habbby bdayy (closed to hamuko, ichinose and morning)

[takutomaruki]

-----> 23rd may, in maruki's apartment

It was the 23rd of May.

Maruki had been keeping an eye on the dates for weeks now. A small, red circle marked the number neatly on the calendar that sat atop his study desk, drawn in with the same meticulous care he applied to nearly everything else in his life. He’d told himself—promised himself—that he’d come up with something thoughtful for Ichinose’s birthday. Something more than the usual gestures. Something that said he’d been paying attention.

There had been a few complications, of course.

Ichinose said she had arrived in summer, and there was always the chance she’d already celebrated her birthday before meeting them—quietly, or not at all. He had tried watching her closely on the 6th, just in case. But her expression hadn’t shifted. No sign of expectation. No sulking. No joy. Nothing that screamed "this is a day for me."

Maybe he should’ve wished her a happy birthday then and there. But back then, he had been swamped—tangled in his research, consumed by the ever-growing list of patients, papers, the mess of his project. And of course, Morning.

Morning had taken priority.

It hurt him to keep the boy in the dark for so long—the Akira from another universe who was his son inadvertedly, one he never expected to meet. Every instinct told him to protect, to nurture, to give. So that’s what he’d done. The kid had already missed too much. Maruki couldn’t let him miss anything else.

So yes. Life had been full. Bursting, even.

But today was for them.

-----

He had taken Morning along with him to the lab under the pretense of needing help with a light calibration test—some throwaway excuse he knew Morning wouldn’t question too deeply. Ichinose was already there when they arrived, nose-deep in her work, and Maruki only smiled faintly before excusing himself.

“Sorry, I’ve got to run a quick errand. Won’t be long,” he said, grabbing his coat. “Just don’t let Morning fall asleep in my chair again, yeah?”

Then he slipped out, coat flaring slightly behind him, and headed straight to the place where the real work was already underway.

-----

Back at his apartment, the lights were dimmed low to hide the still-in-progress decorations. Modest balloons, two cakes waiting in the fridge. There was even a small hand-made banner hung clumsily above the kitchen archway that read: Happy Birthday!!—with the letters slightly crooked in their tape. Not his best visual work, but it had heart.

Maruki stood near the window now and occasionally peeked through the peephole of the entrance door at every small sound from the hallway, every shuffle of feet. He spotted them just a block away. Not yet. Still a little time.

He turned back into the room, brushing off his hands and checking that the candles were still tucked safely in their packaging.

"Hamu—uh, Hamuko-san?" he called out softly toward the kitchen. "They’re on their way here. Just got the text." He had messaged them that he's out to get groceries.

He moved to adjust one of the streamers that had started drooping again—tape failing, or humidity, he couldn’t tell which.

“I think this might actually work,” he murmured, almost to himself. A faint, nervous smile tugged at his lips as he looked over everything one last time. The table was set. The gifts- to an extent, the food, the soft jazz in the background.

Now all that was left was for the door to open.

And the moment of surprise to land.

Comments

[wipingallout]

...The moment that Maruki flipped on the lights from where he was (poorly) hidden, Hamuko jumped out from behind the sofa and popped her celebratory popper.

"SURPRIIIIISE! Happy birthday!" she cheered loudly and proudly, laughing a little at Ichinose almost jumping back through the front door in surprise.

[takutomaruki]

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!"

[paradisefraught]

"AAHHHHHHH!!"

Morning's first reaction is to flinch back with a shriek, but once he calms down...

"You guys remembered...my birthday..."

And there's the tears. Of joy! But tears nonetheless.

[wipingallout]

"Aww, of course we did, Morning!" Hamuko encouraged, laughing lightly. Ichinose just looked a bit bewildered - why wasn't she in on the surprise? But Hamuko eagerly beckoned them both in.

"We got cake and everything!"

1/2

[takutomaruki]

"Speaking of birthdays," Maruki adds and pockets his phone, going to grab the two small golden coloured birthday party hats at the side. "Happy belated birthday, Ichinose-san," he smiles. "Sorry, I did remember your birthday was on 6th may..I just wasn't sure if you had already celebrated it with friends back home since you came during summer- still it was a bit mean of me. Please take this-" he gestures inadvertedly at his own apartment. "-Unorthodox celebration as a little apology. Even if we don't know each other that well you two are very important to me."

He holds out the party hat for her, expectantly waiting for her to accept it. Really it was just a cute head band with the classic golden cone on the top.

2/2

[takutomaruki]

His attention inexplicably drifts back to when Hamuko beckons them both in but Morning isn't as relaxed. His brows furrow in worry as he reaches out for him and places a hand on Morning's shoulder-noticing the teary eyed expression. He had never seen that sort of look on Akira which might just be amplified from the actualization. "Hey, you okay? I didn't want to do anything too flashy just yet but no issues holding up yea?" Ever the worrywort.

[paradisefraught]

"I just worry about being a burden...you didn't spend too long on me, did you?" He's shuffling in, though, excited.

1/2

[wipingallout]

"Aww, don't worry about burdens or anything like that!" Hamuko insisted, walking to meet Morning and holding out her hands to him. "It's your birthday, it's special!"

[dollmaxing]

"Honestly, I didn't expect to be included at all - it's been a minute since anyone celebrated with me, after all," Ichinose mused, mildly intrigued and perplexed.

But, why not - she'll put that silly party hat headband on her head, walking up behind Morning and sliding the other onto his head too.

[takutomaruki]

Maruki leveled his gaze at the two of them—Morning, still looking a little overwhelmed under the now-askew birthday headband, and Ichinose, who wore her own like it was a puzzle she wasn’t quite sure how to solve.

There was something in their expressions that stung.

Maruki had never been one to leave things unresolved.

“With that,” he declared dramatically, gesturing with both hands, “you two have now been officially crowned. So by royal decree: no one here is a burden. Not even a little. And believe me, I have been racking my brain for days trying to figure out how to make this just right.”

He gave them a sheepish grin, his usual dorkiness shining through as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I mean, it’s been a while since I’ve planned a birthday party, let alone- this might be the first time I am doing a double one... I had to do research. Hamuko-san’s been a huge help.”

He glanced toward the door still left wide open behind them and quickly moved to shut it, sliding the lock into place with a soft click before turning back toward the room.

“Alright, alright, no more chilly air or nosy neighbors,” he muttered, then raised his voice a bit as he clapped his hands together. “Now! I’ll bring out the snacks. There’s karaage, chips, some matcha cookies, and a really interesting mystery snack box I found online- you can't judge me for it. It's not everyday I get to just have things for free."

"We will open it after we get the cakes sorted- speaking of which get comfortable. This will be a long night- should give us enough time to continue with the dinner and desserts-!"

[paradisefraught]

"Here, it IS every day," Morning chirps, poking him in the side. All bad thoughts are gone! For now.

[wipingallout]

"And of course, we have cake and presents!!"

"Presents! Goodness. One of you actually got me something?" Ichinose asked with a surprised look, though she was still smiling, if nothing else.

"I did get you something, though I admit I don't know you quite well enough to give a stunner, Ichinose-san! But Morning..."

Hamuko paused to fetch the two gifts she brought - Ichinose's is simple, just some sugar cookies she baked. Morning, though, he gets a proper wrapped box...!!

[takutomaruki]

Maruki only smiled softly at the mention of presents, glancing at Ichinose with a subtle wink before patting Morning on the shoulder and moving around them to grab his phone and connect the new Bluetooth speaker he simply "bought" from Akihabara- switching to a light party playlist.

"Hamuko-san let them sit down first atleast...unless everyone is too hungry to wait it out. I will get the cakes to let them settle into room temperature and no- I am not going to drop them, I am bringing them one by one."

The table outstretched before the sofa, a new fancy tatami mat spread out underneath. "I will be here in just a sec- in the meantime you guys can figure out what to start with first."

[dollmaxing]

"Well, this is exciting. I don't mind what we start with - Morning, it's actually your birthday, why don't you pick what we're up to first?"

With that, Ichinose sat herself down on the sofa, crossing her legs and relaxing against the cushions as she got ready to watch the teenagers' antics.

Hamuko just beamed at Morning, all smiles and excitement. "Alright, birthday boy - cake, snacks, presents or games first?"

[paradisefraught]

"Uhm. Uhmm..." Morning freezes, deer in the headlights. "Uhm..."

[takutomaruki]

With what he just said- it didn't take long for him to follow through as he set the strawberry shortcake and glanced back at the others. With Hamuko urging on Morning, Maruki took it as a good sign to go back to the kitchen and get the chocolate cake as well.

By the time he came back, Morning was frozen before everyone. Sighing to himself, he walked up and patted Morning on both shoulders- "There's no wrong answer, Morning. Breathe in, breathe out and tell us the first thing that comes to your mind."

[wipingallout]

"Exactly! You can do it, I believe in you!" Hamuko encouraged fondly. He always froze up, but maybe with enough times being put on the spot, something might crack a little and he'll learn to anticipate it and start thinking about what HE wants.

[paradisefraught]

First thing that comes to mind? Ok!

"AAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

[takutomaruki]

Maruki kept his expression straight laced save for the twitching of his brow that Morning couldn't really see from this angle.

"Oh-kay, what's the second and possible third legible thing that comes to your mind? Are you hungry?"

[paradisefraught]

"B," says Morning, after a moment of thinking. "And C..."

The moment Dr. Maruki mentions food though, a huuuuge wave of relief visually floods through Morning. "Yeah! Food first! I'm hungry. Let's do that!"

[wipingallout]

Hamuko had jumped a little in surprise at the scream, but burst out laughing - Ichinose rolled her eyes from behind Morning, wincing from the sharp volume increase. At least it was brief.

"Food first!! Alright, that sounds great!"

we can start the cake cutting in the next few responses or we can timeskip. your call chat

[takutomaruki]

"Alright, finally! Food it is! The cakes are already out...and there are snacks at the table. I will get us two knives for both of you." With that, he patted Morning's shoulders once more before leaving their company again to get to the kitchen. There's the two basic fruit cutting knives that he quickly picks up in one hand, sharp end turned away as he sets them down before the respective cakes. He gets his phone out and takes a quick picture of the cake before reaching into his pocket- coming out empty handed on the other end.

"Huh..I had the candles with me just now. Haha-! Might have dropped it in the mess so just one sec," he bumbled awkwardly as he reached out his hand and one of Azathoth's tentacle manifest away- outstretching to the kitchen yet again. It pokes at an ajar cabinet door and lo and behold- the fresh pack of candles was left behind there. Ah well, "Azathoth, if you don't mind..."

The persona reacts aptly as it hands up the pack of candles in Maruki's hand. "There you have it-! Now let's see here..." And with that, he begins preparing the cake.

[paradisefraught]

"Thank you, Azathoth-san...!" Morning happily sits down at the table and watches the eldritch abomination (though that's rude, calling Azathoth-san that, isn't it?) prepare cake for everyone.

[dollmaxing]

Hamuko's brow twitched a bit at Azathoth - she couldn't help the way her Personas curled back reflexively from it in her skull - and while Ichinose noticed that subtle reaction... she didn't say anything about it.

She pulled out a chair and sat, smiling in placid amusement as she watched the three people navigating around Morning's interesting condition. This Hamuko is definitely aware, wanting to affect it, isn't she...?

"These cakes... did you make them, Maruki?"

"We baked them for you guys!! Maruki-san did most of the work, I just helped with decorating," Hamuko chirped proudly, easily falling into a bubbly grin. Ichinose stared at her with a curious smile - oh, she was talented with that hiding smile.

[takutomaruki]

With Morning’s happy chirp, the tentacle reflexively conjoined with another tentacle- wired hands flexing together to form a heart. Maruki held back his grimace, unsure why his persona had to always be so expressive with everything it did.

That said- he sorted the numbered candles on both the cakes and grinned, preparing a ready lighter with the slightest smell of cigarette coming from it as he chuckled lightly at Hamuko’s remark. "Believe me the cake looked like something out of a nightmare when I got the icing out- Hamuko-san helped out in evening all the wrinkles. When I say she's been a great help so far, I mean it."

"Alright I will light up the candles now and this might be silly but go ahead and make a wish. After that comes my true test on whether or not the taste suffices-!"
The flames dance over the wick of the candles reflecting "17" and "33" on the cakes.