recolle | I know, I'm not a little kid anymore

WHO: Sakura Kinomoto, OPEN
WHERE: Fai's house! Since she lives with him now.
WHEN: April 1st, early afternoon
WHAT: Sakura's friends are invited to a party for her birthday.
WARNINGS: None?

[Maybe some arrived earlier, to help get the food ready or set up any decorations. Most of it is ready, though some preparation might be more last minute in that morning once she has opened presents from her family - after dealing with an initial prank from her brother, given the date and all.

She hadn't anticipated anything too huge or fancy. Though that might end up debatable given how Fai tends to spoil her at the best of times. Still, the house should hopefully be big enough. She hopes. Sakura fusses a little with her dress, her hair, before coming to try offer to help with any last minute decorations or anything. Once people do start arriving, everyone is free to mingle and enjoy the food and drinks (non-alcoholic).

Sakura tries to get around to say hi to everyone, sometimes but not always managing to be the one to answer the door. She seems to be enjoying herself, glad of the chance to catch up with everyone in person, even if some might not stay all day. And given the weekend, given the holidays, she isn't so worried on staying up late either. She joins in with mingling, and might be easier to corner and get some one on one time later in the afternoon/evening, once others might have already gone home.

She doesn't have a traditional cake, but a number of cupcakes for everyone instead, with those and the rest of the snacks provided being made by Fai. With Xiaolang's help, and maybe Sakura managing to somewhere in the process of making it all.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[... honestly, given that his cousin is also his guardian and has probably seen this emotional train wreck unfold in person... yeah. Yeah, he most definitely knows. The bouquet was mostly Xiaolang's idea, but considering that Leon was also fond of Sakura and possibly paid for part of it, it wasn't entirely a lie to say it was from him as well.

Of course, Iwai wasn't exactly the person he expected to answer the door (though in hindsight, considering how busy Fai was and Sakura probably getting ready, it seemed the most likely), and he flushes for a completely different reason. Oh jeez. Even if it was months ago, and even if Xiaolang had made pointed changes in his attitude towards Fai (and his attitude in general), it still felt like the man could see right through him. It always left him a bit intimidated and a low-key need to be on his best behavior.

And case in point? Was what Iwai just said, and he sputters for a moment or two in the doorway in surprise.]

Wh-- H-How did you know??

[SO MUCH FOR SUBTLETY THERE, XIAOLANG]

[Technically? Iwai hadn't known at all that's what Xiaolang planned to do. But gut instincts are strong and he knows this kid actually sucks at hiding his feelings. Or his intentions. Of course there goes the kid proving that his instincts are right on point as usual. Good to know he's in his forties and some things haven't changed after all these years.

Again, not like the kid is hard to read.]

Ain't exactly the king of subtle, kid.

[More like a wide open book with a neon sign overhead saying "read me" instead. Because...flowers, Xiaolang. Cute but super obvious.]

Coming in?

[If this child turned any redder, he'd probably be a tomato at this point, and it's all he can do not to bury his face in the flowers to hide from the older man. Was he really that obvious? Granted, even Xiaolang was aware by now that he was pretty much a disaster whenever Sakura was involved. But to think he could be read THIS easily...

Kind of a real shame that the one person who's never noticed is the one person who should, though.

So, instead, he just nods awkwardly and steps through the doorway, setting down a medium sized gift bag to the side before holding out the bouquet to Iwai again.]

Here.These should probably get some water soon. Do you guys have a big enough vase for it?

[Never mind the bag, of course-- seriously, Xiaolang, how much did you get this girl?]

It's Fai's house so there's sure to be something.

[He takes the flowers and nods to the present.]

You can bring that and put it with the others. Fai and Sakura should be out soon. She's just in there getting dressed I think.

[Something, something...Iwai doesn't know what girls do together and doesn't want to know. Basically. He figures as long as the two are having fun then all is right with the world.]

Try breathing, kid.

[He pulls a bit of a petulant face at Iwai's advice-- he IS breathing, darn it, not enough to really do him any good-- though he pushes the gift bag a little closer to his shoes, which he's currently slipping out of.]

If it's alright with you, I'd rather keep it out here for now. It's something I'd like to give her in person.

[And preferably alone. Having to explain the whole teddy bear thing to a number of strangers would just make things awkward for the both of them. Something occurs to him, though, at Iwai's mention of Fai and Sakura, and he looks up, a bit distressed.]

Wait, they're still getting ready? Am I too early? I mean, I was going to help Fai with some of the cooking things, but if he's not working on it yet, I don't want to bother them...!

[YOU'RE NOT REMEMBERING TO BREATHE, CHILD]

You're not breathing, kid.

[Iwai goes to pick up the present. Not because he's going to put it with the others but because if it stays there it could get damaged.]

We'll go put your present in the music room. When you're ready to ask her out you can give it to her.

[And he nods his head to indicate the kid should follow him.]

[There's only a small grumble in reply this time around, the heat from his face creeping down to his neck, though he tenses just a bit when Iwai picks the bag up. He was just the slightest bit protective over it, given that the bear was a precious item and from Retrospec, no less, so having someone else handle it put him a little on edge. Not that he didn't trust Iwai with it, of course, but still...

He dutifully follows after the older man as they travel over to the music room, eyes subtly drifting back every so often to the present in Iwai's hands. That comment gets him to sputter a little, however, before stammering back:]

I-- I'm not going to ask her out! That's... that's too soon to say!

[Really, he has to make sure Sakura actually knows he has feelings for her and if she shares them before he can jump into that end of the dating pool]

True. You gotta make sure she knows ya like her first. Since apparently she's the only one in the known universe who doesn't know.

[There. The present is right there, kid. See? Right there where it's safe and no one can get to it. Plus she won't accidentally open it up this way which is what you seem to want.

He does know what he's doing here okay.]

[His shoulders seem to relax, visibly, at the sight of the gift being safely tucked away from prying eyes and curious hands, though they hitch again in surprise at Iwai's comment. Clearly he knows what he's doing here, in more ways than one.]

... I'm working on it.

[It's said in an embarrassed mumble, eyes flicking back to the gift one last time, before looking away. Hopefully things go well tonight. He honestly wasn't sure what to expect, given her own admittance that she never thought of anyone that way, but he at least had to get that much out there.

Desperate to change the subject, his eyes travel around the room the older man had taken them to, making note of the various instruments inside, and finally falling upon the keyboard.]

Is Fai really into music? He has an awful lot of stuff in here.

[Because for as much as he knows about Sakura, and all her cute little quirks, he knows very little about the man who adopted her. And maybe it wasn't any of his business, but it did interest him...]

Yeah. He's really good at it too. Was gonna do something with it before plans changed.

[But he's not going to discuss that stuff with the kid. Not only is it not his place but this is literally a kid. He doesn't want to have that kind of a talk with him. This is someone who deserves to keep having an innocent life that doesn't involve the kind of pasts he and Fai had.]

He still keeps up with it though.

I know, I'm not a little kid anymore

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