*Layla*

I smiled as I stepped out of the bathroom. I'd changed into my peach yukata with cats.

"Looking cute, little sister," Kiara said as she formed a rectangle with her hands.

I laughed. "Isn't there a real camera you can take a picture with?"

"I-I think Alex brought one," Dan said as he turned to look at our brother.

Alex smiled as he brought out a rectangular camera from his backpack. "Yup, I did!" he exclaimed.

"Can't we just use our phones?" Amun asked as she brought out her smartphone. "It's more convenient that way."

"True, but I like using this. I like the feel of it better than that of phone when it comes to taking pictures," Alex said, smiling at his old-fashioned looking device. He raised it toward me. "Say, cheese!"

Kiara put her arm around me and together we yelled out 'cheese'.

Our brother walked over to us and showed us the picture saved to his HD digital camera.

"We look so cute!" Kiara said, chuckling. She gasped. "I know, let me take one of everyone! Everyone, gather around!"

"E-everyone? Bu-but, you won't appear in it if you take it," Dan said.

"Yeah," Hideo said as he made his way toward us.

"If you want, I can take it. I hate photos," Silas said as he stood up from the floor.

"No need," Papa said as he formed a makeshift wooden pedestal. "We can use this!" He moved the wooden bits of it around with his plant powers.

"Good idea!" Kiara said.

Silas sighed.

Papa patted him on the back. "Come on, we're on vacation. Try to put on a happy face."

He turned away. "I would if I were by myself."

"Let's just get this over with, big bro!" Amun said, grabbing a hold of his right hand.

"Dossie, Nate, wakey-wakey," Mama said as she nudged our toddler siblings. "Your Papa is going to take us a photo."

"Photo?" Nate asked, rubbing his beady little eyes.

"Photo!" Dossie yelled, jumping to her feet. She ran so quickly that she nearly stumbled over, but kept catching herself before she could hit the ground.

"You sure like getting your photo taken, huh?" Kiara asked, laughing as she picked up Dossie.

Dossie nodded. "Me love photos!"

Nate smiled as Mama helped him walk over to us.

"Let's hurry up and take this photo," Silas said as he glared at the camera.

"Wa-wait, Camila is mi-missing," Dan said, glancing around.

Suddenly, the bathroom door clicked open. Camila glanced over at us while keeping herself hidden by the door.

"Camila, come over here!" Amun yelled, waving at our older sister.

"W-what's going on?" she asked. She jumped as soon as she noticed the camera.

"We're taking a picture," Alex said, smiling.

"I-Is that so?" Camila whispered as she continued to hide everything beside her face.

"Is something wrong, dear?" Mama asked. "Did the yukata I got you not fit?"

"I-it's not that. It's just, a little embarrassing."

"What's embarrassing about wearing a yukata?" Kiara asked as she spun around to show off her pink one.

"It's... I'm just not used to this kind of clothing," Cami said as she stepped out. She had on a plain purple yukata, but it despite its simplicity, she looked very beautiful in it.

"It looks nice, dear," Mama said with a light chuckle.

"Do I?"

Dan nodded his head. "Yup!"

Camila took a deep breath and smiled. "O-okay, I'm ready!"

"Yay!" me and my little siblings cheered.

"Yay..." Silas said in a weak voice.

"Ch-cheer up," Dan said, smiling.

Silas sighed. "Whatever. Let's just get this over with."

Dad smiled. "Say cheese!"

"Cheese!" we all said, well, except for grumpy Sy.

***

Dan smiled as he stared at the family photo we just took as Mommy and Daddy went out to get us dinner. Alex, Nate, and Dossie went with them too.

"Like it?" Hideo asked.

He nodded. "Y-yeah. It's great." He glanced at Silas in the photo and sighed. "Ju-just wish that Sy would e-enjoy this va-vacation more."

"Y-yeah," Cami said as she emerged from her futon.

Dan smiled. "A-are you hi-hiding?"

Cami hugged her legs. "I-I don't want to go out. I-I want to stay here."

"You should try to enjoy this vacation more too, Cami," Kiara said as she hugged her from behind. "Come on, today's Dan's birthday! We got to celebrate!"

Dan gasped. "I-It is?"

"You forgot your own birthday?" Silas asked as he walked over to us with a bottle of juice. He sat down and laughed. "You really are an airhead."

Dan lowered his head.

"Ignore him," Hideo said, patting Dan's shoulders.

Silas sighed. "You're doing him more harm than good. One can't ignore everything in life."

Hideo glared at him. "I know, but that's no reason to be saying mean things to him. You're his brother."

"Well, siblings say mean things all the time," Silas said as he opened the cap of his juice bottle.

I poked him. "Yeah, but we're closer," I said, smiling.

His gaze lingered on me for awhile. "Are we really? Hideo's mostly close to Dan and Kiara."

"That's true," Amun said, nodding her head.

"No it's not!" I said, puffing my cheeks. "He got me a cute kitty sticker recently!"

Hideo smiled. "Yeah. I thought of you as soon as I saw it." He gasped and reached into his pocket, bringing out a rectangular silver pouch. "That reminds me, here you go!"

Dan stared at it. "W-what's this?"

"Guess! It's not hard to," Kiara said, grinning.

Amun laughed. "Hey, don't give it away outright."

Dan smiled as he tore it open. He pulled out a card of a lion cub holding a sphere of light.

Amun stared at its stats and sighed. "Darn it. It wasn't a strong one."

Dan smiled. "I-it's fine. E-even if it's not the strongest, it's the thought that counts."

Silas smiled. "You didn't stutter at the end there."

Dan averted his eyes.

Silas grumbled and pushed himself up. "Maybe I should've gone with Mom, Dad, and the toddlers." He glanced at me. "Say, why didn't you go with them?"

"I wanted to keep you company," I said, smiling.

"Hmm, they said that they would only be gone for a short while," Kiara said, eyeing the slidable doors.

Suddenly, the door opened and out came a popping sound, causing Cami to hide and Dan to back away. 

"Happy birthday!" three people blurted out. They were Alex, Nat, and Dossie. In their hands were party poppers.

"Did we scare you?" Alex asked.

"M-maybe a bit," Dan said, taking several deep breaths.

"Liar," Silas muttered.

"Where are Mommy and Daddy?" I asked.

"Here we are, sweetheart," Mommy said as she and Daddy walked in. The two wheeled in a cart with a giant cake on top. In the lower shelf were plates and spoons.

"A cake?" Silas asked. "Where did you get a cake from?"

"We brought it with us," Mom said, grinning. "I put it in a special box filled with ice mana to keep it nice and cool. It has ice cream filling."

Big brother Dan's eyes lit up. "Ice cream?"

"Yeah," Daddy said, chuckling. Our parents placed the cake in the center of the room.

Dan ran over and hugged him. "Thanks Dad!"

Daddy smiled and patted his back. "You're welcome, son. I hope that you can enjoy many, many, more birthdays."

"So, what flavor of ice cream does it have?" Silas asked as he eyed the cake up close.

Mommy smiled. "You'll see." She handed a knife over to Dan. "May you do the honors, good sir?"

Dan smiled. "C-certainly, Mommy."

Silas snorted at the exchange.

I puffed my cheeks and stepped on his right toe. "Be nice!" I whispered.

Silas backed away from me. "Hey, I didn't say a thing!"

I continued glare at him.

He sighed and turned away.

I eyed Dan as Mommy helped him put the slice of cake that he had just cut onto a plate.

He smiled as soon as he saw the filling. "Mint with chocolate-chips."

Mommy nodded. "Yup, your favorite!"

"Should've guessed," Silas said as he spun around.

I gave him the stink eye.

"I didn't mean anything bad with it! I like mint with chocolate chips too," he said.

Dan walked over and held out the cake to Silas. "H-here you go, little brother."

Silas put a hand on his head and moved it over to him. "Little? We're the same height."

"Sy," I muttered.

He gulped and took the cake from Dan. "Thanks."

Kiara smiled and wrapped her arms around the two of them. "See, you're close!" she exclaimed

"Don't touch me," Silas said, moving away from her. His face was slightly red.

Kiara laughed. "Such a tsun."

Dan smiled.

I gave him a hug. "Happy birthday, big brother!"

He wrapped his arms around me. "Thanks for looking out for me, Lay."

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed this extra which also doubles as a birthday special for Dante ^_^. Speaking of Dan, I uploaded his official art (made by Mitt4Mite) over in the Makkuroyama page a few days ago. Check it out if you're curious of how the birthday boy here looks :)**