Destiny [Ai Mikaze x Reader] [FATE BOOK TWO]

Chapter 6 - Special Day For You

I know for a fact that neither of them could have done it. But if so... who did it?

I groaned, scribbling out a bunch of music notes I attempted to write. Those thoughts didn't want to leave my head, and it led to me not being able to concentrate on my work at all. Apologies, feeling sorry for myself, feeling sorry for everybody else, remembering that video again and again.
"... Knock knock."
"Who's there...?" I hummed out in a bored tone, already recognizing the voice.
"Reiji..."
"Reiji who...?"
"....... This wasn't a knock-knock joke." I heard the brunette chuckle awkwardly.
"Ah. Hi Reiji..." I looked up with a weak smile.
"... I... didn't mean to..... interrupt you, or something." he slowly muttered. I could see it on him that he was uncomfortable, which was weird of him.
"Ah, I can't really work anyway... So it's okay. What is it? You look tense." I looked at him questioningly.
"Well... it's your birthday today! So..."
"It's my birthday today?" I blinked at him. "... Oh really, it's my birthday today... I totally forgot."
"... You forgot your own birthday???" Reiji snapped in a surprised tone.
"Yeah... sorry, my head is everywhere lately." I sighed. "Well... yay! Thanks for reminding me." I smiled at him. "I don't need a gift or anything, it's fine."
"... No, that's not fine! Mouu, My Girl has to celebrate her birthday with the best party ever! With me, of course.~ And I know juuust the thing!" he winked. It looked like he was back to his normal self.
"Reiji, I gotta work..." I mumbled with a sweatdrop. 
"Nope! No working on your birthday!" he grinned, grabbing my wrist and pulling me up from my seat.
"Reiji we've talked about this--!!" I huffed, but the brunette dragged me out of the room before I could say another word, making me let out a surprised yell.

"Reijiii! Do you remember when you dragged me away from work and Ai got super mad at me?? I don't want that to happen again, not to mention it's my actual job now!!" I whined as Reiji happily drove his green beetle with me beside him. 
"Buuut, it's your birthday today! You obviously deserve a break." he sang.
"I don't think my manager has that opinion..." I grumbled.
"Oh come on, [F/N]-chaan! Don't be so negative. It will be fuuun!" he hummed, as he parked down by quite a loud area.
"What, is some kind of party going on here?" I muttered with a raised eyebrow.
"Something like that. C'mon! Oh and also..." he added, then sighed. "Wear these."
He handed me a pair of sunglasses and a hat.
"I wanna avoid getting you in trouble, you know." he frowned. By that, I knew what he meant, as I silently nodded and picked up what he gave me to hide my face. We both got out of the car, and I looked down the street that was decorated with colors.
"A fair...?" I mumbled, looking at Reiji who wore a disguise himself. 
"Yyyup!" he nodded with a wide smile. "C'mon! We gotta try everything out!"
"I'm not really sure that- Kya!!" I yelped as Reiji continued dragging me down towards the stands with a happy laugh.

Packed with a few plushes and now full with what Reiji called a "birthday feast", I calmly walked with the brunette down on a quiet way. The sky was already darkening, as a pinkish color painted a gradient on the bottom of the horizon. My hands were connected behind my back, as the fluffy bunny's ear that was hanging out from my bag brushed against my side a bit every time I took a step. It was as if my lips were glued to my ears - I couldn't stop smiling. On the other hand, Reiji's thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.
"... Uhm... it was a great day." I started, trying to break the silence that was getting more uncomfortable by the second. To that, Reiji gave a weak smile, muttering a quiet "I'm glad" before letting the silence continue.
Something was off.
"... Reiji?"
"Yep?" he looked up at me, as we arrived by the small river that was close to the fair.
"Is everything o--"
"Ah look!! It's almost starting!" he snapped loudly and happily.
"... what?" I furrowed my eyebrows. To that, he pointed at the darkening sky - and soon enough, beautiful bright colors painted it with loud noises.
"E-Eh...?" I blinked at the colorful sky as the sun almost disappeared under the horizon. "Reiji, what's-"
"It's a firework, dummy. Just watch." he cut me off with a small chuckle.
"......"
I watched the bright colors with a smile in silence. I didn't expect anything out of it, although when the colors suddenly spelt "Happy Birthday" with a heart, my mouth was left wide open.
"O-Oh...?" was all I could blurt out, moving my gaze on the brunette beside me - who stared at me with the most gentle smile I've ever seen, the colors dancing and reflecting in his hazel orbs.
"... R-Reiji this is... too much." I muttered. "How much did this even cost you...?"
"Stop caring about that!" he chuckled. "You deserve the most I can give."
"E-Eh.....?" I muttered.
I feel like I heard that somewhere before.
"... W-Well..." I chuckled with a small smile. "Thank you, Reiji!! This is really amazing and beautiful... I've never had such a perfect birthday present before."
"... I'm glad you like it." he chuckled out, turning to look at the fireworks.
We watched the sky in silence for a few minutes.
"... [F/N]." he suddenly called out. His unusual, serious tone really surprised me. I looked at him questioningly. "I have to... talk to you about something."
"... o-okay...?" I furrowed my eyebrows. That didn't sound too good. "What is it?"
"..... I know that... you suspect the three of us for... that video on the concert." he slowly started. "And you have a really good point. But truth is--"
"Oh no no no!! Don't even talk to me about that, I feel horrible..." I quickly jabbered out, facepalming. "I know, I know! I know it can't be any of you. ESPECIALLY not you! I can't even imagine how I suspected you out of all people with something as horrible as that..."
"Eh...?"
"Listen, Reiji..." I bit my lips. "I'm... I'm so sorry. I pushed you away and... and I was so cruel to all of you. I should have trusted you from the very beginning. Especially you, like... like you did when you found out what I did! Remember?"

I felt his arms hug me tightly.
"... H-Huh?" I tensed up a bit.
"It's okay." he whispered.
"B-But..."
"It's okay..." he repeated, rubbing my back. "I know how hiding under a mask feels like. How hiding your true form feels like. I also know that you aren't the kind of person who would do this kind of thing out of her own will."
"...." I buried my face in his chest, slowly letting out a sob. "I'm sorry..."

"You trusted me almost immediately... even though you had a very good reason to hate me." I smiled sadly. "You were always there for me when I needed it... you never failed to pushed me forward when I was about to fall. You... even saved my life."

"Ai!" he suddenly snapped, grabbing him by the collar. "Listen, you have like ten seconds to drop your anger, or else...!"
Reiji gulped down the hard word. His palms were sweating, which made the cyanette gross out and try to pry him off.
"... Her life is on the line, Ai," he said in a low tone. His eyes were filled with darkness.
Ai's hands, which were trying to make the brunette let go, froze.
"W...What...?" he whispered, staring back into Reiji's dark orbs with wide and fearful eyes.

"... If you're not there, I would be long gone. Reiji, I... I don't know what I would do without you." I smiled at him.
Meanwhile, Reiji could only stare at me, completely dumbfounded. "I..."
"... I never got the chance to thank you..." I mumbled. I felt my eyes tearing up, as I found myself wrapping my arms around him tightly. "Thank you so much, Reiji. I never want to let you go..."
I felt his body tense up against me after a few seconds - nonetheless, I didn't let go of him. After a good while, his arms finally wrapped around me as well.
"... you know I'm always there for you." he mumbled quietly, which made me giggle.
"Thank you, Reiji... you will always be my dearest friend."

On our way back to the car, Reiji was even more quiet. Although I didn't really mind, as my heart was filled with a kind of happiness I haven't felt for a long time.

But I wonder what's on this dork's mind...

~■♡■~

Bit short, bit messed up, bit late. I hope it's still great-