Collision of Heaven and Hell ✅

Chapter One

May 22nd, 2029

My homeroom teacher, Azusa Inaba-seijin, was the same homeroom teacher for my second year as she had been for my first year. She had called me to the teacher's room at the beginning of the lunch period. But when I got to the office Inaba-seijin shrugged at me with a smile and said, "I forgot what I want I wanted to ask you. Sorry, Takasoto-kun."

I was a little annoyed but I bowed and said my goodbyes before heading back to my homeroom. I frowned in confusion though as I stopped in front of 2-6. The doors weren't closed when I left. Both were open.

I slid open the door in front of me, and was startled to find multicolored paper confetti being thrown at me. "TANJOUBI OMEDETOU!"

I cried out in shock when I saw my homeroom classmates in front of me holding a bouquet of bright flowers. Tsubaki Ito held a chocolate-frosted cupcake with a single burning candle. They all broke out into song singing "Happy Birthday" and I quickly realized that members of the Dance Club were amongst my classmates. I felt tears sting my eyes and covered my mouth in shock as they finished singing.

"Takasoto, hurry and make a birthday wish!" Tsubaki cheered, holding out the cupcake to me.

"O-Oh, okay," I stammered. I couldn't hide the emotions from my voice as I leaned forward. I wish for my life to always be perfect, I thought to myself, and blew out the candle. Everyone cheered.

"Happy birthday, Mai-chan!" Rinka Beppu, the captain of the Dance Club, greeted me as she presented me the bouquet.

"Oh, this is wonderful, thank you so much!" I exclaimed, unable to stop my tears. I quickly pulled out my handkerchief and dabbed at my eyes. "I-I don't deserve something so wonderful!"

"Why not?" Tsubaki asked me. "You're our Class Representative after all, and birthdays are meant to be celebrated!"

"And your choreography is what helped the Dance Club to place first at last year's Culture Festival!" Rinka reminded me. "We wanted to show our appreciation to you!"

I accepted the bouquet and the cupcake and laughed. "I-Is this why Inaba-seijin called me to the teacher's room?"

My classmates laughed. 'The Saint of Shirahime wanted to make sure our surprise went off without a hitch," Ryoko Arachi confirmed for me.

"Please, all of you, tell me your birthdays and I'll make sure to get you all gifts then!" I insisted.

"Aww, you're so sweet Takasoto!" Tsubaki laughed, throwing her arms around me.

I knew that birthdays could be special, but I didn't realize that my seventeenth birthday would be one of the bests of my life. I didn't realize that it only served as the calm before the storm.

~*~

I didn't have club that day, so I left on time at the end of the school day. I reached the front gates of Shirahime Girl's Academy when I heard the screech of tires down the street. Some of other students leaving jumped in alarm, but I couldn't help but laugh when a blue car with several dents in it pulled up in front of me, jumping the curb onto the sidewalk ever so slightly. "Uncle Daimu! Uncle Houta! Good evening!"

Both the driver side door and passenger doors opened and my "uncles" emerged. Daimu Okamoto and Houta Miyata were both laughing and waving at me. "There's the birthday girl!" Uncle Daimu greeted.

"Come on, Mai-chan!" Uncle Houta called, taking me by the hand. "Everyone's waiting for you!"

"At Mikadzuki Kēki?" It was a silly question though, because I already knew the answer.