Unbound Legacy

Birthday Respite

As he was busy wallowing he saw kimiko at the side of his eye.She beckoned him into the alleyway, her smile radiant and infectious. He followed her, curiosity piqued by her unusual demeanor. What could possibly have her so jubilant?

In the secluded alley, Kimiko revealed a small cake adorned with a single flickering candle. Ruin's eyes widened in disbelief as he realized what she had done. "Kimiko, you didn't have to..." he started, his voice trailing off as he beheld the thoughtful gesture before him.

But Kimiko waved off his protestations with a grin. "Of course I did, Ruin. It's your birthday, after all and don't start the waterworks you will ruin the mood." she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Touched beyond words, Ruin accepted the cake, feeling a lump form in his throat. As they shared the simple treat, the alleyway seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of their friendship behind.

Their impromptu celebration, however, was short-lived as Kimiko's father suddenly appeared, causing Kimiko to stiffen beside him. Ruin's heart sank, fearing the consequences of Kimiko's actions as she had stolen the cake from her father's restaurant .

To his surprise, Kimiko's father merely chuckled, producing a bag filled with food. "I couldn't let my daughter's friend go hungry on his special day," he said, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

Gratitude flooded Ruin's heart as he thanked Kimiko's father, feeling humbled by the unexpected kindness. As Kimiko's father departed, Ruin's thoughts turned to his neglected duties of delivering meat to his restaurant .

Before he could make his escape, Kimiko darted forward, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She enveloped him in a tight hug, whispering, "Consider this my birthday gift to you, Ruin. But if you dare breathe a word of it, I'll make sure you regret it."

With a playful wink, Kimiko slipped away into the bustling streets, leaving Ruin standing there, his heart lighter than it had been in ages. With the memory of Kimiko's gift warming his soul, Ruin set off for the forest to hunt, a renewed sense of purpose guiding his steps.