After bickering and chatting idly with Atsuko, the two began to discuss another topic with serious expressions. The subject of the talk was Saori's birthday, which would arrive in just a few hours.
"I've never celebrated a birthday before."
Atsuko and Saori's first meeting happened quite a long time ago. But during the long time they've been together, they had never celebrated each other's birthdays. They didn't even exchange formal words of congratulations. It would be more accurate to say it happened naturally rather than for any particular reason.
Perhaps it was natural. Among those born in Arius, there were none who cheered and rejoiced at their own birth.
Everything here was poor. Just ten years ago, civil war was constant, and even now, things like plentiful meals, clean water, and comfortable nests were hard to find. Being born in such a place is a blessing? Bullshit. They'd be better off as alley cats, settling in a back alley and acting cute to the person who takes care of them. If they could only swap roles, I think many people would gladly nest in a back alley.
To that extent, being born in Arius held no meaning at all. A birthday? That was nothing more than a simple word seen in a dictionary. The saying "since you're born, you might as well live" was, for Arius residents at least, not a metaphor but the literal meaning of the sentence.
"But we should celebrate it this time."
"Hmm......"
At Kenji's words, Atsuko closed her eyes and pondered. Watching her, Kenji spat out.
"You don't necessarily have to give a gift. The thought is what matters."
The easiest way to celebrate a birthday is a gift, but unfortunately, the squad members, including Atsuko, weren't in an environment to prepare one. Misaki prepared a gift after visiting a department store with Kenji, but the others didn't.
Of course, Saori wasn't the type to make a fuss about such things, but it's still natural to feel concerned, isn't it? It's also true that you'd feel self-conscious if others prepared gifts and you came empty-handed. So Kenji decided to ease Atsuko's worry.
"Think simply. Honestly, I think Saori would be happy just with a smile."
"......Is that so?"
Atsuko answered with a nonchalant expression. She fidgeted for a while longer, pondering, then as if a clear answer had come to her, opened her eyes wide. Her red eyes turned toward Kenji.
"How about this?"
She conveyed the idea that came to her directly to Kenji. Kenji put his hand on his chin, thought for a bit, then smiled crookedly and tilted his head.
"That's fine, isn't it?"
"Right?"
The gift was decided.
September 3rd, 12:00 AM. The moment the minute and hour hands on the wall clock met, Kenji sprang up from his seat and set off the party poppers he was holding one after another. Atsuko and Azusa, also in charge of poppers, followed Kenji's lead and set theirs off.
Pop pop pop! Along with the smell of gunpowder, the contents inside the poppers burst out. Saori stared at the debris with dazed eyes. Long pieces of colored paper, glittering gold foil... Waving and fluttering, before they could touch Saori's hair, Hiyori placed a party hat on her head.
"Do, done!"
"Good, wait a moment."
Kenji quickly took over from Hiyori's words. He smiled brightly and unwrapped the packaging of the cake on the table. The splendid appearance of the fresh cream cake bought a few days ago at the department store was revealed to the world. In the center was embedded a chocolate piece reading 'Happy Birthday!', and the bright red strawberries decorating the edges were coated in sugar syrup, shining appetizingly.
"Gasp!"
The moment she saw the cake, Hiyori's eyes sparkled and she jumped up and down on the spot. Her reaction was so intense you'd think it was her birthday. But unfortunately, today's protagonist wasn't her. Kenji giggled and looked at Saori.
She still seemed bewildered, unable to compose her expression. That was understandable. She was told today was sleepless training and not to sleep until night, then suddenly everyone jumped out, set off poppers, and put a party hat on her—it was natural to be flustered. The other four would have had similar reactions if they hadn't been told in advance.
"What is this......"
Saori mumbled while fiddling with the party hat on her head. It was an uncomfortable hat. The elastic band pressed against her chin and cheeks, so it seemed like it would hurt if worn long. But instead of taking it off, she looked around with a confused expression.
Hiyori. She was licking her lips while staring at the cake. A drop of saliva peeking between her lips—she didn't seem aware of it.
Azusa. She wore a faint smile, hard to notice if you didn't look closely. It used to be rare, but recently she's been showing various emotional expressions, so it wasn't strange. But the fact that smile was directed at her was quite surprising.
Misaki. She was helping Sensei put candles on the cake. She was grumbling quietly, but didn't refuse Sensei's touch. Rather, it seemed like she was guiding their fingers to tangle whenever their hands touched.
Atsuko.
"Saori."
"......Princess."
Saori mumbled while looking at Atsuko, who had come right beside her. Atsuko grinned and tapped the party hat on Saori's head with her finger.
"It suits you, doesn't it? I should have tried putting one on you a year ago too."
"Was this the Princess's plan?"
"You mean the birthday party?"
Saori nodded. Atsuko chuckled and slowly shook her head.
"No. Oppa planned it."
"......O...ppa?"
"Yeah, Oppa."
"......You mean Sensei?"
"Yeah. He gave permission."
Permission? Saori didn't quite understand what Atsuko was saying now. The sudden birthday party and the word 'oppa' caused an overload in her head. Regardless, Atsuko grabbed Saori's shoulder and pulled her toward the cake.
"Today's protagonist!"
Atsuko spat out the line she had prepared in advance. Then she turned her head toward Misaki.
Misaki threw a look at Kenji as if asking if she really had to do this. Kenji chuckled frivolously and waved his hand. Meaning go ahead. She let out a deep sigh and muttered in a small voice.
"Sigh... our exemplary leader......"
"Ha, Happy Birthday Saori!"
Hiyori shouted while drooling. Next, Azusa fired a salute flare with her shouldered rifle and continued.
"Congratulations on your birthday!"
"Congratulations!"
Kenji grinned and responded. Meanwhile, Saori still hadn't come to her senses.
A birthday. Like any Arius student, Saori had never celebrated a birthday. So she knew nothing about how a birthday party was supposed to go, what reaction she should show in this situation.
But she did know what she should say first.
"Th, thank you. Everyone."
A formal thank you. Yet it felt sincere. Seeing a side of the usually soldier-like Saori never seen before, Kenji let out a genuine laugh. Yeah, a kid that age should be like that. Thinking so, he lit the candles on the cake. Then he looked at Saori.
"Do you know what to do next?"
"......I don't. What should I do?"
"Hmm... let's receive the gift first."
"A gift?"
Saori tilted her head. Kenji grinned and brought over a box he had tucked away in the corner. Inside was a neatly shaped cap. Design-wise, it wasn't different from the one Saori usually wore, but the material was significantly different. It was durable enough not to tear even from fairly intense exercise.
"This is......"
"Since the cap you usually wear was pretty worn out. Do you like it?"
Kenji tore off various tags attached to the cap, then handed it to Saori. Saori stared at the cap with dazed eyes, then accepted it with careful hands.
A clean-shaped navy blue cap with no separate decorations. Taking off the party hat and putting it on, it fit perfectly without any adjustment. Saori still had a dazed expression. Should I say pitiful, or cute? Well, either was fine. Kenji, still smiling, slowly looked over whether the cap suited Saori.
As expected. Just as he thought when first choosing the cap, thanks to her good looks, she pulled off even a cap worn low over her eyes. Kenji snorted a laugh and stroked her head over the cap.
"It suits you well."
Only after Kenji spat that out did Saori seem to come to her senses, letting out a small ah. She looked up at Kenji with a troubled expression while fiddling with the brim of the cap.
"......Even if you give me this, I cannot repay you. Meaning it's meaningless. So you should take it back......"
"Isn't expecting repayment for a birthday gift more of an asshole move?"
Kenji retorted with a scoff. Saori just gaped her mouth, unable to offer any rebuttal. Not because she agreed with Kenji's words, but because distinguishing whether that statement was true or not was impossible in the first place. It was natural, since she was receiving a birthday gift for the first time in her life.
"......Is it really okay?"
"It's fine. If you're worried about Beatrice, I'll handle it, so don't worry. More importantly, there's one more gift."
Saying that, Kenji sent a look toward Misaki. Misaki flinched for a moment, but then approached Saori with stiff movements and held out a paper bag. It was a bag containing a cosmetics set. From simple skin care to lotion, lipstick, powder, sunscreen, etc. A set containing all basic cosmetics.
"......Misaki."
Saori called Misaki's name in a voice that was a little, just a little, moist. Misaki answered in surprise.
"I didn't buy it. I only chose it, the executive paid."
"That's the same thing, what. For gifts, the thought is more important than money. Yeah, of course."
"You want to keep saying strange things?"
"S-so!"
Hiyori cut off their conversation. Naturally, everyone's gaze turned toward her. With five pairs of eyes focused on her at once, she flinched, but her appetite was stronger. Pointing at the cake on the table with her finger, she shouted.
"Wh, when do we eat the cake?!"
"Indeed. If we leave it with the candles lit, the wax will drip. That wouldn't be hygienic."
Azusa nodded, agreeing with Hiyori's opinion. Kenji forced a bitter smile and took out the cake knife.
"Alright, alright. Let's eat quickly. But before that, Saori?"
"H, huh?"
"You blow out the cake candles with your mouth. Before blowing, close your eyes and make one wish, that's it."
"A wish... you say."
"Anything is fine, so think about it in your heart."
"......Understood."
Saori nodded. She plopped down in her seat and leaned her head right in front of the cake.
A heat haze bloomed at the tip of the flame on the candle. Saori stared intently at that heat haze, then slowly closed both eyes.
A wish.
The aspiration she so desperately wanted in childhood. Yet a desire that only grew fainter with time.
She recalled just a few months ago. Training was harsh, getting hurt was common, and she had long forgotten the feeling of joy. Wounds oozed pus, the smell of blood never dried on her clothes. Hell, as always, lasting for years.
She recalled the past month. Training was harsh, but no one got hurt. At some point, smiles gradually began to return to everyone's faces. Azusa opened her mouth more often. Atsuko could now speak with her face revealed. Misaki stopped self-harming. Hiyori no longer frequently made pessimistic remarks about life.
Why? What difference existed between the past month and a few months ago?
It wasn't a question worth pondering. Beyond the darkness visible because her eyes were closed, someone's face came to mind. Saori unknowingly laughed and recalled that face. Just that was enough to put her heart at ease.
'A wish.'
She knew this act held no real meaning. Common-sensically, just making a wish on a birthday wouldn't make it come true. But... Saori didn't want to take the current situation lightly.
A wish.
A word she had already repeated three times. The aspiration she dreamed of as a child, still desperately wanting even now. Holding a sincere smile, Saori whispered her wish in her heart.
'May everyone finally become happy.'
Whoosh.*
The cake candles went out. Hearing everyone's applause, Saori opened her closed eyes.
Color returned to the world. Saori took in everyone within her sight. Hiyori thrusting a knife toward the cake. Atsuko covering her mouth and laughing. Misaki letting out a deep sigh. Azusa gulping down saliva. Kenji forcing a bitter smile. Without even blinking, she took them all in.
"Sacchan."
Then, Atsuko stared at Saori and spat out. Saori realized the call was for her and blinked.
"Princess...?"
"I wanted to call you by a nickname. Is that not okay?"
Saori moved her lips as if choosing her words, then finally spoke while holding a bright smile.
"Thank you, Atsuko."
"........Yeah, Sacchan."
The two looked at each other and smiled. Kenji, watching them fondly, took out his smartphone from his pocket and launched the camera app.
"Come on, everyone gather. Let's take a picture."
"Bueeh... Can't we take it after eating cake?"
"Uh, no."
Kenji was firm. Hiyori fiddled with a plastic fork, then trudged over to Kenji's side. Azusa and Misaki did the same. Atsuko approached Saori's side and gently took a seat.
Saori stared at Atsuko for a moment, then smiled broadly and turned her head toward the smartphone Kenji held.
Without a doubt.
Today was the best day.
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