Happy Birthday (Ichinose Tokiya x Reader)

READER

The box was violet with a silver ribbon tied around it. The package was small, but it was just the right size for the present I was going to give Tokiya, my boyfriend of two years. It was his birthday and I had looked real hard for the perfect present for him—an antique silver pocket watch with a faded (but beautiful) violet T engraved on it.

            I glanced at my watch; it was almost five o’clock. I hurriedly rushed out of my bed and went to the mirror, looking myself over. I had on a violet blouse with ruffles on the neckline, white Capri pants, a pair of white flats, and there was a violet butterfly burette in my hair that Tokiya had given me when we started dating.  

            Putting the gift into my white purse, I hurried out the door of my room and walked in the almost-setting sun to the park.

TOKIYA

I calmly glanced at my wristwatch, checking to see what time it was. 4:48 pm. I frowned slightly, wondering where ____ was. Maybe I was being paranoid (seeing as I came here thirty minutes before our meeting time), but I was still worried. Who knows what could happen to her out on those streets?

            “Tokiya!” someone shouted behind me and my worry instantly disappeared, replaced by joy in seeing ____ here. I turned around and was met with the most wonderful (e/c) eyes I had ever seen. I approached her, meeting her halfway, and enveloped her in my arms. She had been so distant lately that I needed some sort of sign of affection from her.

            Her arms wrapped around my torso and hugged me tightly. I pulled away and looked into her (e/c) eyes that were twinkling with excitement. I chuckled. “What are you so excited about, ____?” I asked.

            ____ grinned innocently. “It’s a secret, Tokki,” she said.

            I raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? Will you, by chance, reveal that secret to me, ____?”

            She put a finger to her chin and tilted her head to the sky. “Hmm…” She looked at me without turning her head and smiled. “We’ll see.” I chuckled, amused by her cuteness, which I never would’ve said out loud.

            ____ suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me close to her until our faces were just inches apart, her smile never leaving her face. “Come on,” she mock-whispered, “let’s go.” I had no choice to follow as she pulled me forward. I didn’t say anything, just tried to keep my cool as she pulled me away.

***

We walked for about twenty minutes when we reached a little village at the edge of town. It was an artificial one, as far as I could tell, but it gave off the feeling of home, nonetheless. As we entered the gate, I marveled at the structures—the wooden cottages, the beautiful-smelling pine trees, the small spring that must have led to a bigger and wider river downstream. It was all so beautiful that I wondered how ____ found this place.

            And speaking of ____, she tugged on the arm that hers was looped around. She smiled at me expectantly. “Do you like it?”

            I smiled softly at her and cupped her cheek, resisting the urge to kiss her then and there, as I had done a few time before. “I love it, ____. How did you ever find this place?” I dropped my hand and looked around once more. “It seems so… secluded.” On the contrary, it had a lot of people, but it still seemed isolated to me.

            ____ giggled. “My two aunts and uncles own this village. They had it built some decades ago for those people who wanted to fish. The river leading to the lake is over there,” she said, and pointed to a dense grove of trees that looked like there was one way in, but no way out. “I had been here a lot when I was a kid so I could play with my cousins.”

            “And you still remember it?”

            She nodded. “In the summer, I always come here to help my aunts with their small restaurant. It’s always packed with people in the summer, so I come by to lend a helping hand.”

            I could feel my smile grow wider, feeling proud of my girlfriend. I really was lucky to have her in my life. If I didn’t I wouldn’t be this happy, this determined, this… complete. I know it was too early to say this, considering we were only dating for two years, but she started making me into a better man than I was since the first time we met. I love her like I love music. I treat her as my life and I want her to be part of my life as long as I live.

            I knew it was too early to marry—we were just eighteen—but, I swear, when I get a good job, enough to support the two of us, I will propose to her, in the best way possible.

READER

I led Tokiya into my aunt’s restaurant after a while of walking under the fading light. It had been so peaceful, that this walk owned the title of one of our Best Walks Ever. We had been walking along the bank of the spring when Tokiya noticed that the light was getting dimmer. I noticed it after he pointed it out and led him to the restaurant.

            Now we were seated at a corner table where we could see everyone, but hardly anybody noticed us, which was what we both preferred. Tokiya and I just sat there, fingers slightly intertwined, eyes gazing at the other’s. We had already ordered our food and were waiting for them, just staying in comfortable silence until they arrived.

            I was itching to give Tokiya his present, though. I was so excited to see his reaction to it. I mean, I searched for a long time for that present and even deliberately avoided him just so I could keep my secret. Sure, I felt a bit guilty for not spending time with him, but it was for a good cause.

***

After we ate, Tokiya and I split the bill, a usual routine for the both of us, even though he insisted (as always) to pay for me. Shortly after, I led him outside to a low cliff and we sat on a flat (and clean) rock. It was smooth and clean so I didn’t worry about my pants even though Tokiya offered the blazer he was wearing for me to sit on.

            My boyfriend and I sat there in complete silence, watching and listening to the waves brush against the rocks. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and raised my head from where it was on Tokki’s shoulder. He looked at me as I made a show of searching my purse for something. I took out the gift, still wrapped neatly in its wrapping paper.

            I held it out to Tokiya and he gingerly took it (after looking at it for a few seconds). He glanced at me for a moment, then back at the small box. Tokiya took a piece of silver ribbon and tugged. The bow came free and the ribbon unraveled itself. Slowly, Tokiya opened that box and his eyes went wide and he took out the pocket watch from inside. He placed the box on his lap and fiddled with the watch, opening and closing it repeatedly. I laughed, amused at him acting like a child with a new toy. Tokiya heard my laugh and stopped his fiddling, turning his head to look at me.

            “What are you laughing about?” he asked.

            I shrugged. “Nothing. I was just thinking about how cute you are.”

            I couldn’t quite make it out in the dim light, but I think his cheeks reddened slightly.

            He coughed. “Well, th-thank you for the compliment.” I laughed again, louder this time.

            Tokiya just looked at me with a slightly disapproving look on his face. He was smiling a little though, and took my wrist make me look at him. I stopped shortly, amusement still evident in my eyes, I was sure.

            I was about to speak when Tokiya leaned in.

TOKIYA

I kissed her, tasting her sweet flavor and smelling her minty scent. I loved it when I kissed her and the timing of this one was just right. It was perfect—a moonlit kiss by a cliff overlooking a lake, just after my girlfriend gave me a present for the birthday that I actually forgot. She was really my muse, after all. She wakes me up to what I needed to see, makes me feel what I needed to understand.

            I love her. Very much.

            Too soon after, we pulled apart and I wrapped my arms around her tightly. “Thank you, ____. This is a very wonderful present.” I looked at her, a loving smile on my face. She smiled back at me and I swear I could see my own personal sun in that smile.

            “Happy birthday, Tokiya,” she said as she caressed my cheek. “I love you.”

            I held her hand in mine and leaned against it, looking her in the eye. “I love you, ____. And I will love you forever.” I leaned in and kissed her again, the moon watching over us as we celebrated in our own way.

THE END