After a long day in the mines, Viktor returns home with his pickaxe in the late evening, looking forward to an early night.
But what he finds instead is a house lit top to bottom with lights. Frowning, he carefully pushes the door open.
"Surprise!" yells several voices at once.
Viktor lets out a yelp as their closest friends and family all jump out from behind the furniture. The inside of the farmhouse is decorated with balloons and streamers, and a happy birthday banner is strung up from the ceiling.
"Oh my gosh!" Viktor gasps.
"Happy birthday, Vikster!" Kiki dashes forward and grabs him in a hug. "Glad you didn't suspect something when I sent you off to the mines for the day."
"I forgot it was my birthday," chuckles Viktor. "Oh geez, you nearly gave me a heart attack."
"Sorry!" Kiki gestures to the people behind her. "We organised a surprise party for you and look who we've got here!"
Viktor spends the first hour of the party chatting with everyone who has come. His old friend Millie and her wife Maru have brought their kids Connor and Carly, and while the kids socialise with Viktor's adopted daughter Rae and niece Lizzie, Viktor chats with his old friend and his sister. It's wonderful to see Kate again after so long, especially finding out that she's since gotten married to Millie's sister Morgan, further uniting their families.
After a while, Viktor finds Kiki by the snack table. "So, um… did you invite anyone from Pelican Town?"
Kiki shakes her head. "No, I thought you'd want to keep it to just close friends and family. Oh, wait! There IS one person I did invite. A certain guy with an affinity for chickens." Kiki grins and nidges him. "I thought he'd fit right in on a farm."
"Shut up!" hisses Viktor. "I don't have a crush on Shane!"
"I never said you had a crush on him," Kiki says smugly.
Viktor pauses.
"Oh."
Ezra suddenly appears next to them. "Millie told me you've never celebrated your birthday before! I knew Kate didn't like big occasions but I didn't realise you didn't either."
Viktor shrugs. "My family weren't big on birthdays."
"Yeah, Vikster used to love going all out for MY birthdays," says Kiki. "But he never had a party of his own."
"Whoa… Is this your first?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"I just thought it was time, since it's Vikster's first birthday since we moved to Stardew Valley," says Kiki happily, before glancing at her watch. "Oh boy, he's pretty late… I hope he's coming."
As if on cue, a voice comes from behind them: "Hey. Sorry I'm late."
Viktor's heart skips a beat as they turn to find Shane entering the farmhouse, holding a wrapped gift. "H-Hey. Thanks for coming."
"No problem. You're my favourite person in this crummy town so… Plus, your blue haired friend said there'd be alcohol."
"We got pale ale and salmonberry wine," calls Ezra from the refreshments table. "Can I get you anything?"
Shane shrugs. "Not the best but I've had worse. Pale ale, please."
"You got it!"
"W-We have pizza too," Viktor says nervously.
"Oh." Shane seems to perk up a little. "I like pizza. Anyway, happy birthday."
He hands Viktor the gift. Viktor unwraps it and finds a duck feather inside. "Oh my gosh, thank you! I love these!"
"And I love pizza," replies Shane with a wry grin. "Seems we know each other well. To be honest, you're the only person in this town I'd make the effort for, outside of Jas and my aunt."
"That really means a lot," says Viktor happily. "Thank you so much."
Shane clears his throat awkwardly. "No problem."
In the ensuing pause, Ezra bounces up to them and hands Shane a pale ale. "There ya go."
"Thanks." Shane takes a long swig immediately, draining the drink, and gave the empty glass back to Ezra. "Nothing else for me, thanks."
"Whoa…"
Ezra doesn't seem to know how to react to that, so she just turns and walks away.
Viktor hesitates. "Shane, um… Do you want to go for a short walk with me? To see the chickens, maybe?"
They know they've caught Shane's attention. Clearly trying not to look too interested, Shane nods. "Okay, sure."
After telling Kiki where they're going, Viktor takes Shane out to the chicken coop in the cool air. He stands in the entrance and watches Shane sit down beside one of the white chickens and gently lift it into his lap. "Hello, beautiful," he whispers. "Aren't you gorgeous? Aren't your feathers soft and shiny today?"
"That's Zozabella," Viktor tells him. "Zoza for short."
"She's gorgeous," says Shane. "Did you get her from my aunt's shop?"
"No, she was hatched right here. Peka is the one we got from Marnie." Viktor indicates the sleeping white chicken in the corner. "She's Zoza's mother."
"Aww." Shane strokes Zoza's feathers lightly. "Even though they don't raise the young or even incubate the eggs themselves, chickens have wonderful maternal instincts. They usually keep an eye on their chicks even when they've grown up."
"Not like humans," murmurs Viktor without thinking.
Shane glances up at them in surprise but to Viktor's relief, he doesn't ask them to elaborate. "Yeah, I get what you mean."
Viktor sits down beside Shane and strokes Zoza's neck. "Sometimes I think only Kiki and the chickens get me. But then I spend time with you and I know there's someone else out there who understands me."
"Yeah, I feel the same."
Before Viktor can react, Shane leans forward and kisses him. It lasts only a few seconds before Shane pulls away, his cheeks tinged pink. "You've no idea how long I've wanted to do that."
For a moment, Viktor's voice fails him. Then they manage to squeak out, "M-Me too. I've just never been brave enough."
"Honestly, me too. Well, now that we've done it once, maybe we could be more confident about doing it again in the future?"
Viktor blinks rapidly to avoid tearing up with happiness. "Y-Yes. I'd love that."
Shane smiles, a genuine smile, and takes Viktor's hand. "You're really cute when you're flustered. In fact, you might just be the cutest boyfriend I've ever had."
"This is the best birthday I've ever had," is all Viktor can manage in response.
Shane gives a chuckle and leans his head on Viktor's shoulder. "Happy birthday, Vik."
Viktor rests his head on Shane's and closes their eyes.
"Thank you, Shane."