You're The Music That's Been Playing In My Head: Book 2

Befana: Part 1

"Marinette, this is quite a special day for you!" Tikki exclaims excitedly. 

Today was Marinette's birthday, and she seemed a bit perkier today. Then again, most people are happier on their birthday. My phone vibrates and I quickly respond. Everyone in class had decided to throw Marinette a surprise birthday party, and they would set it up. I was on Marinette Duty. 

Basically, I just had to keep her from finding out about the party, but somehow she figured it out, so I've had to throw her off the trail more than a couple of times to the point she's given up trying to hide the fact that she knows about the party from me. My attention turns back to Marinette, who was putting away her laundry at the moment. 

"It sure is, Tikki," she says, looking at her phone with a frown.

She was waiting for Alya to call. As a cover for the party, we told her we'd be taking Alya's sisters to the dentist and after go out to eat to celebrate Marinette's birthday. Mari heads to the roof for the billionth time to look for Alya and Tikki, Flaake, and me follow her. 

"There's a ritual we kwamis perform on a day like this." 

"Really? That's nice," She answers back, though clearly still not engaged in the conversation.

"But I dunno if you humans would like it. I wonder if you guys even give each other presents on your birthday." 

This catches Mari's attention. 

"You got me a birthday present, Tikki?" 

"A kwami specialty." 

"That's so awesome! What is it?" 

Tikki performs a little dance before spitting in Marinette's hands. Both of us stare at the spit in confusion. 

"Miraculous birthday, Marinette!" Tikki quickly picks up on Marinette's grimace. "Oh no, you don't like it, do you?" 

"No! I l-love it! It's amazing! It's...uh...What is it?" 

The spit disappears, and in its place is a small red object that looks like the swirl in a Yin and Yang symbol. 

"A Kwagatama. A great symbol of friendship among us kwamis. We take a hair from our miraculous holder and join it to the hair of every former miraculous holder, and with them we grow a magic resin for a few months, and-" Tikki starts to explain before stopping after noticing Marinette wasn't listening. 

She was watching her phone, and I jabbed her with my elbow.

"I know you don't wanna tell me because you don't wanna hurt my feelings, but it's obvious you don't like it."

"I'm sorry, Tikki! That's not it, I do really love your gift. It's just that Alya should've already called me by now. We're supposed to be taking her little sisters to the 'dentist', at 4 o'clock today." 

Mari air quotes, and Flaake asks, "Humans celebrate their birthday by going to the dentist?" 

"Of course, not, Flaake, it's a secret code, they're actually throwing me a surprise birthday party!" 

I cross my arms and sigh while our kwamis exchange a confused look. 

"But how can it be a surprise if you know about it?" 

"The thing about surprises is you know about it but you pretend you don't, so you don't spoil it for the people who organized it," Mari explains.

"What about the dentist?" Tikki tilts her head.

"It's a fake-out. You see, Alya and (y/n) are gonna pretend to take me to the dentist, but they're really gonna be taking me to my surprise party. Right (y/n)?"