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Yui didn’t really celebrate her birthday. She never had any friends she could invite in Junior High School, and it’s not like her father would have ever gotten around to actually organizing anything for the day, either. It was alright, though. A birthday was just another day in the year for her - it just so happened to be the one she was born on.
Besides, it was near enough to Christmas that they could practically celebrate both at the same time. They weren’t Christians or anything, nor did they really celebrate it particularly much besides eating KFC, but it fell close enough to be able to mash both together. Her father would often sneak out of the apartment the evening before to buy something small, when he thought she wasn’t awake and wouldn’t hear him making an attempt at sneaking through the walls of her bedroom. It was usually a small toy, or a book, or something - nothing too expensive, but it still felt nice, on Christmas. That was a time she looked forward to - not her birthday.
So, imagine her surprise when she came downstairs from her dorm room into the kitchen, to find Itsuka hastily ordering people around, as if trying to set up something.
She slowly walked over towards her girlfriend, but she didn’t seem to notice, as she was too busy talking with Bondo. However, Bondo did notice her, and he quickly seemed to tense up, his back becoming straight and making him go to his full height and a little beyond that.
“So, I think you should- Bondo, what’s wrong?” Itsuka seemed concerned for the boy, and he quickly made a gesture to look behind her. Turning around, Itsuka’s colour practically drained from her face as she saw Yui.
Yui couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at that, folding her arms and waiting expectantly for an answer, not saying a word.
“Ah!” Itsuka seemed to regain her composure momentarily, a nervous smile reaching its way to her face. “Yui! I didn’t expect to see you up this early.” She gave a nervous laugh, her hand reaching to rub the back of her head. A nervous habit she had - when she was feeling embarrassed or nervous.
“Mhm,” Yui didn’t say a word, instead just humming as she took in more of the scenery around her. Banners were hanging on the wall, with nicely written katakana wishing her a happy birthday - probably written by Shiozaki or Honenuki, from the looks of it. Alongside that, laid around the kitchen were balloons, streamers, confetti, although no food.
Itsuka didn’t take long to give in. “Alright,” she let out a sigh, before folding her arms with a huff. “You know how you told me you’d never really celebrated your birthday when you were younger? Me and Bondo were talking about it, and we kinda thought it’d be nice to surprise you, with, you know,” she rubbed her arm awkwardly, “all of this.”
Itsuka gave out another sigh, putting her arm on a chair and leaning on it. “I guess it doesn’t really matter now, though.”
“No,” Yui said firmly, taking a step forward and bringing her arms around her girlfriend’s waist, which seemed to surprise Itsuka a bit, eliciting a surprised noise from her. Pushing her forehead into her taller girlfriend’s shoulder and rubbing it affectionately, she continued what she was going to say. “It’s alright. I like it.”
“You do?” Itsuka sounded surprised, but after a short pause she put her hands around Yui’s waist as well, holding it gently.
“Mhm,” she gave out an affirmative hum in response, before looking up into Itsuka’s eyes, and Itsuka looked into hers. “I do. Very much.”
Behind the both of them, Yui could hear Bondo give out what seemed to have been a deep breath he had been holding. Itsuka looked surprised for a moment, as if she had forgotten that he had been behind them, and then her cheeks started to become redder and redder, probably out of embarrassment.
“Thank you, too, Bondo,” Yui said, looking up at the bigger boy, who seemed to brighten at what Yui had said.
“It’s no problem!,” his voice rang out, sounding rather proud of himself, before looking hesitant, and lowering his volume a bit. “But Kendou-san did most of the big work. I only helped with decorating.”
“Aw, it’s really nothing,” Itsuka seemed embarrassed again, looking down at Yui for a moment with a smile. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of the rest of the class. It was a team effort.”
“So everyone helped?” Yui asked, curious, before her eyes darted around the room again. It really did strike her as a western birthday party, like she had seen on television a couple of times. That must’ve been Tsunotori’s doing, Yui reckoned. “Even Kamakiri?”
“Well, he had to take some convincing,” Itsuka gave a small laugh, looking slightly embarrassed about that fact.
“Oh! I will go tell the others to get ready!” Bondo seemed to jump up, and rushed out of the kitchen, but not before turning his head back to look at Yui for a moment, nodding his head. Yui had a feeling that if Bondo could wink, he likely would have just done so, as if his action had been specifically to allow the two of them to have some time alone with one another.
“So, do you wanna go now, or wait a while?,” Itsuka asked curiously, still holding Yui close to her, her face practically red. She found it cute how her blush seemed to only highlight the trail of freckles which streaked across her cheeks.
“I want to do something first,” Yui said quietly. Itsuka looked confused, and opened her mouth as if she was about to say something. Before that could happen, however, Yui saw the chance and took it, pushing herself up so that she stood on her toes, before placing her lips onto those of her girlfriend’s.
She felt Itsuka’s hands momentarily leaving her body, before embracing it again, pulling her even closer than she had been before. Pushing her lips open, she took the initiative this time, for once - and Itsuka seemed to welcome it more and more as it continued.
As the two separated to take a breath, Yui could see Itsuka’s eyes half-open, which were practically sparkling. Her lips stretched out into a lazy smile, looking down at Yui with adoration. Neither of them said anything for a good moment, just allowing them to soak up each other’s presence undisturbed.
“Thank you,” Yui smiled at Itsuka, who seemed to practically glow. “For everything.”
“It wasn’t just me,” Itsuka seemed embarrassed, looking to the side with an awkward smile, but not taking her hands off of Yui for a second.
“No, I mean-” Yui felt slightly embarrassed saying this now, and she felt herself pout slightly, her cheeks pushing out. “I’m happy you’re willing to do this sort of thing for me, even though I never asked for it.”
Itsuka’s smile faded away for a moment, and she looked at Yui with some amount of concern. Lowering her head so that their foreheads connected, their noses were almost touching now. “Yui. I love you so much, I would do anything to make you happy.”
Suddenly, her cheeks began to feel even warmer, as a smile was practically forced onto her face when she heard Itsuka’s words, spoken with such a solemn expression. “And I would do anything for you,” she practically whispered, before moving her head so that she could kiss Itsuka’s cheek.
“We should, ha, probably get going-” Itsuka suddenly let go of Yui, making her frown, but she supposed it did make sense. The others, at least she assumed, were waiting for her to be able to do- well, she wasn’t exactly sure what they would be doing. Sing? Just say, ‘Happy Birthday’? Would they all give her presents, or just Itsuka? The questions seemed to fill her mind, but it was broken by Itsuka grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the entrance hall.
When she entered the room, she couldn’t help but smile at what she saw.