At the Finish Line [Haiji Kiyose] - Run With the Wind

thirty-six - "birthday"

Having ticked their reservation off the list, the Hostess guides Haiji and Chiyo to a table for two by the window, handing them menus.

Chiyo's cheeks flush from the warmth inside the café. "So it's all cake here?"

Haiji nods, pulling the chair out for her and she thanks him before he takes the seat opposite her. "I could have gotten a table in another café that served lunch and cake, but it's your day and you're allowed to eat as much cake as you want."

"A lunch of just cake? Sounds perfect." She grins. "I'll have to plan something good for your birthday in return. February 10th? Right before Valentines as well."

"You'll be busy surprising me for Valentines Day as well," He jokes, pointing down at the menu. "They've got Castella cake, you used to like that when we were in high school."

Her eyes widen as she remembers. "I did! It reminded me of vanilla cake back in France. There's a cake called 'quatre-quarts' that's pretty similar."

He laughs, glancing up from his menu to see her bright eyes scanning the choices, a wide grin on her face.

"There's too many to choose from..."

"We could order the selection and share it?" Haiji suggests. "That way you can try a few, I'll eat some and then you have the excuse of finishing everything."

She shakes her head. "I think I'm going to walk out of here twice the size if I do that."

He waves a hand. "Hey, even I had to roll you out of this café back to Aotake, I'd still lov--"

When he stops talking, Chiyo furrows her eyebrows, looking up from the menu to see his gaze fixated elsewhere. "What was that?"

He looks back at her, eyebrows raised. "Huh? Oh, I'd still order you the selection."

"Really? That's what you were going to say?" She asks.

Quickly nodding, he gains the attention of the waitress, ordering two cups of coffee and the five cake selection option. The waitress takes their menus, walking back to the counter.

"I haven't had the chance to ask about what happened in Yasugi with your parents," Haiji says tentatively, noticing her stiffen up at the mention.

"Uh, well, my Christmas itself wasn't too bad. I spent most of the time avoiding my dad in particular and playing with Hisa's children. I'm lucky in that both Hisa and Hayato know the situation with my dad and Hayato is great with him. Although, Hayato left to do some work the day after Boxing Day, taking their kids with him to see his parents." Chiyo sighs, leaning back in her chair and looking out the shop front window.

Families, couples, friends walk past, wrapped up tight with winter coats on and scarfs around their necks. The continuous slow slurry of snowflakes falls from the sky, landing on benches and plants but not yet settling on the pavement and road.

"Then Hisa decided she couldn't handle seeing me mope around the house and she drove me to the station against my parents' desire. Bought me a train ticket, shoved me on the carriage and I came back to Kansei."

He raises his eyebrows, resting his elbows on the table. "Wow... Well, I think we've got Hisa to thank for getting you back. How did your parents react?"

Chiyo shrugs. "They're probably not happy I left, but Hisa said she'd figure something out and try and convince them otherwise. But it's probably not worked."

"Don't take this the wrong way," Haiji starts. "But your mum was a lot harsher than I remember her."

She nods. "As I said, she used to be this head-strong, independent French woman who had my dad wrapped around her finger, but now... now it's completely different. Hisa notices it too, having met her when I was younger and then coming back to Japan."