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“Happy birthday Rui!” Nene greeted her best friend with a huge hug before she let go of him.
She took a present that was in her mother’s arms and handed it over to him, “this is for you!”
Rui’s eyes lit up in excitement as he took the box from Nene’s hands.
When he opened it, he immediately looked up to meet her eyes.
He removed the platypus stuffed toy from the box and held it close to his chest.
“Thanks Nene!” Rui beamed with a cheeky grin making Nene smile back in happiness. “This means a lot me.”
Nene nodded her head eagerly in return, “I’m happy you like it! I didn’t know what to get you but I remember you liked this a lot!”
Rui’s face softened, “you’re the only friend I have so anything you get me matters.”
“Don’t worry Rui! I’ll continue to be here for your birthday forever!” Nene proudly proclaimed as she fisted her hand. “You’re my only friend as well so lets stick together!”
“You would do that for me?”
The little girl tilted her head to the side with a huge smile, “of course! Why wouldn’t I?”
Rui could feel his heart swell in a happy feeling as he held onto the platypus in his arms tighter.
“Thank you Nene.”
Mom
sorry rui but i have to work overtime today, i promise we’ll celebrate your bday tomorrow okay? love you
Rui stared at the text quietly before he turned off his phone and placed it on a flat surface somewhere.
He went into the kitchen and stared at the empty table that was void of any cake or sweets.
A gut wrenching feeling resided in him as he walked around his house soullessly.
With no one to celebrate his birthday with what was he to do?
Rui went back upstairs to his room and looked out the window. He was unsure for what he was looking for, perhaps he would look at the grey clouds as they moved slowly.
He looked outside and could see Nene singing in her room with her curtains wide open. He remembered Nene was auditioning for that one play their school was having.
It seems she’s doing better. I’m proud of her.
Rui stared at her blankly before closing his own curtains.
Darkness quickly enveloped his room as he retreated to his bed. A feeling of regret formed inside him.
It’s all his fault for them drifting apart, but it was for the best.
He removed his hair tie and tiredly laid down on his bed. His eyes that held no more sparkle drifted towards the platypus that sat in front of him.
Rui hugged it silently as he peacefully slept alone in his isolated house with no one with him on his birthday.
He silently wished to himself when the old days would come back.
And her.
His yellow eyes carefully adjusted to his surroundings after waking up. Rui subconsciously began to pat the empty spot next to him at his bed, looking for his girlfriend.
“Nene? Where are you?” Rui groggily got up from his bed and got his phone to check the time.
Saturday, June 24
8:46pm
A tired yawn left Rui as he headed downstairs to the kitchen to look for Nene, but to no avail her presence wasn’t in the house.
A familiar feeling formed inside Rui, was he left alone again?
Rui wandered the rooms of his home, already used to its emptiness until Nene came along.
No one celebrated his birthday anymore. But ever since he got together with Nene, Rui could feel a sliver of hope that perhaps this year will be different.
He went further into his kitchen, taking slow steps since he had just woken up.
At the corner of his eye he could see green balloons?
He went towards it, a bit unsure of what it was. A letter was tied at the ends of the balloon and Rui untied it skeptically.
When he carefully unfolded the letter, only one sentence was written on it.
Go to Weekend Garage
After getting ready, Rui headed to the destination the letter had sent him. Though the question that remained in his head was why Nene would be at Weekend Garage in the morning.
As Rui opened the door to the cafe the sound of a bell rang at his entrance.
The place was empty of customers but there was only one thing that was there.
And that was balloons.
This time however it was in the colour of blue and orange.
Once again a letter was attached to the ends of the strings and Rui knew that it was for him.
Inside the note was a long written message for him.
Happy birthday Kamishiro-senpai! The one writing this right now is Shiraishi but Akito and Toya also have a message written for you. Though you cause lots of trouble at the school you’re a good person! Considering the lengths your loved one has gone for you shows me that you’re kind to her. -An
Happy birthday Kamishiro-senpai. Without your help I’m sure I would’ve been in lots of trouble. Your help with my cupcakes is something I won’t forget. Have a wonderful birthday. -Toya
Happy birthday senpai. I wish you a good one.
-Akito
Rui smiled discreetly after reading the kind messages from the first years.
He didn’t know how they knew, Rui was sure he hadn’t tell anyone when his birthday was but he was however grateful for it.
He flipped the page of the note and saw another place he had to go to.
Go to the rooftop of Kamiyama
Surprisingly the school happened to be open to students, perhaps for studying or going to the library.
As Rui went up multiple flights of stairs, he opened the door of the rooftop and was hit with gusts of wind.
At the end of the roof one pink balloon was tied to the fence with a letter attached to it again.
Approaching the balloon, Rui plucked the letter and read it to himself.
Happy birthday Rui! Enjoy your birthday and this letter for you! I got some cute presents waiting but for now you should follow the letters that awaits you. See you soon and happy birthday again! -Mizuki
The smile on Rui’s face widened even more. This birthday surprise felt nice.
As he turned the note another location awaited him.
Go to Wonder Stage
Following the stone path, the Wonder Stage gradually became visible as Rui got closer.
Once he was close enough, one yellow and one pink balloon was connected and held together a letter that sat at the surface of the stage, held down by the stage lights.
Knowing who this letter was from Rui eagerly opened it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUI!! THIS IS FROM EMU AND TSUKASA!! WE WISH YOU A WONDERHØ-// WONDERFUL AND SPARKLING BIRTHDAY. WITHOUT OUR DIRECTOR IT WOULDNT BE SHOWTIME WITHOUT YOU!! WE’LL CELEBRATE EVEN MORE ONCE YOURE DONE WITH THE LAST PLACE ON THE LETTER!!! -FROM TSUKASA AND EMU*** ******
A small laugh left Rui after reading the heart warming letter from his troupe mates.
Both of them were one of the most cherished people Rui held dearly so to have them greet him made him unbelievably happy.
With anticipation building up he turned the back of the letter and immediately knew who was waiting there for him.
Meet me by the ocean
Rui stared at the lone figure as she gazed over the calm waters.
Her hand was over her hat to make sure it was kept in place so the wind wouldn’t blow it away.
Rui took slow and quiet steps to not alarm Nene who still seemed busy admiring the sea.
Once Rui stood next to her he looked down so he could meet her eyes.
Nene continued to stare at the blue ocean in front of her, ignoring the way her boyfriend was adoring her.
“So how was the trip?” Nene questioned in a teasing tone as she finally looked at Rui in the eyes.
“Worth it, led me back to you didn’t it?”
Red immediately formed on Nene’s face as she hid herself in embarrassment at Rui’s teasing remark.
After the blush gradually settled, her hand made its way to connect with his.
Rui who was startled from Nene’s boldness took the hint and stayed silent.
“There’s lots of people who love and support you. Things are different now and I’ll always be here for you,” Nene took out a necklace with a seashell in it and handed it over to Rui.
“This was supposed to be your present from back then,” a sad tone was in her voice as Rui softly touched the seashell in his fingers.
Nene watched Rui silently as he admired the gift. “I was walking along the beach after I messed up on my audition that day. I went to the ocean since it always cheered me up.”
Rui glanced to his right, “then you found this?” Nene nodded her head as a reply.
“Well since that present was for long ago,” she took out a small box in the pocket of her white sundress.
“Open it,” Nene gleamed as Rui gently took it from her hand.
Who knew he could be surprised so much times in a single day.
Inside the box was tickets to a play he’d been secretly wanting to go watch.
“What did I do to deserve someone as amazing as you Nene?” Rui silently sobbed while he held Nene in his arms.
“Well there has to be someone who has to stop you from exploding things,” Nene giggled as she embraced Rui back.
Rui tried his hardest to fight back his tears, after all it’s been a long time since he last had a birthday to celebrate with someone.
“God I love you so much,” he mumbled as he hid his face in Nene’s shoulder.
“I love you too Rui. Remember you’ve also done so much things for me,” she began to pat his back gently in a way to calm him down.
Rui lifted his head and caressed Nene’s cheek, “this is the best birthday you know?”
“I’m glad it is. It took me a long time to set this up.”
A playful hum left Rui as he leaned down to give a quick kiss on Nene’s lips.
As he pulled away, Nene blushed harder than ever before.
“Thank you Nene. For being here with me.”
A tender smile crawled up to Nene’s face as she tilted her head softly like she did when she was little.
“Of course, and I’ll continue to till forever so,”
Nene went on her tip toe and placed a kiss on Rui’s cheek.
“Happy birthday.”