Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 304: Interlude - 23: Happy Birthday Jotou Howllett and Asobi
"Daiyu did say she’d get a cake. D’you like red velvet?" the evening slowly entered into the night as Jotou opened the door into the main foyer.
"Ooo, I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never tried it," Asobi twirled her wand around as she entered.
"Then you’ll get to try some-" Jotou peered around... Empty halls, lights all on and barely a sound was made. "Weird..."
"Is everyone taking a vacation?"
"Doubt it," Jotou looked behind her, "The door was closed and none of the guards outside opened it for us like usual..."
"Has something gone wrong...?" Asobi manifested a white butterfly at the tip of her wand and clutched her handbag whilst Jotou sparked her fists.
"Maybe, but I have another theory."
The pitter-patter of paws took both their gazes to the inner foyer, from where a staff guided two dogs, one large and one small. The golden brown dog wore a black bowtie as he dashed towards the two with his head high.
Its big steps came to a halt and its tail wagged to Jotou—an envelope he held in his mouth. "Orion?" Jotou’s hands unsparked and she crouched down to take the it. She petted him, "Good boy."
She handed the slightly slobber covered envelope to Asobi, who took it to open. Jotou glanced up; while the staff awaited in the inner foyer, the much larger dog with medium golden brown fur, resembling a lion almost, made his way over leisurely.
Asobi cleared her throat and put on a sharper voice, "Dear Ms Howllett; you have been fortunately out of the palace for our plans to be planned.
However, your paranoid mind has probably already figured this out. So, without any dillydally, please wash up to your comfort and adorn the garments provided by Floof before making your way to the grand ballroom.
Garments are provided to Ms Asobi as well and do ask her to do the same. We will be expecting you."
Jotou scratched and petted Orion all over and held his head within both palms; she bobbed Orion’s head from side-to-side, doing the same herself.
Floof made it over and met Jotou’s eyeline, "Hey there buddy," she reached her hand out which Floof sniffed; then allowed her to pet. Orion got closer to her knee and nudged her for attention to which Jotou complied.
On Floof’s back was a satchel, "Big puppy! Must be our outfits," Asobi closed the envelope. "It says you already figured it out. Is it that theory?"
"It’s a party for me I assume," Jotou picked Orion up into her arms and stood.
"Oh yeah! I was supposed to keep you out till seven!" Asobi petted Floof’s back and opened the latches.
"Hmph," Jotou scratched Orion’s head. "It’s already seven thirty, it’d be funny if we just don’t go," her eyes sparked a little.
"But, they did this for you!"
"Kidding~" Jotou stretched her legs. "Keep in mind, this is gonna be your party too."
_
Guided by two dogs after freshening up, the elf and the blonde walked down the seemingly empty halls of the palace; like the gold lights were lit just for them.
Open windows brought the lights of the night sky and the cool breeze fluttered her long frilly yellow skirt—the front exposed her knees while two ruffled bits swayed behind her akin to flat tails.
A black belt around her waist and her ruffled white shirt with specks of gold all over it like stars. A golden yellow headband she wore on top. Her hair in a ponytail as usual, but a smile she wore the brightest.
Asobi smiled back; she adorned a collared black gown which sparkled little flecks of emerald from down the waist—and how could she ever ditch her top hat? Especially for a moment as momentous as this.
Their two fluffy guides entered the ballroom first. Jotou halted and looked to Asobi, "Ready?"
Asobi’s eyes glittered with white light, "Of course!"
As the two entered through golden foil curtains, balloons fell all over them to their shock and bounced across the floor. The massive room lit to the ceiling and a banner hung from one side all the way to the other wishing Jotou her 22nd birthday.
The paint had dripped down and dried along the banner; the two glanced lower, towards the bar area where their friends all awaited; Fumeko, Hotaru, Daiyu, Feyan, Arabella and Niah. Peppy music played through a phonograph.
A few gifts sat upon a table to the side; a couple of chafing dishes and two little pots sat on the main table where they all had stood up, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOTOU!"
Jotou knitted her brows; their voices had made it halfway to the entrance though they all yelled, except Arabella who blew into a party horn and Niah who was too lazy to shout.
There was already an open bottle of champagne next to Daiyu, who was trying to stand in front of it and hide the cup with one hand.
For some reason, none of the balloons were near them, but a lot of confetti was all around their table. And in this massive, elegant room, they practically looked tiny, as if they booked a corner in a museum.
Some of them were clearly sweating and empty party poppers fell off one of the chairs while a dozen popped ones rolled over the floors.
"Shit... I don’t think he likes it," Daiyu worried for a second as she hushed through her teeth.
"Well, too late now," Hotaru whispered back.
Slowly Jotou’s lips curled up bit-by-bit and her cheeks puffed as she tried to hold it in... "HAHAHHAHA!" her initial cackled died down to uninterrupted giggles as she shut her eyes tight and covered her lips.
"Right, she’s mocking us," Fumeko’s eyes glazed over. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
"I do not exactly blame her," Feyan eyed the mess around them; what had happened was a mystery to the blonde and the elf, but it didn’t stop her from giggling while Asobi stood with a smile and infected by the laughter.
Daiyu half-closed her right eye, "Alright loser," she cracked her knuckles and approached.
But before anything else, Jotou came to a halt and sighed up. Flushed red from joy, she beamed to everyone and tilted her head, "Thank you," the voice of a songbird replied. "It looks like a lot of effort was taken."
"That’s an understatement," Niah sat back down.
"Don’t act like you didn’t come in at the last minute," Hotaru glared.
"Don’t look at me as if I had something more to do, I wrote the letter, borrowed a camera and prepared the attire at early dawn," her tail swished. "You were lucky I could help at the last minute~"
The two dogs made their way to the side of the table were two comfy beds were set for them with water beside. Fumeko blinked forward, "So do you like it or not?"
Jotou took a good look at it all as she walked closer with Asobi. All of them in casual party attire, a minor scent of the dinner in the air and, just a charming little get-together they made for her birthday with their own hands—clearly.
"How could I not?" Jotou answered.
The detective could glean at least that her past birthday wasn’t troubling her now. The same worry that the princess had, died away as she looked at her best friend.
Hotaru walked forward and gave the blonde a hug, to which she hugged back. Daiyu took Jotou by the wrist, "Come on, we got a cake to cut; I cooked the dinner," she pulled.
Jotou’s eyes widened...
"I made the cake! I decorated it and everything," Fumeko followed along.
"I see, food poisoning’s on the menu then."
"Hey, you’ve never seen me cook!"
"It tastes fine loser!"
’Hell have mercy...’
Feyan went behind the bar and lifted a large lidded tray before he carried it to the table. Hotaru’s ears flickered to Asobi, "Thanks for making sure she was occupied. Had an eventful day for her birthday?"
Asobi twirled her wand in her hands and nodded gleefully, "We did!"
Arabella took the blonde into a light hug and released her; "Happy Birthday," she rasped in a whisper.
Jotou smiled to the Ashen Whisper, but then swivelled her head back, "Wait, there’s something important," she announced. "Today’s also Asobi’s birthday."
Everyone turned their heads to the raven-haired woman. Asobi stared back—then giggled, "Looks like I’m in the spotlight!" lights flew around her from her wand and she tipped her hat.
"How did you find it?" Fumeko looked to the blonde.
"We didn’t find it," Asobi shook her head.
"I decided to share mine with hers. She deserves one too, no?" Jotou smiled.
"So, today, I’m twenty-one!" she hopped.
"Well then," Hotaru tittered whilst her tail wagged, "There’s enough cake for two."
"Guess who’s gonna have to change that banner," Fumeko tilted her head back.
Hotaru’s ears fell, "Shut it."
"No need for that!" Asobi flourished her wand and with it bright lights flew. Balloons of all colours drifted into the air and floated in place.
Flecks of glitter started snowing around them—little butterflies of all hues fluttered by. Like lava lamps, bubbles of light drifted up, shimmering like stars till they popped into dust and repeated.
Under the banner, lights zipped and zapped; the words ’and Happy 21st Birthday Asobi!’ floated underneath. With it all complete, Asobi exhaled and took a bow.
