’s criminal.

“So, Asaka, how did you meet this high schooler?”

“Huh? He’s Miya-chan’s neighbor, and he always plays with us when we visit.”

“I see.”

Well, it’s unlikely a high schooler would have romantic feelings for an elementary schooler—especially a lower-grade one. Asaka seems fond of him, so Hanayoshi couldn’t pry too much.

2

“So, what’re we getting for Yuu-nii’s birthday present?”

Mahiru said, swirling the ice in her cola.

“Dad said something like Kamen Rider might be good, but Yuu-nii doesn’t watch that stuff anymore, right?”

“Yuu-nii likes basketball, so maybe something basketball-related?”

“What’s ‘something basketball-related,’ Miya?”

“Even if we pool our allowances, we probably can’t afford anything too expensive.”

Asaka said dejectedly.

“Yeah, money’s an issue! Hey, Auntie, has Yuu-nii mentioned wanting anything?”

Sayaka paused wiping the table.

“Well, if you all put your hearts into it, I think he’d be happy with anything… Oh, I know!”

“What?” Miya asked.

“How about making a birthday cake? This time, you three can help, and we’ll make a special cake from all of you as a present.”

“A cake?”

“Sounds good!”

“But I’ve never made a cake before.”

“It’s fine, I’ll teach you properly. What do you say?”

The three exchanged looks.

“Let’s do it!”

“We’re doing it!”

“I’m in!”

3

October 2nd.

My birthday.

The one day a year when I get to feel special.

As a kid, I’d wait all year for this day, hyped up for cake and presents, but as a high schooler, getting celebrated by family or friends feels kind of embarrassing.

Honestly, I’d love to spend it with a girl, but in my eighteen years, I’ve never had a girlfriend.

No girl in my class remembers my birthday and gives me a present.

No random underclassman uses this as a chance to confess to me.

My youth, devoted to the basketball club, is just shades of gray.

This birthday’s shaping up to be another boring day, like always.

Well, there’s one upside.

As of today, I’m eighteen.

Which means I can openly read adult magazines now. Society’s officially given me permission to do so.

Yeah, if I think of it that way, it’s not so bad.

Clutching the pack of Umaibo corn potage flavor my basketball teammate Endo gave me, I head home.

“I’m back!”

As soon as I step into the room, three little brats swarm me.

“Happy birthday, Yuu-nii!”

“Happy birthday, Yuu-nii!”

“Happy birthday, Yuu-nii!”

“Whoa, you guys are here?”

They’d been watching TV on my bed until I got back.

“It’s your birthday today, right?”

Mahiru said, jumping onto my back.

“We made a birthday cake!”

Miya declared proudly.

“You guys made it!?”

“Yes. Let’s eat it together later.”

Asaka tugged my hand, leading me to sit on the bed. Now that I noticed, the room looked different.

Decorations made of linked origami rings, stars, and hearts adorned the space. The table was covered with snacks, like a full-on party.

To think these kids would go this far for me…

“You guys… thanks.”

“Heh heh heh, we’ve got presents too!”

Mahiru smirked, pulling out three cards. They were made from cut-out cardboard, decorated with origami, colored tape, and colored pencils.

“Look, ‘Do Anything You Say’ coupons!”

So cliché.

“‘Anything’ is pretty bold.”

“We’ll do anything for you!” Miya said.

“But we’re not giving them for free. You have to win a quiz game to get them.”

“A quiz game?”

“Yes, just a moment.”

Asaka brought a riddle book from the back.

“Here’s a cup. Have a drink, Mama.”

Miya poured juice from a plastic bottle.

“Whoops.”

“There’s lots of snacks, but don’t eat too much, or you won’t have room for cake, okay?”

Miya opened a bag of snacks and spread them out.

“Just for today, it’s special. Here, say ‘ahh.’”

Mahiru held out a potato chip.

Chomp… “What am I, a kid?”

My first time being fed (not counting Mom) is by these brats…

Happy and sad at the same time.

“Alright, here’s the first question—”

The brats are doing their best to entertain me.

This birthday feels different, fun for the first time in a while.

The Brats and Pro Wrestling Play

“Heh heh heh.”

“…Here I come!”

“Bring it!”

“Take this!”

Mahiru stretches out her skinny arm and slams a lariat into me.

“Ta!”

A pathetic smack echoes.

“Did I get him?”

“Hmph!”

This doesn’t hurt or even itch. My abs repel Mahiru.

“No effect, huh? No effect at all!”

“Tch.”

“Mahiru, fall back. Regroup.”

Pulled by Miya, Mahiru moves to the edge of the bed.

“Ei, ei!”

Asaka, standing outside the bed, charges at me from the opposite side. But with her light weight, it deals no damage.

“Hahaha, I saw that coming!”

I scoop up Asaka, clinging to my waist, wrap her in a blanket, and capture her.

“Uwa, help!”

I gently pin down the wriggling Asaka, blanket and all. Since she wears glasses, I leave her face free.

“Let Asaka go!”

Miya jumps at me, and in that moment, Mahiru pulls the blanket aside to rescue Asaka.

“Haa, haa.”

“You okay, Asaka?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“What’s wrong? Is that all you’ve got?”

“Yuu-nii, you’re cocky for a jerk. Miya, Asaka, flank him from the sides!”

“Got it!”

“Yeah!”

—This is the Gendoji house, Asaka’s room.

On the king-size bed, it’s me versus the brats in a raid battle.

The rules for winning or losing aren’t clear, but it’s probably just an extension of kids’ play-fighting.

It all started about an hour ago. A pro wrestling special was on TV, and after watching it, the brats said they wanted to try it.

2

On the big screen, sweat-drenched men clash their bodies.

Sweat scatters, sparkling as it reflects the lights.

“Wow, doesn’t that hurt?”

Mahiru says.

It was the moment a Moonsault landed.

A giant man stands on the corner post, flips backward in the air, and lands on a downed opponent.

Pro wrestling seems like it hurts the one performing the move too, with a lot of techniques like that.

As a combat sport focused on entertainment, the exchange of moves and flashiness is key, so the toll on wrestlers must be significant.

Still, they take the hits properly without dodging to entertain the audience—that’s impressive.

After that, a series of worrying big moves unfolds, and the match heads toward its climax.

Then—

“Hey, who’s that guy!”

Miya shouts.

A black-masked intruder climbs into the ring and delivers a surprise dropkick.

The black-masked wrestler takes down one opponent, grabs a mic, and taunts the remaining one. Apparently, this black-masked guy is a popular heel, as boos and cheers erupt from the crowd, pushing the arena’s energy to its peak.

Of course, it’s all staged, but kids take this stuff seriously.

“Beat that guy up!”

“What a cheater!”

“Take him down!”

The three, completely hooked on pro wrestling, cheer loudly.

Afterward, the two wrestlers who were fighting team up to defeat the black-masked heel in a shonen manga-like friendship twist, and the match ends.

Even after the broadcast, the brats’ pro wrestling fever doesn’t cool down, and it doesn’t take long for them to say they want to try it themselves.

That’s how it went.

“We need a bit more vibe. Asaka, don’t you have something like that black mask from earlier?”

Miya asks.

“Something that covers the whole head?”

“Yeah.”

“Um… maybe not… oh, wait!”

Asaka scurries out of the room.

It seems they want to turn me into the heel from the show. But where would they find a pro wrestling mask? What’s she bringing back?

After a bit, Asaka returns with a black piece of cloth.

“No mask, but if you wrap this around your head, it’ll look the part.”

It’s a black woolen scarf.

“Take off your shirt too.”

Mahiru tugs at my shirt.

“Okay, okay, don’t stretch it!”

Now with my outfit somewhat resembling a wrestler’s, I face the brats again.

“Orya!”

Miya attempts a dropkick, mimicking what she saw. But with no distance, she crashes before hitting me.

“Uwa!”

I seize the chance.

I pin Miya down, pretending to crush her.

“Get off Miya, you pervert!”

Mahiru starts smacking me.

“Wait, Miya-chan!”

Asaka clings to my back. I reach back, grab Asaka’s tummy, and pull her under me.

“Eek!”

“You’re next!”

“Wa!”

I grab Mahiru’s hand and drag her down too. All three brats squirm in my arms.

“Hahaha, ready to give up?”

“Give up?!”

“Let go, pervert!”

“But how do we get out?”

Hahaha.

Try escaping if you can.

Time to show these brats my strength.

3

“Asaka, I’m home—…!”

Finishing work early for once, Gendoji Hanayoshi opens his beloved daughter’s room door to see her and freezes in horror.

“Huh?”

A shirtless man with a black cloth wrapped around his head is pinning three young girls on the bed.

The bed is a mess, completely disheveled.

“Asaka!”

“Huh?”

“You, let go of Asaka and the others!”

“N-No, it’s not—”

Hanayoshi yanks the suspicious man off the kids and restrains him.

“Oh, an intruder!”

“Wow, just like the match!”

“Does Dad want to play pro wrestling too?”

“Are you Asaka’s dad? I-I’m—”

“You pervert!”

“Hey, you kids, explain this properly!”

“Asaka, everyone, run! Get an adult and call the police!”

“It’s a misunderstanding!”

“Stop squirming, you lolicon!”

“It’s not like thaaaaat!”

The misunderstanding was completely cleared up afterward.