Dr Takuto Maruki (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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personavelvetroomdr2025-05-23 11:14 pm
takutomaruki) wrote in personavelvetroomdr2025-05-23 11:14 pm
Entry tags:
habbby bdayy (closed to hamuko, ichinose and morning)
-----> 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.
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.
no subject
"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."
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"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-!"
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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!!"
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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."
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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-!"
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SIGH.
"Darn, I didn't think to pack a toothbrush, though... do you have a spare I can take?"
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"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?"
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"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.
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"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?
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"That said, I will make sure whatever I get for you doesn't have a trace of Azathoth so you can sleep well. And please let me know if there's anything else I can do for you to make you comfortable, well aside from the snacks I have in store."
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And she means it.
"Personas are all so different and so odd... it is really interesting."
1/2 (deffo one more rank up with the shrine convo) ♫♩
He turns to glance at Hamuko properly this time, one hand in pocket. "And seriously- its the least I could do for you, Hamuko-san. Thank you...for trusting me. I don't usually invite people to my place but...its nice. To have a friend to confide in again."
He said those words so casually and this time he didn't add a line of apology to it. They pinkie promised about it after all.
The wind wisps past them, causing some of Takuto's curls to flutter. The moon drew a layer that nearly shone upon his brown hair.
2/2
"...its getting chilly. Come on in before we both end up catching a cold."
no subject