Snow. It just wouldn't stop. Today, it kept coming as if the whole winter had come at once. Temperatures fell like stones, forcing the majority of the Soul Society indoors. Even Toshiro Hitsugaya, the coldest Shinigami around was huddled up indoors. He, however, had no fire roaring like his friends. Indeed, his door was wide open rather than bolted shut, so flurries of snow swirled around his home.
He was sat in his kimono, staring at a pile of presents that had mysteriously appeared in the middle of his bed during the middle of the day. He had already opened a few, including a huge sweet package from Jushiro – most of which was now scattered around the Eleventh division, thanks to Zakari's hyperactive Lieutenant – and a beautiful notebook from Nanao, with 'Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya' embossed in gold on the cover. He wondered how long it would take for Matsumoto to steal it. The others had seen fit to give him other niceties as the day went by, although had and got nothing from – in fact, not seen – Momo.
Now he considered his biggest present. It didn't have a name on it, just the word 'From the Fifth'. He assumed that it contained something trivial, as was usual for his birthday presents, but could not for the life of him work out what gift was nearly the size of a human teenager.
It took him a moment to get to the top of this mountain of a gift. He only succeeded by standing on the edge of his bed, the present still reaching up to his chest. It was the work of one swift tug to pull the neat, intricate bow that held the ribbon together apart, but the paper didn't unravel. Toshiro drew Hyorinmaru and sliced, with perfect accuracy, the wrapping paper from the top of the cardboard box inside.
But as he did so, he felt something else. A sliver of spirit energy, hiding something else. This gave him pause – was Matsumoto setting up another trick to play on him? She had certainly seemed unusually quiet today...
Toshiro brushed his doubts aside and tugged at the folded-over cover of the cardboard lid. There, to his total shock, was Momo Hinamori. She was a little blue in the face – the box had been in the cold for several hours – but she smiled up at him nevertheless.
"H-happy birthday, Shiro-chan."
"Momo! Wha-" It took Toshiro a moment to get his bearing back, to stop reeling from the shock.
"You must be freezing in there. Let's get you out."
"Thanks, Shiro-chan."
As Toshiro pulled on Momo's arms, however, she pushed off the bottom of the box and forced him onto the bed, back-first. She smiled benevolently down at him and whispered in his ear.
"Happy birthday, Shiro-chan."
Then she leant down and kissed him. He felt like his spirit was soaring, like Hyorinmaru had swapped places with him in mid-flight.
This was definitely the best birthday yet.