The sky that day was a transparent, piercing blue. From the moment I woke up and pulled back the curtains, I knew the weather was perfect... but strangely, I didn't feel refreshed at all.
Why was that? I had no real reason for it, but an indescribable sense of dread welled up from deep within my body.
"Good morning, Kaito-san. The Transcendent Beautiful Girl Alice-chan has made her grand entrance! My, seeing Alice-chan's Super-transcendental Beautiful Girl Face first thing in the morning must make you feel like the luckiest man alive, Kaito-san."
"...For some reason, my anxiety just spiked through the roof. I mean, you're clearly here because you have actual business with me... and wait, why are you looking at me with such pity!?"
"I do think it's pitiable. But well, I suppose you're also partly to blame for not giving everyone a proper warning beforehand, Kaito-san."
"Huh? What... just what are you talking about..."
The fact that Alice had appeared to speak with me so early in the morning was already unusual. Of course, since Alice was almost always near me, she would occasionally strike up a conversation out of the blue if I was idle or she simply felt like it.
However, for her to show up the moment I woke was a clear sign that this wasn't just idle chatter; she had something she needed to tell me immediately.
Alice's strangely pitying gaze was unsettling, and my intuition was sounding an alarm that only grew louder.
In response to my apprehension, Alice produced an elegant, letter-like object and held it out to me.
"And so, Kaito-san. Happy birthday... Here you go. This is an Invitation to the Birthday Party."
"Eh? Oh, right... today is my birthday... An invitation? A party? Ah, I see. You're holding a party for me like last year. I'm happy to hear that, but... um... where is it? Is it at some Party Venue, or maybe the Sky Castle like last time...?"
"..."
"Could you please stop giving me that Pity-filled Smile...? I have a really bad feeling about this. You mentioned earlier that it was my fault for not giving a warning... Does that mean the scale isn't the same as last year's?"
I had completely forgotten that today was my birthday, so I was naturally touched that my friends wanted to celebrate. However, that was assuming the celebration stayed within the bounds of common sense.
Even last year, they had constructed a new Sky Castle in the air above the Royal Capital, and the scale had been staggering. I had a bit of a stomach ache back then too, but this felt worse. It felt as if my instincts were screaming at me from deep within.
"...Well, look, last year was like that despite only having a few hours of prep time. This time, however, the Gods who can do anything they set their minds to had more than enough time to prepare."
"...I can't stop breaking into a cold sweat... Alice... where is the venue?"
"...Just to hold your birthday party, Kaito-san, the group of Gods of World Creation colluded to create an entirely new world. That's the venue."
"...Guh."
I reflexively looked up at the ceiling upon hearing Alice's words. I see... they made a world... Just for a birthday party... That's an idiot's idea! Why would you make a world just for a party!? Last year's Sky Castle was already too big; wouldn't a moderately large hall have been enough!?
Besides, there was no way they had just built a venue and called it a day... Even in the Sky Castle last year, there were strange fountains and trees that had nothing to do with my birthday... If Shiro-san and Machina-san got fired up to build this... the mere thought was terrifying.
"Ah, by the way, all of your acquaintances—or rather, the Participants of the Birthday Party—have already arrived at the venue. Well, since time flows differently there compared to this world, you can take your time getting ready, Kaito-san. Just like last year, I'll be the one to guide you..."
"Y-Yeah... But I see... I really should have told them last year that a normal scale would be fine for next time. No, even if I didn't, my birthday came up when I was talking to Aoi-chan and Hina-chan; if only I'd noticed then..."
"No, unfortunately, that would have been impossible unless you said it last year. Shortly after the first planning meeting ended, Shallow Vernal-sama and Machina used Interference to Prevent Kaito from Noticing the Possibility of a Birthday Party. They even placed a restriction on the other participants so that they would forget about the party and be unable to remember it while they were with you, Kaito-san."
"...They took this surprise way too seriously."
Such terrifying thoroughness... They really went all out on these preparations. I was honestly dreading what kind of place it would be.
I could finally truly sympathize with Lilia-san's chronic Stomach Pain.
Serious-senpai: "You'd think Kaito was always the side that deals stomach pain, but during things like the Six Kings Festival or the Founding Anniversary Festival, he ends up on the receiving end too..."