Chiho was cooking breakfast when her cell phone started to ring. She smiled before answering.
"Eiji! How are you? Masayuki just left to take a walk with Haruki."
"Good morning, Chiho-nee. I'm on my way to college. Is everything all right?"
"Yes, everything is fine. How are you dealing with the rain? There was a pretty bad storm a couple of weeks ago, right?"
"I was okay. The phones really helped." He didn't want her to worry. "My grades for the second term were out yesterday, I'm still number 1 in class." He said happily.
"Oh, that's great, Eiji!"
"I learned how to prepare a lot of new desserts."
"Can't wait to taste them. In the pictures you sent us, all of them look delicious. Are you going to be able to come home on your birthday?"
"Ah, I don't think so, Chiho-nee, I'm sorry. I won't have a free weekend and going just to spend a day it's going to be very expensive."
"Yes, I understand." He noticed a hint of sadness in her voice. "But, it's a pity. It's your first birthday away from us and it's not every day our kid will turn 20, right?"
"I will go home for winter break. I think my boss will let me have some days off, at least on Christmas."
"Really?! That would be wonderful!"
"As soon as she gives me the confirmation, I will talk to you. I need to go now, Chiho-nee. Say hello to Masa-nii and give Haru-chan a kiss for me."
"Okay, Eiji. Be well. We miss you."
"I miss you guys too. Bye bye."
"Goodbye."
###############
Oishi had finished his last round at the clinical infirmary of the hospital and was on the way to leave his white coat on his office when his cell phone rang. He was shocked to see the caller and took him a while to answer.
"Tezuka?"
"Good evening, Oishi." His voice was as emotionless as ever. "I'm sorry for calling you, I understand that I'm the last person you wanted to talk to, but I have a proposal."
"What are you talking about?" he was trying his best to hide the annoyance on his voice.
"Every year my law firm organizes a donation for some initiatives. We're supposed to research places that would put the money to a good use and present on a meeting that will happen next week. Are you still doing volunteer work for a children's shelter?"
"Ah…yes!" it took him a while to believe.
"Could you send me the name and address by message? I will take a look. If it's suitable, I will indicate them for it."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Tezuka… why are you doing this? It's a crisis of conscious or something?"
"Not at all. It's really something I need to do. I never have any indications. Since you're so dedicated to it, I imagine they do a good job and deserve some help. But, you don't need to worry. I'm not dealing directly with it so you won't have to talk to me anymore about it. I'm just giving the information to our RP and he will contact the hospital directly if the bonus is approved."
"I see. Tezuka, I don't even know what to say. Thank you very much."
"Don't mention it."
"I will send the info right away. Have a good night."
"You too." He said, before hanging up and Shuichirou spent some time looking at the cell phone, still unbelieving.
############
When Eiji arrived, Oishi was at the kitchen, starting to prepare things for having dinner together, since it was Monday night. But his boyfriend entered the apartment silently and didn't even reply when he welcome him.
Kikumaru was in front of him, showing him his cell phone with a deep blush on his face.
"What is it, Eiji-kun?" he asked gently, picking up the object and looking at the website on it. "Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku. A reservation for November 27th." He looked back at him before returning the object. "I don't understand."
"They didn't have a room for two people on Sunday, so I made reservations for this Saturday!" he said nervously. "I… I wanted to spend the whole day with you, but…" he looked seriously at Shuichirou even though being very embarrassed. "Can we go after your volunteer work and spend the night at least?!"
"What? You… got a room in a hot spring for us?"
"Yes!" he blushed entirely. "I want… I want to spend my birthday with you! Well, sort of now…"
"Eiji-kun…" he was so touched. "Is that the reason you worked so much lately?"
He lowered his head and moved it positively. Ah, he was the most adorable thing in the whole world, Shuichirou was sure of it.
He came close and hugged his boyfriend tightly, surprising him.
"You didn't have to. If it's your birthday, I should have paid for you."
"You always do so much for me. I wanted to do something for you as well." He said, hugging him back.
"So, this means…" Shuichirou gently touched his face, making him look at him and whispered. "You want me as your birthday gift?"
Eiji exploded in pure embarrassment and he hid his face on his boyfriend's chest.
"Stop teasing me!"
Oishi laughed, before caressing his hair and hugging him even tighter.
