Finding Serenity

Birthdays

Rena was busy behind the counter at the café, expertly crafting a cappuccino when Azul walked in, looking as indifferent as ever. He approached the counter and leaned against it, watching her work with a bored expression.

"Yo, Ren," Azul said, his tone flat. "Kei's birthday is coming up."

Rena looked up, surprised. "Really? He never mentioned it."

"Yeah, it's December 28th. He usually doesn't do anything for it, like the loser he is," Azul replied, rolling his eyes. "But I thought maybe you could surprise him. Show up and spend some time with him."

Rena smiled, her eyes lighting up. "That's a great idea, Azul. Kei deserves a special day."

Azul nodded, "Figured you'd like the idea. He'll probably appreciate it more coming from you."

"Thanks for the suggestion," Rena said, finishing the cappuccino and handing it to a customer. "I'll plan something nice for him."

On the evening of Kei's birthday, Rena arrived at his apartment with a small gift and a homemade cake. She had spent the afternoon baking the cake, carefully decorating it with Kei's favorite flavors and colors. She knocked on the door, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Kei opened the door, his eyes widening in surprise. "Rena! What are you doing here?"

"Happy birthday, Kei!" Rena exclaimed, holding up the cake. "I thought I'd surprise you."

Kei's face was still in shock. "How did you know?"

"Azul told me. I'm sorry if it's overstepping," Rena said, looking a little disappointed.

"Oh no, not at all, dove. It just surprised me is all. Please come in," he said, stepping to the side.

As they settled in the living room, Rena handed Kei the gift. "I hope you like it."

Kei unwrapped the gift, revealing a beautiful set of red earrings. They were delicate, with tiny gemstones that sparkled in the light. "These are amazing, Rena. Thank you so much."

Rena blushed slightly. "I remembered you mentioned you lost your old ones on a trip. I thought these would be perfect for you."

"They are," Kei said, admiring the earrings. "I can't wait to wear them."

They spent the evening chatting, playing board games, and reminiscing about old times. Rena's presence brought a warmth to Kei's usually quiet birthday. They laughed over shared memories, like the time they got lost in the city and ended up discovering a hidden café that became their favorite spot.

"Remember that café?" Kei asked, chuckling. "We thought we'd never find our way back."

"How could I forget?" Rena replied, smiling. "We ended up having the best day."

Kei nodded, his eyes twinkling with the memory. "We were wandering around for hours, trying to find that art gallery you wanted to visit. We must have taken every wrong turn possible."

"And then it started raining," Rena added, laughing. "We were soaked and miserable, but then we stumbled upon that little café. It was like finding a hidden gem."

"The owner was so kind," Kei recalled. "He gave us towels to dry off and made us the best hot chocolate I've ever had."

"We spent the whole afternoon there, just talking and watching the rain," Rena said, her voice soft with nostalgia. "It turned out to be one of the best days ever."

As the night went on, they moved to the kitchen to enjoy the cake Rena had made. Kei took a bite and his eyes lit up. "This is delicious, Rena. You really outdid yourself."