Today is special, he's waited all night to finally be able to wish his brother a happy birthday — never mind that they have school in the morning, or that he hasn't slept a wink, this is important! He want's to be the first, and he is, holding out the hand made card that would seem childish to anyone else, he smiles as wide as he can with closed eyes. " Happy birthday, Ritsu.." Shigeo's fondness seeps out in soft words, he'll spoil his brother all day because he deserves it!
Time was inconsequential when you rarely slept. When the clock rolled over into the new day and the soft knock thumped against his door on cue, he only registered it being late and the fact he was likely in trouble ━ he’d turned on his lamp when he assumed everyone had gone to be. Resigning himself to his fate, he shuffled from his desk, textbook purposefully in hand - technically he was studying, just, nothing they would be learning for months from now - and cracked open the door.
It was Shigeo. Shigeo who definitely needed a little more than eight hours of sleep, and his brows furrowed with worry before he realized he was being offered something. For a moment he’s confused ; comparable to the work of an elementary student, he’s not at all sure what it is. His name is the first thing he recognizes, and then everything else falls into place. Composure falters and his breath hitches.
The book is discarded in favor of taking the card with both hands, corners pinched delicately between his fingertips. He loves it. His face twists up farther once he opens it, taking in the sweet message penned in familiar writing and his heart feels too full. It’s simple, but he’s never been given anything greater or more dear to him.
Even after everything … No. There was never a reason to doubt his brother, why was he so surprised ?
❝ Nii-san… ❞ There’s the faintest of smiles despite his apparent distress, cheeks damp, and then he steps forward to envelope his brother in his arms, squeezing as tight as he dare.