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]

"A little party... yeah, that might be nice! I'll figure out what I want to do by October. Or earlier. There's a lot of days that mean a lot of nice things, to me," Hamuko hummed in agreement, nodding.

"So? Yours is up soon, right? Which day do I plan for?"

[takutomaruki]

"A different day sounds like a wonderful idea," he nodded as well. She could reserve a different day to celebrate her special day...

Back to him though, huh? "Me? I don't...I don't know if there's any point to it."

Then he snapped his fingers- "Ah-! you know, I think the calendar skipped that day this year. Total mystery-!"

[wipingallout]

"Uh oh, do you think I won't resort to clever underhanded tactics to find out if you don't just come clean? Maybe I'll organize a HUGE party for you. Lights, streamers, a rented band for a live concert--"

[takutomaruki]

He pressed his lips firmly, a little caught off guard by her insistence. And she says she will organize a huge party but judging the state of this place, he would be surprised if she managed all of that.

"...it's july 10th," he remarks quietly- now thankful that they are standing outside his apartment. "You don’t have to go to all that trouble. Honestly, I’m... I would much rather focus on other things. Morning's health, the extent of my research and other small projects. Or to make your day more special. I think I would enjoy that far more."

[wipingallout]

"Heehee. July tenth! You're freed from the punishment of being grandly celebrated," she teased, giving him a playful little punch to the elbow.

"I got about a month to make your present, then - perfect. I can pull something off!"

[takutomaruki]

Oh, the punch came just like that-! "Oomph, have mercy on my fragile bones, will you?" He joked back as he rubbed his elbow. And punishment of being grandly celebrated? He doesn't see celebration like that-! He just...doesn't think he needs to put the time into it.

"But you already have, Hamuko-san. The present resides right next to my work bag," he shakes his head with a wry smile. referring to the satchel that she had just gifted him a month ago.

[wipingallout]

"Sure is! And you're getting another one. Any special requests? Otherwise I'm gonna have full creative liberty!"

It never, ever got old insisting on giving people thoughtful gifts - little tokens of gestures showing what she thought of the people in her life.

[takutomaruki]

Hamuko's hospitality felt more like a threat with each passing second. The promise of another gift was certainly something-!

"I really appreciate your kindness, Hamuko-san. There's nothing more I would love as a gift from you aside from the thought of it," he reassured her with a twitching smile. Honestly, the only special request he could ask for is for others to trust him more...but he knows Hamuko can't grant something like that. He can't grant it by force either after all. Too suspicious.

[wipingallout]

Alas, she can only offer her own friendship - she'll just have to make it as bright and fun as it can be, getting to know him and getting a mutual trust built up. They both could use it, after all.

"Hehe. Okay! I'll make sure it's something nice and handy - that way you can use it often and remember the first birthday you've celebrated in a while. I promise I'll pick a day for me in return, sound fair?"

[takutomaruki]

The man brightened up at the question- relieved with how everything turned out. "Give me a bit of a headsup then so that I can finally come up with a good gift for you. I am not as crafty as you are after all but I will come up with something-!" He picked himself up in the end- trying to sound as confident as he hoped he could come across anyway.

That said, he looks out and into the narrow walkway that oversees the dark night. "It's getting late though...isn't it?"

[wipingallout]

"It is! I should be mostly okay if I head home, since I'm strong enough that most Dark Hour shadows run away at the sight of me, assuming nothing strange decides to pop up tonight."

It hadn't even really occurred to her to ask to stay over the night.

[takutomaruki]

He figured so, judging from the type of person that Hamuko always was. Accomodating, welcoming and most of all forgiving. He had ought to return the favour.

"You sure? You can stay over here if you want." Maruki presents the choice anyway, hospitable as he is. "As things are, Kuon is probably is going to sleep in here again anyway so you would have to share the bed with her if you don't mind that." He doesn't even notice the slip of the first name before the girl, gesturing at his door with a thumb. "Or I could arrange a mattress for you seperately. Whatever is more comfortable for you."

[wipingallout]

"Well, I don't know her that well, so--"

Hamuko stopped dead in the middle of her sentence, smirking and leaning in. Ohhh???

"Kuon?"

[takutomaruki]

Takuto spaces out for a moment, eyebrows hiking up before there's a flush of embarrassment that crosses his features before he can reel it back in. Hamuko's relentless teasing is the sugar on top.

"Ah, yea- we were just talking on the balcony an hour back," he explains while rubbing the back of his neck. "It's really been a while since I made a friend here...I am still getting used to it."

"Sorry that probably sounds strange coming from me, doesn't it?"

[wipingallout]

"No way, that's great! Hehehe. I bet you guys chat each others' ears off about theory and stuff!" Hamuko giggled, grinning ear-to-ear.

"She is a little... strange? Not in a bad way, but she is so different than anyone I've known. I bet she's really interesting and sees things in a different way."

[takutomaruki]

"Oh our conversations online probably don't help, do they?" Maruki wasn't as such embarassed by it but their comments were public to an extent. Anyone else who reads all of that would probably have a crazier impression.

"She catches me off guard more times than I can count," Maruki remarks with a small smile. She's so fascinating-! And the way her mind works is always so intriguing to follow. "She's such a passionate and hardworking individual with a remarkable warmth to her that feels different from the norm."

"The project we are working on has incredible potential. I can't wait to start getting into the practical side of things-!"

[wipingallout]

"Ooooh, what're you two working on? She makes AIs... maybe an early diagnostics system? Something like that? That'd be so cool!!"

It could be anything, and it's making people anxious... Hamuko figures if anyone can get an early ear on what their projects are, it might be her? And... hopefully the friendships and environment she's trying to help foster will keep him from extremes.

"Oh, or an AI companion or something!!"

[takutomaruki]

Maruki playfully places an index on his lips. "No spoilers now-! I would need Kuon's mutual permission before I go around sharing our plans."

[wipingallout]

"Awww. Okay okay, I'll ask again when she's up. I bet it'll be cool!"

It's still so funny to hear him say the woman's first name - they really buddied up fast.

"Guess that means an air mattress and blanket for me! I can do an impromptu sleepover, I'll just text Shinji and Vi to let them know what I'm doing."

[takutomaruki]

"It's definitely something I have hypothesised about previously but with her around she fills in on my weaknesses." He nods to himself, satisfied with the party now slowly coming to an end and the night in general. They fostered a healthy environment, had good food and can trust each other to an extent.

There is also the matter of Hamuko being involved with the Hasegawas. He doubts Ichinose would like it if he just told her all their plans- even if the girl promises full confidentiality. Not to mention the general level of skepticism that is already aimed at them. Better tread these grounds carefully.

"Sure! I can get that arranged for you then," he nods. "As long as there is no couch surfing on my watch. You don't need to make the silly mistakes I made to earn such a fragile back after all-!"

[wipingallout]

"The crucifixion and battling probably did in my joints more than anything else, anyway! Oh geez, I can't imagine how bad my knees are gonna be if I stay here too long... climbing all of those stairs in Tartarus..."

SIGH.

"Darn, I didn't think to pack a toothbrush, though... do you have a spare I can take?"

[takutomaruki]

"Everytime you mention Tartarus I think I age ten years more just from comprehending that mess," Takuto remarks with a wry chuckle, as if filling in on an awkward joke with barely any punchline but to be fair- he's tired from the day's events. He would like to relax where he can.

"How do you think I will manifest a fresh mattress, a mattress cover, pillow and a blanket-" He quizzes back instead, smiling still though its a little unnerving now. As if he were doing a magic trick. "-if I can't even get you a spare toothbrush? I suppose you will need spare clothes as well, won't you?"

[wipingallout]

...Hamuko kept her reaction in check, keeping the unsettled feeling aside and instead giving him a curious quirk of the eyebrow.

"And here I thought you were just a prepared person - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and all that."

Ah, that's probably not a great analogy to pass to someone like Maruki. Oh well.

[takutomaruki]

"Ha- oh," he breaks off from his stupor like the daze had flipped off on him. There's a flicker of hurt in his eyes but he reigns that in. "Sorry, its just- I don't have a lot of people coming to my place that often."

"Kuon mentioned this earlier but even if I ordered online it would take time for the materials to arrive. I will arrange everything for you though so no need to worry," he reassured her and he does hope he doesn't sound like he's pleading with her. That would be pretty pathetic, wouldn't it?

[wipingallout]

Hamuko sighed, giving him an apologetic smile. "Sorry - it's not your fault, it's just... Azathoth's presence manifesting tends to make them squirm up here," she explained, tapping her temple. "It's your Persona, though, just like how Thanatos is mine and disturbs you. Did he give you a headache too, when I summoned him?"