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Barbara and Venti recently became friends after him having helped her during the Windblume festival and with Klee’s Dodo-King problem. She found out about his birthday just yesterday from overhearing a conversation between two churchgoers who were also Venti’s usual listeners. She swore she didn’t mean to eavesdrop, she really just happened to be at the right place at the right time when they talked about his birthday.
After having found out about it, she facepalmed herself. How come it never occurred to her to ask for the boy’s birthday?! She immediately baked a rushed spiced apple pie to surprise him with, but the girl wasn't too confident with how it would taste. She hesitated on giving her gift to the boy at the last minute when she had already been waiting in front of their archon’s statue to meet with the bard.
Then suddenly, Venti came out of nowhere, looking for her. Barbara ran in panic and tripped on the hard cemented ground, gaining a bruise on her knee.
Venti witnessed everything. He saw and heard the box she was holding go ‘SPLAT’, and the girl go ‘THUD’ .
Barbara was very embarrassed and she swore she totally heard Venti laugh a little. She was on the verge of crying when the bard approached and helped her up, even offering to treat her wound.
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Sitting on the bench in front of the fountain near the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius, was an injured Barbara whose knee bruise was being tended to by Venti. The boy was kneeling on the ground as he cleaned and applied disinfectant on the girl’s wound.
Meanwhile, the crushed box with a crushed apple pie inside was beside the deaconess on the bench.
"I'm so sorry, Venti... I was supposed to surprise you with an apple pie I baked for your birthday, but now it's ruined... and I no longer have a gift for you." said Barbara as she looked down with a small frown on her face, clearly disappointed with herself. "And now I’m even making you treat my wound."
"Hmm? Oh, really? You baked something for me? Ahaha! Now that's surprising indeed!" He said as he eyed the crushed box beside her as he continued tending to her bruised knee. He looked up at her afterward. "No gift you say? But you know, your gift is already in front of me."
Barbara eyed the box beside her. "You mean my smooshed apple pie?! No way am I giving this to you in this state-!"
He shook his head. "No, not that. You."
"What, me?"
"Ahaha! It seems like I have confused the deaconess. But yes, you. You are the gift." said he as he put on a smile and looked into her cerulean eyes.
“Huh?”
He chuckled at her obliviousness. "You being here with me to celebrate my birthday is already enough to make me the happiest man on Teyvat." He hoped it would reach her this time.
"..." but the girl was just speechless.
"Eheee ~ how cliché, eh, darling deaconess? Hehehe!" Venti teased as he internally admitted his loss to her innocence. "Don't worry, I was just kiddi-" he initially joked but was caught by surprise by her next expression.
Barbara's face was flushed and her eyebrows were pointed, indicating that the girl was embarrassingly annoyed. "Fine. Just take the apple pie then."
"Wha-? I thought you would never give this to me in such a state?"
"Just take it. I'm done with your teasing."
"Ahaha!" He looked at the box again before proceeding to smile. "Thank you. This is the first-ever birthday gift I've received in forever."
'In forever?' she questioned in her mind. "Do you... not have anyone to celebrate your birthday with?"
"Well, I... used to." Venti looked a little melancholic as he said this.
Seeing his sudden change of mood, Barbara pulled him into a hug by embracing his head, resting it on her lap, and laying her head over his, as he kneeled in place in front of the girl. "I'm sorry to hear that... I'll always celebrate your birthday with you from now on."
"It's alright. Thank you, Barbara." He smiled a sad smile as he let her continue embracing his head. 'But one day, you'll just be another one of my 'used to', too, huh?'
They let go and Venti finishes up caring for her injury. Afterward, he sat beside her on the bench, with the crushed box atop his lap.
"Say, do you want to come to Windrise with me? Let's eat this apple pie there." said the boy.
"Huh??? First of all, is that still edible?!” complained Barbara as she pointed to her disaster of an apple pie. “Second, if you do choose to eat it, why not just eat it here? I think I'm going to have a hard time walking..."
"What do you mean, Barbara?! Food is food! and Free food is the best kind of food! Of course, I'm going to eat this! Especially since it was made by you!"
"Huh?!?!"
"Aaand, are you the one who has his birthday today for you to tell me not to choose where I want to go?"
"Wha-?!"
"Hehe! Now don't you worry, I'll just carry you there."
"WHAT!"
Venti picked Barbara up bridal style while she held onto the box. Then he flew from roof to roof with her in his arms.
He seemed to not have any problem with having to carry her all the way to the big tree at all. 'Perks of being an Anemo user, I guess.' thought the girl.
At that very moment, Barbara felt like she was the one who was celebrating her birthday instead... with how she was being treated so well by the birthday boy himself. He really had such a kind soul.
She also totally forgot that she could have just healed herself. Oh well, maybe a part of her wanted the boy to care for her. Besides, being carried by him like this felt nice.
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“Dear Barbatos-sama... if you’re listening,
I think you already know how good of a person Venti is.
He may sometimes seem like a slacker… err wait, he is.
But, um! I can assure you that he always tries his best to help everyone!
He is really kind and also very thoughtful! He always helps me out, too...
I think he just deserves everything!
That is why, for his birthday... I wish that Venti may find happiness.
Please grant this wish of mine, Barbatos-sama, thank you!
In exchange, I promise I won’t eat spicy dried fish for the next two weeks!”