When days seem to blur together, you hardly could find the time look at the calendar. Leaving a sinking feeling in your gut whenever you realized days had passed without you knowing. As if you're on auto-pilot. Shutting off part of your brain sounded like a lovely thing for Sara to do, given what has been at the forefront of his mind for months now. How many times has it been that his customers asked where his 'friend' was? The same one that never failed to visit every summer, until today. With each reminder, Sara seemed to slip into the great temptation of numbing his thoughts out. His parents gently push for him to take part time shifts this summer didn't help. For he knew best. That if he stopped working.... it'll just be worse.
The day he was finally able to look at a calendar was all thanks to a random customer. A group of excitable young teen girls came to his parents cafe a few days ago, handing in what looked to be their hard earned savings to request a custom made cake. He watched quietly in the morning as they set up the surprise. Watching the progress of them surprising the birthday girl. Blindfold, giggling, cheers, laughing, the whole thing.
Sara didn't interfere, only casting brief glances from behind the counter from time to time. It reminded him of his younger kouhais back in Mahoukotoro. He brought his attention back to the sheet of product tracking table, eyes widening at the date that he only noticed today.
July 25th.
Come to think of it... those teenagers celebrating earlier.. they shoudl be around Suzuki-San's birthday right? He vaguely recalled the young girl asking the quidditch team on a random day about their birthdays. Naturally it was only polite to ask back. Had that been the 25th July? Sara wasn't in the best state to be confident in his memory. Still, he wondered if she was celebrating it in anyway.
He remembered when they were visiting the french school for the valentines event. Her old spark fading slightly. Sara was ashamed he didn't reach out to ask more about why that happened. But at that point, as someone who faced recent difficulty, he felt space was the best thing for her. Now though, he wasn't so sure. He didn't even know if she would be there for summer camp coming up soon.
Despite not knowing, he decided to think less and do more. That was his theme of this era in his life after all. So he asked a co-worker to cover him while he stayed in the back kitchen.
The cake was small, quick, and not very elaborated. Sara didn't know her well enough to know what she liked. On it, was a simple ' Happy Birthday' in writing. While choosing the flavors he just prayed consistently in his head that she wasn't allergic to any of the ingredients. It would end horribly if she was allergic to things like .. vanilla and lemon zest right?
Once he was finished, he boxed it safely in a simple brown package. Taping the bottom so it didn't move and the cream would be ruined too much.
Taped onto the box was a small note. Saras Parent's cafe logo and name faint at the bottom part. Sara's somewhat rugged, messy japanese handwriting on it states:
Dear Suzuki San,
This is Sara. Hope you are doing well. I remembered today might.. be your birthday if I remember correctly. I thought this may be a good addition in your day today. I appreciate your contribution to the team and how kindly you treat us.
Hope to see you again in the upcoming summer camp. Happy birthday.
p.s , I added the full ingredients list in the back. if you are allergic to any, I'm so sorry. I'll be happy to make you another one to make up for this one.
With it, he tied the light package to an owl and watched it fly in the distance. It should arrive by night. Owls had an odd way of being speedy. Was it because they were magic? Sara only hoped the cake wasn't ruined by the time it got there. Above all, he hoped Kanae had a wonderful day today. Afterall, she unintentionally snapped him out of his numbed thoughts. He had her to thank for.
Happy Birthday Kanae
25th July
