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Anzu couldn’t exactly fault Yugi for not looking forward to his birthday. She understood, of course, the mourning. Despite the amount of times Anzu had insisted that Yugi clearly had it worse, Yugi still acted as if their pain was equal. It was not her heart that now had an occupant missing inside it. She’d hated that she had to fly off only six months after everything had happened. Flying back was a choice she’d made because she didn’t want him spending his birthday alone.
She’d called ahead to let him know she was coming back home. At first, he’d thought she was quitting on her dreams and immediately went into giving her a pep talk. That memory was what carried her through the flight. It had been sweet that he’d been more concerned about making sure that she followed through on her dreams than getting to see her soon. When she landed, he was waiting for her at the airport.
They were quiet on their ride back to his house. She could very easily go back to her parents’ house. She didn’t want to spend the night at her parents house, however. She wanted to spend it with Yugi. Anzu wound up spending her first day back in Domino passed out on the bed, breathing in his scent. She knew he was still going about his day and she did not fault him for that. It was why she’d flown back two days ahead of his birthday, after all.
It took that long for her to recover from the jet lag. Yugi had been expecting this. He asked where to and she didn’t have an answer for him. Anzu supposed she should’ve expected that she’d come with a plan. It was a strange feeling. They were both in sync and out of it all at once. Eventually, Anzu suggested that they go to the aquarium in Iwaki. He agreed that it sounded like a great way to spend the day and offered to pay. She wouldn’t hear anything of that, however. It was his birthday, she’d pay.
There was no need to mention that between rent and this round trip plane ticket, Anzu was a little strapped on funds. The idea, after all, was a day of celebrating that Yugi existed. She stayed close to him on the train, resting her head on his shoulder. His fingers intertwined with hers and Anzu wished she could live in this moment. It, of course, had to come to an end. They got off the train and Yugi knew the way. Anzu suspected this was not the first time he’d been here.
Her money went a little further back home, she’d noted with surprise. The cost of a single ticket to the aquarium in New York City bought her two here. It caused an ache in her chest as she wondered what her rush to leave home had been. She did not mention this to Yugi. Instead, she spoke only of the positives in her experiences at the university. Yugi listened with rapt attention, seeming pleased that she was settling in fine in New York. He teased her to not forget about him. She replied back in earnest that she could never forget about him.
Anzu never let go of Yugi’s hand the entire time. The cool blue light from the water filtered down towards them as fish swam above their heads. Anzu pointed upwards at sharks and massive whales whereas Yugi pointed out the more delicate fish the aquarium housed. He yanked on her hand whenever he saw a neat fish. Anzu was taken aback by a fish she honestly expected to be smaller. The two of them worked their way methodically through the aquarium, attempting to see everything in a single day.
Eventually, they were standing over the observation and looking out into the ocean. He glanced over at her and she understood without words what he was feeling. She squeezed his hand, wishing she could do more. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. For now, this would have to do.