It was a special day in the Uesugi household. A day that only comes once a year. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAIHA!" The men exclaimed, waking up the child. Raiha was drowsy, and groggy; her excitement the only force keeping her body from falling back to it's slumber.
"You made breakfast?" Raiha asks as she stumbles her way to the table. A humble spread of food was laid out for her. She eats a spoonful of Fuutarou's cooking, nearly spitting it out. "I-It's good." She forces out, which would've been seen through by her brother had the doorbell not interrupted.
"Itsuki-san!" Raiha runs up and hugs their guest as the door swings wider. "Everyone's here!"
"It's your birthday, of course we'd be here!" Yotsuba joins the hug, leaving Itsuki crushed in their arms. "Let's go, we want to give you something."
The six of them leave, walking around the city while the men were left with Fuutarou's cooking. "Is there anything you want, Raiha-chan?" Yotsuba asks as Ichika leads them around. "Anything at all?"
"Hmm..." Raiha ponders as the group spots a film crew at a nearby park. "What's going on?"
"Ahh well..."
"I should've known. Ichika's always busy. Why didn't you tell us?" Itsuki sighs as all eyes turn towards the actress.
"Nakano-san! Good, you're here. You said you could find extras for the shoot, are they?"
"H-Hold on. You used us!" Nino said angrily as Raiha looks around.
"I wonder what it's like to be on TV." The young girl asks, to which Ichika beams at her.
"It's really fun, want to try?" The six of them get briefed on the scenario. It's a short commercial for a soda, with Ichika being the main character handing out cans for everyone. The final shot is of her handing a can to a young girl, played by Raiha, and the girl standing beside her with the both of them smiling at the camera. Miku played the quiet lonesome character listening to music under a tree; Yotsuba the sporty one after a long run; Nino was with some of the other extras, serving food at a picnic, Itsuki was at the same table, snacking while reading a book.
"You looked so cute! Good job, Raiha-chan!" Itsuki pulled the girl into a soft embrace.
"Really? I'm going to be on TV, huh?" Raiha says, apprehensive and distant.
"Your classmates will probably see you. They might ask you to hang out with them soon." Ichika chimes in.
"Ah! That's good, but..." Raiha looks down at her clothes, clean but showing their age. "Y-yeah."
"Leave it to me then! I know exactly what to do." Nino takes Raiha's arm and breaks into a run, heading towards her favorite mall. "Wait here, imouto-chan. I'll be back!" Nino runs off just as the others arrive, leaving Raiha in the changing rooms.
"She just doesn't stop, does she?" Miku asks as Nino picks out dresses, blouses, skirts, and more, coming back with around five of each. One by one, Raiha models them all. With Nino's guidance, she picks out her wardrobe additions: A light blue summer dress, a yellow blouse with a black skirt, among others.
"Want to get your nails done? What about your hair?" Nino squeals in excitement looking at Raiha.
"I'm good...I think." Raiha looks down at all the bags of clothes Nino had bought for her. "Thank you, Nino-san." She says as she yawns for a bit. "Can we take a break? All this walking is exhausting."
Miku takes charge next, bringing all of them to a rather quiet part of the same park as before. Finding a set of rowboats nearby, a lightbulb switches on in her brain. "Want to take a ride?"
They split off into pairs, with Miku and Raiha in the same boat. "Miku-san, what's in the bag?"
"Ah, I made some bread. It's nothing much but..." She pulls out a small loaf. "Fuutarou said it's like the one your mom used to make, so I thought..." Raiha takes a bite, taking in the flavor, texture, and aroma of the bread.
"Mom..." Raiha mutters under her breath. "I wish I could've tasted her bread too..." A few droplets of water form around her eyes, which Miku wipes away.
"I'm sorry. I just thought..."
"Thank you, Miku-san." Raiha says as Miku puts her headphones on her head and plays a soft and slow song, rowing their boat to the dock.
"My turn!" Yotsuba exclaims as she carries Raiha's fatigued body on her back. "Anything you want, Raiha-chan?"
"Hmm...I don't know. You pick for me, Yotsuba-san."
Nobody would suspect that the hyperactive ball of energy of the group to have such a mundane and calming hobby, but that's the reality that the sisters live in. They visit a local store that Yotsuba is a patron of, one that sells various flora. "What would be nice? Do you like any specific one yet, Raiha-chan?" Yotsuba turns her head, meeting with the gaze of the young girl resting on her back.
"What about that one?" Raiha points to a small pot, residing inside it's soil was a bonsai tree. "It reminds me of Onii-san."
"Why?"
"It's boring, stuck up, and needs to be pampered." She says coldly, causing the others to snicker at the thought.
"Alright. Can you get down? I need to talk to the staff."
"Okay...thank you Yotsuba-san."
"That just leaves Itsuki-san, right?" Raiha asks, gingerly holding the plant while Yotsuba carries her shopping bags. "What's next?"
"Well, we're here. I'll be with you in a bit, I just need to use the restroom." Itsuki waves them off as they stop at a fancy looking building.
"No way, Itsuki wants to go here?" Nino says, looking at the sign.
"I've only been here once, and there were so many celebs here when I went. Even dad couldn't get tables here." Ichika looks awestruck as Itsuki walks by them, wearing a mask and sunglasses. She beckons them over as she talks to one of the staff inside. The greeter calls over a waiter and the six of them are escorted to the second floor balcony. A candlelit table awaits them as they overlook the sunset that paints the sky a gorgeous hue of orange.
"MAY-san. Your food will arrive shortly."
"Please, I'd hate to keep my guests waiting." Itsuki says, an air of importance and regality around her sends shivers down the waiter's spine. The food soon arrives, first a small cheese board of various ages and origins, then a salt baked fish, a slow roasted pork that was tender enough to fall apart with a spoon, a simmered beef stew with a sauce so rich that the acidic sides complemented, and finally a dessert of a gold covered bowl of vanilla bean ice cream with flakes of sea salt and a drizzle of rich swiss chocolate.
"Woah...Itsuki-san." Raiha sat full. "Thank you." She said as she felt her body slow down with the task of keeping all the food down.
"Raiha-chan...hey, can we talk for a bit? Sister huddle?" Itsuki asks.
"What is it?" Miku asks.
"Do you think she had fun?" Itsuki asks, causing the other four to stop and think. "Did we really give her what she wanted for her birthday?"
"Come to think of it, we only did what we liked to do." Yotsuba chimes in. The five turn to Raiha, asleep in a food coma. "We should go and take her home. It's getting late."
The six take their leave, Yotsuba carrying her while Ichika and Itsuki carry everything else.
"We should apologize to Fuutarou-kun. He's probably worried sick."
"We should apologize to her too, don't you think. After all, because of us, her birthday didn't have anything she wanted."
"Y-Yotsuba-san. Let's play like this again." Raiha mutters in her sleep. "Let's play together again...just the six of us."
The sisters all stop, looking to their junior. A smile grows on each of their faces as the reach the Uesugi home.
"We will, just the six of us."