There is a knock on the door.
Koizumi groans, slowly opening her eyes and lifting her head.
'Maybe if I ignore it, they'll go away.'
The knocking persists.
'. . .Damn it.'
The photographer huffs, kicking the blankets off herself and rolling out of bed. She drapes her pale-blue rope around herself before padding over to the door and flinging it open.
There stands Pekoyama Peko, holding a giant chocolate chip muffin in her hands. A small smile graces her face as she offers it to the confused photographer.
"Happy birthday, Koizumi-san," She says shyly, "I brought you a muffin. Sorry, I wasn't sure what kind you would like, so I took a guess. I hope I didn't wake you."
Koizumi's cheeks flush as red as her hair at the sight of her long-time crush presenting her with a birthday muffin.
"Of course, you didn't wake me, don't worry," Koizumi lies, accepting the muffin, "Thank you so much, but I didn't tell anyone about my birthday. How did you know?"
"Lucky guess, I suppose. And. . ," Pekoyama reaches into her back pocket and pulls something out, "I found your e-handbook."
Koizumi's eyes widen, and she takes it in her other hand. "You found it! Thanks, Pekoyama-chan, you're a lifesaver!"
The swordswoman's cheeks darken. "It was really nothing. Just doing what hopefully any person would do. But when I picked it up, it glitched out and showed your personal profile-I only saw your birthdate, I promise."
Koizumi sets the e-handbook off to the side and smiles. "Don't stress about it, Pekoyama-chan. . .Oh jeez, I've just been making you stand out there. Come in, come in, maybe we can split the muffin; it's so big!"
Pekoyama quietly slips inside, and the birthday girl shuts the door behind her. Koizumi guides her over to the bed, and they sit down.
"I wasn't going to tell anyone about my birthday," She admits, splitting the baked good in two and handing the bigger half to Pekoyama, "I didn't want to make a spectacle out of things, and if our classmates knew, we all knew they would. . .but the muffin and the birthday wish is a lovely gesture."
Pekoyama brings her piece to her mouth and samples it. "There's nothing wrong with that. However, any birthday is worth at least an acknowledgement. Even if it's just this moment right here."
Koizumi grins at her lap. "Does that mean you're going to sing to me then?" She teases.
"Precisely."
"Huh-"
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Mahiru, happy birthday to you."
Koizumi blushes again. ". . .Thanks."
"Of course."
The two eat in silence for a while. Once the photographer finishes, she leans her head on the silver-haired girl's shoulder.
". . .I really appreciate you, Pekoyama-chan." She murmurs.
Pekoyama places her head on top of her companion's. "I really appreciate you too, Koizumi."
"I really don't mind a small personal celebration like this if it's with you. I wouldn't mind just staying in here all day watching movies and hanging out with you. That sounds like a perfect day to me," She stiffens, "I-I MEAN, not that you-"
"You're the birthday girl," Pekoyama interrupts gently, "And that sounds amazing. I would be honoured to spend the day here with you."
The red-haired girl smiles, bumping against her with her shoulder.
"Well, in that case. . .shall we start with a hallmark movie?"
"Those trashy predictable things? Hell yeah."
