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Gai always celebrated his birthday with his father for as long as he could remember. They stayed up till midnight on New Years Eve at which point his father would present him with a plate of mochi he’d bought earlier that day. They would share that plate over smiles and laughter, his laughter reminding him to be youthful, a warm smile on his face. And Gai would always feel his heart bursting from the love he felt in that moment.
It had always been that way, until the day his father sacrificed himself before the swordsmen from Mist.
Now, on his first birthday alone, he dithered in front of Fukuda-san’s store before walking in and asking for a box of Mochi. He ignored the pitying looks of the store employees as he walked out of the store and made his way home, smiling as he thought about his plans for the day. It wouldn’t be the same without his father, but he could still celebrate with him! He’d go out around eleven pm and visit his father’s grave, sharing his Mochi with his father again to ring in another birthday.
Plan made, he walked to his house and got ready for his excursion, not realizing that another pair of eyes was watching him on his way home.
When he opened his door later that night, he stopped short when he saw Genma-kun waiting by the door, hands in his pockets. He was slouched and looked up when Gai came out. Gai greeted him with a smile, a little confused by his teammate’s presence at the door.
“Genma-kun, hello! What are you doing here?”
Genma rolled his shoulders and walked over. “We’re all gathering to watch the fireworks. You should join us.”
Gai hesitated, tightening his hands around the box in his hands. “I have other plans,” he stated. “But thank you for inviting me, Genma-kun.” He didn’t want to break the tradition he’d had with his father, and he hoped Genma wouldn’t ask or intervene.
Genma frowned and narrowed his eyes, not letting it go. “A little bit won’t hurt,” he said, grabbing Gai’s hand and leading him away from the house. “You can go do your thing after the fireworks.”
Gai didn’t fight him off and let himself be led to the small area on top of the Hokage Tower where the rest of his friends and classmates had gathered to watch the New Years Eve fireworks. He lingered in the background so that he could slip away easily when the time came. Some of his classmates commented on his presence, surprised that he’d shown up to one of the New Years Eve gatherings, while others simply greeted him before going back to other conversations. He tried to find a clock to see when he could leave, and in the end, when he didn’t find any, decided to sneak out by himself.
He didn’t notice his leaving wasn’t ignored.
So, he was utterly surprised when he heard a voice behind him as he set up in front of his father’s grave after bowing and cleaning it.
“You could have just told me you were coming here.”
“Genma-kun,” he yelled, “don’t sneak up on me like that!”
Genma didn’t reply and instead walked towards him. He kneeled down in front of the Dai’s grave and bowed low, saying a few prayers before looking back up at Gai. Gai stared at his teammate for a few moments before he felt tears pool in his eyes and spill down over his face at his teammate’s kind gesture.
He looked away, wiping them with his hand, trying to not have Genma see the tears on his face. Genma though didn’t care, and laid a hand on Gai’s shoulder, squeezing it gently in support. Gai turned his head to look at him over his shoulder, and Genma smiled softly.
“You know Gai,” he began, “after all the support you and your dad gave me after my mom’s death, why didn’t you think I’d be there for you at a time like this?” He pointed to the box of mochi just as the fireworks began to set off in the background announcing the new year and the arrival of Gai’s Birthday. “Do you think your dad and you have room for one more person to join your celebration?”
Bittersweet tears continued down Gai’s face as he nodded eagerly and opened the box of mochi, a smile on his face.
“We’d love to have you join us.”
As he handed one of the Mochi to Genma, the same way his father used to give it to him, Genma grinned at him.
“Happy Birthday, Gai.”