Summary:Ever since she was a kid, Nozomi remembers how, what was special to everybody, was just like any other day to her. But Eli will change that and make her feel that both her birthday and she are special.
Nozomi/Eli

A special birthday

A purple haired girl lets her body rests against the railing of the balcony of her apartment as she gazes up at the sky, contemplating it changing its orange, pink and purple colors to a dark blue as the night slowly falls over and the stars appear timidly to light up the vast sky.

Nozomi can't help but wrap the light blanket she has around her frame tighter in an unusual chilly night in the heat of the summer, thinking about the weather getting warmer and warmer every year that goes by, before the sound of the boiling kettle pulls her out of her musings indicating her that it's time to get back inside as the first raindrops begin to fall.

A long sigh escapes her lips as she closes the balcony's door and gets inside the tiny but somehow cozy apartment, crossing it to take the kettle off the stove and pour some steaming water on her mug to enjoy one of her favorite teas as she goes back to gaze at the stars shining brightly now, this time under the shelter of her own apartment in such a special day.

But the soft smile playing on her lips soon turns into a sad one as she takes a sip of her warm tea, looking into its green color with bitterness upon remembering how lonely her birthday felt.

Not that Nozomi wasn't used to it after years of moving out and losing touch with the ones that were supposed to be her friends, but she hoped this year would be different.

As usual, her parents forgot about her birthday, joining to the rest of her classmates.

She hoped that at least µ's remembered about it even if they were still starting as a group and getting to know one another slowly, but then again, the purple haired girl couldn't help but laugh bitterly at her own clumsiness of wanting to be so mysterious about herself that she didn't even tell anybody when her birthday was, not even the girl that became her best friend and also her crush.

Another heavy sigh escapes her lips as she takes another sip of her now lukewarm tea, before the ring of her doorbell startles her, almost making her drop her precious mug to the floor.

Confused upon not expecting any visit, Nozomi strolls towards the front door to open it, only to find no other than her blonde best friend and crush at the other side looking rather disheveled and slightly soaked while taking big breaths, getting a hold of the door frame trying to catch her breath.

- E-Elichi? What are you doing here?

Nozomi asks even more confused as she lets Eli in, quickly taking a towel to give it to the blonde and help her to dry herself as she closes the front door, observing how is raining harder now.

The purple haired girl can only go back to help her blonde friend to dry herself with the borrowed towel as she asks her in between giggles.

- Don't tell me you were going home and it started to rain so hard that you had to seek shelter at mine?

She says playfully as she keeps giggling, gasping as Eli places her cold hands over hers and looks into her eyes intensely with a mix of fiery determination and a shadow of hurt that Nozomi never saw before.

- You've never told me – Eli says firmly and still a bit breathlessly, confusing Nozomi as the blonde squeezes her hands.

- Eh?

- You've never told me that today is your birthday. In the 3 years we've known one another, you've always been elusive about it or changed the subject, and it hasn't been until today that I've took a look at your school record when I've saw it.

- Elichi…

- Why?

Eli asks with evident hurt in her voice now, causing Nozomi to sigh as she goes deeper into her apartment.

- It's just a day like any other – Nozomi says quietly as she keeps walking, only to be stopped by Eli grabbing her wrist gently.

- Nozomi…

The blonde utters her name as a warning, and the purple haired girl can only shake her head as she gives the blonde a soft almost sad smile.

- Let's make you some hot tea while you get changed into some dry clothes. We wouldn't the student council president to catch a cold, do we?

She says humorlessly, handing Eli one of her shirts and a pair of her sport pants as she goes to brew more tea.

Not many minutes go by before Nozomi hears Eli's footsteps as she returns, turning around to place a mug of steaming green tea in the table between them as she sees a pout adorning the blonde's features, hurt undoubtedly being part of it.

The purple haired girl can only smile softly as she points her best friend to take a sip of the hot tea and get warm, before the longed conversation.

- Why didn't you say anything?

Eli asks as soon as the mug stops touching her lips, hearing Nozomi sighing as she plays with the rim of her own mug.

- Elichi… I've already told you that it's just like any other day – Nozomi explains softly yet with a trace of sadness on her features.

- Is it?

Eli asks as she steps closer to leave a caress on the other girl's cheek, a rare sight of affection from her that makes Nozomi blush lightly, before nodding while smiling softly and sadly.

- It is. Ever since we started moving out when I was a kid, the friends I had slowly stopped calling me to know how I was doing and then for special dates as Christmas, New Year and eventually my birthday. I barely stuck around to celebrate it either wherever I went, and eventually even my own parents stopped remembering or celebrating any of these special dates, planning a new move or being busy with work, so what was special for everybody, started to be just like any other day for me.

Nozomi pauses for a moment as she takes a sip of her tea, and Eli can't help but feel her heart breaking for her best friend.

- So when I enrolled in Otonokizaka and we weren't friends until late in the school year, I was happy that my birthday had already happened so I didn't have to tell you about it. I was happy to make excuses and not say anything about it. Even this year as μ's got together, I was just content with celebrating the rest of the girls' birthdays, but of course Elichi you had to be a nosy girl.

Nozomi teases Eli in between giggles, seeing her pouting again.

- In that case, would you be mad at me for getting you something for your birthday?

Eli asks politely and softly, a bit unsure, before seeing Nozomi shaking her head with a timid smile on her face and almost contained emotion.

- Elichi, you really didn't have to get me anything...

- I know, but I wanted to.

Eli quickly cuts Nozomi's any further excuse, hearing her sighing, before she sees the blonde rummaging in her pockets.

- In our first year, you told me that I was always the sun in your tarot cards, shining radiantly even though I never felt anything like that. And the truth is that ever since then, I couldn't help but always see you as the moon, always enigmatic while accompanying me in the shadows.

The blonde admits as she pulls out of her pocket a beautiful silver necklace with a moon and a small stone with the color of Nozomi's eyes in it.

- So I've bought this reminiscence of what you are to me – Eli explains, smiling fondly as she sees Nozomi getting emotional – Do you mind if I put it on you?

She asks ever so politely, seeing Nozomi biting her lips before she agrees and turns around so Eli can put the necklace around her neck, to then leave a timid kiss on it too.

- It's beautiful…

Eli hears Nozomi whispering enchanted by it, blushing lightly at Eli's gesture, before the blonde pulls out the second of her gifts.

- In our second year, I discovered how much you liked to brew tea, so I've brought you this canister in which I hope you can store your favorite tea in.

Eli says almost embarrassed, hearing Nozomi giggling as she sees the cute tanuki adorning the tea canister that the blonde brought for her.

- And lastly… do you think you can you close your eyes for a moment?

- Elichi…

- I know you don't like surprises, but I promise you that this is the last one. Just... just trust me with this one, okay?

She tells her softly, nervously somehow, convincing Nozomi who can only close her eyes just like the blonde told her to, before Eli takes a step forward and cups her cheeks to kiss her, feeling Nozomi gasping surprised against her lips before reciprocating the kiss.

- In my third year I realized that I love you as more than as my best friend – Eli confesses bashfully as they pull away, seeing tears picking of Nozomi's beautiful eyes – b-but you don't have to reciprocate my-

Eli's panicked rambling is soon cut off by a pair of soft lips over hers, making her smile as they deepen the kiss.

- Of course I love you too as more than my best friend, dork – Nozomi whispers against her lips adorably – But why three gifts?

- Because those are the years I missed your birthday since we know one another. And if you leave me, I plan to make every single one of your birthdays special so you don't ever feel it being just like any other day.

Eli says determined, making Nozomi blush harder as she hugs the blonde to hide it from her.

- Elichi, idiot.

She mumbles, hearing Eli's chest rumbling with laugh as she hugs her tighter, making her birthday indeed special as she just promised her.

They stay like that for some time, hugging tightly, before Nozomi talks against the blonde's chest.

- Stay the night? – she asks timidly as they look at the rain still pouring hard from the crystal door of the balcony.

- Always.

Nozomi can't help but be happier than she ever remembers, walking towards her bedroom hand in hand with the blonde to sleep wrapped in the embrace of her now girlfriend, feeling loved and special in such a special date as her birthday with the moon illuminating them in an unusual chilly night in the heat of the summer.