Right on the heels of Hamuko’s excited cheer, a second pop! echoed through the room—Maruki burst out from behind the shelf in a flurry of confetti and glitter, grinning far too wide for his own good as he launched his own party popper into the air.

"Happy birthday!!" he echoed, voice full of that bubbling, unfiltered joy that came from pulling something like this off.

He didn’t even hesitate as he dropped the popper and pulledout his phone. One tap, then two—click! click! The shutter captured the exact moment Ichinose’s and Morning's surprised expressions all too mischieviously. Delighted even until he realized the potted plant that he had tucked under his arm in a rush. "Haha, you two should have seen your faces just now-!" He quickly set the plant on the shoe rack and peeked at the picture on his phone.

"Adorable. I was so sure my groceries excuse wouldn't work!"