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Kazuha placed two cups on the ground. Filling them, he brought one of the white cups to his lips, taking a short sip. The cat cuddling on Kazuha's lap stared at him, almost as if it were worried.
He gave it a woeful smile, petting its head. In response, it closed its eyes, purring.
The thunder roared far into the sea. With a troubled mind, Kazuha pondered on how he would be escaping Inazuma from there. Becoming a wanted man and burying a friend was not how he thought he would spend the night before his birthday.
"If only I were there to have changed your mind..." Kazuha looked at the sword carved straight into the solid ground. "I will be taking my leave soon, Tomo. I hope that, wherever you are, you are happy to have fulfilled your deepest wish."
Taking the last sip of the sake, Kazuha placed the cup next to the bottle and the still full cup set for his late friend. He took the white kitten into his embrace as he stood up and walked towards a group of cats at the shore.
"Take care of this place for me," Kazuha settled the kitten on the ground, bidding it farewell with another pet on its head.
He looked back at his friend's grave, putting his hands together in prayer and bowing for the last time.
Back in Inazuma after so long, Kazuha couldn't be happier to spend a birthday in his homeland again. He headed to the same shore close to the Kamisato state with a bottle of sake in one hand and two cups in the other.
Noticing the now full-grown cat near his friend's grave, he greeted the animal with a familiar pet before sitting on the ground and pouring the sake.
"How have you been, Tomo?" A cold silence answered Kazuha's question. Still, he kept talking, "So much has happened after the decrees were abolished. I'm very grateful to have come across this new friend of mine. Aether is his name. He is the one behind all the greatness that made Inazuma peaceful once more."
With his mind occupied by the one-way conversation, for once, Kazuha lost all interest and awareness of his surroundings and didn't notice that close by, a blonde traveler approached the place.
"Kazuha?" A familiar voice said, startling the samurai at first, but soon, the traveler's presence comforted him.
He looked back, greeting Aether with a smile as the blonde approached the grave. "Traveler. What a pleasant surprise."
Aether respectfully bowed at Tomo. He would have put his hands together if it weren't for a wooden box that occupied them.
"May I join you?" Aether asked with a smile.
"Of course," Kazuha made space for him but realized he didn't have another cup to serve Aether with, "I'm sorry that I'm not able to serve you sake."
Guessing the samurai would say that, Aether instantly replied, "It's okay. I don't drink very often."
Sitting next to Kazuha, the traveler placed the box in front of them, carefully opening it to reveal a steaming bowl that gave off a pleasant scent. The look and smell of the foreign-looking dish made Kazuha's mouth water, reminding him that he had not eaten much that day.
"This is Rice Pudding, a dish I learned a few days ago. I'm not sure if you will like it, but please accept it as a gift from me to you," Aether smiled as he watched the samurai look so yearningly at the food, happy that his little birthday gift was to his liking. "Happy birthday, Kazuha."
Hearing the last words that left Aether's mouth, Kazuha broke from the hungry trance. Besides Beidou and her crew, he couldn't recall the last time he had heard "Happy Birthday" from a friend in such a sincere way that no matter who heard it, they could feel the affection contained in them.
After a short pause, Kazuha answered, "Thank you, Aether. That… means a lot to me."
The two enjoyed the food Aether prepared and chatted the afternoon away. The waves behind and the nature all around them made all the occasion more delightful. Kazuha truly felt in his own element that day.
And finally, as the sun hid behind the sea, the two stood up and paid their respects to Tomo.
"Nice seeing you again, friend. Be well." Kazuha spoke, smiling at the great sword and lifeless vision standing before it.
Aether watched as Kazuha petted the white cat, bidding farewell to it too. He couldn't help the saddened feeling growing inside of him, but when the samurai shifted his gaze, he gave Kazuha a woeful smile as they silently agreed to walk away.
"Kazuha, if it's not too much trouble, would you like to join me for some tea?" Aether inquired.
It was as if the traveler had read his mind. Kazuha didn't want to part ways early like that and, in fact, was going to ask to spend more time with Aether. "It would be my pleasure," He answered.
They shared a pleasant walk to Komore Teahouse, but of course, always trying to keep a low profile as Aether knew that Kazuha was still wary of the shogunate and the people.
Upon arriving there, the traveler gave the shop assistant, Kozue, a smile.
With his sharp ears, Kazuha noticed a weird thing. The teahouse was quieter than usual, but he didn't pay it any mind; he took it as business was going slow for the teahouse that day.
Aether directed them to a booth inside, and upon sliding the door open, a loud sound came as colorful, shimmering papers were thrown into the air before them.
"Happy birthday, Kazuha!" Multiple voices with different tones made a joyful choir.
Thoma and Yoimiya were standing just before them with small, blown-up cones in their hands. Kazuha could only guess the shimmering paper-like fireworks were Yoimiya's work.
After the initial shock, the samurai couldn't help but let out a big open-mouth laugh. He stood there, covering his mouth with a fist as he giggled for a few seconds.
Aether was overjoyed to see such a laugh coming from Kazuha. Feeling accomplished, he put a hand on the samurai's shoulder, grabbing his attention. "Happy birthday, again."
"Oh my, you are filled with surprises, aren't you, traveler?" Kazuha smiled.
A few familiar faces were gathering before a table set with delicious food and a beautiful cake centered.
"Thank you, everyone," Kazuha said, sitting between the group.
There were people Kazuha didn't see every day. Ayaka, Gorou, and even Kokomi made space in their busy schedules to be there, which deeply warmed Kazuha's heart.
On a day previously filled with grief, sipping tea, catching up with his friends, and enjoying their company made Kazuha feel an indescribable joy. It was indeed a fine day to commemorate being alive.