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Sigh. Ryuji sighed as he walked up the stairs to the apartment where he and his mother were staying. "Another shitty ass day, on this day too." He moaned to himself.
His eyes staring down at the dirty concrete staircase as he walked up everytime his foot landed in a step he could swear he saw small bits of dust rise up. That's how old this complex was, he and his mother weren't really living the luxurious life, especially after his deadbeat and abusive ass of a father fucked off with the majority of their money.
As he reached the floor of his apartment and turned the corner, he glanced up, he saw a head poking out of the door of his apartment before it retreated inside. Ryuji cocked an eyebrow, "What the eff?" He thought to himself. Ryuji rubbed his eyes to make sure they weren't playing tricks on him before shrugging to himself. "Prolly just Ma". He walked up to the front of the door where this time he thought he heard whispering. Then again, his ma always loved watching soap operas around this time of evening.
Ryuji turned the doorknob as pushed it open, "Yo, I'm home Ma." But as he walked inside and closed the door, the room was very dark. He couldn't see a damn thing. Reaching for the light switch, he flicked it on and was startled by what was before him. The loud bangs and noise from multiple party horn filled his ears. While his mother and and all his friends (Mishima, Ann, Yusuke, Futaba, Sumire, Haru, his girlfriend Makoto, even his best friend Ren was there, apparently he took a couple of days off his new school from his hometown to come see and celebrate his best friends birthday. Ryuji quickly wiped a tear away before anyone could notice. They were here, all his friend came over to visit him ......and Morgana) jumped out from behind the couch and walls and shouted, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYUJI!!!" "WOAH!!! What the hell?!" He yelped.
"Happy Birthday Ryu-kun!" His mom said, with the biggest smile on her face. "I hope you don't mind, Mako-chan told me that she and everybody wanted to come over and celebrate your birthday".
"It was the least I could do." Makoto exclaimed, slightly blushing from the name that Haru usually called her that for some reason Mrs. Sakamoto picked up. She walked over and pecked Ryuji on the cheek and took Ryuji by his arm. "Come. Everyone's bought you something." She said, ignoring the wolf whistles from Ren and Futaba in which to pair were scolded by Ann, Haru and Sumire.
Ryuji received gifts both tall and small. A Cake Knight figurine from Ren, a video game from Futaba, a sports perfume from Ann, a stylish jacket from Yusuke, a tea set from Haru, a fancy watch from Sumire and a complete Blu-Ray set of The Cake Knight Animated Series from Mishima. Ryuji's jaw dropped to the floor. "Holy shit guys."
But then he realised that someone was missing who hadn't given him anything yet, granted just being there and being his girlfriend would've been enough. He glanced over at Makoto who suspected that he would've wondered where his present were. She leant over and whispered "Wait until everyone is gone". Ryuji's face turned immediately red. "Was it actually gonna happen?! TONIGHT?!?!"
As time passed, everyone was having a great time, party games all about like 'Pin the tail on Mona' which Ryuji would've felt bad, but after being trashed talked to everytime during the day of being a Phantom Thief, the cat had it coming for a while.
And then, it was time for the cake. Ryuji's mom (with a little help from Ren.) brought out a ginormous sized carrot cake which was Ryuji's favourite, there were 19 candles which was the age Ryuji had turned. The entire group sang 'Happy Birthday to You' to Ryuji, which during the time, he took a moment to look at every single one of them and remember when each of them helped Ryuji out. From Ren saving him from Kamoshida's palace to helping him expose that bastards proton's scouting plan for the track team, Ann and Futaba running up to him and flinging their arms around before proceeding to bawl their eyes out after they thought he died at Shido's Palace to Haru giving him words of encouragement to confess his feeling to Makoto and ask her out on a date.
And speaking of which,
Flashback
After the events of Shido's palace, everyone went home when Ryuji turned out to be safe and sound. Except for one, Makoto stayed silent for the longest time, not speaking for the entire time. Ryuji stood there awkwardly while Makoto stared at the ground beneath her feet. "H-hey" Ryuji said nervously, "I'm ok now, it getting cold, do you want me to....." *SMACK* Ryuji almost fell on his arse when Makoto slapped him right across the face, leaving a bright red hand mark on his face.
Makoto's face was red as rage and there were tears going down her face.
"YOU ALMOST DIED AND YOU'RE GONNA MAKE JOKES?!" She was practically screaming at him. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW BAD YOU SCARED ME SAKAMOTO?! DO YOU THINK I COULD GO ABOUT AND NOT LOSE SOMEONE I CARED ABOUT?! I THOUGHT THAT FUCKER AKECHI WAS GONNA KILL MY SISTER AND GIVE HER A MENTAL SHUTDOWN, I FORGOT ABOUT REN'S INTERROGATION AND THOUGHT HE ACTUALLY DIED AND THEN YOU GO AND PULL THAT SHIT?! And don't say you're not important enough because that damn cat said so and don't you dare say that you're worthless!!! You're important to everybody in the Phantom Thieves!!! YOU'RE IMPORTANT TO ME!!!" After that Makoto broke down, fell to her knees and began sobbing uncontrollably. It didn't really occur to her that she basically confessed her feeling to him. But now wasn't the time.
Ryuji felt awful about what he just put her through. He walked over, knelt down to her level and gently pulled her in, held her tightly and gently stroked her hair and rubbed her back, while fighting tears of his own. "I'm so sorry I made you worry like that Makoto. I'll never make you cry again." It was probably the longest night there, took a couple of hours until Makoto calmed down and called her sister to come and pick them up. Even after that when they drove up to Ryuji's place to drop him off, Makoto grasped on to Ryuji's hand and refused to let go until Ryuji and Sae had to pry her hand open.
End Flashback
Ryuji sat there, holding Makoto's hand and blew out the candles while everyone cheered. Makoto placed yet another kiss on Ryuji's cheek.
The cake was delicious, he always remembered that his mom made one every year of his birthday. But this was the best one yet!
After every one ate, it was time for them to go home. First Mishima, then Yusuke, then Futaba, Sumire and Morgana, then Ann and Ren who'd grouped hugged him and then finally Haru who gave him a very warm and gentle embrace, which surprised him. But he didn't think anymore of it, after she left, Ryuji shut the door and walked back to the living room and helped his mom and Makoto clean up.
After that the three sat around the table. "Oh man, I don't think my stomach can take another bite." Ryuji said aloud, slumping down and resting his head on Makoto's lap.
Makoto giggled and brushed her boyfriends head. "Aww, am I just gonna have to eat all that cake myself then?" The three laughed. Before Ryuji's mom let out a big yawn and stood up.
"Oh dear, look at the time! I better turn myself in. You two better do the same."
"Yes mom" Ryuji said, rolling his eyes.
"We'll be getting ready soon Sakamoto-San" Makoto said. After Ryuji's mom left to her bedroom, it was just the two left in the living room.
Ryuji and Makoto rested their heads together and interlocked their hands. "Did you have fun Ryuji?" Makoto asked.
"Of course I did." Ryuji said happily. "Ma and I never really had the best time. But she always did the best she could." His voice sounded shakier than before. Maybe he was trying to keep his tough guy act up, but it was slowly fading.
"Oh wait, I almost forgot!" Makoto said. Releasing her hand and standing up. "Your present. Wait here." She then ran off to Ryuji's room and he heard her rummage through her bag she'd bought to spend the night with him.
Ryuji's face turned red again. "Is it really gonna happen tonight? But ma's in the other room!" Makoto walked back to the living room with her hands behind her back. Blushing harder then anytime they went on a date and sat back down next to him. "Hold your hands out and close your eyes." Ryuji did as she said. If he'd peaked, he'd never hear the end of it, even on his birthday. He felt something flat but solid be placed in his hands. "You can open now." He heard her say.
As he did very slowly, his eyes immediately widen and he almost dropped what he held. Tears began to form and escape his eyes as he held what was a beautiful picture frame, and inside picture frame was a picture that he, Makoto, Sae and his mom took when they went on a family outing to destinyland one time. But where told that the photo machine malfunction Ryuji opened his mouth and shakily he said, "I....I....I thought t...they.... they said that it wasn't working."
Now it was Makoto's turn to have tears form. "I received an Email from them saying that they were able to find and they said that we're the only ones whose photo's were salvaged." Ryuji looked over to his girlfriend who'd opened her arms out. He couldn't take it anymore. He threw himself into her arms and let the floodgate open. Neither could Makoto, as soon as Ryuji broke down, so did she. The pair held each other tight as they wept in each others arms.
*minutes later*
After the two calmed down, Ryuji took Makoto by the hand and led her to the bedroom. The two just got changed into their sleepwear and climed into Ryuji's bed.
"Happy Birthday Ryuji"
"I love you Makoto"
"I love you too"
Ryuji and Makoto pulled each other in and kissed. Holding the other as if one stole the others heart. Before drifting off into sleep.