Chapter Text
Celeste browsed through the mall, in search of something nice. Tomorrow was her girlfriend, Kyoko's birthday and as it was the first one they were spending together, Celeste wanted to make sure it was perfect. Unfortunately she had only recently begun opening up her heart to other people, so doing things such as getting a birthday present wasn't something she had much experience with.
Still, she loved Kyoko and she wasn't going to let her down. She was the kind of person who, despite not being close to many people, would be extremely loyal to the ones who meant something to her.
"No..." she cighed to herself after leaving yet another shop. There was nothing in there that was good enough for the detective. She doubted her girlfriend was into the newest, fanciest make-up kit. What was she doing wrong?
"Celeste?"
The gambler wirled around as she heard someone call her name.
"Oh, hello Makoto," she greeted as she saw her fellow schoolmate coming up to her. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm on my way to meet Sayaka," he replied. "We're going on a dinner date tonight."
"Oh, really now?" Celeste asked, inspecting him more closely. He was wearing a nice suit, complete with a neat, star patterned tie. He was certainly dressed more neatly than usual. Well in that case, all the best on your date."
Makoto smiled. "Thank you," he said genuinely. "What about you? You look, distressed."
Celeste quickly put on her best poker face. "I don't know what you mean," she lied simply. She didn't think she had let any trace of how she was really feeling show, but perhaps she had just been around her hopes peak friends for way too long. They must have learnt to pick up on the signs, or maybe she had just gotten careless.
Makoto frowned and rolled his eyes. "Come on," he prompted. "You don't have to hide how you're feeling all the time you know?"
Celeste shook her head and made to turn away. "You must be imagining things Makoto, I'm feeling perfectly divine today," she Replied.
Makoto side, deciding that there was no point in pursuing the matter. "Well, alright, if you're sure, he relented. "But if you need anything, we're here."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
With that, Celeste continued on her way, deciding to search for the perfect gift on a different floor.
A couple hours of searching later, the gambler found herself getting more and more frustrated. She had found several decent options, but none of them felt quite right. She wanted this to be good enough for Kyoko, the girl who had helped her so much ever since they started dating.
Kyoko, being the excellent detective that she was, had been able to see through Celeste's facade ever since they started getting close. At first, she had completely denied that she was lying about anything, just like she did with everyone. But as their bond increased and Celeste began to genuinely care for the other girl, she found that she could not bring herself to lie to her any further. Before she knew it, she was opening up.
It was a new and admittedly frightening experience for Celeste, as she now had to face her insecurities, but Kyoko had always told her to take her time with things. As time went on however, she started realising how good it felt to be more genuine and honest. It was a trait that she had been trying to improve upon as they progressed through their friendship and eventual relationship.
At the moment, she wasn't comfortable being open with anyone but Kyoko just yet, but it was already a huge change from what she was like only a few months ago.
Kyoko had helped her so much, and Celeste wanted to give her the perfect gift to show her how she felt. She just had to find something... Why was this so hard?
It was approaching night time and the Sun was beginning to set, Celeste could see it through a mall window. She glared at the darkening sky outside. She was running out of time...
Just then, she walked past a restaurant where she heard two familiar voices talking.
"I can't believe it's already been two months," said Makoto's voice.
A second voice giggled, belonging to a girl. ""Time really flies, doesn't it?"" asked Sayaka Maizono.
Celeste stopped in her tracks. Makoto and Sayaka were standing in line just outside the restaurant, waiting for a table. Their Conversation could be easily heard by anyone walking close by. So this is where the couple was dating... Had they really already been together for two months?
"I'm sorry I couldn't get you anything for our anniversary," Makoto continued.
"It's okay, this dinner is fine," Sayaka chimed happily. "I think it's really sweet that you wanted to take me out tonight."
"It's nothing compare to the song you wrote me," Makoto replied.
Sayaka laughed. "That was nothing, it was just a gift from the heart, that's all," she said. "This dinner is a gift from your heart, so consider us even."
"I guess you're right," Makoto sighed. "I guess that makes me feel a little better."
""There's no need to feel bad silly, I wrote you that song because you mean a lot to me and I wanted to tell you how I feel. I couldn't do that with an anniversary gift from a store, it's more meaningful and genuine this way,"" Sayaka explained. "You don't have to give me anything in return for it. Trust me, this dinner is perfect."
"That song really does mean a lot to me, I can't believe you appreciate me that much. I'm just an average guy"
"You may be an average guy to most people, but to me, you're the most amazing person in my life," Sayaka said adoringly.
Celeste decided that she had overheard enough. This was the couple's private dinner date after all and she should not be standing there listening in. Besides, what they talked about was none of her business.
As she turned and hastily walked away, Sayaka's words echoed in her mind. She had written Makoto a song to express her true feelings towards him. It was a gift from her heart and it had expressed far more emotions than any material goods could have possibly done.
Throughout the entire afternoon, Celeste had been trying to find Kyoko a gift that could express how much she meant to her, but nothing seemed to fit. Maybe this was where she went wrong,
maybe what she was looking for could not be purchased with any amount of money.
Maybe, she had to give her a gift from the heart.
But how?
Celeste watched in anticipation as Kyoko opened the envelope in her hands. It was the detective's birthday and Celeste had just presented her her gift.
It wasn't anything expensive, far from it. In fact, Celeste didn't even pay anything for it at all. It was merely a piece of paper with some writing on it, sealed up neatly in a small envelope.
Celeste felt nerves clawing at her heart. Would she think it was too unremarkable? Would she be disappointed? Or worst of all, would she think that every word of that piece of paper was a lie?
Everything on that paper was true, Celeste knew that for a fact. But what if Kyoko misunderstood?
The tense silence stretched on for what felt like hours. Finally, the detective looked up from reading the paper that she had pulled from the envelope, and gave a warm, genuine smile.
""Thank you, Taeko.""
"You, like it?"
Kyoko's smile only grew warmer. "It came from your heart, I can tell," she replied. "I'm glad I was able to help you so much in your life."
Celeste felt herself relax and began to laugh a little. "You have," she said. "A few months ago, I don't think I would have written anyone a sincere birthday card. I never thought I would ever be this vulnerable and honest with my feelings."
"I'm proud of you, of how far you've come," Kyoko said, taking Celeste gently by the hand. "You've grown so much in just a few months. Though to be honest, even if you haven't I would love you all the same."
Celest blushed lightly, holding on to her girlfriend's gloved hand. "I still don't know what you see in me," she replied, dropping her accent. "Especially after you learned how average and insignificant I really am."
"you're not average or insignificant, Kyoko replied matter-of-factly. "And feelings are a complicated thing, I can't really describe them fully. All I know is I've gotten more in touch with them ever since we started getting closer, and that you mean a lot to me."
Celeste found tears prickling at the corner of her eyes. She had never felt so genuinely loved in her entire life, and she could not help but get a little emotional.
For the longest time, she had thought she was perfectly content living a lie and putting up an act. But now that she had a taste of what it was like to be genuine and have a meaningful bond with someone, she could not let that go.
She leaned forward and gently hugged her girlfriend.
"Thank you," she allowed herself to say softly. "And happy birthday, Kyoko."
The detective's warm smile shown with affection, and she held her girlfriend close.
"No, thank you, Taeko, for being in my life."