The Last Birthday Party

Their favorite holiday is going away. Will it take their friendship with it? 

Since 1989, the birthday of the Emperor of Japan has been celebrated on December 23rd. But this is the last year; the Emperor is abdicating, and next year there will be no holiday.           

For twenty-year-old Akihito, the holiday has always been special. It's his birthday, too, and a perfect excuse for spending the entire day celebrating across Tokyo with his life-long best friend, Kenji. But now that they will no longer get the day off and will soon face adult responsibilities, will they drift apart? Or if Akihito confesses the secret love he's held in his heart for years, will their closeness be ruined? One thing is certain: nothing will be same by the end of the day.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar "Warmest Wishes."