A/N: I'm hear just to stay that I hope I don't offend anyone with this chapter, I wrote it for entertainment purposes and not to offend anyone.
[Third Person Pov]
The last person to arrive through the front door was Haruna, her hand still resting on the door ready to knock for a moment as if she needed that extra second to gather her courage. She wore an elegant frilly blue dress that flowed gently around her legs, the shade nearly identical to her long blue hair, making her appear almost ethereal beneath the warm lighting of the temple.
The soft fabric shimmered faintly whenever she moved, and the delicate ribbons and lace decorating it showed just how much care she had put into her appearance. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, not from the walk, but from embarrassment and nervous anticipation.
She had spent far longer than she originally intended getting ready, trying different outfits, adjusting her hair over and over, and standing in front of the mirror questioning whether she had gone too far. A part of her worried she had overdone it and would stand out in the worst way possible.
"Woah Haruna!" Lala exclaimed the moment she saw her, her eyes lighting up with genuine excitement and admiration. She clasped her hands together in front of her chest and leaned forward slightly. "You look so pretty!"
"Thank you," Haruna replied sincerely, her voice soft but filled with relief. The tension that had been tightly coiled in her chest loosened almost instantly. If someone like Lala, who she considered effortlessly beautiful and radiant, thought she looked pretty, then maybe she hadn't made a mistake after all. Maybe all that time and effort had been worth it.
After being warmly invited inside, Haruna carefully removed her shoes and stepped into the temple, holding her present protectively in both hands. She walked over to the table where several other gifts had already been placed and gently set hers down among them, making sure it didn't look out of place. As she straightened up and turned around, her body froze mid-motion.
Her eyes widened slightly as she finally took in the full scene around her. The entire place was filled with girls. Not a single guy in sight.
Her heart skipped a beat, and an uncomfortable awareness settled over her.
The worst part wasn't just that they were all girls. It was that every single one of them was beautiful. Not in the same way, but in their own unique, distinct ways that made each of them stand out. Some had elegant and mature beauty, others had cute and charming appearances, while some radiated confidence and charisma so naturally it was intimidating. Haruna couldn't help but compare herself to them, and in her mind, she came up short against every single one.
For Christ's sake, even Clark's grandmother had more appeal than her, she thought in distress, her shoulders shrinking slightly as self-consciousness crept in. She became acutely aware of her posture, her dress, her hair, and every small imperfection she imagined everyone else could see.
"I have to talk to that brat about making more male friends," Seiko said with a shake of her head, though the amused smile on her face betrayed that she wasn't truly bothered. At this point, she found the situation more entertaining than anything else.
"Well there's Jiji," Momo added with a small shrug, "but he lives pretty far away and wasn't able to make it." She sounded slightly disappointed, though not surprised.
Nearby, Lois quietly observed the girls around her, her sharp eyes missing nothing. She noted their appearances, their personalities, the way they carried themselves, and how comfortable they all seemed being here. She couldn't deny that they were all incredibly attractive, and an uncomfortable thought surfaced in her mind before she could stop it. She wondered if Clark might secretly have some kind of relationship with one of them as well.
She inwardly sighed, her expression remaining calm despite the storm of thoughts beneath the surface. "I would have invited Joichirou," she thought, "but he and Clark aren't exactly close. They've only spoken once. And I already brought my sister. Now I'm starting to wonder if this was a good idea."
Lucy suddenly raised her hand enthusiastically like a student eager to participate in class. "So where's the birthday boy?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and excitement. "I'm very excited to meet him."
Seiko smiled knowingly. "He's walking his dog at the moment," she answered casually. "Don't worry, I'll call him. Now while I do that, everyone get into position."
Immediately, the room burst into quiet but frantic motion as everyone scrambled to prepare. Party poppers were grabbed and hidden behind backs, people quickly moved into place, and excited whispers filled the air. Meanwhile, Seiko calmly stepped into the other room and pulled out her phone.
"Sol, you know what to do," she said quietly into it. A moment later, she pretended to have a normal conversation, speaking loud enough to be convincing. "Clark? Can you come back for a moment? I need a favor."
…
While it was day in Japan, the quiet countryside of Jamaica rested beneath the calm rule of night. The moon hung high and proud in the velvet sky, its pale light washing over the narrow dirt paths, zinc fences, and small painted homes that dotted the hills. The air was warm but gentle, carrying the scent of earth, night flowers, and distant ocean salt. The only sounds were the soft chorus of crickets and the faint rustling of leaves swaying in the breeze.
Moving along one of those lonely paths was Clark Kent, his large but careful frame bent slightly as he carried an elderly Jamaican grandmother securely in his arms. Her traditional dress flowed gently with each step he took, the fabric worn but lovingly maintained. Her gray hair was wrapped neatly beneath a headscarf. Beside him, faithfully following, was Krypto, who carried several heavy bags strapped carefully across her back without complaint, her tail occasionally wagging as she walked.
Clark glanced down at the old woman in his arms, his expression gentle but firm, and spoke in natural Jamaican Patois.
"Yuh nuh know seh it dangerous fi yuh a walk by yuhself so late a night? Yuh fi have somebody walk wid yuh go home." (You don't know it's dangerous for you to be walking by yourself so late at night? You should have someone accompany you home.)
The old woman clicked her tongue lightly and waved her hand dismissively, though the corners of her lips curled with amusement.
"Yes, yes, mi know already. But mi nuh waan be no bother to nobody. Mi walk dis road fi years now, an nuttin neva happen to mi yet." (Yes, yes, I already know. But I don't want to be a bother to anyone. I've walked this road for years, and nothing has ever happened to me.)
Clark shook his head slowly, his brow lowering slightly with concern as he adjusted his hold on her to make sure she was comfortable.
"It woulda be more bother if someting did happen to yuh. Yuh lucky seh mi did deh yah tonight, cause nobody nuh know wah coulda gwaan. Somebody as beautiful as yuh fi stay safe." (It would be more trouble if something did happen to you. You're lucky I was here tonight, because no one knows what could have happened. Someone as beautiful as you should stay safe.)
She let out a loud, amused scoff and shook her head at him.
"Bwoy, yuh tongue full a devil trick. Look pon mi, an yuh a call mi beautiful?" (Boy, your tongue is full of devil tricks. Look at me, and you're calling me beautiful?)
Clark couldn't help himself. He laughed warmly, the sound deep and genuine, echoing softly into the quiet night.
Eventually, she lifted her hand and pointed ahead toward a small, humble home sitting quietly behind a low wooden fence.
"Alright now, put mi down right yah. Dis a mi yard. Wi reach." (Alright now, put me down right here. This is my home. We've arrived.)
Clark carefully lowered her onto her feet, making sure she was steady before releasing her fully. The moment her feet touched the ground, she turned toward him with surprising speed and reached up, pinching both of his cheeks firmly between her fingers.
"Lawd have mercy, yuh is one angel fi true! God send yuh fi help mi tonight. Both a unnu." (Lord have mercy, you are truly an angel! God sent you to help me tonight. Both of you.)
She glanced lovingly at Krypto, who wagged her tail proudly.
"Come inside nuh. Come een. Mi haffi repay unnu properly." (Come inside. Come in. I must repay you properly.)
She grabbed his hand with surprising strength for someone her age and began pulling him gently toward the door.
Clark smiled softly and shook his head.
"Nah worry yuhself, Granny. Mi nuh need nuttin. Jus know seh yuh safe an promise mi seh yuh call somebody next time. Dat alone more than enough." (Don't worry yourself, Granny. I don't need anything. Just know that you're safe and promise me you'll call someone next time. That alone is more than enough.)
She immediately stopped and turned, her eyes narrowing stubbornly.
"Nonsense! Kindness fi repay wid kindness. Yuh carry mi all dis way, so mi a go feed unnu good. Both you an yuh dog. An mi nuh waan hear no no!" (Nonsense! Kindness must be repaid with kindness. You carried me all this way, so I will feed you well. Both you and your dog. And I don't want to hear no!)
Clark gave a helpless, amused smile, realizing there was no winning against her resolve. He allowed himself to be guided inside her small home, ducking slightly to avoid hitting his head on the low doorway. The interior was simple but warm, filled with care and life. The scent of cooked food soon filled the air as she prepared a proper meal for them both.
When everything was ready, she sat across from them and reached forward, holding Clark's hands and Krypto's paw in hers. She bowed her head and began to pray aloud, her voice full of gratitude and faith.
"Tenk yuh, Lawd, fi send dese two beautiful soul come help mi tonight when mi need it most. Bless dem, guide dem, an protect dem wherever dem go." (Thank you, Lord, for sending these two beautiful souls to help me tonight when I needed it most. Bless them, guide them, and protect them wherever they go.)
She lifted her head proudly.
"Amen!"
Clark smiled.
"Amen."
Krypto barked happily in agreement.
After they finished eating and thanked her sincerely, Clark suddenly heard Sol's voice clearly in his ear, informing him that Seiko needed to see him urgently, and warning him about other exorcists nearby. His gaze drifted slightly into the distance as he listened.
The grandmother noticed immediately.
"Someting wrong, pickney?" (Is something wrong, child?)
Clark blinked and smiled apologetically.
"Mi sorry, Granny. Look like mi own grandmother a look fi mi right now." (I'm sorry, Granny. It seems my own grandmother is looking for me right now.)
She nodded knowingly.
"Den yuh fi go. Nuh mek har wait too long. An memba tell har seh mi seh thanks." (Then you must go. Don't make her wait too long. And remember to tell her I said thank you.)
Clark tilted his head slightly in confusion.
"Hm?"
She reached up again and pinched his cheeks affectionately.
"Fi raise such a good, kind, handsome young man." (For raising such a good, kind, handsome young man.)
Clark felt a rare flicker of embarrassment cross his face, which made her burst into laughter.
After one final goodbye, he stepped outside with Krypto at his side. She stood at her doorway, waving slowly, her old but strong figure framed by warm light. Clark smiled one last time before he and Krypto rose silently into the sky, ascending higher and higher until they disappeared among the endless sea of stars, leaving the old grandmother smiling with quiet peace in her heart.
…
Clark returned to Japan in no time, his figure slicing effortlessly through the air at incredible speed. The wind rushed past him, his cape fluttering behind him as he wondered what exactly Granny Seiko needed. She rarely asked him for favors so suddenly.
Normally, he would land directly inside the temple grounds, but Sol's earlier warning echoed in his mind, prompting him to land several steps away from the entrance instead. The moment his feet touched the ground, his suit withdrew seamlessly into his body, disappearing as if it had never been there. Beside him, Krypto's suit did the same, the white dog immediately shaking his body vigorously, his collar settling comfortably around his neck with a familiar rattle.
Clark adjusted his glasses over his face, ensuring they sat properly, while Krypto wagged his tail happily beside him. Together, they walked toward the front door at a relaxed pace.
"What's wrong—" Clark began to ask as he stepped inside.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The sudden explosion of party poppers interrupted him, the sharp sounds echoing around him as colorful confetti burst outward, raining down over both him and Krypto.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARK!!" all the girls shouted in unison, their voices filled with excitement and joy.
Clark froze completely, his entire body locking up as his brain struggled to process what was happening.
Komi and Miku enthusiastically blew into their party blowers, the curled paper extensions shooting outward repeatedly until their cheeks turned red from the effort.
Clark slowly bowed his head politely. "I'm sorry," he said with complete seriousness, his voice calm and composed. "I must be at the wrong temple. If you'd please excuse me."
He turned around and began to walk away.
"Get back here, you brat," Seiko called out teasingly as she grabbed him firmly by the back of his collar and effortlessly dragged him back inside like he weighed nothing. "Don't be rude. Everyone came here to wish you a happy birthday."
"Hahaha, Grandma, can't you see?" Momo said between laughs, pointing directly at him. "He's trying to escape because he's super embarrassed right now!"
Everyone's attention focused on Clark as he avoided eye contact, turning his face slightly away from Seiko's grip. That was when they noticed it. His ears were bright red. Redder than any of them had ever seen before. The deep color betrayed his embarrassment completely.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then laughter and warm smiles spread across the room, the sight of someone normally so composed and invincible being so visibly flustered making the moment all the more endearing.
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