OKOSHI, JOJOLION.

xxx | epilogue.

★ . . . THE HIGASHIKATA FRUIT PARLOUR SERVED delectable cakes.

Norisuke wouldn't accept anything less. Recently, the parlour had started putting out a new fruit cake every month, with only a few dozen being sold at a time. They were always tastefully decorated, the cake always being light and moist, the sugar never overtaking the natural sweetness of the fruit. Morioh always rushed out to buy them when they were released. People begged Norisuke to make more cakes, but, like the melon parfaits, it was all a part of his plan.

Tonight, there were three cakes on display. One was a beautiful strawberry shortcake. Immaculate white frosting, spongy cake, and topped with halved strawberries. The other was a dulcet melon chiffon cake. The fruit had been cut into spheres and rested intermittently among puffs of cream. The last was a muscat cheesecake. There were three alternating layers of biscuit, cream cheese and muscat filling. It was the smallest cake of the three, but the translucent middle layer made it seem the most elaborate.

A slice had been artfully cut from each cake to showcase the filling inside. All of the cakes waited expectantly, almost impatiently, to be eaten.

The excitement had slowly leaked out of the parlour until only cold unease remained. All of the Higashikatas were there, even Jobin and Caato. Kei and Yasuho had been invited as well, and Karera of course made sure that Josuke was present. They all took up four booths in total and for a while, cheerful chatter had filled the parlour while they all waited.

They had been waiting for over two hours.

"I don't know why we're still here," Joshu said at last. His voice was like a thunderclap. "We don't even know if they're is coming. This is a waste of time. We should have called this off as soon as they went missing."

"They haven't answered any of your calls?" Yasuho asked Karera. Karera shook her head. Her phone had been plastered against her cheek for the better part of the evening.

"They've been gone for four days," Joshu said, as though everyone had forgotten. "They probably went back home. Whatever they're doing, they obviously don't give a fuck about this party."

"Joshu," Norisuke snapped.

"Everyone's thinking it. Don't get pissed at me for saying the obvious."

As it was, Joshu had only grazed at the obvious. The obvious was that something had happened to you. Something bad. You had disappeared without a trace and without contacting anyone. Karera was the last person to see you, and you no longer had you bone dice with you .

Sure you could have run off someplace with your true love. It was what everyone had thought for a time. But then those hours stretched into days, and the more everyone thought about it, the less it made sense.

You had beaten the curse. You wouldn't die. But it was your birthday today and you weren't here and what else was anyone supposed to think? No one had actually met your supposed true love. The worst-case scenario was looking to be more and more likely.

"We should call the police," Karera said, maybe for the dozenth time.

"They won't do anything," Josuke said. "They're an adult. They're not obligated to tell anyone where they're going. Even if the police file the case, it would be low-priority. Young people go off the grid all the time."

In a way, this party had been the last resort. Because no matter where you were, you wouldn't miss your own birthday.

Right?

Twenty minutes passed. Jobin cleared his throat.

"It's getting late. I'm going to take Mitsuba and Tsurugi home. If you don't mind."

At this rate, if you didn't show up, you would miss your birthday entirely.

"I think we should clear out," Norisuke sighed. "It's too late to do much celebrating anyway."

The cakes were put back into their boxes. The dishes were put away. Karera protested, insisting they wait for just a little bit longer. You were always late, she babbled. You had probably forgotten. You were probably piss-drunk right now, stumbling your way—

Kei lay a hand on Karera's shoulder. Everyone looked at her pityingly.

"We can always celebrate tomorrow," Josuke said.

If you even come back.

Everyone went down to the ground floor. It was dark out, and all of the businesses down the street were closed. Although it was late, no one was in a hurry to leave. It felt wrong to do so.

If you didn't show up before your birthday was over, it felt like an unspoken rule would be broken. It would confirm all of their worst fears.

Slowly, everyone trickled out. Norisuke took his time turning the key in the parlour lock. As it clicked shut, there was the sound of footsteps pounding down the pavement.

"What day is it?" someone called breathlessly. "What day is it?!"

Everyone turned. Their mouths fell open.

It was you. Bedraggled, rumpled, wan. You were struggling to catch your breath.

"Please," you said. "What day is it? Please tell me."

"It's your birthday," Kei said quietly. "You nearly missed it."

You let out a small sob. You came to a stop and nearly toppled over. Josuke was quick to catch you.

"What happened?" he asked. His voice echoed the confusion of everyone present.

"My dice," you said. Your eyes found Karera. "Do you have my dice?"

"Yeah, of course," Karera stepped forward, then stopped. She checked both of her pockets, only to come up empty. She hadn't left the villa without them the past couple of days. She had brought the dice with her today. She was sure of it.

"I must have left them back at the villa. I'll go grab it. I'm so sorry. I don't know how—"

"No." You were crying. It was hard to tell what kind of tears they were. What you said didn't make any sense. "That's fine. I won't need them anymore."

Everyone went back inside. The cakes were brought out again and a fresh wave of tears overtook you. You tried to explain. It was hard to understand it all. But the relief you felt was palpable when you spoke. A thread of awe lined all of your words, as though you could hardly believe you were here.

You had your birthday party a few hours late. You blew out nineteen candles and laughed incredulously. You couldn't stop thanking everyone. No one there really understood what you were about, but the happiness on your face was a message in itself.

Tsurugi asked what your birthday wish had been. You smiled and shook your head.

Instead of a birthday wish, you had made a promise. To not keep secrets, especially from the people you loved. It would be difficult, especially without Dancing's Done and your bone dice.

But after the mountain gods' curse, it was a difficulty you looked forward to.

As the last slices of cake were being eaten, you received a call from your mother. Despite her heated tone, you smiled when you answered.

"Hey, Mom. I promise I'll explain everything, but just ... I'm so glad you called."