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“Where would you like me to put this?” Tomo asks. He has an entire box full of pieces for a new furniture set that he’s going to build with the short man’s help. His blonde locks cling to his forehead, the heat becoming visible in his cheeks and forehead as if he has run miles when, in reality, he has been doing nothing but being helpful to his wife.
“Hmmm…” Kazuha ponders, a hand caressing his own chin as his brows furrow. His cheeks are tinted with soft brushes of yellow, white and green, as well as his hands and even part of his hair, tied up to try to get it out of the way of Kazuha’s face. “I’m not entirely sure… You can place it anywhere while we don’t work on building that set.” His pale lashes brush over his cheeks as he closes his eyes and a smile follows up. Tomo smiles in response, a small sigh leaving his lips. The blonde nods and does as the short male pleases, while Kazuha keeps on painting the wall of their baby’s new room.
Only two months old, and she has been a handful. Kazane is both Tomo and Kazuha’s pride and joy, and they could never ask for a cuter baby than her. The fact that she is their daughter, that they have had her and welcomed her into their lives, was more than an awesome (yet tiring) experience. Tomo has been doing everything in his reach to keep his wife as comfortable as possible, and this includes caring for the baby at night, even if he has work the next day. Kazuha couldn’t be any more thankful than he is to Tomo, and after two months of parenthood and three years of marriage, their love flame seems to not cease.
And, in Tomo’s eyes, Kazuha seems to have a different glow, now that they are both parents to such a small baby. There’s some new form of joy that seems to captivate Kazuha’s soul, a type of joy that came with Kazane’s arrival into their lives. At least, that’s how Tomo feels and what has been told to Kazuha, when he looks at the short male and sees his eyes glow only by the sight of having to build their baby’s room. They would’ve done it sooner if it weren’t for Kazuha’s tiredness over the last couple of months due to his preparation for parenthood.
To say that Kazane was loved and very expected was an understatement. Since they knew that Kazane’s existence was to come at any given moment, both Beidou (one of Kazuha’s closest friends) and Yoimiya (Tomo’s little sister) have been spoiling her rotten. She possesses lots of plushies and a whole new set of baby furniture (Yoimiya’s courtesy), while Beidou has gifted her wooden handmade toys in the shape of ships. Despite all of this love coming from outside their doors, there was also so much love coming from the inside, from both Kazuha and Tomo.
Kazuha can say that he got so immersed in marriage life, so dived in hanging out the family’s clothes, ironing and washing them, so immersed in cooking dinner for him and Tomo, so wrapped up in feeling nothing more than happiness, warmth, love and respect in his own marriage, that he didn’t realize three years had passed by and his birthday was just a few hours away.
Kazane’s room project was a lovely one, and Kazuha has been finding lots of joy in decorating the little room they got for her. Even before they can even finish their project, Kazuha already finds himself sitting by the rocking chair he and Tomo built while he feeds their beloved daughter. The crib has been staying in their room, but the bigger crib they have waiting for her in her room reminds him of the crib his father used to have for Kazuha when he was a baby, so full of blankets and toys one could feel the love coming from it.
So wrapped up and caught up on his little almost decorated room for his daughter, he didn’t realize how much time had passed. Between hours where he would go back to painting the wall with little figures that reminded him of home, feeding and putting his daughter to sleep just so he could work more on it, he didn’t realize hours had passed since he put his hands on his and Tomo’s little project. He painted the walls, finished building some furniture and started finalizing the nursery room. It was a very long day, but he enjoyed the results of his baby’s cozy home.
The crib looked beautiful by the moonlight, along with the pretty curtains with a few maple leaves sewn into them thanks to Kazuha’s hands. The crib has so many blankets it could easily bundle up Kazane and keep her warm during the coldest days of winter. The nursery was yet to be built, but Kazuha already moved some of the diapers and Kazane’s skincare products to that room, placed alongside a small bedside table Tomo recovered from the old Kaedehara estate. Tomo even helped Kazuha install everything and even built a small baby mobile to be placed into the crib, a very beautiful baby mobile made with birds and maple leaves which would sing a song from Tomo’s own childhood.
Everything in that room is so well thought out, Kazuha can’t help but feel his heart warm from observing how much of their love is pampered around Kazane’s room, how much of them is poured in the tiniest details.
“Sweetheart.” He hears the soft rumble of Tomo’s voice echo in the room, and his attention is suddenly turned to the blonde male who walks in the room.The outfit he was wearing shocked Kazuha, though - it didn’t even look like Tomo was sweating and helping him out just a few hours ago, and now he is on his best, a beautiful black suit with a white shirt complimenting his body features and a red tie to finalize. He looked handsome , even more handsome than what words could describe. Kazuha feels the air leaving his lungs in an exhale, unable to let any more air in as he is entranced by the sight of his husband dressed up so beautifully.
Despite that Kazuha wears a flowy, pretty orange and red yukata with a pattern of maple leaves, he couldn’t help but feel undressed in comparison to his lover. His hair is tied in a messy low bun, and he is wearing no makeup at all (though Tomo has told him he looks ethereal regardless).
Only after a while Kazuha lets his gaze linger to his husband’s hands, holding the beautiful bouquet of flowers that he thinks is meant for him. He can’t help but touch his chest with the palm of his hand, his mouth forming the most beautiful giggle as he steps closer to Tomo, his eyes admiring the beauty just in front of him.
“How sweet. You look so handsome, my love.” Kazuha says after a few moments of doing nothing but breathing and admiring. “And all these red tulips… are they for-”
And, before Kazuha could even say a word, he feels strong arms enveloping him into a warm, tight hug that renders him breathless, once again. Tomo is so gentle with him, the way his hugs always feel comforting and never too tight for Kazuha’s senses. His smaller arms wrap around the blonde’s neck, hugging him back, chuckling as Kazuha feels his husband peppering some kisses in his cheek.
“Happy birthday, beautiful.” Kazuha’s eyes widen a bit with Tomo’s sentence. Oh, so today is the day… , he thinks to himself before he hides his blushy face on the curve of Tomo’s neck. “I am so happy to be married to you. The luckiest man on Earth.”
“That is a title I own.” Kazuha replies to him, cheeks burning up with flustering emotions. “I am the one who’s lucky to have such a handsome husband by my side.” He pulls away from the blonde’s embrace for a bit, just so he can look Tomo in the eyes. “What are you so prettily dressed up for?”
He feels Tomo’s smile in his hold, and he knows for sure that something is going on. He holds him a bit tighter before his senses catch something else, a loud noise coming from downstairs. “What was that?”
He sees Tomo flinching a bit before his senses catch the same noise again, followed by a voice that was way too familiar. “Can you keep it low? The pup already went to bring Kazu downstairs, and the baby is sleeping.” Beidou’s tone was as natural as it could be, familiar yet warm to Kazuha’s hearing.
For a second, it just felt confusing at first, and even startled him for a second the fact that he was so immersed in his baby’s room that his senses didn’t even catch on to people coming into his home. He pulls away from Tomo’s embrace to process what he heard and Tomo smiles at the sight of him. Kazuha’s heart jumps higher with anticipation, and for a moment he looks at the moon, visible through Kazane’s room window. Yes, it is indeed midnight .
“Tomo… did you really?” His eyes feel like burning as tears gather and soak his pale lashes. He looks at him as he holds his own hands, a habit he does when he’s excited or anxious about something.
“Of course I did.” Tomo quickly reaches out for one of Kazuha’s hands and holds it, giving it a tight squeeze as the blonde gives the white haired smile one of his warm, reassuring smiles. “How could I not? Ever since the day I met you, you have proven to me countless times that you are deserving of this and much more. The moment I married you, and watched how wonderful of a wife and father you have become… How could I not bless you with joy on this special day?”
“I feel like you do so much, sometimes…” Kazuha nearly whispers, as happiness starts showing in tears of joy. “You deserve so much. So much more than I could give- I feel like I don’t deserve any of i-”
Tomo quickly brings Kazuha in for another hug, this time a tighter one, made to reassure his wife and to make him feel safe in his arms. “Oh my love…” The blonde speaks in a low tone, pleasing to the short male’s ears. “You deserve everything I can give you and much more, hm? You are the most wonderful wife I could ask for, and the fact you’re the father to my child makes me so in love with you.” Tomo kisses the top of Kazuha’s head, loving kisses peppered in white and red strands of hair. One of the blonde’s hands runs through his pale locks, and Kazuha squeezes their hug before he pulls out a bit to look Tomo in the eyes.
“You’re so tender, Tomo…” Kazuha speaks, a very low tone verging on tears, as he looks at his husband so lovingly. “I only wish I get to be to you the way you are to me.” He smiles little, and the tall blonde pecks his lips really quick.
He pulls away from Kazuha completely, and his rough hand holds the short male’s soft one. “I love you, you mean a lot more to me than you think you do.” Tomo smiles at him, and Kazuha inevitably smiles back, feeling his heart skip a heartbeat. Tomo looks so handsome, smiling at him like that in a gorgeous outfit that suits him so well. Kazuha takes in the bouquet that has been in his husband’s hand this whole time and brings it to his nose, gently smelling the scent of the red tulips. His other hand keeps holding Tomo’s as he gives it a gentle squeeze, as if assuring him that the bouquet of tulips is to his liking. “You’re ready to go downstairs?”
As if instinctually, one of Kazuha’s hands reaches his hair strands that were peeking out of the messy bun, and he feels tense for a bit. “But I’m underdressed in comparison to you.”
Tomo just chuckles a little, and he approaches just to quickly peck the top of the short male’s head. “You look beautiful. Plus, it’s not like the people downstairs don’t know you well, or that you just had a baby. And, even like that, in my eyes you will outshine everyone wherever you go.” Tomo’s heartwarming smile makes Kazuha smile as well as a pink blossom appear on his cheeks. “It’s your birthday, my love. Gorou and Beidou took care of putting the baby to sleep as you were busy, and will tend to her needs while you rest and have fun on your special day. Even Kazane would want you to relax.”
Kazuha takes in a deep sigh, and Tomo’s hand squeezes his a little. “It’s going to be alright, my maple.”
Kazuha looks at the door to the baby’s room, as if in thought for a little while. “You’re right. Let’s go meet them, then.”
The moment Kazuha and Tomo stepped in the living room downstairs, Kazuha was met with laughter and joy. Everyone was cheerful about the short male’s special day, and besides the birthday cake eaten and the gifts opened, they also drank, sang and had a lot of fun.
Kazuha’s heart couldn’t feel more joy, love and happiness as he spent every minute in his small yet vividly celebrated birthday party. For a moment, as he saw everyone sitting at the table enjoying the cake Beidou and Fischl had made, his mind trailed off to his childhood. The moments he spent next to his father on his birthday, them sat at the table along with his grandfather and their servants as everyone celebrated the Young Master’s life. As Kazuha grew up, and started losing the bits of his childhood and home, he also started forgetting his birthdays, going as far as not even recalling his age at some point.
Now, with everyone sitting at the table, all of his friends and Tomo, the warm sunset glistening in the frosting of the birthday cake along with the sounds of chatting and laughter… It all makes Kazuha emotional. As if everything reminds him of his childhood home, of when he used to spend birthdays with the Kaedeharas. The joy and warmth were all the same, the people were just different yet as dear to him as his family is.
“Thank you.” Kazuha said, with a smile on his face and tears of joy peeking through his eyes as everyone was sitting on the table, and they went silent to listen to him. “It has been very long since my birthday was celebrated like this. You all bring me as much warmth in my heart as I used to feel back then.” His pale lashes flutter shut as he smiles, trying to contain the tears that want to run down his cheeks so badly.
“Hey kid!” Beidou, who was right next to him, taps his shoulder softly, and he looks at her. “No need to get yourself so emotional. Even if we’re not related by blood, we are all like a second family. You can always run to us whenever you need.”
The pale white haired man feels his other shoulder gently caressed, and he looks to Tomo, who was on his other side, looking at him with a warm smile that makes his heart flutter. He has a very joyful Kazane on his lap, looking at Kazuha with her big violet eyes. He can see Tomo’s features mirrored in her so well, it nearly brings him to tears.
“I must say...” Mona continues, arms and legs crossed yet with a happy smile on her lips. “... It feels nice. To have people who you can call family, even if they’re friends.”
“Rest assured, dear scribe. Thy heart may always find sustent in the slumbers of the Prinzessin.” Fischl finishes the universal discourse very confidently, with a hand on her chest and the other pointing at Kazuha. The crow that was resting on the top of her head composes itself on its own hold, as if Fischl’s movement was so sudden it caught it off guard.
Kazuha can only smile wholeheartedly, to all of them. He never knows how to react when he finds so much peace at home, when he has this big of an emotional support group, when he has people who love him, again. “Thank you.” That’s all he can say for now.
May Kazuha’s heart find rest, love and warmth on the day of his birth, and for the rest of his life.