Today was a day unlike any other, it was the day that only happens once a year to everyone and would usually be celebrated with a party of any kind: a birthday. Indeed, birthdays were always events where there would be enormous cakes, cheese, streamers and fun all around, but there was also another meaning to it that most people would never think about.
It meant that the person has survived another full in year in their life, pushing ahead against all the obstacles of life to achieve their cherished dreams and wants. In the futuristic city of Mitakihara, today marked the 13th birthday of a veteran Puella Magi by the name of Mami Tomoe.
Despite her relatively-young age, Mami Tomoe was a respected individual in her school, known for her smarts, maturity and her realistic looks on life. Plenty of girls would look for her and beg for her advice whenever they had lingering doubts, and even if that's what they only came for, Mami Tomoe never turned them down nor lose the motherly smile she always wore.
Inside her apartment, the small and simple room was decorated with a thousand party streamers and ribbons that were bought from a small store. They all had Mami's favorite color: yellow, and not a single spot was wasted nor left without at least one decor. Above the door, a large "Happy Birthday" sign hung from there where anyone inside could see.
The window to her balcony was left open to let the warm evening breeze seep into the room and also to give a good view of the bright, vibrant city lights of Mitakihara. To top it all off, a small stereo in the corner was playing a happy, beaming song which could even make the most depressed smile ever so slightly.
The light of the candles on the white & yellow cheesecake reflected off Mami's golden eyes. Dressed in her school uniform with her bag sitting on a nearby chair, Mami Tomoe took a deep breath and then blew out the candles, the tune still ringing "Happy Birthday" in the air.
Wiping away a small tear that formed in the corner of her eye, Mami smiled and clasped her hands together, muttering, "Yes.. Happy Birthday... to me..."
She stared at the empty cushion seats on the other edges of her glass table and placed her hands on her lap. Her white, cat-like Familiar, Kyubey, sat quietly on the couch, curiously asking, "Is it really necessary to celebrate such a thing, Mami? There's nobody else here except for us."
"It's okay, Kyubey," Mami packed up the cake for later, walking over to her fridge to place it inside, "I never really mind celebrating my birthday like this, I'm quite used to it," one corner of her mouth turned into a frown before she patted her cheeks and smiled again.
Kyubey tilted its head in confusion, "I don't get it. But, oh well," the Familiar hopped down from where it was and walked over to the balcony, "Isn't it time for your daily patrol?"
"Of course, of course," Mami followed it and flicked a finger. Her Puella Magi uniform materialized around her in a bright flash as she opened the window and leap onto the balcony, looking up at the night sky with a slight frown, "I can never ignore my duties, can't I?" she chuckled before hopping down from the building, twin ornate muskets forming in her gloved hands.
