as we walk ; geto suguru

Envy

"... happy birthday dear Nanako, happy birthday to you!"

The singing and clapping stops and everyone watches when Nanako blows out her five candles on her ice cream cake, receiving a cheer and applause when all of them are no longer flickering orange flames and instead form to grey, spiraling smoke.

Her fifth birthday has finally arrived. You decided it would be best for her to celebrate at the park on the usual Saturday afternoon with everyone here, including Nagi and Junpei (thankfully without Mahito, who was probably still bitter from yesterday).

"What'd you wish for?" you ask, hugging Nanako tightly by her shoulder.

"I can't tell you!" she grins up at you. "Or else it won't come true!"

"Oh, that's right," you remember. "Okay, but make sure to keep it a secret, alright?"

Nanako nods. "But I'm telling Mimiko, though, she's special."

Mimiko, who sits next to her, leans into Nanako's cupped ear and they giggle together. Geto, who was next to Mimiko, shares the same curious look as you and you wonder what Nanako's birthday wish was.

"Cake! Cake!" Kasumi cheers and emits a chain reaction of chants.

"Do you guys want cake first or do you want her to open your presents?" you ask.

The echoing of "Cake!" rings throughout the park on a sunny September day, a few days before autumn sets itself into place, and you begin to cut the rectangle, neapolitan cake into small, individual squares with your triangle cake server and place them on small, styrofoam plates. Soft pop music plays in the background as numerous chatters fill the picnic table. There's no more horrid heat or nettling mosquitos or simmering sweat, just sunshine and a small breeze. A perfect day for a fifth birthday party.

You're eating your own slice of ice cream cake and chatting with Nanami (who you had thanked endlessly yesterday for his service to the point where he began to grow annoyed) about his upcoming trial with a client who says his money was stolen from his ex-girlfriend when you feel a tap on your shoulder. Geto was behind you with his hand behind his back and he motions you for him and you to talk privately. You excuse yourself abruptly and follow him to the parking lot while he walks backwards, trying his best not to reveal what was behind him. You were curious as to what he was holding. Perhaps it was something expensive for Nanako? Oh, dear.

He leans on his car that you, him, Nanako, and Mimiko took to the park with the bundles of both plastic and foil balloons with ice cream cake in the trunk.

"What's up?" you ask, leaning on Toji's jeep that was parked next to Geto's convertible and ignoring his shouts of "get off my car!"

He sucks in a breath and bites his grinning lip. "Okay, don't kill me but... I might've gotten you something that you might like,"

Your eyebrows arch up immediately at the word "you."

"Unless it's that cacao powder from Argentina I've been gushing about for the past five months, I don't want it," you state sternly with a pointing index finger.

Geto shakes his head, persistent. "If I told you it was actually convenient for you, then what would you do?"

You eye him suspiciously and cross your arms. "Dunno, depends on what it is."

Geto heaves his head down for a brief moment and brings it back up again to meet your gaze. His smile has gotten a bit bigger.

"Look at your left wrist for me,"

You cock your head but glance at your wrist anyways. Nothing but the scar that you got when you were younger is there and you're a bit confused when you look back up at him.