@sleuthprince sent... friday, july 10th, 2009. madoka's birthday. also, as their luck would have it, the exact day the bookstore restocked on the manga she'd seemingly taken an interest in a while back. it's a romance series, though she seemed to get shy about it when they asked what she'd been looking at; maybe she was a bit embarrassed about getting it with them around ? regardless, ever since they'd visited it, it's been in the back of their mind to grab it for her whenever they got the chance.
as a result, it's been a busy day of back and forth train rides, all while managing their schedule after school well enough to get back to the dorms before dark. they're certainly getting their steps in today.
the bag slung over their arm has a whopping six volumes of the manga in question, the only ones they had in stock, stacked and neatly wrapped in pale yellow paper, all tied together with a silver ribbon. it was a nightmare, trying to tie a damn bow while on the train, with how bad they already are at it, but... they did their best, and that's what matters, right ?
in any case, when they finally make it back to the dorm in iwatodai, they're out of breath. they wanted to make sure madoka would receive it directly, as simply leaving it outside her room's door feels... wrong. it's why they're relieved to see her seated at the counter by the kitchen. studying for next week's finals, no doubt. ( they'll have to catch up on their own studying once they've had a chance to sit down. ) they quietly clear their throat as they approach, lowering the bag from their arm to set it on the counter.
" i remember you mentioning today was your birthday. " they speak quietly, as she's never seemed like she wanted everyone to know. thankfully, the only other teammates in the lobby seem wholly occupied by the television. ( not that naoto would understand the reason why, since it's not even sunday. featherman isn't on yet. ) " i recall you seemed like you wanted these when we traveled around the island to get our bearings, but they only had volume three that day, so, i, uhm... " gosh, it's a little embarrassing to admit the lengths they went to here.
naoto quietly slides the bag over, allowing her to look inside. " h- happy birthday, madoka. i hope you like it. " god, they can feel their cheeks turning just a little bit red. why is that even happening ? what's going on in their head ?who knows. regardless, the gift has been given, and that's all that matters. " at the very least, it'll give you plenty to read once summer break starts next month. i- i've got a series of my own to catch up on, but if you want to borrow those sometime, feel free to ask. "
( from @sleuthprince, s.e.e.s. verse. <3 )
on any other day, madoka would balk at the idea of studying downstairs. while she doesn't hold any ill will towards the other residents of the dormitory, she doesn't particularly want to interact with them if she doesn't have to, either. there's no sense in making friends with these people when she knows full well her parents will accept another assignment that requires moving halfway across japan when the year is up; no matter how much she tries to preserve them, any friendships she forms in iwatodai will eventually be left behind, just like those she formed them with. it's easier to keep a polite distance between them, to simply co-exist harmoniously than entrust her heart to strangers and let them stomp all over it in the end. that, and... it's usually kind of loud. either shenanigans are afoot, the tv is far too loud, or the sounds of people coming and going break her focus.
unfortunately, today is madoka's birthday. school had been a decent enough distraction; lessons and the prohibition of cell phones in class a deterrent from checking in vain for some kind of message from her parents, some kind of proof that they're actually thinking of her today whilst busy with work. now that time is hers to do with as she pleases she knows full well that the evening would only be spent staring miserably at the tiny screen, waiting for a text message or phone call that might never come. it's not the best idea considering end of term exams are right around the corner, so she's made the decision to leave the tech in her room while she rereads her notes and works on the review drills teachers had assigned.
perhaps, if madoka finishes the work quickly enough, she'll treat herself to some tea and cake at chagall. she might not be fond of the day, but it is at least an excuse for sweets.
the thud of a rather heavy bag making contact with the counter makes the girl jump, gray eyes wide as she drops her pencil and looks around for the source. they finally settle upon one naoto shirogane, rosy-cheeked and looking rather out of breath. madoka raises a brow, tilting her head inquisitively. she's about to ask if they're okay and whether they'd like some water when naoto speaks up. her own cheeks flare red as the other continues on: when had she ever mentioned her birthday? this kind of knowledge is the exact thing she didn't want to spread around. she doesn't want the attention! she doesn't want any good memories made to be tainted with abandonment later on.
( she glances in the direction of their dorm mates to ensure they didn't overhear. they're thankfully still engrossed in the tv. )
then again, she supposes it might have been difficult hiding such a thing from naoto shirogane of all people. even if she didn't say it aloud, the latest in a line of great detectives must certainly have ways of finding information. they may have done some digging and being polite about it by suggesting madoka offered the information herself.
"i... yeah, it is," she replies uncertainly as naoto gently slides the bag over. a hint of pale yellow and silver peeks out, and at naoto's silent prompting she takes the package out. "you... got me something, shirogane-san? t-thank you, but... you really didn't have to go out of your way like that..."
still, it'd be rude to refuse the gift after naoto went and spent money on it, so she carefully unwraps the present. a little gasp slips past her lips as she discovers not one or two, but six volumes of a manga she'd taken note of at the strip mall's book store. she'd been embarrassed when naoto caught her looking at it; the story in particular was not only a romance but a mystery, with the leads being a handsome, talented young detective and his adorable, plucky assistant. it'd been serialized in her favourite shoujo magazine for some time now, and madoka had been overjoyed when it finally began being compiled and sold as tankōbon. red once again fills her cheeks as she realizes there's now a non-zero chance that they now know what the manga is about, and she wishes she could sink through the ground— naoto is a detective in training. or maybe they're already a detective. did they feel awkward, buying this for her?
madoka forces a smile, despite now feeling like a total weirdo. "i love it... r-really, shirogane-san... thank you. f-for thinking of me today, i mean... um..."
despite her awkwardness, she is grateful. affection for the blue haired youth wells up in her chest, as much as she tries to squash it down. guilt soon follows; she hasn't bothered to learn much about the others sharing her dorm beyond names, personalities, and general interests in case interaction was unavoidable. she has no idea when naoto's birthday is, what she'd even get them, or whether it's too late and she'll have to settle for the next gift-giving holiday to return the favour.
"i'll keep that in mind... and i'll take good care of these. hey, um..."
is it okay if i call you naoto?
"...did you... maybe want to go to chagall? let me just put everything away first, though..."
happy belated birthday, madoka!
