Chapter Text
Seijūrō Akashi was used to quiet birthdays.
Ever since his mother’s passing, the dark corridors of his extravagant estate remained cold and unfeeling. Birthdays were simply another day to him. Perhaps a formal dinner, and some expensive yet impersonal gift from his father, and then back to grueling work. Some years, he was even permitted to ride his beloved horse Yukimaru, her snow-white body galloping beneath him, powerful legs thudding against the ground in a steady rhythm, shaking the earth below as his crimson locks swept up in the breeze, momentarily freeing him of all of life’s harshest burdens.
But those respites were ever fleeting.
In the Akashi family household, nothing is special about growing a year closer to one’s death.
Akashi paused at the top of the ornate staircase, fingers resting lightly against the carved mahogany, the dark wood contrasting against his pale skin. A cacophony of noise drifted upward from the hall: joyous laughter, the clatter of fine china against marble, and perplexing bits of overlapping conversation. These sounds… this warmth, it was all so foreign to him.
“Sei? You’re staring. Is everything alright?” a gentle voice sounded beside him.
Akashi blinked, breaking from his drift into his mind. Turning, he was greeted by the stunning visage of his empress, her glasses glinting in the warm light of the crystal chandelier hanging above. Her dark brows were drawn together slightly in concern, dark eyes staring up at him.
A gentle smile crossed his face as he met her worried eyes. “Apologies, Sevonne,” he spoke, his voice permeating the brief silence between them. “I was simply reflecting on the present situation.”
Sevonne’s face shifted into an expression of understanding, knowing the meaning behind his words.
“Well, come down!” she exclaimed, slipping her fingers into Akashi’s free hand and guiding him down the lengthy stairway, the carpeted wood soft against their feet as they made their descent.
“Everyone’s waiting for you.”
The moment the couple stepped into the dining room, conversation ceased as attention was drawn to them like iron to a powerful magnet, drowning the room in a sea of silence.
Then the spell of silence was broken as a bright, cheery voice rang out from the crowd.
“Akashi! There you are, we’ve been looking for you!” Momoi called as she scurried closer, giggling as she spotted the interlocked hands of Sevonne and Akashi.
“It’s your party, birthday boy, where were you?” came the disgruntled voice of Kagami, leaning over by the food table, aggressively eyeing the available options.
Akashi let out a warm chuckle as he met the eyes of his expectant party guests. “Apologies for the delay,” he bowed politely to the group.
“Let us begin the festivities, shall we?”
A ripple of excitement passed through the room as bowls of steaming tofu soup were passed around to the masses, metal and porcelain clinking softly together as laughter resumed in earnest. Akashi took a careful bite, small tears threatening to escape his eyes as the memory of his mother flashed into his mind. It was just like hers. Cubes of firm-soft sesame-seared tofu, the mildly spicy umami-forward aromatic broth bursting with warm ginger, fragrant garlic, fiery bird’s-eye chili, salty barrel-aged shōyu, crisp winter vegetables, and earthy mushrooms danced across his tongue in a harmony of nostalgic flavors.
Sevonne noticed immediately, placing her hand on Akashi’s.
“Sei?” she questioned softly.
“It is…” he started, searching for a single word to encompass his emotions.
“Perfect.”
Her expression softened instantly, squeezing his hand once with quiet affection as she turned her attention back to her bowl of soup with a content smile.
The room buzzed with life around the two of them as the other partygoers conversed, voices overlapping in an easy rhythm as laughter bloomed and faded in waves, chairs occasionally scraping against dark wooden floors.
Takao was already halfway through a second bowl of soup, laughing unabashedly at an old modeling photo Kise had shown him as the broth sloshed dangerously in the bowl, threatening to spill onto his pastel orange polo.
“Taka—hmph, Kazunari, honestly,” Midorima chided, glaring at his partner with disdain. “Have you no sense of decorum?”
“Just let the guy eat, man. It’s a birthday party, quit being so uptight!” came the loud, rowdy voice of Hayama, seated beside the burly Nebuya, who was discussing very one-sidedly with Reo something about how tofu was the secret to gaining muscle.
“Mibuchi, I’m telling you,” he exclaimed, his deep voice bursting with intensity. “Tofu is the secret. Lots of protein in it. This stuff builds real muscle.”
Reo nodded, listening half-heartedly to his teammate’s explanation.
Momoi zipped around the table, her rosy hair flying behind her as she bounced from group to group, chatting and giggling with her friends simultaneously, trying to prevent Murasakibara, Kagami, and Aomine from devouring all the food.
Even the quieter ones, namely Kuroko and Mayuzumi, found themselves engaging in conversation with their chosen groups at the table, listening with quiet amusement to the ruckus caused by the others.
For the first time in years, Akashi felt a warmth beginning to fill within him as joy entered his closed-off world.
When the bowls were finally cleared away, a soft gasp rippled throughout the room as a decadent strawberry lemon cake was placed in front of Akashi. Pale pink frosting, flecked with fresh strawberry, decorated the exterior. Elegant shells and ruffles adorned the borders and sides. Glossy rose-shaped strawberries stood proudly atop in a perfect circle. The scent of perfumed strawberries and tart lemon wafted into the air. Golden candles blazed atop it, the flames dancing before him, reflecting in his rubescent eyes.
Momoi clasped her hands together, beaming. “Akashi, go on, make a wish!”
A chorus of agreement followed as his friends eagerly leaned forward.
Akashi hesitated.
In past years, wishes had meant nothing to him. After all, he was absolute. Anything he wanted or needed in life was his for the taking. Desire was inefficient. Only outcomes achieved through work mattered in the Akashi household.
But not today.
Now, as he looked around the table, something in his chest tightened.
His teammates.
His friends.
Sevonne.
She stood beside him, unwavering, her dark eyes warm as they met his, tan skin glowing golden in the soft candlelight.
Akashi closed his eyes.
The joy and celebration of this wondrous evening, warmth and laughter filling his heart and home on what would have otherwise been a cold December night, the sense of family and belonging.
That was what he desired.
Leaning forward, he blew out the candles in a single, steady breath.
Cheers erupted instantly, the room filling with applause and delighted laughter. Akashi gazed around at his loved ones, stunned, a soft, genuine laugh escaping him as he absorbed the spirit around him.
As the cake was cut and plates passed around, the celebratory air softened into something quieter and more intimate. Large groups broke into smaller clusters, conversation ebbing and flowing as the night wore on. Akashi found himself walking to the window, gazing out with a calm smile into the night as a light dusting of snowfall began to cover the ground.
Sevonne appeared beside him, her arms wrapping gently around his waist.
“You look happy, Sei,” she remarked. “I’m glad. Your smile is beautiful.”
Akashi glanced over at her, surprise briefly flickering across his face before melting into a smile.
“I am,” he admitted quietly. “All of this. I have never experienced something this wonderful.”
Sevonne smiled, her head resting gently against his shoulder as they watched delicate snowflakes bury the freshly trimmed lawn in white. The world outside slept in peaceful silence.
Akashi leaned into her embrace, one hand settling over hers. Comfortable silence grew between them, punctuated only by the distant murmur of their friends and the hush of falling snow.
He turned to face her, their faces illuminated by the crackling fireplace nearby.
“Thank you,” he said, his simple words carrying a softness no elaborate speech ever could.
Sevonne smiled up at him, eyes shining, rising slightly onto her toes. Akashi met her halfway, their lips touching in an unhurried, tender kiss filled with absolute devotion. When they parted, he rested his forehead against hers, breathing in her scent.
Holding her in his arms, for the first time in his life, Akashi truly felt there was no place like home.
Akashi wished for a home full of joy and love.
Looks like some birthday wishes do come true.