"I Reincarnated in Boku no Hero but They Forgot to Give Me a System"

Chapter 40 – The Party to Win a Heroine's Heart

It had been two weeks since the last incident. A relatively quiet period had settled in, giving everyone time to recover and breathe. Today, Aoi had decided to take a day off—not to relax, but to plan something meaningful: a surprise birthday party for Mirko.

In the kitchen, he stood fully focused, putting his skills to the test as he decorated a triple-layer chocolate cake with thick, creamy filling. The frosting was smooth and glossy, and he spread it with steady, precise motions. He leaned forward a little, inspecting the surface to make sure everything was perfectly even.

Next to him, Ryuko leaned on the counter, watching with mild amusement. Her arms were crossed, and one eyebrow was raised in that familiar look that said, "What are you up to now?"

— Aoi… why didn't you just buy a cake? — she asked, tilting her head. — Would've been way more practical.

Aoi didn't even look up, his attention still locked onto the frosting.

— And where's the fun in that? Making it with my own hands shows how much I care.

Besides, he thought to himself, with my level of understanding, my cooking skills are basically on par with the chefs from Shokugeki no Souma. No need to be modest about it.

Ryuko let out a short laugh, barely hiding her reaction.

— You really outdo yourself sometimes, kid…

Just then, Rei entered the kitchen. She paused at the doorway and smirked when she saw her son wearing an apron and surrounded by bowls and ingredients.

— Aoi, you're being a little biased, cooking so much just for Mirko… and what about your poor old mom? Not even a microwave brownie for me. Has my little Aoi entered his rebellious phase?

Aoi opened the oven, carefully took the cake out, and set it on the counter to cool. Then he wiped his hands with a cloth, gave her a tired look, and sighed.

— Mom… I'll make one for you later, okay?

— If our little Aoi made a promise… then Mommy believes him — Rei replied, walking off with a chuckle.

Aoi went back to work, undeterred. He prepared the rest of the food with methodical speed: sweet pastries, savory snacks, and a few hot dishes. By the time evening rolled around, everything was done. He even cleaned the kitchen, making sure it didn't look like a battlefield when the guests arrived.

The decorations were exactly as he'd envisioned. Bright colors everywhere, stylized bunnies on the walls and tablecloths, strings of lights wrapped around the room, and playful flags with sarcastic phrases—just the kind of thing that would make Mirko smirk or shake her head. He made sure it looked festive without going overboard.

The first guests started to show up—colleagues from the hero agency, a few students, and close friends. The house filled up quickly, but not so much that it felt overwhelming. Just enough for a good time.

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By the time night arrived, everything was in place. The music played at a comfortable volume, the food was laid out on long tables, and the atmosphere buzzed with light conversation. Everyone waited, glancing toward the door now and then.

Finally, the bell rang. Aoi walked to the door, ready.

As it opened, Mirko stepped in, flanked by Midnight. She looked around for a split second—and then the lights flashed and colorful confetti exploded into the air.

— SURPRISE! — everyone shouted.

Mirko froze in place, wide-eyed as she scanned the room. The decorations, the crowd, the food… and in the center, Aoi, standing with a tray in his hands and a grin that tried not to look too proud.

— All this is for me?! — she asked, genuinely surprised. She walked straight toward him and pulled him into a tight hug. — You did all of this on your own?

— Almost all of it — he replied, muffled slightly by the hug. — But the food… that was 100% me.

— I can't believe it… — she said, squeezing a little tighter. — Thanks, Aoi. Seriously.

After that, Mirko headed toward her friends, who were already teasing her about the decorations and the bunny flags. She laughed, and her energy lifted the whole room.

Midnight stepped closer to Aoi, arms crossed, and gave him a sideways glance.

— Hm… looks like you were serious when you said you were going to win her heart, huh?

Aoi casually straightened his collar, doing his best impression of smug confidence.

— She told me I'd have to put in real effort… so that's exactly what I'm doing.

Midnight gave a short, amused laugh.

— Our little genius is a chef now too… talk about unfair advantages.

On the other side of the room, Mirko stole a quick glance in Aoi's direction as she sipped her drink. A small, natural smile curved on her lips. She didn't say anything to her friends, but it was clear the gesture meant more than she'd let on.

The party rolled on smoothly. Aoi moved from group to group, offering food and chatting with the guests. Ryuko had already swiped a piece of cake before the official cutting and pretended like she didn't love it. Rei snuck snacks off the table and claimed it was "for quality control." Midnight took one of the bunny flags and announced she'd stick it to her locker door just to annoy Mirko.

When it was finally time to cut the cake, everyone gathered around. Mirko stood in front of it with the knife in hand. Before slicing, she gave Aoi a sideways look.

— If this cake's bad, I'm telling you right to your face.

— I wouldn't expect anything less — he replied, standing with his arms crossed like it was a food competition.

She chuckled and cut the first slice. After taking a bite, she paused… then took another, slower one. The room waited.

— …Damn. It's really good. Best cake I've ever had in my life.

— Of course it is — Aoi said, clearly satisfied. — I made it, after all.

Mirko didn't answer his smug expression. She just grabbed another slice and kept eating, pretending she didn't hear him.

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