Short Stories

Birthday Surprise

Summary: Nikei's birthday is coming up, and Setsuka and Mikado have the perfect present.

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Mikado was reading a recipe book peacefully in the dorm when Setsuka entered, closing the door behind her.

"Good, you're here." She said. "Now we can talk."

"Of course we can, love. What's going on?" Mikado asked, closing his book and sitting up.

Setsuka sat down on the bed next to him. "So, you know how Nik's birthday is coming up?"

Mikado nodded. "I'm aware it's in about two days. I was actually looking up some recipes that our doll might enjoy for a birthday dinner." He said, gesturing to his book.

"That's great." Setsuka said with a smile. "Now, I was thinking of something we could get him, and I thought of the perfect gift."

"Really? What is it?" Mikado asked.

Setsuka's smile grew wider. "Remember when we went on that ice cream date and saw that dog near the end?"

"Yes, I believe his name was Leo, if I recall correctly. Nikei really enjoyed playing with him." Mikado said, before it clicked in his mind. "Ah. I think I see where you're going with this."

"I knew you would catch on!" Setsuka said. "Now, how about we go get ourselves a dog for Nikei?"

Mikado stood up. "Of course. Our doll's going to love this! What kind do you think we'll get?"

Setsuka stood up beside him. "I'm not sure, we'll just have to see what jumps out at us." She said. "Luckily, we have plenty of time, as I asked Mak, Em, and Roha to keep him busy so we can deal with everything!"

"Smart." Mikado chuckled. "Now, where's the nearest pet store?"

"About twenty minutes from now." Setsuka said. "Let's go, we don't have a second to waste!"

The drive to the pet store ended up taking twenty-two minutes, and before long, Setsuka and Mikado entered the pet store. It was a vibrant place, shelves boasting everything from pet toys to leashes.

Setsuka waved down an employee. "Hello! We're looking to adopt a dog, and we want to know what we need first before we do that! Can you help?"

The employee smiled. "Sure I can! First of all, do you have an idea of what type or age you're looking to get?"

"We're probably going to adopt a dog on the younger side, and as for type, we're not sure yet. Just whatever we deem, I suppose." Mikado said.

"Alright then! First thing you'll need is food, follow me!" The employee said, briskly striding off to an aisle near the middle of the store, Setsuka and Mikado following. Mikado quickly picked up a basket to put everything in before going.

The employee picked up a bag of dog food. "This is one of the healthiest brands of dog food we have. It's rich in nutrients, and is supposed to keep the dog's coat shiny and healthy."

"Well, Hajime would smite us if we weren't keeping our dog healthy." Setsuka said half-jokingly.

"May I see the bag?" Mikado asked.

The employee nodded and passed the bag over to Mikado, who examined the ingredients for a minute before nodding. "Yes, we'll take this."

"Great!" The employee said. "What do you want to look at next?"

"How about a food and water bowl?" Setsuka suggested, as Mikado put the bag of dog food into the basket.

"Alright, and lucky for us they're just down the aisle!" The employee said, gesturing to them. "What colors do you want?"