Chapter 402: _Make A Wish!

Next Day, Hale-Ferguson Residence

The first thing that woke Ambrose up that morning was the suspiciously melodious chirping of the birds outside his bedroom. He blinked, eyes straining from the sunlight blasting in.

"Christ." Rubbing his forehead, he turned to the alarm clock beside him. "Already past seven?"

[HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEETHEART!]

A huge holographic screen popped up in front of him, so bright that he nearly fell off the bed with his heart in his throat. Clutching his chest, Ambrose glared.

’Aura. Are you TRYING to kill me so early?’

[Ugh, don’t ruin my...] The screen glitched, fading out of his vision.

The next second, silver light enveloped a spot beside his bed, a familiar figure appearing.

"... Attempt at being nice," Aura pouted in her human form, arms folding across her chest. "So what are your agendas for today, big boy? You’re twenty-three years around the sun... technically. If you ignore the fact that your soul is an otherworlder. And that you’ve spent a lot of time in other—"

"Aura." Ambrose flung the bed sheet covering his legs aside, getting on his feet. "I get it. And thank you."

"You still haven’t told me what you plan to do today."

"Same as every other day. Survive."

"... You can’t be serious."

"Don’t pretend like we haven’t had this conversation before." He walked over to his window briefly before glancing at the door. "I hope Devon’s preparing Orion for school by now."

Stepping back, he made a U-turn to the bathroom, drifting right past Aura.

The AI blinked speechlessly. "Aren’t you going to take the day off at least? I’m not even gonna generate any missions or daily quests... I think."

"No, thank you, Aura."

"You’re a workaholic. You know that, right?"

Her voice faded when he shut the bathroom door behind him.

★★★★★

Downstairs after Ambrose was done freshening up... everything felt normal.

Well, that’s if you ignore the awkward silence that settled between everyone the second he came down the stairs.

"Oh, Rose," Devon’s eyes lit up when they locked on his approaching form. "There’s the birthday boy."

The S-Rank stood beside the kitchen countertop, Orion’s back pack slung over one shoulder. As for the kid, he giggled, running to his dad with everything in him.

"Daddy, it’s your birthday!"

Ambrose inched back just a step when his little drop of sunlight crashed into his waiting arms.

"It is, little urchin." He poked the boy’s nose before picking him up effortlessly.

Viktor got off the couch he was sitting on, spreading out his arms with a warm smile.

"Happy birthday, little bird." He planted a kiss on his cheek, rubbing his back in a half hug. "I made breakfast."

"You only helped!" Devon shot, bringing a plate of golden-brown pancakes to the Ice Prince and his boyfriend. "Here. Have a bite before we head to school."

Ambrose paused.

His eyes stayed on the pancakes before lifting to the Esper’s face.

It was such a simple act to make him pancakes in the morning—especially since he already did it any other day without complaining.

But something about this...

"Dev, you’re—"

"Don’t mind if I do."

A blur of movement, alongside a short burst of air, whooshed past them. A heartbeat later, Ambrose noticed a pancake missing, his neck snapping to the sound of munching at the side.

Aura had already consumed a quarter of the warm, fluffy pancake, face devoid of even the faintest trace of guilt.

"Mhmm." She licked her lips with satisfaction. "You’re a true god in the kitchen, Devon. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got planned for dinner."

Viktor snorted.

Orion giggled. "Daddy, aunty Aura stole your pancake."

"I can see that, little one." Ambrose glared at the AI’s physical manifestation like she’d declared war. "Aura, get back into my head."

"Make me."

"Oh my God, you’re such a thief of joy!"

"Darling... It’s just one pancake," She winked, turning to the living room door. "You’ll live, I promise..."

★★★★★

Blue Diamond Academy

The moment Ambrose and Orion stepped onto the stairs leading into Blue Diamond Academy, something immediately felt... different.

Students standing along the steps suddenly stopped whatever they were doing.

Then one of them smiled.

"Happy birthday, Mr Hale!"

Another voice quickly followed. "Happy birthday!"

"Have an awesome day, sir!"

Before Ambrose could even process what was happening, more greetings started coming from every direction. Students walking between buildings, teachers carrying stacks of papers, even a pair of janitors sweeping the lobby paused long enough to wave at him.

He slowed to a complete stop. "...How does everyone know?"

Orion grinned up at him with the most suspiciously innocent expression imaginable.

"I don’t know."

"You are such a terrible liar."

The little boy only giggled.

Augustus emerged from the administration building carrying a folder beneath one arm. The Hunter barely managed three steps before spotting Ambrose.

"There he is." A warm smile spread across his face. "Happy birthday, Hunter Ambrose."

"Thank you."

"I would’ve called earlier, but I figured your family would’ve beaten everyone else to it." Augustus chuckled before gesturing toward the academic building. "Come on. I think a few people have been waiting."

Ambrose narrowed his eyes. "Waiting?"

The answer came the second he reached the Hunter Education classroom used for Young Hunters 101.

The door swung open.

"Happy birthday, Mr Hale!"

The shout nearly made him jump.

Colourful balloons floated around the classroom while strips of blue and silver decorations hung from the ceiling. Several students applauded as others hurried over, carrying neatly wrapped gift bags that quickly began piling into his arms.

"For you, sir!"

"I made this bookmark!"

"My mum insisted we buy chocolates!"

One particularly shy sixth grader approached, carrying a small cake box almost as carefully as if it were made of glass.

"M-My parents wanted me to give you this," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "They said... ever since I started attending your classes, I haven’t blasted holes into my bedroom ceiling in my sleep anymore."

The teenager laughed sheepishly.

"They’ve actually been sleeping through the night again."

Ambrose stared at the cake for several seconds before accepting it with both hands. "Please thank them for me."

For someone who’d spent most of two lifetimes believing his worth came from surviving impossible battles... moments like this always caught him completely off guard.

Not because he’d saved the world or defeated another monster.

Simply because he’d managed to make people’s everyday lives a little better.

By the time the excitement finally settled, Ambrose somehow found himself carrying enough presents to make Orion insist on helping.

The father and son slowly made their way toward the office Blue Diamond had assigned to him, Orion proudly clutching the cake while Ambrose balanced gift bags against his chest.

As he nudged the office door open with his shoulder and stepped inside, a quiet smile curved across his lips.

[See? And you said you didn’t want to do anything today.]

’Don’t push it...’ He patted Orion’s head before the boy scurried out of his office.

Something told him this wasn’t the end of the surprises today.

★★★★★

Hale-Ferguson Residence, Later That Day

"Devon, this is ridiculous..."

"Ah, ah, ah... we’re almost there." Devon grinned as he guided Ambrose out into the cool night air while he was blindfolded. "Watch your steps."

"I’ve got spatial awareness for that."

"Yet you manage to waddle like a penguin." Devon chuckled under his breath before stopping behind him.

His fingers reached for the knot at the back of the blindfold, loosening it carefully.

"Alright," he murmured. "Open your eyes."

The fabric slipped away.

Ambrose blinked a couple of times.

The entire front yard had been transformed.

Warm strings of colourful lights stretched between the trees and across the roof of the decorative canopy erected in the middle of the lawn, bathing everything beneath it in a soft golden glow.

Several tables overflowed with drinks, grilled meat, desserts and every snack imaginable while a barbecue sizzled gently nearby, filling the cool September air with the mouthwatering aroma of smoked ribs and seasoned steak.

Above them, the night sky stretched endlessly clear, thousands of stars glittering without a single cloud daring to interrupt them.

Then the people gathered beneath the canopy smiled.

"Happy birthday!"

Loki was the loudest by far, throwing both arms into the air as though they’d personally organised the greatest celebration in history.

Gabriel stood beside them wearing his usual gentle smile, while Viktor lifted his glass toward Ambrose with an affectionate nod. Valentine waved from one of the tables, Tristan and his wife standing beside him.

Alisha had one arm looped around Trina’s waist; Magnus was already helping himself to the barbecue before anyone officially gave permission; Irina smiled warmly from her seat.

And Kali stood near the drinks table with the expression of someone questioning every decision that had led her here.

Loki threw an arm around her shoulders. "I kidnapped her."

"I was persuaded," Kali corrected flatly.

"With kidnapping."

Ambrose laughed before he could stop himself.

The sound escaped so naturally that everyone else joined in.

One after another they stepped forward, wishing him a happy birthday until he wasn’t even sure who he’d hugged first anymore.

Eventually the excitement drifted elsewhere, giving Devon the chance to quietly take his hand.

"I hope this isn’t... overwhelming," he asked softly. "I know crowds aren’t always your thing."

Ambrose looked around at the lights, the laughter, Orion chasing Loki across the grass while Gabriel apologised to his brother in advance for whatever chaos was about to happen.

His vision blurred slightly.

"Are you kidding?" He whispered, squeezing Devon’s hand. "It’s perfect."

Before either of them could say anything else, a streak of silver suddenly cut across the heavens.

"A shooting star!" Orion shouted, sprinting toward them. "Daddy! Quick! Make a wish!"

Ambrose tilted his head toward the brilliant trail fading across the stars.

He smiled, closed his eyes, and made the simplest wish he’d ever made.

’I wish for many more days and many more nights... just like this one.’