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Aika’s birthdays were never.. fun. They were always spent alone, in the comfort of somewhere she found safe at the time.
.. She decided to change things a little.
Instead of the quietly lit (by whom shall not be named) candles on the cake in front of her, she decided to go for a walk. She realized earlier today that it was her first time being sung happy birthday to, other than whom shall not be named.
Zira had sent her a voice message and a very long paragraph, and stopped responding to Aika immediately after.
She’s assuming they just fell asleep.. It's the most likely outcome. It's summer break, and Zira has been complaining about being tired. She even fell asleep at some of their hangouts together..
Not that Aika minded that much (they're always cuddling up close to her while sleeping).
A familiar shimmering sound enveloped the area around her. She recognizes that sound anywhere.
Hoshi.
“Hi, Aika!” They said enthusiastically.
“Hoshi… Do you need me to go do something again?” Aika replied.
“No, of course not,” They muttered, “It's your.. birthday, or something like that.”
Oh, so they're being thoughtful.
Aika looked around awkwardly, her eyes landing back on them.
“Thank… you?”
This doesn't excuse the other two times you made me go fight evil on my birthday, She thought.
“Soo.. How's it going?” Hoshi asked, hovering alongside her.
She didn't even feel like answering them, and she knew better than to question their sudden kindness and acknowledgment.
“It's going fine…”
There was a long (comfortable maybe,) silence.
Usually, they’d be arguing about something stupid by now, Hoshi being the one instigating.
“Umm, what do you want?”
“Do I need to desire something in order to talk with you?”
That's all it ever feels like, these days,
Silence, again.
“You're getting older.. Does that feel nice, at least?”
She couldn't help but notice the sad undertone in that.
“It feels..” She paused, “Fine. I don't feel that much different from a few hours ago.”
“Really? Wow.”
Silence, again.
She honestly doesn't know how to talk to them now, compared to a few years ago.
Just a little child, and her star creature friend to protect and guide her.
Even now, she thinks that's what they still see her as.
Just a little kid, never to be taken seriously.
Never to be taken seriously.
“Zira told me to tell you that she's fine, and she just fell asleep.” Hoshi spoke.
“Oh, really? When did you see her?”
“A little bit before coming here. She told you happy birthday, and that she loves you,”
Aika couldn't deny that her face flushed a little red at that.
“Oh..” she muttered.
“Yeah. So, what do you wanna do for your birthday?”
Okay, this is new.
Again, she's never really… ‘done anything’ for her birthday.
And Hoshi’s never asked what she wanted to do.
“For my birthday? Um.”
Get away, I don't know how to talk to you about anything.
“It's okay if you don't know! We can just.. hang out. Like old times.” Hoshi spoke quietly.
“Oh— Whaaa?”
Aika turned to them immediately after they said that.
“Yeah! It's okay if you don't want to-”
Aika couldn't stop the words that escaped her mind. “Nonononono! Of course I’ll…”
It was too late now.
“Of course I’ll hang out with you..”
Hoshi’s face lit up just a little at that, and it made Aika happy.
Just a bit.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“You don't sound that happy about it, why?” The inevitable question came.
Aika thought for a moment.
How would she respond to that? Tell them about how she has no idea what to do since they haven't ‘hung out’ in a few years at most? Tell them how she wishes they were good friends like before? Best friends like before? Tell them how she's so grateful for them protecting her but is just too stubborn to acknowledge that these days?
“It’s nothing.” She said, in place of whatever her mind was going on about.
“Okay. Let's go find something to do..” Hoshi hovered right above her head.
Usually, she would've smacked him right across the face (exaggeration, she would just tell him to go away) for hovering right above her with that damn star heat.
She’ll let it slide.
Just this time.