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Joki sat on one of the village benches, quietly watching the blue sky. At twenty years old, he relished these moments of solitude, where he could sink into his own thoughts without interruption. As he watched the clouds drift by, a certain white-haired shinobi arrived and took a seat beside him.
"Hello," his father, Tobirama, greeted with a faint smile. The younger man only looked at him with his usual deadpan expression. "Tomorrow is your birthday. Is there anything special you'd like?"
"I don't want anything," Joki answered bluntly. He didn't have friends and hated being surrounded by crowds. "But thank you, Father."
Tobirama didn't seem to accept that answer.
"I understand... at your age, I had no interest in birthdays either, but my older brother always managed to brighten the day with his nonsense," he remarked with a touch of melancholy. "Izuna says he is preparing a surprise for you. Do you really want to see him upset when he finds out you're not in the mood for anything?"
"No..." Joki confessed, averting his gaze. "If Papa is planning a surprise, then it's fine." A tiny smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"I have a surprise for you as well," Tobirama said, watching his son closely. "You might actually like it."
"You don't have to try and compete with Papa anymore," Joki chuckled softly. "Whatever you give me will be fine. I'll appreciate it even if I didn't ask for it. Because I love you both."
The older Senju clearly hadn't expected that response.
"It has been a long time since you said something like that to me..."
"I know. I'm an idiot who doesn't know how to appreciate what he has. I'm sorry for treating you so poorly in the past."
"It doesn't matter. I deserved it."
Joki was about to say something else, but a familiar voice interrupted them.
"There are my two loves!" Izuna called out from a short distance away. He was balancing a massive stack of shopping bags in his arms. "Are you going to come help me, or am I leaving both of you without dinner?!"
Both of them smiled and walked over to him, one receiving a kiss on the lips and the other a kiss on the cheek. As they helped Izuna carry the bags back, Joki felt a profound sense of gratitude for his family. He knew that, even if he didn't always show it, he loved them deeply.