Chapter 75: Happy Birthday

"Happy birthday, big bro!" Nana's voice woke up Michu just a minute before he usually would wake up. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the drawing she had prepared for him as a birthday present.

It was by no means a cheap present!

How could Nana or Michu give themselves presents in their poor situation? Every year, they had to resolve all possible means to give presents to each other.

His sister usually drew something nice for him! The current drawing was The Monkey God Michu! It was the imagination of the final form Nana often thought about! "It was fun to draw it!"

"Thanks!" Michu extended his hand for the drawing, then looked over it with a big smile. He was half-monkey here with cute fur ears atop his head and monkey tail! He wore a robe and held a long staff on the cloud!

It was highly inspired by the powerful monkey king!

Michu liked that version! "Little sister, your drawing skills get better every year!"

His sister looked down on her drawing skills as she had no one to teach her. However, it was really above average and Nana's skills would get better if she had a proper teacher! Of course, she took some online lessons now that it was possible.

Therefore, it was the best drawing Nana had ever offered as a birthday present to her brother.

"I am also satisfied with it! Hehe!" Nana innocently laughed and enjoyed her brother's reaction.

Today was an important day because Michu not only had his birthday, but also the final exam that was about to start in two hours! He was nervous each time he thought about it, but the birthday present appeased his churning stomach.

His family told him there would be a small party after he returned!

Thus, it was another day where Michu would spend most of his time outside! Little did he know that mom also invited Venomous as she wanted to meet her son's girlfriend! It would be a pretty eventful day!

Michu glanced to the side and found his mother sleeping. She could sleep more after he provided money to the family. Her looks were also more healthy! It had been a while since their life changed, but Michu always had the same reaction as he saw his mom and house looking better!

"Brother, I will make you breakfast!" Nana also liked to see the full fridge!

"Thanks! What is for today?"

"Bacon!"

"Eh, again?"

-

[School!]

Everyone was tense.

Michu noticed it not only because their faces were distorted slightly, but also because no one paid any attention to him. However, his school uniform was properly tended and exuded fresh and out of store air.

Thus, even if it wouldn't be out of 'disdain', other students would have already commented about Michu's looks. But they were so tense and focused on the school that Michu casually passed them and sat down on his chair.

He waited for the test to begin while remembering his study session with Venomous.

At first, the monke remembered her looks and how close she was, so his face lit up with blush and the exam got thrown away from his mind. Her words, "It hurt me" rang out then, bringing the battlefield to Michu's mind.

Yes, the exam was a battlefield!

With all those papers beneath his chin, Michu threw his eyes below and looked warily at those numbers and sentences.

He grasped his pen, analyzed all those letters and numbers again, then... his eyes shone goldenly.

Fortunately enough, no one had seen those eyes. Otherwise, a common would've broken out! Nonetheless, with his eyes shining gold, Michu felt like this battlefield was nothing at all. His pen scratched paper rapidly, going from one question to another!

It was as if this battlefield... was nothing at all!

'It's because of Beautiful Yumi! I must thank her later!' Michu thought and focused on the exam.

-

Meanwhile.

Beautiful Yumi was also doing something for the birthday party.

It was buying a present!

Invited by Nana, she knew it would be a surprise for Michu as they never had a friend or proper birthday party. Of course, it wouldn't be a normal friend, but a girlfriend, so Yumi wanted to look the best.

Other than buying a present, Yumi also bought a new dress for herself. She spent more time checking up dresses for herself because Venomous already had a good present in mind for her beloved.

However, Yumi suddenly got called out by someone!

"Yumi?" It was an older voice, so though startled by this sudden call, Yumi turned around and faced the lady with proper decorum.

She flashed a smile and asked.

"Yes? Do we know each other?" These words weren't anything special.

But the way Yumi said it reminded the lady of the noble household she worked for! Her employer had a little more refined aura, but Yumi carried the similar air of a high lady which was her aura of defense outside.

This startled the older lady, but she smiled merrily, "I am Michu's mom."

"Mom?" Yumi blinked a few times, then waved her bags with a flustered look. She didn't want to look arrogant before Michu's mom!

Has she failed already? "Nice to meet you, mom!" Yumi reached out for her hair, played with it nervously while trying her best to dispel that previous air she carried on.

Since Yumi genuinely wanted to rewrite that, her flustered appearance washed away all shock Michu's mom had within her.

Both ladies started anew, "You look far better than in-game, Yumi. Mom likes black hair more," Michu's mom's gentle words began a pleasant and smooth conversation between mother and daughter.

All the moms passing next to them were jealous of such a daughter! If Yumi wanted to sound sweet, then she would sound like that without any problem. The same went for her weird smile!

Her knowledge about all shops helped Michu's mom who hadn't thought of entering before!

Such a nice daughter made many other moms jealous.

They went together around the shops and talked about the birthday party. The main issue Michu's mom faced was naturally the present. "It's the first time I can afford to give a remarkable present..."

"Isn't it the gesture that weighs the most? Michu must've been feeling great each year knowing that his family did their best to give him a present." Yumi spoke tenderly, then rummaged through her bags.

Mom asked about the present!

She took out a present that had yet to be wrapped in cellophane as a present!

It was a belt. However, the brand of his belt was one of the prestigious ones!

Michu's mom wasn't aware of it, but Yumi hadn't scratched out the price of this belt, so when she saw that price... her eyes stretched out.

"I feel like a belt is a good present. Our Michu will sooner or later take a step onto the bigger stage. By then, we will prepare a nice suit for him." There was a chance the monke would get even taller in a few months, so the whole suit could wait.

Venomous also liked the idea of giving presents one by one! It would begin with the birthday, the boy's day and so on! She chuckled as she thought about it and her heart thumped merrily.

Michu's mom looked at the belt and said, "I think... the stage in real life might be too much for Michu. It's because... our family has seen a lot of cruel eyes..."

"Don't worry about that, mom." Yumi extended her hands and tightly held moms', "I will be with him... If someone offends or laughs at us, I will bite them." For the first time, Michu's mom shivered from Yumi's words, believing that she would be really ruthless if needed.

She frantically whispered, "Save biting for Michu."

"Oh... Mmm... If he becomes a gorilla..." Yumi licked her lips and hid her present.

"Gorilla?" Mom was unaware of what it meant!

These two spent a lot of time in the shops, but enough to return before Michu.

-

"I am a genius!" The monke announced!

He shouted with so much confidence that anyone would've believed him!

This man just did all the questions despite believing that he would do less than half at most! How could he not share his thoughts with his family?

However, upon opening his doors, Michu stopped and looked at his girlfriend suddenly appearing before his eyes. Well, she just stood there, but it felt like an angel descended onto his room.

Immediately after a second passed, "Beautiful Yumi!" Michu shouted and entered the house to share the great news.

Believing that her appearance in a new dress was the reason for such words, "All yours." Yumi whispered while playing with her hair.

Michu sat down and explained, "I really did all the questions! It felt so easy! Hehe!"

"Big brother! It's no use to lie! It's fine as long as you pass, right?" Nana threw a glance, reminding her big brother that lying would lead to nothing good!

The mother also came out of the kitchen and welcomed her son. "But it's a good sign, isn't it?"

"It is usually the opposite, mom." Nana shook her head.

"Hmm... But if Michu really did all the questions well, then doesn't it mean he will be the top 1 student at the end of his year?" Mom said... then added, "I think we would have to reward our Michu!"

"Eh... But what reward?" Nana pondered, then said, "I know! I will do all the chores in Michu's place!"

"Mom will think about the reward too." Mom chuckled.

Of course, no one believed that Michu would score top 1 in the final exam! They half-jokingly spoke about rewards for such a feat, though!

Yumi rested her head on her hand and said, "What would my prince want from me?"

"Hmm..." Michu believed otherwise! It was so easy, even easier than during the study session! He contributed all to Venomous' teaching method, so he wanted a reward that would help her too.

Michu knew that Yumi lived alone. She lacked someone's company and him visiting each weekend wasn't enough. That was why, he looked at her deeply and said, "If I score top 1, you will live with us!"

What Venomous needed was a good family. Mom or little sister's meals and their company!

Michu's words surprised Yumi.

Nana trembled out of fear that the snake would use this situation fully! She turned her eyes to mom, but their mom was already liking Yumi too much. She nodded a few times and even prayed for Michu to score top 1!

Yumi noticed that flustered look on her face, "Nana... We have yet to know each other well." A snake's smile spread on her face.

A little sister trembled again, "We have talked enough through social media." But talking through social media and in-person was vastly different! Nana couldn't even properly think before this beautiful snake!

"Michu, when does your school announce results?" Mom asked while seeing these two bickerings.

"I think in a week," Michu replied innocently.

"Then for a week, I think Yumi should stay with us." Mom assumed!

"That's fine for me," Yumi turned her eyes to Nana, then said, "I will snuggle with my little sister tonight," Knowing that Nana liked Sandra more, Venomous planned to bully this sister a little!

A week of bullying sounded just fine.

"Michu! Big Brother!" Nana rolled her way to big bro for help! She yanked his arm as she pleaded, "Big brother must keep her in the bed! We bought new beds, right? Don't you want to try these beds with Venomous? I will buy condoms for you!"

"NANA!" Mom roared.

"What! I am seventeen just in a few days! They will sell it to me!"

"This stupid daughter!" Mom took Nana to the kitchen where she scolded her daughter!

Left alone, Yumi took a slice of the cake and raised the fork, "We are alone for a little."

"Yeah," Michu went 'Aaa' and munched on the cake.

"I think I will need strong hands to bring my VR Capsule here... Though it will be just for a week, I am looking forward to my time here," She smiled and raised another portion.

Michu went 'Aaa', then replied with his mouth full, "I will be top 1 and you will stay longer with us!"

-

A week later.

[Full Score - Michu.]

Nana and her mom's eyes stretched out.

They were indeed connected by blood.

Yumi herself felt like her eyes were pulling a prank on her. She stood frozen before the board with announced results and ignored all attention she was receiving from students. Her eyes went to Michu who was giggling like never before.

"Haha! I am a genius!" Michu triumphantly announced.

"Are you really?" Yumi laughed.

"Yes, because of you!" As if slapping all other male students, Michu wrapped his hand around Yumi's waist then pulled her closer. Wasn't that what normal couples usually did? He just thought like that oblivious to the damage his move did.

Unlike him, Yumi glanced around and with content laid on her boyfriend's shoulder, "Now, the school is over... We can focus on the game..."

"Yeah! The Regional Tournament! Hehe, I want to fight with others already!"

Regional Tournament.

It was a place where Yumi planned to find new players for their party and make some new connections. There was also a reward for every player participating in it, so it was time to get hefty rewards!