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Eijiro hadn’t told anyone about his birthday. It didn’t really matter all that much to him. Everyone always got so excited and he didn’t really want the extra attention. But when it came to Mina and her knowing full well when his birthday was, he should have known he had no way of escaping the whole group finding out.
It was Katsuki who approached him first, which brought a small smile to his face. He didn’t mind Katsuki knowing. After all, the angry blond boy never made a big deal out of their birthdays. So when he came up with a small box in his hand Eijiro didn’t feel any panic, didn’t feel any worry. In fact, he opened the gift when it was presented to him and smiled at the contents. It was a pin with Crimson Riot’s logo on it. He hugged his angry friend tightly and thanked him over and over for the gift. It was cute and custom and Katsuki put way more effort into it than he ever thought he would.
But when he walked into the dorm and everyone was standing there ready to greet him and shower him with gifts, Eijiro felt his chest tighten. He felt tears well up into his eyes and he felt his body begin to tremble. He stumbled back, out of the room. He ran up to his own dorm, slamming the door shut and locking it. Mina knew. Well...she didn’t know. She knew he didn’t like parties. Knew he never wanted to celebrate. She’d always respected it before why now would she tell everyone the one thing he doesn’t want anyone to know?
He crawled under his bed, realizing at that moment he didn’t really fit like this anymore. But he crammed his way under anyway and cried there. He heard knocking on the door a few times. Ignored it each time. Until he heard Mina on the other side of the door, speaking. He couldn’t make out what she was saying but he moved out from under the bed, wincing when he got caught a bit. He adjusted his shirt and opened the door, glaring slightly at her.
“Ei what was that about?” She asked, genuine concern on her face. She knew that Eijrio didn’t like birthday parties but he never told her why and she thought she would be making him happy by gathering all of their friends together to enjoy the day that he was given to them.
“Mina you know I don’t like birthday parties”
“Well of course, yeah but I didn’t know it was going to cause you to run into your dorm sobbing. I never would have done it if that were the case. I may not be the smartest kid in our class but I care about my friend. I just thought maybe you had a bad experience. I wanted to make it better with our friends”
“A bad experience is an understatement, Mina.” Eijiro snapped. “You’re the only one who knows what my family situation is I’m surprised you didn’t figure it out. You definitely missed that cue for someone who seems to care about her friend”
“Woah where is this coming from Ei? I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings or anything I was just trying to make things better for you. I wanted you to have a nice birthday”
“Well, my birthday isn’t nice, Mina. it never has been and it never will be so why don’t you just fucking leave me alone already!” Eijiro slammed the door shut in her face and sat on his bed, rolling over and pulling the covers up over his face. If he can just hide here until this day is over things would be so much better.
“Eijiro” Mina whispered, sighing softly and leaving the hallway. She really hadn’t meant to upset him. She just wanted him to get to have a nice birthday for once. In all the years she has known him he’s never gotten a nice birthday and Mina just wanted it once for him.
She sighed as she walked back out to the group of their friends waiting to have the party for him, shaking her head.
“I don’t think I can convince him to come back out. He’s really upset with me. Sorry guys” She sighed, running her fingers through her hair and dropping her hand to her side. “I think I really messed up.”
Katsuki raised an eyebrow and stood up from his spot on the couch. “I told you he wouldn’t want a big party like this. You may be his oldest friend but that means you have more of a grace period for forgiveness. It’ll be fine Weird Eyes. Let me go talk to him” He waved his hand at her, smiling softly. He can tell she is upset and despite not having wanted to originally be a part of this group of friends he was now and he has grown to care an awful lot about them. He sighed and went up to knock gently on Eijiro’s door.
“Go away Mina I don’t want to talk”
“Sorry to inform you but I am not her” Katsuki muttered from the other side of the door. He opened Eijiro’s door and rolled his eyes. “If you really wanted to be left alone one would think you would lock the damn door” He muttered.
“Go away Kat”
“Mm Nah I think I’d rather be annoyingly persistent and stick around even though you don’t want me here. Sounds like a good way to make friends to me” Katsuki smirked, flopping down on the bed next to Eijiro. “You don’t have to talk about it. You don’t have to talk at all. But I’m not going to leave either. Not until I know you’re okay”
“I’m fine” Eijiro just pulled the covers father over his face.
“Mmmmmm No I don’t think you are. But that’s fine. I’ll just sit here with you till you are”
Eijiro grumbled, doubting highly that Katsuki actually had the patience to sit here and wait for him to move them away. But Katsuki did. He had all the time in the world to make Eijiro feel better and he had no problem waiting it out.
And he did.
For an hour and a half.
Slowly, Eijiro moved the covers down and looked at Katsuki. “You really gonna sit here till I quit pouting?” He grumbled when Katsuki nodded in response.
“I have a phone I don’t need to go anywhere else” He shrugged.
“Fine. You want to know why?” Eijiro snapped, sitting up fully and glaring at his lap. “Because if it wasn’t enough that my mother died while in labour with me, my grandmother had a heart attack at my 10th birthday party and died the next morning. My birthday is cursed and I’m traumatized. That enough information for you?”
“I guess so. But Ei you don’t blame yourself for that right? You couldn’t do anything about either of those situations and you shouldn’t let natural causes like that ruin your birthday for the rest of your life.”
“I literally killed my mother how is that not my fault. How is that natural causes?” Eijiro was crying again and Katsuki sighed.
“Eijiro, you didn’t kill your mother. Either the doctors did or she had some problems she didn’t know about or whatever the cause was. You can’t blame yourself for that” Katsuki reached out and gently put his hand on Eijiro’s thigh. “You don’t have to, but your friends got together and got you a bunch of gifts and some cake for your birthday. So if you feel like coming down and at least saying hi, we’d all really like to see you.” He nodded, patting his leg and standing up, leaving Eijiro’s room.
Eijiro sighed heavily and watched him go, pausing for a while. He waited there, for what felt like forever. But Katsuki was right. His friends put a lot of effort into this for him so he may as well make an effort to go out and enjoy it.
Though he’s sure he isn’t.