Title: Birthday Gifts
Writer: indigolovesong
Word Count: Approx. 1575 words 
Characters: Aine, Reiji, Kei, Hibiki, Hakase, and Ai. 
trigger warnings: mentions of alcohol, references back to another fic, mentions of ai shutting down, and me sobbing like no tomorrow

tldr; i cry about aine and ai. happy birthday lovelies ☆☆☆ if someone can draw a marine jelly cupcake i’ll love you forever… and btw there’s no angst~ ♥ 

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“And a happy birthday to Aine! Kanpai!”

Clink.

Their glasses clinked together with a loud enthusiasm and each of the men sipped their drinks. Aine was the first to put down his drink—he was never that fond of alcohol to begin with. He actually wouldn’t have had a glass at all in the first place, but since he was the birthday boy, his friends insisted. In a quick battle of jan-ken-pon, Reiji (much to his disappointment) was assigned to be their designated driver.

The brunet flung an arm around Aine with his glass of apple juice in hand, grinning ear to ear.

“It’s been so long since we were all together… and celebrating your birthday too, Aine! I’m still amazed your birthday’s on a leap year! What are you now? 6?” His best friend chuckled, before a serious look passed his face.

“After what happened in the last few years… this is the least we can do for you.” Kei and Hibiki nodded, before Kei yanked Reiji off of him. The bluenet only smiled awkwardly and stared down at his glass, before shaking his head rigorously.

“It’s nothing to worry about really. What happened in the past is the past. I’m done with that.” Taking another sip of his glass, Aine smiled at his best friends. “What’s important now is the present and future. I’m really happy that all of you put out time for me, despite how busy you are now.”

“I’ll always make time for you, Aine. We’re partners, no matter what.” Kei murmured in a serious tone, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. Hibiki poured another glass for him, nodding in agreement with the other.

“If you need anyone to talk to, call us Aine.” His best friend leapt up to give him another hug, and pulled away with a big grin.

“Aine. You’re never alone, even if you think you are sometimes,” he gripped the other’s shoulders a bit tightly, “We’re here for you. Hakase is here for you. And Ai-Ai and his kouhai are too.”

“Everyone loves you.”

Hearing Reiji say those gentle words, he suddenly felt the sensation of his cheeks being wet. Bringing one finger to his eye, the bluenet tried to wipe his tears but they were unable to stop. He wondered whether if it was because it was the influence of the alcohol, or that he had never finished crying in the first place. Or maybe it was both.

After being able to talk to each and every one of his friends again, he thought he had finished crying out every last tear.

He wasn’t lonely anymore.

Being surrounded by the warmth of his friends, the emptiness and despair he had felt during those lost days were being filled with love and renewed youth again.

He felt like he was the student he was back then, full of dreams to embrace the future with his friends.

Grabbing another glass of alcohol, he took one big gulp down and broke down crying. He cried about the time where he couldn’t sing and lost his dream. The time he wasted hiding himself from the world and hurt others. The time he spent refusing to come back and trying to stop Ai from loving.

And the times he missed being surrounded by the friends he loved.

Aine felt several pairs of arms surround him in embrace; just like in those faraway days of their youth, whether they were sad or happy, the four of them always had one great group hug.

He found his happiness again.

“Thank you, my dear friends.”

–

“Bye Aine! Don’t forget to tell Ai-Ai happy birthday for me~ even if I see him at work tomorrow!” Reiji’s cheerful voice were followed by the groans of the intoxicated Kei and grunts of Hibiki who had a headache. Unfortunately for Aine, he also had one and felt his head throb a little. Looks like the three of them were going to have some bad hangovers in the morning. He envied Reiji that he had to be the sober one, despite the other’s insistent whining for a small cup.

He waved goodbye at his friends, staying on his driveway until Reiji pulled out and drove away. He checked the time of his phone. It was 2 AM in the middle of the night, so his uncle was probably asleep already. Putting one hand to his head, he walked to his doorstep to grab the spare key and noticed a pair of shoes that belonged to Ai. He must have arrived in the evening after Aine had left with Reiji and the others.

Unlocking the door, the bluenet quietly entered inside the house. The door to his uncle’s office was closed with the light off, meaning his uncle was asleep in there. Ai was nowhere in sight.

Turning on the lights, he suddenly noticed that two things sat on the coffee table, waiting for him. Quickly forgetting about his headache, he approached the coffee table and found they were his birthday gifts. The first was a small parcel, labeled to him from his uncle. The bluenet gingerly opened the parcel to find a glistening white lab coat, something for his new job as the Professor’s assistant. Trying it on, his fingers brushed upon some embroidery in the front of the coat. He pulled it off to see the cursive letters of ‘A I N E’ sewn into the material. There was a small note attached to the tag and AIne tore it off to read it.

This might not be as fancy as those idol costumes you used to wear but be it idol or lab assistant, I’m proud you’re my nephew, Aine. Happy birthday.

–Love, your Uncle

He smiled and wiped a tear from his eye, folding the lab coat neatly. Despite how busy his uncle always was, he knew his uncle loved him the most and wanted him to be happy. Placing down the lab coat, he assumed the next gift was from Ai. It was a small gift box tied up by a purple ribbon and bow. Delicately, he undid the ribbon to open Ai’s gift.

At first glance, it looked like a cupcake. But on a closer look, the cupcake was stacked by some gelatin. It was the marine jelly they sold in town. A white frosting covered the jelly and topped with a small yellow figurine—it was that mascot Piyo-chan wasn’t it?

A note was underneath the gift box, addressed to him from Ai.

Syo and Natsuki helped me make this. Please tell me if it’s satisfactory, Aine.

I’m happy for you being born today… because I was born too.

Happy birthday, Aine.

Sincerely, Ai

P.S: At Syo’s insistence, Natsuki only did the topping.

He took Ai’s marine cupcake to the kitchen, noting how cold the box still was. It was probably inside the refrigerator until the last hour. Grabbing a spoon, he set the cupcake down on the counter to take a bite of it.

The two different textures tasted like a sweet and cool taste. It was an abnormal combination, but the jelly and cupcake were in harmony. Just like him and Ai.

He spent the next half an hour savoring the sweet pastry until it was gone.

After he had finished eating Ai’s gift, he put away his uncle’s gift in his room and quietly went into the office. A light snoring was heard from the desk— his uncle had fallen asleep while doing his research. Ai was the one who probably turned off his light and went down into the basement to charge. The bluenet pulled out a blanket from the linen closet and gently placed it over his uncle’s shoulders.

Opening the door to the basement, Aine walked down into the lab, a wave of nostalgia overcoming him a little. This place had been where he was hiding unconsciously for the past few years.

Ai was sitting at his charging station, eyes closed. He had probably shut himself down to sleep and charge not too long ago. He chuckled watching the sleeping robot. Despite how mature the other was for his age, he looked serene and innocent there. And no matter how many times Aine looked at him, he was awed that Ai was the spitting image of himself.

It was because of his disappearance that Ai was born. They were born of the same existence and love for music, but they were two entirely different people, living in harmony. Two different melodies of the same song.

Now it was Ai’s birthday, the first of March.

His hands moved up to undo the clasp of the signature necklace he always wore— one of the last remaining mementos of his parents to him.

The blue stone that was attached to the chain gleamed in the glow of Hakase’s computer screens. He squatted down to put the necklace around Ai’s neck and clasped it together.

“I’m really happy that you were born too, Ai.” The bluenet whispered softly, patting the android’s hair before holding his hand. “That necklace carried my dream. Now it will carry yours into the sparkling future you wanted to show me.”

When he was still asleep underneath the ocean of his fear and despair, it was Ai’s hand who pulled him back into the light.

He was still holding Ai’s hand walking into the future now.

“Happy birthday, Ai.”

Tagged as: #utapri #mikaze ai #kisaragi aine #ai mikaze #aine kisaragi #you see these tears they wont stop}} #sho sofi and fish are going to lynch me because i said it was a shutdown fic but i didnt mean that completely lol}} #mywriting