The morning sun peeked through the windows of the dorm, casting a soft light over the lounge. The day felt a little different, like there was a quiet energy in the air that no one could quite put into words.

It was Laura's birthday.

Fie had known for a while, but it had taken her a few days to figure out how she was going to approach it. She wasn't great with birthdays—too much attention always made her feel awkward, like all eyes were on her in ways that made her want to hide. But Laura was kind, composed, and just the type of person who deserved something nice. She'd been especially nice to Fie lately. One good turn deserves another.

Fie paced back and forth in her room, her mind racing. She'd thought about buying her a gift, but that felt like it would be too obvious—too much. A cake? That was probably still too much. She'd have to do something more subtle.

She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already late morning, and she'd been thinking about it for so long that time had slipped away.

"I gotta do something…" she muttered to herself, staring at her hands. "But what? How?"

She glanced over at her desk, where she'd been fiddling with a piece of paper all morning. A rough sketch of the two of them, drawn in a style that was far too rough to actually give to Laura—but the idea was there. Maybe she could give her that?

"Yeah, but what if it's dumb?" Fie said aloud, crumpling the paper up and tossing it into the trash. She rubbed her temples in frustration. "This stuff is too complicated..."

A little while later, Fie found herself wandering down to the dorm's lounge. She'd given up on overthinking it for now. If she couldn't figure out the perfect gift, maybe she could just spend some time with Laura. No pressure.

When she entered the room, she saw Laura standing near the window, her back to the door. She was staring out at the courtyard, her hands behind her back in that poised, graceful way she always stood.

Fie hesitated for a moment. She wasn't sure how to start this. Should she just wish her a happy birthday and leave it at that?

Laura turned slightly, sensing Fie's presence. "Good morning, Fie," she said, offering one of her warm, serene smiles. "Is something the matter?"

Fie froze for a moment. There was something about the way Laura looked today—like she was radiating an almost unearthly calm.

"N-Nope. Nothing's wrong," Fie said quickly, looking down at her shoes to hide the heat creeping up her neck. "I was just… I was wondering if you were busy today. Y'know, since it's your birthday and all."

Laura blinked in surprise. "Ah… I had completely forgotten, to be honest. It's not a big deal. I don't usually do much for it."

Fie's heart gave a tiny jolt. "Wait… You don't do anything for your birthday? That's… that's kind of a bummer."

Laura shrugged, her smile never fading. "It's true. My family never really made much of a fuss, and I suppose I never found much reason to celebrate it. But I'm glad you remembered."

Fie rubbed the back of her neck, her fingers digging into her hair as she tried to come up with a response that wouldn't make her sound weird.

"Well, I did remember," she said, voice slightly shaky. "And… I guess I just thought maybe you'd like to do something for it. Not like a big thing, just, you know… hang out or something."

Laura turned fully to face her now, her eyes soft with curiosity. "That sounds nice, Fie. I'd be happy to spend some time with you."

Fie smiled, though it was a little awkward. "Yeah. We can just, uh, chill for a bit. You know, relax and stuff."

There was a brief, charged silence between them. Fie had no idea how to make this feel more natural. She wanted to do something nice, but all the words felt too big, too heavy.

"I didn't get you a gift or anything," Fie blurted out, looking away quickly. "I mean, I didn't think it'd be right or anything, so I just… I guess I'll just hang out with you. That's my gift. Yeah."

Laura chuckled softly, her tone full of warmth. "You didn't need to get me a gift, Fie. Spending time together is more than enough. I appreciate that you thought of me."

Fie felt her face flush with relief. "Good. So… uh, what do you wanna do, then? You got anything planned, or…?"

Laura thought for a moment, her eyes flicking to the window. "Well, I was going to go for a walk later. Perhaps you'd like to join me? I find that a quiet walk can be quite enjoyable on days like this."

Fie's heart skipped again. It was a simple suggestion, but the idea of spending time with Laura—just the two of them, walking around together—sounded perfect.

"Yeah, that sounds nice," Fie said with a small smile, the nervousness in her chest finally easing. "I'd like that a lot."

Later that afternoon, Fie and Laura found themselves walking through the academy's garden. The air was cool, and the peaceful atmosphere of the academy made everything feel slower, more intentional. Fie stuck close to Laura, enjoying the calm silence between them.

As they walked, Fie casually brushed her fingers against Laura's. It was a small gesture, but it felt significant. Laura didn't react, but Fie noticed how her fingers seemed to stay just close enough for Fie to feel them.

The two of them continued walking, enjoying the quiet of the day.