𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬, 𝗔𝗜𝗠, 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗧! ➵ 𝗇𝖺𝗋𝗎𝗆𝗂 𝗀𝖾𝗇

NARUMI GEN DAY! ft. belated Christmas

He's now 28 years old! He's so old!

I was actually planning to make [Name] 2 or maybe 4 years younger than him so she could tease him about his age, like..

"You're 28? I thought you were 38!"

"Look who's getting closer to 30!"

"You don't look 28, in fact.. you look like you're in your Forty's!"

"28? Oh, that must be the reason for your grey hair."

And so on and so forth. (Also, Narumi is 28 in this fic.. so old [Name] too!:v)

Happy Birthday, Narumi Gen! The strongest —laziest! —soldier of the Defense Force!

. . .

Gen Day is in one week!

2 days before Christmas! Get that lazy ass something before he yaps!

A hum left your lips as your phone buzzed in your pocket. Pulling it out, you tilted your head at the two notifications lighting up your lock screen. A chuckle slipped out as the memories flooded back.

You'd set these reminders five years ago after forgetting to buy Narumi a Christmas gift and, to make matters worse, sleeping through his birthday. It had been a disaster which you didn't want to repeat.

"Not my fault Defense Force schedules are insane," you muttered, shaking your head with a small grin. Still, you made a mental note to pick up something for him this year. Knowing Narumi, he'd hold it over your head for another decade if you forgot again.

Staring at the bustling scene of Central Tokyo. The streets were alive with people —families laughing together, friends chatting as they strolled, and couples walking hand-in-hand, lost in their own world. The vibrant city felt full of warmth and connection, especially with Christmas fast approaching. The festive decorations were already up, twinkling lights hung from storefronts, and Christmas tree as well as other decorations that you would normally see in front of a store was placed.

While you, on the other hand, were alone. No Narumi Gen by your side today. The absence of his usual teasing or playful banter left a peculiar emptiness, even amidst the crowd. It was rare to have a day off without him around, but you figured he was probably wrapped up in his own missions or off doing whatever it was that kept him so distracted.

It was strange, walking the streets in casual attire rather than the heavy combat suit you were used to. You glanced down at yourself, adjusting the hem of your skirt. It was a soft beige pleated design that swayed gently with every step, paired with a fitted black turtleneck and ankle boots. A light trench coat completed the look, its muted tone complementing the outfit.

Your reflection caught your eye in a nearby storefront window, and you hesitated for a moment. You rarely had a chance to look at yourself in the mirror for a long time. There were changes about your features, not too dramatic that you wouldn't see any traces of your childhood features.. but it certainly faded over the decade.

The soft features you once had had now matured, with sharper angles and a more defined look. Especially your cheeks —Narumi once teased you during your teenage years that your cheeks were chubby, like a chipmunk, and you had chased him down the hallway of the base with a kanzashi hairpin in hand, ready to get your revenge. But now, your cheeks were more sculpted, no longer carrying that youthful roundness.

And your hair, you used to cut it short, right above your shoulders but now, you let it grow grow past your shoulders. Today, it was gathered into a low, messy bun, a few stray pieces of hair softly escaping and falling around your face.