I (30), Who Works for a Black Company and Died While Regretting My Gloomy Life, Started Over From High School!
Chapter 131: Birthday Party at the Shijouin Residence (One)

The time was approaching evening.

I, Niihama Shinichiro, was currently seated at the table in the living room of the Shijouin residence.

It’s not something that would normally happen for me to be a guest at a girl’s house until this late, but today, there was a valid reason for it.

After all, today was Haruka’s birthday party, and I had been invited by Haruka as the sole guest.

(But seriously… this is on a whole different level compared to the birthday parties I’m familiar with. It feels like a party venue in a hotel.)

Since it was a small gathering, the location was the living room (though it was about four or five times the size of an average living room in an ordinary household). However, the room had not just been “decorated,” it had been outright “transformed,” resembling a highly formal space akin to a high-end restaurant.

Furthermore, there was a splendid array of dishes, covering a range from Japanese, Western, to Chinese cuisines. It was far beyond a casual buffet. (Apparently, Haruka’s mother, Mrs. Akiko, and the housemaids had prepared them themselves.)

Additionally, the birthday cake was not only extravagantly luxurious but also of a size akin to a wedding cake, prompting one to wonder if this was a wedding? It’s a bit too much.

(Being led into this glamorous venue by Haruka, I was a bit nervous at first… but I was saved by Mrs. Akiko’s cheerfulness.)

Indeed, even the greeting I received when I crossed the threshold was like this:

“Aaahhhhh! You’ve come, Niihama-kun! I’m so moved, my mother would cry if she saw her grand daughter bringing a boy on her birthday! Eh… Eh!? You’ve already given her the birthday present!? Aah, you’re so daring! Why do you do exactly what I want!?”

Mrs. Akiko, who is Haruka’s mother, was incredibly high-strung from the moment I stepped in, and she clung to both Haruka and me. She was extremely excited, asking about the circumstances in which I presented the birthday gift, and seemed to be in a state of perpetual exuberance.

Furthermore, the maid, Fuyumi-san, who had taken on the role of the camerawoman, was inexplicably enthusiastic today. She had been relentlessly clicking the shutter, responding to Mrs. Akiko’s requests.

“Come on, Haruka! Let’s take a picture together with Niihama-kun this time! Yes, at an angle with the special cake in the foreground!”

“Yes, that’s right! Um, may I bother you for a moment, Shi… no, ‘Niihama’-kun?”

At Mrs. Akiko’s urging, who was enthusiastically immersed in the commemorative photos, Haruka, a bit hesitantly, called out to me.

…By the way, out of consideration for the fact that we’re in front of each other’s parents, we’re refraining from using first names.

I’m still in my school uniform, but Haruka, being the star of the day, is wearing a navy-colored, thin chiffon dress (according to Fuyumi-san, it’s called a chiffon dress). It’s so fancy and the lace reveals a glimpse of her skin. It’s impossible not to be captivated by it.

(I don’t know how many times I’ve thought this, but… She’s really too beautiful…)

This one piece, which you can tell is quite expensive just by looking at the fabric, suits Haruka, who has a noble face and presence. If she were introduced as a princess from some country, no one would doubt it.

As for the Shijouin main family’s standards, events like Haruka’s birthday are apparently supposed to be grand gatherings with relatives. However, due to Haruka’s own wishes, they’re holding it like this in a “small and cozy” manner.

It may be surprising for commoners, but given that the protagonist, Haruka, is in an elegant dress, it seems quite natural.

“Ooh, of course. Take as many pictures as you want.”

“Really? Then, I’ll sit next to you without reservation!”

When I readily agreed, Haruka sat down next to me, wearing a delighted smile.

Because she’s wearing such a splendid dress and is wrapped in such a glamorous atmosphere, her innocent smile, like that of a maiden, stands out even more… I’m on the verge of being completely entranced.

“Hee hee, then, Niihama-sama, please move a little closer to the young lady. Otherwise, you won’t fit in the frame.”

“Huh!? Y-Yes, um, alright then…”

Upon being told this by Fuyumi-san, who was smiling affectionately, (Mrs. Akiko was also grinning from the side), Haruka and I, along with our chairs, leaned closer to each other.

And, naturally, as a result, our shoulders pressed together, and I could feel the slight warmth of the girl. My cheeks flushed with heat.

Although I had been this close to Haruka for the first time before, this incredibly sweet fragrance peculiar to her was too stimulating for me, who had never had a girlfriend.

And apparently, I wasn’t the only one…

“S-Somehow, it feels embarrassing… Maybe it’s because we’re in front of family…”

The naturally airheaded girl, who usually doesn’t pay much attention to this kind of thing, blushed slightly at my side.

(Oh man… this is another incredibly… destructive force…)

Her modest smile, tinged with embarrassment, in this bustling yet pleasant atmosphere, was stirring up male hearts with tremendous force.

Despite the fact that we were at someone else’s house and being watched by our families, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the charm that pierced my heart.

“All riiight! You both look fantastic! Just like that! Just like that!”

And amid this lively yet relaxed atmosphere…

A certain person seated right in front of me was trembling as if struggling to contain his explosive anger… The table was creaking under the pressure of his clenched fists.

(TLN) Short chapter. Not my fault, I promise.