KOF Extras

Goro's birthday!

29th April
"Now what?" Kyo asked, sinking into the chair in front of his blond friend. "It's the second time this month. Besides, it's Shōwa day!"
"Where's Shingo?" Benimaru asked, ignoring Kyo's question.
"Who knows?" Kyo said with a shrug. "Anyway, what's this about? You don't usually call us to cafes unless..."
"Someone's birthday is coming up," Kinako said, arriving with her briefcase. She sat down next to Benimaru and straightened her glasses. "I don't have much time. I only have a half hour before lunchtime ends."
"Wait so if you're here... then it must be..." Kyo realised.
"Yes, it's about Goro's birthday," Kinako said, opening her briefcase. She pulled out a crisp blue handkerchief and dabbed her forehead. "Sorry I'm late. Where's Shingo?"
The glass door vibrated, followed by it being shoved open. Shingo walked in, rubbing the tip of his nose with a frown.
"There he is," Benimaru grinned, beckoning him to come over. The younger man beamed and sat next to Kyo, his nose slightly red. "Alright, we all on?"
"Yes," Kinako said. "I have already discussed with Goro's family, and they told me that they'll keep him busy."
"What does that big guy even like?" Kyo shrugged. "I mean... besides soba and sundaes..."
"I know someone who makes the best soba noodles," Benimaru grinned.
"It's not me, right?" Shingo said, sounding a little scared. "I only know how to eat soba, not make."
"No." Benimaru shook his head. "I meant Takuma Sakazaki."
"No!" Kyo groaned. "Ben, I don't fancy seeing that loser in a birthday party. He'd probably rant about me not focusing on studies or something."
"He's your dad's old friend, isn't he?" Kinako chuckled. "Well, I guess that's a little weird. But yeah. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to supply us with some of his soba."
Kyo groaned again. Shingo couldn't help but snort at that.
"Tell you what, I'll tell Yagami about this," Benimaru said. "I'm sure he'll be happy to help."

Benimaru and Kyo stood in the Yagami home's porch. Kyo nodded and rang the doorbell.
No answer.
Benimaru took over and rang at least ten times in a row. Still, no answer.
"You think he's out?" Kyo asked, his eyes travelling to the shoe rack next to the door. There were a few pairs of shoes and slippers arranged, but none of Iori and Aiko's usual footwear. "I think they are... also, they keep the shoe rack outside?"
"Who'd dare to steal Yagami's shoes?" Benimaru pointed out. "Bet they'd be clawed to death."
"Good point," Kyo agreed, smirking as he nodded. "So where is he?"
Benimaru sighed and took his phone out of the pocket of his leather pants. He dialled Aiko's number, which he knew by heart, and put the call on speaker mode.
It rang a few times and soon, they heard Aiko's voice.
"Hello?" Aiko said. "What's up, Beni?"
"Hey, where are you guys?" Benimaru asked. "We're outside your house."
"What?" Aiko said, sounding surprised. "But we'll be out the whole day!"
"Where are you guys anyway?" Kyo asked this time.
"Wait, Kyo-nii, is that you?" Aiko asked. "What's this about? Definitely not date night with Beni..."
Kyo snickered. "Nope. Wouldn't wanna be the third wheel around you guys."
"We're at Dash's," Aiko said. Laughter suddenly erupted from the background. "Yeah, you guys heard that?"
"Yep," Benimaru said. "We'll be there."
"Wait what?!" Aiko said in shock. "Guys, what's this about?"
"We'll tell you when we get there," Benimaru said before hanging up. "Come on, Kyo."
They jumped back onto their bikes and drove off to Roppongi Hills, where K' and his teammates lived in an apartment. They rushed in and knocked on K's door.
To their surprise, a woman with long white hair tied into a tight ponytail opened the door.
"Sorry, wrong house," Benimaru said, sheepishly scratching his head.
"No wait, this is the right house," the woman said. "I'm Foxy. You guys don't recognise me?"
"Oh wait, sorry, Miss Foxy," Benimaru apologised. They didn't recognise her since she tied her fringe back. "Where's Aiko and her brother?"
"Next door," Foxy said. "I'm going there too. The girls and I are going out."
"Including Aiko?" Benimaru asked in dismay.
"No, she's staying behind with her brother," Foxy said. "Playing Monopoly or something."
Kyo let out a pleased gasp.
"Ben, come on!" Kyo said cheerfully. "Let's join them!"
"Seriously?" Benimaru raised a brow.
"Oh you don't know how fun it is to play Monopoly with them, Ben," Kyo said, pulling him to the apartment next door. Foxy was already out with the cryomancers. They waved at the two young men and left. Kyo knocked on the door, and Krizalid opened. He instantly frowned when he caught sight of Benimaru's earrings.
"Can I help you?" Krizalid asked.
"We wanna speak to the Yagamis," Kyo said. "And maybe join you guys in a game of Monopoly?"
Krizalid sighed and turned to the others behind him, who all sat around the board game in the middle of the living room. They nodded, and he had no choice but to let them in.
Iori looked up and frowned at the blond man. Kyo rushed to go join him. He sat next to him, cross-legged on the ground, and grinned at the board.
"Ben, come on!" Kyo excitedly called to his blond friend. "Join us!"
They decided to just wing it, even when the player limit for the game was only six players. Now there were seven people.
"Wait, I'm tired of being a banker and player," Krizalid said, scooting off towards the box. "Can I just be banker?"
"Sure," K' said. Then inwardly groaned. "Benimaru can play with us."
They reseted the game and started playing. Krizalid evenly divided the money and gave it to the players. He gave them salary whenever they finished a round.
"So what's the rush?" Iori asked, rolling the dice before moving his boot six spaces. "You guys went to our place to look for me, didn't you..."
"Yeah, we did," Kyo said, taking the dice and just tossing it onto the board. "Four."
"Why?" Iori asked again, watching Benimaru roll the dice instead.
"Daimon's birthday is coming up," Kyo said. "And we need to go to South Town."
"Why?" Everyone asked at once.
"Soba," Kyo and Benimaru said together.
"So you're holding the party there?" K' asked, surprised. "Well, good luck brining him there..."
"No, not there," Benimaru shook his head. "We're hosting it at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden."
"Oh okay," K' said. "So what's the point of South Town?"
"Passengers," Kyo said. "And Soba."
"No need to explain who you're bringing," K' said, trying to hold back a laugh. "But yeah. We'll come along."
Benimaru ended up enjoying the game. Well, maybe it was because he had somehow won a close game against Iori. Krizalid just sat with the box, nibbling on butter sandwich crackers while he watched them play.