Life In The Limelight : I Married A Gamer Girl-Chapter 45: Birthday Game

The morning sun filtered through the windows of their cozy home, casting a soft golden glow across the room. Kazuma stirred awake, blinking against the light. His light blue hair was slightly messy, and he let out a quiet yawn before noticing the sweet aroma of something cooking wafting in from the kitchen.

He rubbed his eyes and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It wasn't often that he slept in, but today was different—it was his birthday. He smiled softly, knowing Masako was likely planning something special. She always did.

As he stepped into the kitchen, the sight that greeted him was enough to make his heart swell. Masako stood at the stove, humming softly as she flipped a pancake. She was dressed in one of his oversized shirts, her dark brown hair tied up in a loose ponytail. The golden chain around her waist glinted in the sunlight, and her golden eyes lit up when she saw him.

"Good morning, dear!" she said, her voice cheerful. She set the pan down and turned to him, spreading her arms wide. "Happy birthday!"

Kazuma chuckled, letting her pull him into a warm hug. "Thanks, sweetie. What's all this?" he asked, gesturing to the table, which was already set with plates of fruit, heart-shaped pancakes, and freshly brewed coffee.

"It's your birthday breakfast, of course," Masako replied, guiding him to sit down. She kissed his cheek before setting the last pancake on the stack and joining him. "You've been working so hard lately, so I wanted to spoil you a bit."

Kazuma smiled, his light blue eyes soft as he looked at her. "You didn't have to go through all this trouble."

Masako grinned, taking a sip of her coffee. "Of course I did. You deserve it, dear. And besides, I'm not done yet."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What else do you have planned?"

Masako's grin widened, a playful glint in her golden eyes. "That's a surprise. But first, eat up. You're going to need your energy."

After breakfast, Masako guided Kazuma into their shared office. She had prepared the space earlier, making sure everything was just right. The room was tidy, with fresh flowers in a vase on the desk and a small wrapped box sitting beside Kazuma's keyboard.

"Sit," Masako instructed, her voice brimming with excitement.

Kazuma obliged, his curiosity piqued. He picked up the box and gave her a questioning look. "What's this?"

"Open it and find out," Masako said, practically bouncing on her heels.

Kazuma carefully unwrapped the box, revealing a USB drive inside. He held it up, his light blue eyes narrowing slightly in confusion. "What's on this?"

Masako leaned closer, her golden eyes sparkling. "Plug it in and see."

Kazuma did as she instructed, inserting the drive into his computer. The screen lit up, and a small window popped up with a title screen. His breath caught as he read the words: A Journey with You by Masako. The title was adorned with soft pastel artwork of a couple holding hands under a starry sky.

"It's... a game?" Kazuma asked, his voice soft with surprise.

Masako nodded, her cheeks tinged pink. "I've been working on it in secret for months. It's a small romantic game, just for you. A little birthday gift."

Kazuma stared at the screen, his heart swelling with emotion. "Masako, this is... incredible."

"Click play," she urged, her voice full of nervous excitement.

Kazuma clicked the button, and the game began. It was a simple but beautifully crafted visual novel. The story followed a character clearly inspired by Kazuma himself, who was swept away on a romantic adventure by a character that was unmistakably modeled after Masako. The dialogue was heartfelt, filled with moments that mirrored their real-life relationship.

"Did you—" Kazuma started, glancing at her.

"Yes," Masako said with a grin. "I based it on us. Well, mostly. I might have added a bit more drama and fantasy flair, but the heart of it is all real."

Kazuma laughed softly, continuing to play. Each choice he made led to sweet interactions, thoughtful conversations, and romantic gestures. The game was a love letter to their relationship, and it was clear how much care Masako had poured into it.

At one point, the characters in the game sat under a tree, watching the sunset. The Masako-inspired character leaned closer to the Kazuma-inspired one, saying, "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Thank you for always being my partner, my supporter, my everything."

Kazuma paused, his light blue eyes glistening as he turned to Masako. "This is... beautiful. I don't even know what to say."

Masako sat on the edge of the desk, leaning toward him. "You don't have to say anything, dear. Just knowing you love it is enough."

Kazuma stood, pulling her into a tight hug. "I don't just love it. It's the best gift I've ever received. Thank you, Masako."

Masako smiled against his shoulder, her golden eyes closing as she wrapped her arms around him. "You've done so much for me, dear. I just wanted to show you how much you mean to me."

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They stayed like that for a while, the soft hum of the computer and the distant sound of birds outside the only noises in the room. When they finally pulled apart, Kazuma kissed her forehead, his light blue eyes filled with love.

"Can we play it together later?" he asked, his voice soft.

"Of course," Masako replied, grinning. "But first, there's cake. And maybe a little more spoiling."

Kazuma chuckled, shaking his head. "You're amazing, you know that?"

"And you're my favorite person in the world," Masako said, taking his hand. "Now, come on. Let's make the rest of your birthday just as special."

As they left the office, Kazuma couldn't help but think that, once again, Masako had managed to create something truly magical. No matter how many games they made together, this one would always hold a special place in his heart.