Asuka Birthday Story

I'm running through the woods.

It's early in the morning and the sun is barely above the horizon.

A cool breeze blows at my back, carrying me towards my goal.

Only a little further, and...

*Beep!*

"Just under 30 seconds! That's your best time yet, Anon!" Asuka remarks.

I can feel it, too. I'm in top form today. The lap I just ran felt like a cakewalk, and I've hardly broken a sweat.

This newfound vigor isn't just the result of exercise, though. Today is important: it's Asuka's birthday, and it's my first time celebrating it with her.

This day has been looming on the horizon for me for quite some time now, and I've devoted much of my free time to secretly planning how to spend it with her. For this most special girl in my life, I absolutely HAVE to make today count!

First item on the agenda, we've been training together out here since the crack of dawn.

Normally I would be completely burned-out within the hour, but my body seems to be diverting all unnecessary energy towards keeping me going so I can stay here longer with Asuka.

With my current performance, the day is already going better than expected.

"Thanks" I reply, taking a sip from the water bottle she offers me, "but my record isn't as impressive when you could do the same lap in half the time."

"More like a third," Asuka admits, "but don't think about it that way! You've improved a lot these past few months!"

"Good point," I reply. "I think I'm the healthiest I've been in years since we started doing this."

"I will say that the extra stamina comes in handy," Asuka adds with a wink.

"I'll have to show you the results of my training later," I say with a sly grin, setting down the water bottle. "I'm feeling pretty good today, so how about we keep going a little longer?"

I say this, but Asuka's routines are above and beyond anything I'm remotely capable of.

She picks up a handful of knives and leaps straight into the sky with them. While in midair, she hurls the knives in various directions; each one striking the bulls-eye of its designated target.

Once she's out of ammo, Asuka begins leaping from tree to tree at a speed almost too great for my eyes to detect so she can collect the knives and start again.

Meanwhile I'm just standing on the ground with my hand weights, watching speechlessly.

No matter now many times I see it, Asuka's aerial acrobatics never fail to captivate me. Her movements are filled with passion and energy, while at the same time her body twists and turns with a grace one would normally associate with a dance.

This strength and beauty... I feel like the luckiest man in the world being able to witness it.

I finish my routine just in time for Asuka to land in front of me, panting and sweaty.

"Amazing as always," I say to her as I offer her my towel and water bottle.

Asuka takes a drink and wipes her face. "Whew. I think I'm getting better too."

"I would hope so," I say in return. "I'd hate to think I'm holding you back."

"I've never once thought that, Anon," Asuka says to me, packing up the knives and other equipment we brought with us. "It means a lot to me that you're willing to train with me, especially today. Now come on, let's head back."

 

As soon as we're home, we waste no time dropping everything by the front door and practically leaping into the shower together.

Once we're good and wet, Asuka starts tracing paths around my body with a bar of soap. Her delicate hands spread suds across my chest, my back, my arms, everywhere she can reach.

When she finishes, she takes a dab of soap suds and gives me a playful tap on the nose.

I then return the favor for her. Taking the bar from her hand, my hands glide up and down the length of Asuka's body, following her soft, supple curves and leaving no square inch of her ignored.

All the while the two of us giggle like schoolchildren. Sure, we're both relatively ticklish, but we also just have way too much fun when we're in a setting like this. We've been together for the better part of a year now, and we still can't keep our hands off each other.

After a while though, the steam is beginning to get to me and I make the mistake of allowing the soap to slip from my grasp.

The bar hits the floor of the shower with a light *thud* and slides over to the drain by Asuka's feet.

Even though she is closer, rather than pick it up, Asuka looks over at the bar and slowly nudges it closer to me with her foot, silently daring me to do the deed myself. I remain standing, locking eyes with her sassy grin.

In true Mexican standoff fashion, we both know that the first one of us to make a move will be leaving themself vulnerable, subject to the whims of the other.

And judging by the way Asuka is shifting back and forth, rubbing her legs together, it's safe to assume that her inner excitement is at least as strong as my more noticeable outer excitement.

Indeed, the thought has entered both our heads, and tensions are beginning to rise.

Eventually I give in and initiate. "You're the birthday girl," I say as I kneel down to pick up the soap before feeling a pair of hands direct my face upward.

 

It wouldn't be until noon before we finally left the bathroom, sweatier and even more exhausted than we were when we entered.

Even using up all the hot water did little to discourage our soapy bodies as we slipped and slid around the shower.

I pull on a pair of shorts and a tee shirt and collapse sideways on top of the bed, watching Asuka get dressed.

"Whoops," she says, checking her phone. "I got a message from my mom. She wants to know if I'll be home to visit today."

"Are you going?" I ask. "Would you like me to come with you?"

"Would you?" she answers. "That would be really sweet of you, Anon."

"Your family is super-nice," I reply, getting up off the bed to find something more appropriate to wear. "It would be my pleasure."

I hadn't planned for this, but now that I think about it visiting Asuka's family with her would only make today better for her. Not to mention, I've been to her house before, and her family truly are wonderful people. My future plans for the day may get set back a bit, but this is worth it.

In due time we arrive at Asuka's home: a quaint Japanese-style house. Asuka opens the door and announces "I'm ho-ome!"

Immediately her mother and father come out to greet us and Asuka leaps into their arms.

"Welcome home, sweetie!"

"I see you brought Anon with you! How have you been?"

"She keeps me busy," I reply cheerfully. "We just finished a workout before she got your message."

"Sounds just like us when we were young," Asuka's mom says as she playfully nudges her husband. "I can see the hickey under your scarf by the way."

"W-W-WHAT?!? M-MOM!!" Asuka sputters, blushing profusely and feeling about her neck. I feel my own face beginning to redden as well for fear of our cover having been blown.

Asuka's mom starts laughing upon seeing us so flustered. "I'm just teasing you, honey! You two lovebirds can do what you like together, just be safe!"

"Th-thanks," the two of us nervously laugh. Does she actually know about our hanky-panky, or is she just poking fun?

It's probably best I don't find out.

 

As if in fulfillment of our need for a change of topic, we hear a commotion outside.

"OWOWOW! STOP, PLEASE! I'LL BE GOOD! I PROMISE!"

"DAMN RIGHT YOU WILL, YOU LECHEROUS OLD COOT!"

The door slams open and an angry old woman with sunglasses and a pipe comes storming into the house dragging Asuka's grandfather, Hanzo, by the ear.

Upon seeing Asuka, her stern expression melts away into a bright smile and she releases her hostage. "Asuka! So good to see you!"

"Grandma! Grandpa!" Asuka exclaims, happily rushing over to give the couple a hug. "Has grandpa been behaving?"

"Don't you worry about that, dear," the woman responds. "He knows what's good for him."

Hanzo lets out a whimper in response and I feel myself subconsciously hunker down in fear as well, but I immediately straighten up when the woman turns her attention to me and asks "And who might you be?"

"A-Anon," I answer. "I'm Asuka's boyfriend. We've been dating since last December. I-I don't believe we've met before. You're her grandmother, right?"

"That I am. The name's Sayuri," she responds solemnly, her gaze piercing through me as if judging my very soul. "You'll have to forgive me. I've been overseas on business."

"P-Pleased to meet you, ma'am," I say to her.

Sayuri then extends her bony hand and takes me by the arm, pulling me down to her eye level with more force than I would expect from someone with her constitution.

I gulp slightly as she stares directly into my eyes.

After a moment Sayuri's expression softens and she says to me "You're a good man, Anon. Treat my precious granddaughter well. And don't pick up any bad habits like this good-for-nothing here."

"O-Of course, ma'am! Wouldn't dream of it!" I quickly respond before Sayuri walks off to talk with Asuka's parents. Hanzo timidly scampers off after her without a word.

"Hehe, I love my grandma," Asuka smiles, seemingly oblivious to the overwhelming presence the woman exudes.

"Y-Yeah..." I reply.

Whenever I've visited before, Hanzo was always lively and perverse, constantly asking me and Asuka about our relationship. We got along surprisingly well, much to Asuka's chagrin. But today, the mere presence of Asuka's grandmother has the poor old man petrified, and he hardly utters a peep without her permission.

Is this what Asuka will be like when she's that age? I like to think that I'm better-behaved than her grandfather, but it wouldn't hurt to clean up my act a little if I'm going to be staying in this relationship with her.

 

Asuka's mom brings out tea and we all sit down to talk for a while.

Asuka and I tell stories about trips we've been on and the time we've spent together, while the adults share their own tales of excitement and laughs.

It's odd. As quirky as some of them are, I feel as comfortable around these people as I do with my own family. And I seem to have earned their approval--even from Asuka's frightening grandmother.

It feels nice.

Eventually I stand up. "It's been great talking with all of you, but I need to get going."

"Aww, what for, Anon?" Asuka asks me.

"You know I'm a terrible liar, so I'll just tell you I've got a surprise to prepare for you," I tell her, "It'll be ready by the time you're home, so you can take your time and stay with your family a while longer."

"Ooh~! Wouldn't want to hold you up, then," Asuka's mom says. "It's been lovely having you, Anon."

With that, she and the rest of the family get up from their seats and take turns either hugging me or shaking my hand before seeing me off.

With a kiss on Asuka's cheek and one final wave, I exit the house and make for home.

Once I arrive, I step into the kitchen, line up my tools and ingredients, and put on my seldom-used chef's hat for good measure.

"All right!" I say to myself, cracking my knuckles. "For Asuka!"

 

Much later that day as the sun is beginning to set, Asuka finally returns home.

The front door opens and Asuka staggers in, lugging armfuls of bags with her.

"Welcome back, honey!" I call out.

"You won't believe what happened," Asuka says, following my voice to the kitchen.

"What did I miss?" I ask while Asuka sets down her bags full of presents.

"Not long after you left my friends from Hanzo showed up and dragged me to another party!"

"Seriously? And I missed it?" I ask, disappointed. "Well that explains why you were gone for so long."

"It was super-fun! I'm sorry you couldn't be there," Asuka apologizes, cradling her chest.

"You okay?" I ask her.

"Kat wouldn't stop groping me the entire time," she responds. "I swear that girl is out of control!"

"I dunno, I feel kind of bad for her. I mean, I am pretty much doing her job for her," I say, wiggling my fingers playfully.

"Please, I don't think my chest can take any more," Asuka whines.

"Well how about your heart?" I ask her.

"Oh right. What was this surprise you were working on?" Asuka asks in return.

"Ah, yes..." I say, my face darkening. "I'm so sorry, Asuka."

"About what?" she asks me, growing concerned. "What happened?"

"I... couldn't save it," I answer, uncovering a plate with a single defective futomaki on it. It's a depressing sight. The nori is torn in several places, the rice is crumbly and spilling out of every gap, and many of the fillings inside have been reduced to mush.

Asuka covers her mouth and lets out an "Oh..."

For someone who loves futomaki as much as her, this is truly a heartbreaking spectacle.

"I'm so sorry," I repeat, "...that they couldn't all turn out this perfect!"

I immediately unveil a second plate that I had been hiding out of view. The rolls on this plate are piled high; round, plump, well-wrapped, and some still steaming from the warm rice.

Asuka's face immediately lights up upon seeing this and she runs over to throw her arms around me in joy.

"Oh my gosh, Anon! These are wonderful! You really made all of them?"

"Just for you," I reply, holding Asuka close to me. "I've been practicing for this day for a while now, and I think I've finally got making them down flat. They probably don't compare to your grandfather's, but I'm sure you'll love them nonetheless."

"Mmm..." Asuka shakes her head. "Don't even worry about it. This is so unbelievably sweet of you I could cry! Thank you, Anon!"

"Just wait until you see what's for dessert!" I say, opening the door to the fridge.

"There's more?"

Asuka's eyes widen when she sees the object sitting on a tray on the top shelf: a chocolate cake, but one unlike anything she's ever seen. The cake is rolled up like a log, with a thick layer of vanilla icing forming a spiral along the inside.

"Is that...?" Asuka asks.

"You've never had one of these before, have you?" I reply. "It's practically made for you. It's like a futomaki made of cake!"

"Anon..." Asuka says, her voice beginning to crack.

"I wanted to go all-out for you tonight," I tell her. "Learning to make your favorite food and using my specialty to create something perfectly-suited to you is the best idea I could come up with. Happy Birthday, Asuka. I love you more than anything."

"Anon..." Asuka repeats. Her smile is miles wide and her bright, beautiful eyes gaze into mine. "This is the best birthday I could ever ask for. Thank you so much, my love." I don't think I've ever seen her this happy.

Asuka gets up on her tip-toes and gives me a soft kiss on the lips. After a few seconds she pulls back before going in for another. And another. And another. Each one deeper and more passionate than the last.

"Whoa there, honey," I say, catching a break in between smooches. "Save some room for the food!"

"Hehe," Asuka giggles, wiping a tear from her eye. "Fine then. Open wide~"

Asuka then takes the roll on top of the stack and sticks it into my waiting mouth. Using her hand to hold it up in front of us, she chomps down on the other end.

A futomaki roll is no spaghetti noodle, so we must look ridiculous right now, but we certainly don't care.

Slowly I take bite after bite out of my end as Asuka nibbles away at hers, every swallow bringing us closer together.

The flavors of the rice and fillings dance across our palates, spurring us to keep moving forward.

Asuka's hand pulls away and one last bite remains between our lips. Asuka winds up making her move first, lunging forward and pressing her lips up against mine to seize the last of our shared sushi roll.

With one last gulp the futomaki is gone. But the meal is far from over. Our lips remain locked; our tongues dancing in the middle. When at last we pull apart to catch our breaths, we look at each other with eyes filled with longing.

"That was only the first roll," I say. "We'll be here all night."

"There's also the cake," Asuka adds. "Hope you saved room."

With that, I grab another roll and we continue the nightlong birthday feast.