The Blessing of the Birthday Boy

by jazzghost

Summary:

“R-Rui? Whatever are you doing here?” he asked, loudly enough for the other to hear as he unlocked the door with a puzzled look on his face.

“Have you been crying?” Rui questioned.

ꨄ

When Tsukasa’s parents forget about his birthday, Rui shall be there to cheer him up, no matter what.

Notes:

30 minutes of brainstorming with my bestie resulted in this two-shot. i put tons of effort into this so i hope you enjoy!!

Chapter 1: Childhood

The Tenma residence was silent.

 

By their house, there were others that were filled by laughter, shouts and cries. Their atmospheres carried playfulness, love and affection.

 

Young Tsukasa’s didn’t. It was silent.

 

His parents weren’t home. They never were. He knew it wasn’t ideal for a child to stay home alone for so long, but he couldn’t resent them for it when they were accompanying his sister’s sickness. Besides, he had Rui.

 

Rui was… certainly a peculiar individual. They first met on a park, when the silence on Tsukasa’s house was too loud for him to bear and he needed some time away from it.

 

Tenma didn’t have much friends. Differently from Saki, he didn’t have an excuse for it. Children his age just didn’t like him. Maybe it was the vibe he gave off, or perhaps he was too annoying for anyone to put up with.

 

Kamishiro had been in a similar situation, but the contrary. Children didn’t like him because apparently it was creepy for someone his age to be so smart. He was also too curious for his own good, Tsukasa noted. It wasn’t hard to realize. They were opposites, but if there was anyone who could put up with the blonde, it was Rui.

 

The purple-haired boy made Tsukasa’s life a little more bearable with his inventions and shows. Whenever the Tenmas weren’t home - which, mind you, was often - Rui would show up with a new little show script, and Tsukasa would bring life to his characters.

 

They hated it when they had to depart, but the little director would always come back the other day with more prototypes and ideas. By the end of everyday, the Tenma residence would look a little more lived in.

 

(Tsukasa postponed telling his parents about Rui, though, just in case they decided to prohibit their little meetings.)

 

ꨄ

 

When Tsukasa was seven, his sister was finally free from being in the hospital all the time. He’d been immensely grateful and relieved. After all, that meant she was finally ready to get better. It was night when she came home, all bright-eyed and cheerful.

 

He’d told her to come with him and played her a song on the piano. He’d been practicing, so he played it as perfectly as a child his age possibly could. Saki was happy and their mother was so proud she almost made them explode with the force of the hug she gave them.

 

His parents had been making dinner when he heard a knock on the door. His eyes widened with the realization that he hadn’t told Rui about his sister’s comeback.

 

He was quick to get up from his place on the couch and make his way to the front door, eyeing his parents . They didn’t seem to have noticed anything. Now he just had to open the door and tell Rui off the quickest he could. He would apologize properly when he had the opportunity.

 

When he opened the door, though, he didn’t see Rui. Instead, there was a small post-it on his door.

 

“Sorry, heard the noises! Happy for your sister! Come over another time!

 

- Rui.”

 

ꨄ

 

That was weeks before Saki’s birthday. Tsukasa’s mom, dad and him started planning her birthday party as soon as they realized she was going to be home for it. They were all so happy that they couldn’t get the smiles out of their faces.

 

The party was a success. They invited Toya, who was almost like a brother to them, Ichika, Honami and Shiho. The last one of the three came in a package along with her older sister, but they didn’t mind. Hinomori Shizuku was a very polite and kind girl, after all. Besides, since she was older, her, Toya and Tsukasa could play together while Saki and Shiho spent time with their friends.

 

It went perfectly fine. They sang birthday songs, Saki made a wish and blew the candles.

 

Tsukasa silently wished that his birthday would go like that, too.

 

ꨄ

 

Tsukasa was home alone. Again .

 

It was his birthday. He’d held back from saying anything the whole day, thinking that maybe his family was planning a surprise party for him, but no ! Saki was at one of her friends’ house since yesterday - she’d made sure to hug him and wish him a happy birthday before going, though - and his parents went back to work without saying a single word to him.

 

He sat down, his back pressed to the wooden door behind him, and starred at the clock on the wall for God knows how long. Hugging his knees to his chest, he barely even noticed when he started crying.

 

It was not like he wasn’t used to being home alone. He probably shouldn’t, but he was used to it. It didn’t affect him anymore the way it’d used to. He didn’t know why he’d expected anything else.

 

Knock Knock.

 

Tsukasa’s eyes widened. He quickly got up from his sitting position, wiping always his tears with the back of his hand as he eyed the door. Who…?

 

“Tsukasa-kun?” the person spoke, and his heart nearly jumped right out of his throat from the force with which it hit him.

 

“R-Rui? Whatever are you doing here?” he asked, loudly enough for the other to hear as he unlocked the door with a puzzled look on his face.

 

“Have you been crying?” Rui questioned, the sight of the purple-haired boy almost making Tsukasa want to jump into his arms and cry his eyes out.

 

“What, no! Why?” he did his best to look convincing enough, figuring it didn’t work when he saw one of Rui’s eyebrows shoot up.

 

“I have something for you.”

 

Tsukasa gave him a curious look. With that catlike smile of his, the other boy brought his hidden arms from behind his back to show his host what he’d brought.

 

Inside a vivid red box with a little yellow bow, there was a birthday cake, accompanied by a birthday card that Tsukasa was quick to grab and take a look at.

 

“It’s your favorite flavor

 

- Rui.”

 

“Happy birthday, Tsukasa-kun.”

Chapter 2: Sweethearts.

Summary:

Ten years later…

Notes:

i procrastinated writing this chapter for one and a half days until i decided i should stop postponing it and wrote the chapter in less than 2 hours ??? where did i get that inspiration from ???
btw i just realized tsukasa barely talks in this. and he’s the main character. man’s really keeping it to himself

When Saki collapsed during one of Leo/need’s rehearsals, Tsukasa had been the one Ichika called first.

 

He’d been with Wonderlands x Showtime, going through one of their scripts, when he got the call. He’d known what happened as soon as he picked up. The panic in her voice was evident - Tsukasa shared the sentiment, however, as Saki’s brother and all, he knew he had to stay calm and help to the best of his abilities.

 

He’d debated telling Ichika to stay put and wait for him. Surely it couldn’t be that serious that a visit to the hospital couldn’t wait. However, as the overprotective older brother he’d always been, he ended up telling his sister’s friends to take her to the nearest hospital as fast as possible and that he’d meet them there. After he hung up, his troupe mates had looked at him with different worried expressions. He chose to ignore it.

 

“I’m going to the hospital. To see Saki,” he stated, to which they all nodded. “Rui, you’re coming with me.”

 

“I’m wha—“

 

That was how Tsukasa had ended up in the hospital, alongside Rui, his parents and the rest of Leo/need.

 

That was one day before his birthday.

 

“I’m so sorry, onii-chan! I wanted to attend to your birthday so bad!” Saki had cried, hugging his waist like a lifeline.

 

“We, too, are very much sorry, son. If we didn’t have to keep an eye on your sister…”

 

“It’s fine,” he’d cut them off, which earned him a concerned glance from both Rui and Saki. His parents, however, only nodded.

 

“I see. I’m glad you understand, son.”

 

I’m not, he’d wanted to say. He didn’t.

 

ꨄ

 

Tsukasa didn’t show up at school the next day.

 

His parents allowed him to miss school. Maybe because it was his birthday, or because they felt guilty about not being by his side during his birthday from the second time.

 

At least, during the first time, he’d had Rui.

 

He sat on his designated chair by the table with a long sigh. He looked at each of the other three chairs, trying - and almost succeeding - to imagine his family congratulating him snd celebrating his special day.

 

He felt guilty for feeling like shit. It wasn’t their fault. Saki’d overstressed her own body. He did that all the time, so could he really blame her? Not her fault for having a poor health. Or a weak body, for that matter.

 

“Whatever,” he muttered to himself, feeling very non-star-like. A lift of his head allowed him to see the clock on the wall. The same clock from last time.

 

He buried his face into his arms and stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, not once taking a look at his buzzing phone by his head. He could already imagine the texts. A bunch of Happy birthday! ’s, from Saki, his parents, Shizuku, Emu, Nene, Minori, Toya; Why are you not at school? ’s from Nene and Toya. He didn’t hear the different-sounding buzz that signalized Rui’s texts, though.

 

He wondered if, maybe, he’d forgotten his birthday this time.

 

But he wouldn’t. He’d never.

 

It was only when Tsukasa heard the sound of the purple-haired boy’s notifications that he picked up his phone:

 

Crazy scientist ahh<3, 5:43 pm

<Tsukasa-kun, you better not be sulking by yourself at home>

Seen

<Leaving me on seen? You wound me>

Seen

<Be a sweetheart and go to PhoeniLand>

 

My star☆, 5:46 pm

<Whatever do you need the soon-to-be World’s Biggest Star for?>

 

Crazy scientist ahh<3, 5:46 pm

<You’ll see>

<Put on some fancy clothes btw>

Seen

 

ꨄ

 

Tsukasa kind of already knew what it was about when he received Rui’s texts. They didn’t have any rehearsals today, because of Tsukasa’s birthday. Besides, if it was anything Wonderlands x Showtime-related, the other boy would’ve told him. Besides, he would’ve been told to wear his acting attire, if that was the case.

 

So, yeah, he kind of already knew that there would be a surprise party of sorts waiting for him at PhoeniLand. It wasn’t really a surprise party anymore, since it was mad obvious Rui would do something for him, but he appreciated the sentiment.

 

The party was expected, sure. What he didn’t expect was the feeling that came with it. How his chest tightened and his eyes watered when he saw multiple of his friends there, smiling at him with open arms and caring expressions.

 

“Happy birthday, Tsukasa!!” everyone screamed in unison.

 

Rui, Emu, Nene, Shizuku, Minori, Toya, Kohane - hell, even Akito and An were there! And Emu’s brothers…

 

“You didn’t really expect us to let such an important day go by unnoticed, right?” Nene asked, suppressing a snicker upon seeing his bewildered expression.

 

“I- Well, I…”

 

Akito walked up to him. “This is for not answering to our texts, moron!” and hit him in the back of his head.

 

“Wait, you texted?”

 

“We all did!” An said with a bright smile. By her side, Kohane nodded.

 

“We were worried you wouldn’t come, but luckily you always respond to Rui-kun’s texts! Hehe,” Minori jumped into his arms, hugging him tight and only releasing him when he was close to suffocating. The relief of being able to breathe only lasted a few seconds, though, because Emu immediately tackled him into a hug.

 

“Happy Tsukasa Day!! This is so wonderhoy!”

 

“Ara, ara,” Shizuku giggled softly at the sight. “You can release him now, Emu-chan. I think he might blow up. Happy birthday, Tsukasa-kun.”

 

And then he locked eyes with Rui.

 

And oh, how beautiful he was, standing there with a longing look on his face and that damned smile. Tsukasa half wished he could kiss him, if only to wipe that stupid smile off of his perfect face.

 

And, honestly? He could hardly ask for a better birthday.

 

ꨄ

 

Tsukasa couldn’t sleep.

 

He wasn’t sure why, but something was tugging at his stomach, a foreign feeling that seemed to wish for his attention. If he paid enough attention, he could feel the tingling sensation on his fingertips.

 

To sum it up, he’d had the best night of his life - which could only be better if Saki were there, honestly - and now his own body was trying to warn him of something.

 

Maybe he should go to the sekai. Talk to Miku and the others, if just to end his special day looking at the fond faces of the vocaloids.

 

The tugging stopped.

 

… Or maybe he should talk to them tomorrow and let them sleep, or whatever they do while they’re in there.

 

The tugging intensified.

 

Okay, he should really go to the sekai.

 

ꨄ

 

The blond did, in fact, end up going into the sekai.

 

At first, he didn’t see Miku or Kaito. Nor did he find the Kagamine siblings. Or Luka, or Meiko, for that matter.

 

Instead, he found Rui.

 

He wasn’t dressed in the same outfit he wore for the birthday party. It was different, yet equally beautiful. It made him look like a prince.

 

… A prince that was very much holding a bouquet of flowers. Dahlias, Tsukasa noted.

 

“They symbolize eternal love,” the ‘prince’ spoke.

 

“And whoever are they for, prin… Uh… Rui?”

 

The other snickered.

 

“They are for you.”

Notes:

here it is, the ending. hope y’all enjoyed it!! now i have 0 ideas of what to write. any suggestions?

Notes:

childhood sweethearts ruikasa <3 this turned out a little bit different then what i originally planned, but it looks good enough. chapter 2 is coming soon!!