[There's a neat square box left on Ishida's doorstep. If the weather was bad, it's been secured protectively in a double layer of plastic bags so it won't get wet. Inside the box is a mini six-inch cake of chocolate layers and mint mousse, the outside frosted white and trimmed with blue piped icing in the form of a Quincy cross. 'Happy Birthday Ishida-kun' is written in English with darker blue frosting letters.]

[It should be obvious who it's from. And if it isn't, the note slipped into the cake box should make it crystal clear.]

'I knocked but you weren't home. Sorry! I didn't know your work schedule, and I was on a lunch break so I couldn't stay. But if you want to do something for your birthday I'll make some time for you!

Your Friend,
Inoue'