Usagi's POV:
Next day — (Okami-kun's Birthday)
Uhm… all ready—red dress, check!
I spun once in front of the mirror, holding the hem lightly. Hehe… I checked myself again, a little embarrassed but kinda excited too. I wasn't trying to be cute… okay, maybe… maybe just a little.
(I want to look nice for him… I guess.)
I touched my cheeks—warm, definitely blushing already.
Ughhh! Get a hold of yourself, Usagi! I scolded myself playfully inside. It's Okami-kun's big day. Focus! Focus!
Grabbing my bag and the small gift box I'd prepared, I smiled brightly at my reflection one last time.
"Let's make sure today is full of smiles… real ones, for him," I whispered to myself before rushing out the door.
Today's the day we make him feel loved.
Today's the day… he sees he's never alone again.
Beep beep!
I quickly checked my phone. [Okami's Bday Party] group chat—
Hehe, the group we made just to secretly prepare his birthday surprise!
[Mei: On my way!] 6:17 AM
[Hina: Waiting at the station for everyone!] 6:17 AM
[Rentarou: Hurry up! Okami's still sleeping, but he'll wake up anytime!] 6:18 AM
[Izumi: I'm on the train! Give me 15 minutes!] 6:18 AM
[Mei: Usagi, what about you?] 6:18 AM
Ahhh everyone's already moving!
I quickly typed:
[On my way! Give me 20 minutes!] 6:19 AM
Without wasting another second, I rushed down the stairs.
"Mom! I'm leaving now!" I yelled, slipping my shoes on in a hurry.
"Oh wait, Usagi-chan—you're heading there first?" Mom called from the kitchen.
"Yes, Mom!" I said, flashing her the widest smile I could manage before dashing out the door.
Today's going to be perfect. It has to be.
After 30 minutes of running, catching the train, and even more running, I finally stumbled into the station—
panting, hair a complete mess, and clutching the precious cake box like my life depended on it.
"Ughhh—huff, huff—sorry everyone!! I'm late!!" I bent forward, trying to catch my breath, almost dropping the cake box in the process.
Mei giggled, teasing, "We figured you'd be the last one, Usagi."
Hina smiled kindly, walking over to take the cake box from my trembling hands, and handed me a cold water bottle.
"You made it. That's what matters," she said warmly.
Izumi gave me a big thumbs-up, trying hard not to burst out laughing at my wild, windswept hair.
I hugged the water bottle against my chest, cheeks puffing out in protest. "Ughh... I tried my best, okay?!"
Everyone chuckled, and just like that—the nerves, the rush, the worries—they all melted away.
All that was left was excitement buzzing inside me.
Today's mission:
Make Okami-kun's birthday the happiest day of his life.
"Alright, let's go!" I said, pumped up.
We all followed the location Rentarou had sent—their apartment building.
When we reached, Rentarou texted us: [Come. I'll open the door quietly.]
A few seconds later, the door cracked open without a sound.
Rentarou peeked out, waving us inside quickly like some sort of secret agent.
"Took you all way too long!" he whispered urgently as we tiptoed inside.
"Hurry! It's almost 7:00 AM—he'll wake up any second now!"
We all tiptoed into the living room.
It was already perfectly decorated—balloons, a "Happy Birthday!" banner, and even little lights sparkling around.
(Rentarou, you're a lifesaver...!)
We quickly grabbed our party poppers and waited, barely holding back our excitement.
"Ready?!" Rentarou mouthed silently.
We all nodded, hearts pounding.
Suddenly, we heard footsteps from the hallway—heavy, slow... clearly just-woke-up footsteps.
The door creaked open...
and there he was—Okami-kun, half-awake, hair all messy, wearing nothing but pajama pants and no shirt.
Everyone froze for a second.
Then—
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY OKAMI-KUN!!!" we all shouted together, popping the party poppers into the air!
Confetti exploded around him.
Okami's eyes widened, confused at first—and then completely horrified when he realized his state.
His face turned beet red as he stumbled back, trying to hide himself behind the doorframe.
"A-aghh! W-What the heck—?!" he yelped, voice cracking.
I—
I couldn't even breathe.
My face was burning.
He was... he was shirtless...!
"U-uhh... uhh...!" I squeaked, covering my eyes with my hands but peeking through my fingers like an idiot.
Rentarou just cackled.
Hina and Mei giggled uncontrollably.
Izumi shook his head, laughing.
Okami grabbed the nearest thing—a pillow—and hugged it against his chest desperately, glaring at all of us.
"Y-You guys are the worst!!!" he cried out, completely red.
But even then, even flustered like that, even trying so hard to hide—
He looked so, so happy.
And my heart just... melted.
Okami-kun, still red-faced, let out a helpless noise and darted back into his room, slamming the door shut behind him.
We all burst out laughing, covering our mouths so we wouldn't be too loud.
After a minute or two, he finally came back out—this time properly wearing a simple white t-shirt and pajama pants, his hair still a messy fluff from just waking up.
He looked way calmer... but his ears were still red.
He stepped forward slowly, his gaze wandering around the living room.
The decorations—the balloons, the banner, the little fairy lights—and the cake sitting proudly on the table.
He mumbled under his breath, almost like he was afraid to disturb the moment,
"All... of this... for me?"
His voice was so soft, so full of disbelief.
I caught myself smiling without even realizing it.
He looked like a little kid seeing magic for the first time.
Everyone noticed too.
Rentarou clapped his hands loudly, breaking the spell.
"Alright everyone—official take two!"
We all shouted again, just as loud, but this time with full feeling,
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OKAMI-KUN!!"
Mei ran up and shoved a little birthday hat onto his head.
Hina handed him a handmade birthday card.
Izumi just patted him hard on the back like a proud older brother.
And me...
I stood there, heart full, cheeks warm—just happy to be part of it all.
Happy that I could celebrate someone who finally looked like he was starting to believe he deserved it.
Okami-kun's hands trembled slightly as he accepted the card, and for a split second, his eyes shimmered again—but this time with a different kind of tears.
Tears of happiness.
Mei tilted her head, noticing Okami-kun's trembling hands.
"Eh, eh? What happened, Okami-kun? Did something not turn out how you liked?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
He quickly shook his head, trying to compose himself.
"No... it's not that..."
He sniffled softly, wiping under his eyes with the sleeve of his t-shirt.
"It's just..." he smiled—gently, raw, real—
"I feel... happy."
The whole room fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words sinking into all of us.
Hina stepped closer, patting his back softly,
"Baka... don't make us cry too."
Rentarou grinned, pretending to wipe imaginary tears from his eyes dramatically,
"We worked way too hard for this! You better be happy, Okami!!"
Everyone laughed, the atmosphere instantly lighter again.
And me?
I couldn't look away from him.
That smile. That look in his eyes.
He was really, truly happy.
And for the first time... maybe he could finally start believing he deserved to be.
After a few minutes of laughter and teasing, Mei clapped her hands together,
"Alright, alright! Time for the main event—cake cutting!"
We all gathered around the little table Rentarou had set up so nicely, the cake sitting proudly in the center.
Hina lit the candles carefully, her hands steady.
Izumi dimmed the lights, and the soft glow of the candles made everything feel even more magical.
Okami-kun stood there, looking a little overwhelmed but smiling so sweetly.
Everyone started singing a slightly off-key but very heartfelt "Happy Birthday" song, making him chuckle under his breath.
"Make a wish, Okami-kun!" Mei encouraged brightly.
He stared at the candles for a long moment—his eyes reflecting the soft flames.
I wondered... What did he wish for?
Then, closing his eyes briefly, he leaned forward and gently blew out the candles.
The room burst into soft cheers and applause.
Rentarou handed him a plastic knife with a huge grin,
"Alright birthday boy, first slice is yours!"
Okami laughed under his breath and reached for the knife—
but instead of immediately cutting the cake, he paused, his eyes scanning the group until they landed on me.
And for just a second, it felt like the whole world disappeared.
Without a word, he smiled—soft and real—and then made the first cut into the cake.
Everyone clapped again, and Hina started passing plates around.
I stayed back a little, just... watching him.
He looked so happy.
And maybe, just maybe... he realized today that he was loved.
As soon as Okami-kun made the first cut, everyone pounced with their forks like hungry wolves.
"Open wide, birthday boy!" Rentarou said, shoving a bite of cake into Okami's mouth.
"Me too!" Mei giggled, stuffing another piece right after.
"Wait, wait! Let him swallow first!" Izumi laughed, but Hina was already trying to feed him a third bite.
"Mmmff—guys—w-wait—!" Okami-kun's mouth was comically full now, cheeks puffed up like a chipmunk. We all burst into laughter.
He struggled to chew it all down, blinking rapidly. And then, suddenly—he froze.
Swallowing quickly, he looked up.
"…Who made this cake?"
The room paused. All eyes turned to me.
He asked again, this time more softly.
"Usagi-chan… who made this cake?"
I scratched my cheek, trying not to smile too wide.
"Eh? You really are impressive, Okami-kun. I was told to say I made it… that I 'learned baking for you' and all."
He blinked.
"But the truth is…" I paused, then smiled warmly, "Yeah. Your mom made it."
His eyes widened, the silence wrapping around him like a blanket.
"I just helped a little. She… really wanted to do something for you. She didn't say it aloud, but… I could tell."
Okami-kun stood still for a few seconds, staring down at the half-eaten slice of cake in his hand. His fingers trembled just slightly.
"…She made this?" he whispered.
One tear rolled down Okami-kun's cheek as he stared at the cake in his hand.
He smiled gently, voice barely above a whisper.
"It's good… really good…"
None of us said anything right away. We just smiled—soft, knowing smiles—because sometimes happiness is quiet too.
Hina broke the silence, slicing the cake neatly for everyone.
"Alright! Let's share this before Rentarou eats half of it!"
"Hey! I only had, like, three bites!" Rentarou protested.
Mei giggled and reached into her bag.
"Here! Before I forget—happy birthday, Okami! I hope you like it, birthday boy."
Okami-kun blinked at the wrapped gift she handed him, holding it like it was made of glass.
He stared at it for a second too long, like he wasn't sure what to do next—like maybe this was the first time someone had ever handed him a birthday gift at all.
"…Can I open it?" he asked, almost shyly.
"Of course! Please do~" Mei said, giving him an encouraging nod.
He slowly tore the wrapping paper, careful not to rip it too much. Inside was a thick, leather-bound book.
He turned it over, reading the title softly.
"'Writing Step-by-Step: A Guided Journal for Storytellers.'"
Mei grinned, nudging him lightly.
"Hehe—how is it, writer boi? Got no more excuses now!"
Okami-kun looked up at her, then down at the book again, fingers gently brushing over the embossed title.
"…Thank you," he said, his voice tight with emotion but eyes sparkling. "I… I really love it."
Finally, Rentarou stepped up, scratching the back of his neck with a small grin.
"Well… since we live together and all, you probably guessed I had something. Happy birthday, idiot."
He handed over a small rectangular box, wrapped in old newspaper instead of gift wrap.
Okami chuckled. "Still using comic pages, huh?"
"Tradition," Rentarou shrugged. "Open it."
Okami unwrapped the box carefully. Inside was a worn-out, leather-bound notebook—clearly old, but preserved with care.
His fingers paused. "…Is this—?"
"You left it at my place when we were twelve," Rentarou said quietly. "I kept it… always thought someday you'd want it back."
Inside were pages and pages of scribbles, story ideas, and drawings they'd both made when they were kids. Their dream of creating stories together.
Okami didn't say anything for a while. He just stared at it like he couldn't believe it was real.
"I figured… you'd want to remember how far you've come," Rentarou added, softer now.
Okami finally looked up, eyes glassy but smiling. "Thank you… for never throwing it away."
Rentarou grinned. "Told you. It's tradition."
Everyone fell quiet for a moment—one of those rare, heavy silences that feel full instead of empty.
We all nodded, covering our mouths to stifle our giggles.
The excitement was real.
The surprise was so close.
"Ahem… everyone's gifts were so thoughtful and amazing," I said, fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve. "Um… here's mine…"
I handed him a small box, trying not to make eye contact. My heart was thumping way too loud.
He took it with that same playful smile he always wore when teasing me—but it felt different now, somehow softer.
He opened it. "Ah… cupcakes?"
"Y-yeah… I made them…" I said quickly, cheeks burning. "So um… please tell me if they turned out okay."
He looked down at them, then back up at me. "You made these?"
As soon as Okami said, "They're perfect. Just like someone I know," the room went silent.
I froze.
"EHHHH?!" Mei practically screamed, nearly spilling her juice. "Did he just say what I think he said?!"
Izumi leaned forward, eyes wide. "Wait, hold on! What?! What did I miss?!"
Rentarou, cool as ever, leaned back against the wall with his arms crossed and a smirk tugging at his lips. "Didn't know you liked sweets that much, Okami."
Okami coughed and scratched the back of his neck, faintly blushing. "I don't… usually. But these are different."
I stared hard at the floor, pretending to scroll through my phone even though my fingers were shaking. My face was on fire.
Hina gave me a soft smile, but I could see the knowing glint in her eyes. "Usagi-chan, you really worked hard. Everything turned out wonderful."
"Y-yeah…" I mumbled, barely able to speak.
Then Rentarou, oh-so-casually, added, "You know, Okami, this whole surprise was planned by Usagi-chan."
Okami tensed for a moment. "Oh, I… I know that."
Mei blinked. "Wait—you know? What do you mean you know?!"
Everyone looked between the two of us. Okami glanced at me, and I gave him a small nod.
He took a deep breath, stood up, walked over to me, and said clearly, "Um, everyone… we—we wanted to tell you something."
"We?!" Mei said, eyes huge.
"What's going on?!" Izumi gasped.
Okami looked at me again, his voice steadier this time. "We're… together now."
The room exploded.
"EEEEHHHH?!" Mei and Izumi screamed in unison.
"What?! When?! How?!" Mei asked, clutching her head. "Why didn't you tell us?!"
Izumi pointed accusingly. "And why do you two not look shocked at all?!" she said, turning to Rentarou and Hina.
Hina chuckled, crossing her arms. "Come on, wasn't it obvious? The way Usagi-chan was all excited for Okami's birthday these past days, and how she showed up in that pretty red dress?"
Rentarou smirked. "Yeah. And Okami's sudden mood swing from gloomy to sunshine overnight? Pretty easy to read."
I buried my face in my hands.
"Yeah, surprise to us, I guess," Mei said, narrowing her eyes like a detective about to interrogate a suspect. "Now spill the tea, Usagi."
I nearly choked on air. "W-what tea?! There's no tea to spill!!"
"Oh, don't play innocent now!" Mei leaned in dramatically. "You've been glowing all morning. And last night you were acting all mysterious on the group chat! We demand answers."
Izumi nodded vigorously. "When did this happen?! Who confessed?! How long were you two secretly in love?!"
Okami chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh… actually, it happened yesterday…"
Mei's jaw dropped. "YESTERDAY?! You mean you just confessed and already look this couple-y?!"
I flailed. "I-It wasn't like that!! I mean—kind of—but not that fast!!"
Hina giggled, sipping her juice. "You two really are cute together, though. You look like you've found peace."
Rentarou raised a brow. "So… who made the first move?"
I froze.
Okami turned to me and smiled. "I did."
"KYAAAAA~" Mei screamed again, grabbing Izumi's shoulders and shaking her. "HE CONFESSED!! HE DID IT!!"
My face was about to combust. "O-Okay!! Enough questions!! Next present please!!" I shouted, hiding behind the nearest person like it would protect me from the embarrassment.
But inside? Yeah… I kinda loved every second of it.
Everyone blinked.
Then Mei deadpanned, "Uh… there is no next present, genius. You were the last one."
"Oh," I squeaked, slowly peeking out from behind Rentarou. "Right… hehe…"
"Which means," Izumi said with a wide grin, "we still have time for more questions!"
"Noooooo—!!" I wailed, and the whole room burst into laughter.
Even Okami, standing beside me, laughed softly—like he hadn't laughed like that in years. And just for a moment, with the teasing, the laughter, and his warmth so close…
Yeah, maybe I wouldn't mind being embarrassed a little longer.
"Ahem, so… should I leave now?" Rentarou said, stretching dramatically.
"Eh? What do you mean leave? You live here, you idiot," Mei snapped, eyebrows furrowed as we all turned to him in confusion—except for Hina, who just sipped her drink, totally unfazed.
"Oh, I meant…" Rentarou smirked, glancing between Okami and me, "…if our little lovebirds here need some quality time to, ahm, exchange gifts or something."
My entire face went red. Like, redder than my dress.
Okami coughed, clearly flustered. "I-I don't even—That's not—You—!"
"BAKA!" I shouted, grabbing a pillow and lobbing it at Rentarou.
The whole room burst out laughing, and Hina just smiled, whispering, "I knew this birthday would be fun."
"Oh, Mei, do you want more juice?" Hina suddenly asked, already grabbing her purse.
"Eh? No, I don't really—"
"Oh yes, you do," Hina cut her off with a mysterious smile. "Let's go."
"Uh… okay?" Mei blinked, clearly confused but stood up anyway.
"And we'll need someone strong to help carry all the drinks," Hina added with a dramatic glance. "Izumi, you're perfect for that."
Izumi perked up. "Oh? Finally someone acknowledges my strength! Lead the way, ladies!"
And just like that, the three of them slipped out, leaving an awkward silence in their wake.
"…Hina," I muttered under my breath. "What is she doing…?"
That only left Rentarou.
He stretched, then suddenly snapped his fingers. "Oh yeah—I forgot to tell them to grab some snacks too. Better go catch them!"
"Wait, you could just text—" I started, but he was already halfway out the door.
And now… it was just me and Okami.
Alone.
Again.
Why is my heart beating like this? We literally just announced we're together. So why does it feel like we're about to confess all over again…?