Marius (One-Shots)

Happy Birthday Monkey Face [One-Shot]

Did anybody remember?

Sou asked himself this as he arrived home from the supermarket. There had been no cards from his school friends, no presents from his Johnny's friends, no cake from his parents. Not even his best friend, Marius had wished him a happy birthday. He'd just said hi and asked him if they could go over a particular dance step he was finding difficult together. Just like any other normal day.

Sou didn't want everybody to make a big fuss over him, he would've been just fine with a card or two. It just hurt that not a single person remembered. His parents had even made him go food shopping after work.

He attempted to remove his keys from his pocket with the heavy grocery bags still in both hands but ended up dropping everything and crying out in frustration. Could this birthday get any worse? He picked up his keys and fumbled with them until he finally managed to unlock the door. He scooped the two plastic bags off the ground, hoping that nothing had been broken then made his way into the house.

"I'm ho-"

He stopped short when he saw that his entire front room was covered in party decorations. His parents plus all his friends from Johnny's and school were sat around the table in the centre of the room that had a bright blue birthday cake on top of it. There was also a pile of gifts in all sizes in the corner of the room. Sou beamed. Everything he could possibly want. Except-

Sou knew there was something missing but he didn't have time to think about it as all his friends began to pester him to open their present first, his mom suggested they cut the cake before unwrapping presents, his dad wanted to know what music to put on. Sou laughed, getting into the party mood and banishing whatever it was from his mind. He strode over to the table, deciding he would cut the cake first.

It was a personalized cake in his favourite colour, blue and it had his name written across it. He turned to all his friends and family, still beaming and said,

"Who's idea was this?"

"Marius'." His mom told him.

It was then that he realized what was missing. He looked around the room to confirm. Yes, his best friend, Marius was absent from his surprise party.

"Where is he?" Sou asked.

Kento was about to explain that Marius had rushed off after rehearsal, not really saying anything but then, as if on queue, the front door opened and Marius trudged in, looking like a zombie.

"Mari?" Sou exclaimed. He rushed over to the younger boy and gave him a hug, slightly fearful that if he didn't give him something to lean on he would topple over.

"Happy birthday, Sou-chan." Marius whispered.

Okay, Sou thought. Marius' sleepy voice is adorable.

Sou squeezed Marius for a little longer then pulled away from the embrace, hands still on his shoulders just in case.

"Where were you?" Sou interrogated.

"Shopping."

Sou chuckled inwardly but tried his best to look serious. "That doesn't explain anything."

"Right, sorry." Marius yawned. "I was shopping for your present."

"But why are you so tired?"

"I stayed up all night trying to think of a present for you and I haven't had a change to rest since then." Marius yawned again.

"Oh, Mari," Sou half-laughed. "You didn't have to do that. If you couldn't find a present for me then that's okay – this party is more than enough."