Chapter Text
“Thank you all for coming!” Mizuki waved with a bright smile as the guests left.
They couldn’t help their smile as they watched everybody walk out their door. Never have they could have ever thought they would have so many people to come to their birthday.
What started as inviting their closest friends, the entirety of Nightcord, An, and Rui slowly turned into Ena bringing along Airi, then bringing Shizuku, also with An inviting Kohane, also with Rui bringing along Nene, Emu, and Tsukasa, who then brought along Toya who then brought Akito. An entire connected string of all of them.
Only just a few years ago, Mizuki would’ve imagined themselves forever spending their birthdays alone or with their family. Sure, Rui was also there, but Mizuki was always unsure if they were even that close for them to invite him to their birthdays. But now, the smile on their face was so bright as they watched all their friends leave, but… Of course, whenever Mizuki truly felt happy, that feeling always found its way to creep back into Mizuki’s life yet again. A slow sinking in their heart, like it was being dragged into the depths of the void. Slowly, slowly, it sinks to the bottom.
Their smile faltered for a second, but they quickly regained it after Rui stopped in his tracks at the doorway as Emu, Tsukasa, and Nene continued walking without him, not noticing that he wasn’t there with them. “So, who’s the one with more friends again? Last time I counted, it seems that you win over me by a significant amount.” Rui smiles cat-like.
“Oh, shut up!” They giggle, but they can’t help but feel rather melancholy over this fact. “C’mon, Rui. Don’t say that!” They playfully punch his shoulder. At least you have friends that are close to you… Friends who genuinely care for you… Even if it’s just those three in your troupe… I’ve seen how much love they have for you. Mizuki bites their bottom lip to avoid the tears that are begging to be let out. “We’ve already grown so much… Let’s appreciate what we have, alright?”
Mizuki does appreciate Nightcord and everything they’ve done for them. But… God, their secret would never stop eating them alive. They appreciate Rui a lot too, of course. He’s the only one who knows everything . Ever since the beginning.
They really cared for Nightcord, for Kanade, Mafuyu, and Ena… But it was hard to come out. They already told Ena everything– seriously everything, before Mizuki even realized that day, it became nighttime and it ended with Mizuki crying into Ena’s clothes.
But still… Ena didn’t say anything and let Mizuki flood their emotions out. No snap-judgements or snarky, snide remarks… Ena only held a loving look on her face as she held Mizuki.
That night… Mizuki couldn’t help but just tell Ena everything. Ena was always waiting for them… And then they finally told her everything after all of the wait.
Maybe… Maybe they could find the courage to come out to everyone else…?
“…” Rui’s face turned into worry as he kept looking at Mizuki. “Take care of yourself, okay? You nearly scared everybody, going off the grid like that.”
Mizuki let the smile fall, knowing that Rui could sense them and their true emotions. Truth be told, Mizuki could very much do the same with Rui, if not everybody close to them. A keen sense of reading people. “Heh, sorry again…” They looked to the ground. “But I certainly won’t do it again. I… I think I might tell my group… you know…”
“I’m glad.” He smiled once again and gave Mizuki a quick hug. “Now we both finally have amazing people in our lives who care for us. I’m happy for you, Akiyama.”
“Hehe. I could say it back with you and your little theatre troupe.” Mizuki smiled once again, hugging the purple boy back. “Now hurry up before they leave you.” They ended the hug and rushed Rui out, pushing him out of the doorway.
“Fufu~ I’ll see you soon, Akiyama.” He walked off and joined his fellow troupe members.
Mizuki sighed and closed the door and locked it. They dropped onto the couch in their living room and looked around, seeing all the party decorations and nearly demolished cake on the dining room table.
“This is gonna be a mess to clean…” They smiled, remembering all of the previous events of the night, how when they entered the house and how everybody popped out of their hiding spots and screamed to them “Happy birthday!!!”
Any sort of party, let alone a surprise birthday party, seemed nearly impossible before, but here they were, sitting in the middle of the mess that had been made throughout the night.
“I can help.” Mizuki snapped up at the sudden voice– they could swear they saw everyone leave… Actually, wait… that voice was too recognizable to mistake it for any other…
“Ena?” They looked around everywhere until their eyes had finally landed on her, standing in the kitchen, leaning on the counter. “The party’s over, you dunce. Why aren’t you heading home yet?”
“No particular reason. Just thought that I should.” She walks over to them and joins them on the couch, scooting closer till their thighs are touching.
“You… You didn’t have to.” They giggled in their attempt to avoid showing their embarrassment. “I’m completely fine. I’m really happy you all had a surprise party for me. I only planned to have a small little birthday, and here you all were to blow things out of proportion yet again. Seriously, I’m really happy you all did this for little ol’ me.”
“Yeah, but… You still had that look on your face sometimes. Is there still something wrong…?” Ena got closer and looked closer at their face, sending Mizuki into a blush. “I hate seeing you with that look, you know?”
Mizuki giggled and wrapped their arms around her. “I know. You make that very clear.”
The two stayed in silence on the couch, the lights dim. Ena yawns and rests her head on their lap. Mizuki ran their fingers through her hair as they looked down at her, smiling affectionately.
“Happy… Happy birthday…” Ena yawns one more time before her eyelids shut themselves, falling asleep on Mizuki’s lap. She didn’t really mean to fall asleep so easily, but… Mizuki was just so calming…
Mizuki felt their eyes grow heavy too, so before they fell asleep, they lowered their head and placed a gentle kiss on the girl’s forehead before they too drifted off.
Thank you. For everything.
Happy Birthday to Mizuki, a little shrine I created on my desk.
Mizuki as a character has personally helped me through so much especially with my identity and myself as I know it.
Without them, I wouldn't be the person I am today. (Nor would I possibly be alive as of right now.)
So, a happy birthday and a thank you to a fictional character, because I'm so hopeless like that.