"Happy birthday, Tobi-chan!"
She claps her hands together, sitting in front of the yawning baby, and ruffles his soft, downy hair. Then, she places a small, blue box in front of Tobio.
It's simply wrapped, and the only decoration is a dark blue ribbon. Tobio eyes it cautiously, and she giggles.
"It's not going to hurt you, silly," she tells him, nudging it further towards him. "Go on, open it."
It takes Tobio about, well, fifteen tries to figure out that one: the thing on top is a lid, and two: the box actually contains something inside.
He tips it upside down, face screwing up in effort, and a little plushy volleyball plops out, followed by a pair of new socks (volleyball print) and a shirt (with a volleyball on it).
Tobio waits patiently as she slips the shirt over his pajamas, poking his belly where the volleyball is printed, and waits as she grins at how cute her son looks in his new socks, then lunges for the volleyball.
"Very eager, are you," says his mother drily, and Tobio makes a gargling sound of pleasure.
"Wait 'till your father hears that you started playing volleyball at one!" she says gleefully. "A child genius! He'll cry from joy!"
Tobio stuffs the volleyball into his mouth, eyes wide with interest, saliva dribbling down his chin in great rivulets.
"... or not."
