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“It’s your birthday next Friday,” Eri said in lieu of good morning. She was carrying a tiny peach shortcake for his silver medal yesterday. She couldn't find the time because her grandfather needed a companion on one of his charity auctions and Eri was free.
Mami could only yell her happiness and take a picture of his win before she had to go on her shift. In apology she made a huge bento with salmon and kimchi, splurged with love. It paired well with Eri's gift.
They ate at their treacherous staircase beside the gym. Conversation and silence was weaving through words and actions, a familiar blanket wrapping them until Dae-jung realized that she fell asleep, using his arm as a pillow.
It never failed to amaze him how they could finish anything as long as they talked, how Eri made a nap look so cute. She wished him happiness, but she probably never knew how much she herself made him happy. Not that he'd admit something as stupidly sappy as that. Either Gina would mistake it as a love confession or Eri would only find what made him say it with the assumption that she was at fault.
The sheer noise that was the happy birthday song led by Hana and Aksel never failed in breaking everyone's ears. Dae-jung discreetly flattened his ears as all his twenty-five male classmates destroyed his back while clapping. Every girl gave him a firm handshake, everyone except for Eri.
The whole class had arranged everything so that their rich noble genius was the last to greet him. Even straight-laced Hana couldn't hide a smirk.
He sighed and opened his arms, never really expecting when she suddenly barreled into him. Everyone's squeals disappeared as he focused on her hugging him with all her might.