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"NOOO, DADDY, you're doing it all wrong! Higher! We need to make this the bestest party for her!" Nikoru stood on a chair, wearing a tutu and tiara, pointing a stick. "If you mess this up, it'll ruin everything!"
Kosaku chuckled, raising the banner higher as his wife offered the tape to stick it to the wall. "How's that, Your Highness?"
Nikoru stared intensely, standing on her tiptoes. "That's perfect. Now get away from it before you—" Kosaku wobbled as he got off the ladder. "Daddy, today is not the day for your clumsy to come out."
"Niko, you need to calm down. Everything's gonna be perfect." Her mom ruffled her hair. "And where did you get this stick?"
"Outside. I needed a step'er to boss Daddy around." She waves it around wildly, nearly falling out of the chair if her mom didn't steady her.
Today was a special day. Not just any day. It was the day of Jurine's birthday party. Mom said Jurine was given a birthday from the mean lady at the orphanage, but since it was also her first ever (which Jurine had told her), it couldn't be held on the same day as Christmas. So Nikoru worked with her mom and dad to get her a small cake for her and invited the twins over a week before. On her actual birthday, on the 25th, she would be with Uncle Kosami and Aunt Michiko.
Jurine is gonna love this! Her dad had taped purple streamers and a big banner that read HAPPY BIRTHDAY JURINE in big colorful letters. Balloons in corners of the room with a big 8 on them. There was a gift from Nikoru and her mom and dad on the table, waiting.
As the doorbell rang, Nikoru launched herself off the chair. "Ah, she's here!!!" She tore off to the door.
"Nikoru, stop jumping off stuff. You're gonna break a leg one of these days." Her mom huffed, following with a smile.
"Oh, it's you." Nikoru pouted seeing the twins, each holding a gift. "I thought you were Juri."
"What yer mean, it's just us? You invited us to this party, stupid." Atsumu stuck his tongue out at her.
"Atsu, I told you to be nice." The twins' mom scolded him as the twins entered the home. "It's good to see you, Yukiyo," she greeted as she closed the door behind her. "Boys, hang your jackets up here."
The two boys set their jackets on a hook at their level that Nikoru's dad installed, leaving their shoes by the door with the adults'.
"Follow me. I'll show you where you can set the gifts." Nikoru pointed with the stick to the living room. "You didn't get her something stupid, did you 'Sumu?"
"No! I thought long and hard on this okay!"
"Wow, that's such an accomplishment for you," Osamu remarked as they followed the girl.
The three played for a short while until the time came for Jurine to arrive. As Nikoru opened the door, Jurine was in purple boots, a fluffy black jacket, and earmuffs with cat ears. She smiled seeing Nikoru, unzipping her jacket to show her the shirt. It was also purple with a hedgehog on it.
