Work Text:
"♪~"
The streets were the same as always, with workers rushing home to their families and stores closing for the day. Otowa walks along, watching these familiar sights as the cool night breeze blows, good thing he's always wearing jackets.
"Nights are so much better compared to the day these past few days," he thinks. Indeed, the seasons are changing and summer slowly coming alongside the blistering heat.
Although, If there's one thing that remains the same throughout the year..
"Finally here."
..it would be that the nights on Keisei Street are filled with liveliness. Neon signs shining, illuminating the peoples fun. People handing out flyers left and right, beckoning people to 'come on in'. Just standing at the entrance feels exhilarating. Despite the familiarity, Otowa can't help but stand in stupor for a while.
"I gotta hurry up," he mutters, forcing himself to focus "I'll take some shortcuts." Otowa turns into an alleyway, taking all sorts of turns. Normally, he'd take the regular route but he wants to hurry up. After navigating the dark alleys he finally gets to his destination and he cheers. "Here we a–"
Otowa accidently bumped straight into someone when he popped out of the alleyway and falls onto his back, "–oof, sorry! I wasn't watching where i was going," He apologizes. Man, how embarrassing!
"Are you alright?" The person extends a hand and Otowa realizes he recognizes that voice and his embarrassment quells down. Otowa takes the hand with a smile, "Didn't expect to see you here, Suzuri!" He chirps as the other helps him up.
"Aren't you supposed to be training at whatever restaurant Hidaka brings you to by now?" Otowa questioned. Suzuri starts walking with Otowa.
"Ah, Hidaka-san said not today, I'll be at his own restaurant," he explained before adding with a whisper, "Today's special after all."
Otowa chuckled, so they told Suzuri about today. Not that he minds, Suzuri has proven to be a great guy since his redemption. They've been having conversations as of late about fighting styles since, well, they both need their hands for their jobs and getting them injured amidst a scuffle would be awful.
"Well, do you have a gift for me?" Otowa jokes lightheartedly.
Surprisingly, Suzuri nods and was about to sift through his pockets when Otowa interjects, "Wait! Save it for later. You might not know this but everyone's pretty competitive when it comes to gift giving, they might get salty if you beat them to it."
Suzuri's mouth forms a little 'o' as he puts his hand away, "When can i give it then?"
The entrance to the bar he works at comes into view as Otowa grins. "Just wait, when the time's right!" He says before running up ahead and going inside, Suzuri is left wondering what he meant as he goes his separate path.
***
It's well into the night as Otowa's shift ended, "Good work today!" He waves goodbye to his colleagues.
"Ah, wait. Come here," The barkeeps calls out. Otowa raises an eyebrow but obliges. "Here ya go kid, it's from all of us" his senior hands him a money packet, "happy birthday!"
A low whistle escapes Otowa's mouth, "Thank you, sir!" He gracefully accepts the packet and takes his leave. Taking out his phone, he checks the few notifications that came in while it was on silent.
[Kanji Nakamura: Come down to Hidaka's restaurant when your shifts over!]
"Oh?" Otowa muses, he was looking forward to this!
The streets have died down slightly, but there was still an abundant amount of people walking about. He strolls on through until he reaches the restaurant. The lights were off but Otowa knew what was waiting through the door.
Taking a deep breath, he opens the door and sure enough,
Party poppers go off as the lights flicker on. "Otowa, Happy birthday!!" Everyone cheers out in unison. He stands at the entrance, slightly dazed. Sure he was expecting it but looking at his friend and all around he was wowed, "Aww, you guys. How long did this take to set up?"
There were all sorts of decorations: streamers, ribbons, a 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' banner. He notes the consideration of there being no balloons in sight. He didn't like them, those thing were way too loud when the pop out of nowhere.
Kanji answers smugly, "We didn't take long at all!"
"Well that was because you had us all get of off work earlier," Miyoshi grumbles, "But i guess it's worth it," he added with a smile.
"Of course it's worth it!" Hidaka seemingly materializes besides Otowa before holding him in a playful chokehold, "For celebrations like these we should give it are all."
Otowa laughs as he sees who else is here. Suzuri, Shizuka, and, "Tsubaki-san is here too?"
Tsubaki in question grins, "You betcha! When Shizuka told me about this I couldn't help but come too. I dragged the twins along as well!" He gestures to his vice captains.
"Heya~" Seiryu waves as Uryu gives a nod.
Releasing himself from Hidaka's grip, Otowa poises himself and gives a bow. "Thank you, every one of you. I'm so unbelievably grateful for this thoughtful gesture." They all stare he straightens up before cracking a goofy smile, "Now then, show me what you've planned!"
And so, the party starts off with the cake. Laughter threatens to spill out of Otowa's mouth as he looks at it on the table, "Pfft- What happened here?" The cake had a messily drawn on potrait of him made with frosting, with a crooked smile and one eye bigger than the other. "Whose masterpiece is this?" He wonders aloud.
Hidaka awkwardly scratches the back of his head and Suzuri fakes a cough while Shizuka twiddles her thumbs, all of them avoiding eye contact. "Well, we were in charge of the cake so the decorating ended up falling on us too," Hidaka admits.
"It taste good though!" Shizuka exclaims with Suzuri backing her up with his own statement, "You'll definitely like it!"
"Well, i think it's cute," Otowa giggles, "I feel bad cutting into it."
Tsubaki whips out his phone, "Then let's take a few photos first!"
A bunch of photos were snapped with all sorts of composition as Tsubaki acts as photographer until he was satisfied. But just as Otowa readies to cut the cake, Seiryu intervenes, "Waitt! Are we not putting any candles?"
"We didn't have any," Miyoshi bluntly states.
Seiryu pouts "Aww man, can we at least sing?"
"That's embarassing."
"You're no fun!"
Kanji steps in, "Now, now. Let Otowa decide the verdict."
"Hmm," Otowa thinks carefully, "I wouldn't mind a song."
"Oh, let me start!" Shizuka chimes in, clearing her throat.
*"Happy birthday to you,"*
The rest followed suit, Tsubaki began recording.
"Happy birthday to youu,"
Seiryu stuck his tongue out at Miyoshi,
"Happy birthday dear Otowaa,"
Miyoshi rolls his eyes,
"Happy birthday to you!"