Chapter Text
Reigen’s 30th birthday party was honestly the best one he’d had. Not as if he remembers most of his birthdays, he could probably list a few if asked and if he had time, but even if he remembered something better, something more extravagant, it wouldn’t compare to spending time with Serizawa, Tome, Mob - honestly someone he was worried wouldn’t show up - as well as the massive gaggle of children Mob brought along with him. Regrettably, Reigen found he didn’t remember most of their names.
Reigen’s hand firmly patted Mob’s shoulder as the kid - now a first year in high school - placed a quite beautifully wrapped present on the table - he didn’t have to, but Mob kept saying it’s only polite .
“Can’t believe you made some time to come visit!”
Mob looked over his shoulder. “You think I would miss your birthday?”
Reigen’s hand jolted slightly. “No, no! I never said that, I’m just glad you’re here, is all!” He played it off with a smile - way too close to the smile he used for customers, Mob no doubt knew it well.
The party was anticipated, unlike the last one, a surprise party in his office. He didn’t exactly know where a good venue would be, and it wasn’t like his apartment was any less cramped, so having a party in the office after hours seemed to be becoming a tradition.
A small cake was placed on the table next to Mob’s present and a couple cards. Reigen tried not to peek much, worried it’d seem impolite and impatient, but it seemed to be a chocolate cake of some kind. It was decorated with rolled wafers and a small sign, likely ‘Happy Birthday’ or something along the lines.
It wasn’t a very long party, luckily, Reigen’s will to be there probably would’ve dramatically fell had it carried on. The other kids, aside from Mob, Teruki, and Shou - Reigen finally remembered his name - had left. Tome had left earlier than expected, saying she didn’t want to “tire the old man out”- it was welcomed, but still left a petty sting. Shou and Serizawa were talking- Reigen had known they knew each other, but it was nice seeing them catch up. Mob and Teruki shared how high school has been, how their classes have been, cheekily asking how Reigen’s high school experience was, laughing at his eye roll and strained grimace.
When the kids left, Reigen and Serizawa finally started to clean up everything. Mob helped with some things before Reigen very politely shooed him away - It’s getting late, you should get home . They locked up the office and Serizawa gave him a chaste side-hug and a “happy birthday, Reigen-san” that warmed his heart before they went their separate ways.
He went home honestly quite happy, the walk home was almost comforting, as much as a brisk October night could be. The present Mob had given him was a gift from everyone who came, a framed group picture of all of them, saying he thought Reigen would appreciate having something from everyone. Reigen still didn’t know if he’d put it in his apartment or on his office desk- which one seemed more sentimental? More important? He’d gotten a couple cards, each with their own personalized well wishes, with two cards - from Mob and Serizawa - bearing a fairly decent-sized paragraph. Reigen would be lying if he said he wasn’t reflecting on the words as he walked. Serizawa had given him a gift card too, 3000 yen for the cafe downstairs. Apparently Serizawa noticed him staring at the baked goods when they walked by. Fresh breads, chocolate muffins, frosted pastries…
He unlocked his apartment door.
He took off his shoes, put the cards down on the table, undid his jacket and tie, pulled out his phone to check- oh shit, he missed a call? Opening his phone and checking revealed it was a call from his mom.
His mind was blank.
…
He could call her back tomorrow.
An unread email taunted his eye.
Damn it all.
Despite himself, he opened it. He sat down on the couch, trying to do more than simply skim.
Happy 30th birthday. How are you?
I tried calling you earlier, but you didn’t pick up. I hope you’re doing well.
How has work been?
His eyes glazed over.
Remember the Kobayashis, our neighbors? Their son just had a baby last week. Didn’t you go to school with him? Do you ever talk to him? You’re 30 now, Arataka. I didn’t want to rush you, but you should really start thinking about settling down. I know you say you’re happy with your job, but you always sound so tired when you talk to me.
I’m always here to give you advice or talk to you if you need it, you just have to call me. You don’t have to take my advice, but I’d really like to see you happy with someone. I can try and set you up with someone if you want, I’m always here to help you.
Your father told me to wish you happy birthday, you’re always welcome back at home.
His phone clattered on the table. His fingers tangled in his hair. His elbows sat on his knees.
Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckfuckfuck fuckfuckfuck
Okay.
Okay.
He stood up. Taking a numb step forward, he walked to the bathroom. Turned on the light. Looked at himself in the mirror.
He really did look older.
Everything seemed to hit at once. He was 30. His twenties were over. He’d seen it coming a mile away, but everything seems distant before it hits, and by god it was hitting now as he held the edges of the sink, leaning and analyzing his face. He didn’t look old , but there was the subtlety to the edges of his mouth, the line between his lip and his nose, the way his face creased from every expression ten, hundreds of times over. He wasn’t running out of time - at least not as far as he could tell - but time was tight and maybe as his fingers gripped the ceramic he was wasting precious hours, precious minutes, seconds, milliseconds, mere moments he was taking for granted.
He’d always promised himself he wouldn’t force himself to the ideal family- the parents with their two children, the grandparents that visit often or live with them, he’d promised himself when he was young, when he had time to waste, when 30 was just a number far away that he thought he’d be ready for when the time came. He felt like he was still 20 and still struggling to catch up. Was he really going to waste what little time he had left of his prime doing the same thing over and over again, making bare minimum when he could be settling down and finding comfort in his life, finding love in his life--
His grip tightened.
He was tired.
He needed sleep.
Reigen sat at his desk, seemingly mindlessly scrolling through his laptop, his eyes tired and glazed. The sun shone through the window into the office, painting an obnoxious glare on his screen.
Dimple floated through the wall, settling in front of Reigen’s gaze.
“Morning, birthday boy.”
Reigen shot him an irritated glance before looking back to his laptop.
“My birthday was yesterday.”
“Ah, I know, I know. You’re what, forty? Forty-five?”
Another eye roll into an unamused glare.
“Hey, cool it,” the spirit muttered. “Just trying to crack a joke in the morning.”
A deep silence settled on the room like the dust in the sunbeams. Dimple found himself occupied with aimlessly floating around the office; numerous times Reigen told him he doesn’t have to be there, but Dimple always had some excuse - “Shigeo told me to check up on ya, wants to make sure you haven’t gotten into trouble again.” “Making sure you have someone who can actually see spirits before the big guy shows up.” “Got nothing else to do.”
The company was welcomed at times.
“Dimple,” Reigen said just barely less than abruptly. His eyes were still on his laptop.
“Hm?” Dimple was currently examining a fern Reigen had bought the other day.
“When’d you die?”
The spirit suddenly gawked with an offended choke in the back of his throat. “Don’t- don’t ask things like that! Geez, you need to learn some basic decency.”
Reigen rolled his eyes at the avoidance. “Fine, fine, I’m just asking.”
“Why’d you wanna know anyhow?”
“Didn’t know how up to date you were on today’s technology.”
Another offended noise. “Oh come on! You think I live in a cave or something?”
Reigen smirked at the corner of his mouth. “No, just didn’t know if you were some old geezer trying to understand ‘FriendBook’.”
“Well I’ll have you know I’m quite the adept spirit.”
“Uh huh.”
Dimple put his hands on his sides encouragingly. “So, you need help with something?”
“Well-” Reigen contemplatively quirked the side of his mouth for a second. “You know anything about dating profiles?”
If spirits could’ve choked, it looked like Dimple would have. His face took on a - hilariously - ghostly pallor and he simply looked at Reigen, mouth agape. If Reigen had been in a better mood, he probably would’ve laughed at the face he made.
“‘Hell’s someone like you going on a dating site for?”
Reigen scowled. “Buying a car. What do you think? ”
Dimple crossed his arms at the sarcasm. “Lighten up, would ya? Jeez, I kinda thought you’d be the type of guy that’d be alone forever. Or at least not even care about romance.”
“Gee, thanks,” Reigen deadpanned. “Are you gonna help or not?”
Dimple sighed and floated over to the man’s shoulder, staring at his screen with an uncaring face. “What kinda thing you need help with?”
“Trying to figure out what to write on my profile.”
The site was… colorful, to say the least. Bright blues and pinks decorated it, with a hot pink title adorned with hearts in the top left corner: Roll for Love . About as corny as you could get. Reigen’s name and age were already filled out on the sign-up page, as well as a somewhat flattering picture, as flattering as it could be. It looked like he took it specifically for the site, with his stiff expression and tired gaze. Dimple twisted his lip slightly in some sort of secondhand embarrassment.
“Somethin’ come over you lately? This seems a bit… sudden, to say the least .”
“Since when are you the type to be concerned about that?” He was snippy, too.
“Alright, alright. Not my business.” The spirit put his hands up to the sides of his face. “Listen, just be honest. Don’t overshare or whatever stupid thing you’d do, just say the basics. You run a business, you like dogs. Say your favorite food or something.”
Reigen typed the words as they were spoken, making what was probably the most bare-minimum profile ever, but it was probably for the best. Dimple peered over the man’s shoulder, looking at what else he had filled out.
Gender: Male
Age: 30
Lives in: Seasoning City, Ajitama Prefecture
Married: N/A
Children: N/A
Pets: N/A
Looking for a: Woman
Dimple made a sudden confused noise, louder than he intended.
“What is it?” Reigen glanced over.
“No, it’s nothing, just- thought I misread something, is all.”
Reigen slowly turned back to his screen, mouth tight and eyes still squinted in skepticism. “Well, does everything look fine?”
“I… yeah. Yeah, looks good.”
“Alright,” Reigen muttered hesitantly. His finger pressed down, clicking the “Save Profile” button, thus broadcasting himself to whomever found him some semblance of attractive. Dimple still had a shameful grimace on his face.