Disclaimer: You know what I'll say.
'December the 20th is my Captain's birthday...', or so Matsumoto slurred to Ichigo out of the blue. But what does it matter? He's not fond of celebrating birthdays, and he's sure Toshiro is also the same. So why would the strawberry blonde say that?
"Maybe it's just some random talk from being so drunk." he shrugged just as a Hollow roared from not so far. Doing the usual routine, he placed the badge against his chest to eject his soul from the body and he leaped out to finish off the monster, which is not such a hard task anymore.
For all hours of the day, he can't get it off his head, that little talk about the prodigy's birthday. It annoyed him for he couldn't spend at least minute in peace, but it also allowed him to realize that maybe he should get something for the silverette.
The only problem is, he doesn't know what the boy likes, aside from cold weather and diligent subordinates. Speaking about Toshiro, he wondered if the lazy Lieutenant is once again incurring Toshiro's wrath right now.
"Once again, I keep on telling you to not store your drinks in my office you idiot!" he yelled, and the room literally shook when Matsumoto fell to the floor. She whined while rubbing her sore butt and back, along with yawning.
"Sorry Captain, I had a small party here with Kira and Hisagi..." she muttered, getting up the floor with another whiny noise. "And they ended up terribly drunk and got almost naked from being so intoxicated, yes I get it. Now go do your paperwork or I'll freeze your sorry butt off." he threatened, focusing his icy Reiatsu towards his subordinate who started to get goosebumps.
Before she left to do her work (against her will), she asked, "By the way Captain, what do you want for your birthday?" He stayed quiet for a while, surprised by the sudden question. "I don't know, and I don't want to know. I'm past birthday celebrations since a long time ago."
"What a shame." she commented before disappearing into her room. He sighed that Matsumoto had to bring up the subject and did his paperwork, finishing them in no time while she wasn't even halfway, much to his chagrin. He took the unfinished ones and took care of them himself, keeping a mental note to punish her by the next morning.
"Amanatto?" he asked, while taking a glass of water. Right now, he's in the cafe, talking to the one person he's sure knows Toshiro the most: Hinamori. He rarely talks to her, though. It was a coincidence that he found her because she wanted to see what the World of the Living is like, and Toshiro's birthday came back to his mind and he decided to talk about it with her.
"And watermelons. Back when he still wasn't a Shingami, I would bring him so many melons and he'd eat them all in less than five minutes. And also, he would go out to the store to buy amanatto every day. Up to now, our grandmother would send some to him."
"I see. Well thanks. By the way, you like the food here?" he asked, as he's the one who invited her to eat in the cafe. "Yes. I like the ice cream and the cakes, and it's my first time tasting coffee. Thanks." she answered, as he left his payment on the table along with a good tip. "So, what will you get him?"
"Not sure, but now I have a lead." he replied, and they parted ways after exchanging goodbyes. He's still undecided on what to get him, but after seeing a bakery shop, he immediately counted his money and he still had a lot of yen, so he went in.
December 20. It's already snowing in Soul Society, but when it comes to Toshiro, there is no such thing as a holiday break though he allowed his underlings to cool off for only a day or two. But he paid no attention that it's his birthday, though he kept track of his exact age.
After a meeting with the other Captains, he went back to his office and to his surprise saw a large box made from paper box along with a folded note. He sensed no trace of spirit energy, and he turned suspicious but he read the note nonetheless.
I was told you like melons, so I decided to give you something new from the fruit on your birthday. Hope you lay off that rigid attitude of yours one day, Toshiro. Oh well, have a fun birthday.
The sender wasn't specified, but Toshiro already knows who it is from the fact that his first name is addressed in the note. He rolled his eyes, feeling annoyed that the orange head won't stop referring to him by his given name. "I wonder what did he leave me though..." he set aside the note and slowly opened the box, which revealed half a dozen of large melon bread. But, Toshiro doesn't know about the treat, let alone heard of it.
"It looks like a melon. Is that what he meant by something new from melons?" he thought, his lips parting to take a bite of the bread. After a large bite that he slowly chewed at, his eyes slightly widened from surprise. "It doesn't taste like melon, but it still tastes good." slipped out his tongue, just as a man came to deliver amanatto by his grandmother. He spent his lunch time eating both, and since no one was there to see, he let himself smile.
This time, his birthday didn't seem to be so bad after all.
A/N: I know it's already past December 20 but I wanted to publish it anyway. The next chapter will be about Ichigo's birthday, and I'll publish it if you give me two to three reviews. After all, who doesn't want his/her stories to get reviewed?
