01: Birthday Blues.
It's odd how some things become traditions.
This one started out as a joke.
In fact, Hikigaya had to google it – 'What's the most terrible gift you can give someone.'
As you would expect, there was a list with 15 items and out of them, Hikigaya picked one at random.
And so, on Koyomi Araragi's birthday he received office supplies – a stapler, tape and paper clips.
As you would expect, Araragi never used those items. And then Houtarou Oreki's birthday came and you would never guess what he got – a stapler, tape and paper clips.
Houtarou Oreki used the stapler, the tape and the paper clips because he needed those items and by the time Sakuta Azusagawa's birthday came around, Houtarou Oreki asked Hikigaya for suggestions.
"How about giving him a pair of socks?" Hikigaya said.
"…" Oreki said nothing.
Make note. Never ask Hikigaya for free advice. And so, since Oreki didn't want the extra hassle, he gave Sakuta Azusagawa something he could actually use – a stapler, tape and paper clips.
"What will I do with this stuff?" Sakuta asked
"If you don't like it, just give it to someone else." Rio Futaba replied.
"Hmm. Let's see, whose birthday is next?"
It was Kiyotaka Ayanokouji's birthday next and because Sakuta Azusagawa didn't give a damn, he gave the guy office supplies on his birthday – a stapler, tape and paper clips.
"Hmm?" Kiyotaka Ayanokouji inspected the items. "These are used."
"Getting used items on your birthday." Yukino Yukinoshita said. "You really don't have any friends, do you?"
Ayanokouji thought for a moment. "Actually, I have one."
And so, next year, on Hikigaya's birthday, you would never guess what Kiyotaka Ayanokouji gave him.
Hikigaya looked at the contents – office supplies – a stapler, tape and paper clips.
After taking them out and looking them over, he burst out laughing.
"I bet this is what they call karma." Hikigaya said. "What goes around, comes around."
And so, it became a tradition – these so called friends would give each other office supplies on their birthdays.
Yes, they were horrible friends.
But on the plus side, they never ran out of paper clips.
A/N: I just thought this was a funny idea. And I just had to write it down. Tell me what you think? Was it funny? Was it lame? Was it a waste of your time? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. I really had fun writing it.
Take care.