[Utakata no Uchronia] Birthday Mini Short Story - Tsuwabuki
･ﾟ･:,｡★ translation under the cut ★,｡･:･ﾟ
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Tsuwabuki: "Yes. What is the matter, Lady Hinagiku?"
Hinagiku: "Your birthday is coming up, right?
Is there anything you'd like?"
Tsuwabuki: "Ahh. No, thank you. I appreciate the thought, but I am already past the age where I should be celebrating."
Tsuwabuki: "Just that sentiment is enough for me."
Hinagiku: "...Okay, I see!"
Today is September 24th. It is my birthday.
I do not have any particular plans. If I had to say...
I will report for duty at the Kurozuru, work, and then go home.
By the way, I have a fiancée.
She is the head of Eastern Fifth, and she is kind and sincere to the city of Itehari and all of its residents.
She is an incredibly charming woman.
I have not heard a word from her.
TsuwabukI: "..............."
Tsuwabuki: (N-No. Truly, there is no need for anything special. ...However...)
Tsuwabuki: (Would it be unbecoming of me to hope that I could at least receive a birthday greeting, or if possible, spend some time together...)
Aijiro: "If our higher-up never goes home, then it's hard for the rest of us to leave. Think about us, will you!"
After getting scolded by my considerate subordinate, I left the command post a little earlier than usual.
Tsuwabuki: "...Lady Hinagiku!"
Hinagiku: "Tsuwabuki, great job at work today!"
My beloved fiancée was waiting for me.
Tsuwabuki: "Did something happen? Could you be here to—"
Hinagiku: "I just happened to have some business to attend to at Ryuei. I dropped by since I thought I might be able to bump into you at this hour."
Tsuwabuki: "...Is that so?"
It was a coincidence with no deeper meaning. I see. That makes sense.
Hinagiku: "If you have some time, won't you come over for tea? Awayuki baked some treats for us."
Tsuwabuki: "Yes. Of course, I do not mind—"
Tsuwabuki: (...Could she have... forgotten...?)
There is nothing out of the ordinary about her behaviour.
Tsuwabuki: (Well, she is a busy woman. And I am causing her even more trouble due to our engagement.)
Tsuwabuki: (It was arrogant of me to expect her to remember something as trivial as my birth date.)
We headed towards Lady Hinagiku's manor which I frequented often. As soon as I stepped into her living room...
I could not help but stare with wide eyes.
The walls and ceiling were adorned with fresh, brightly coloured flowers and paper decorations that appeared to be handmade.
Laid out atop the table were extravagant dishes that were clearly prepared for a celebration.
Hinagiku: "I'm sorry. You told me you're already past the age where you should be celebrating..."
Hinagiku: "But I wanted to celebrate in some small way, so I went ahead and prepared this."
Hinagiku: "I asked Aijiro for a favour to get you to go home earlier today."
Tsuwabuki: (Come to think of it, Aijiro always does what she tells him to...)
She has gotten his help to cut off my retreat before.
Hinagiku: "At first, I wanted to get you a present that could be used up. It's a bit embarrassing... b-but I wrote you a letter."
Tsuwabuki: "Lady Hinagiku..."
Tsuwabuki: "Thank you very much. I will read it carefully."
Hinagiku: "...This isn't too overbearing?"
Tsuwabuki: "Not at all. You have done for me what I wanted the most."
"Well, actually, if I had to say..."
Tsuwabuki: "...If possible, I would have preferred if you told me sooner. I was worried that you had perhaps forgotten..."
She blinked, took a long look at me, and then smiled gently.
Hinagiku: "Tsuwabuki, are you actually pouting...?
...You're cute."
Tsuwabuki: "I-I am not pouting."
I held my hand over my mouth to hide my expression and continued.
Tsuwabuki: "I had hoped that you would remember. However, I did not want to trouble you by asking you to spend my birthday together..."
Hinagiku: "If you don't mind, then I would love to keep celebrating your birthdays from now on."
Hinagiku: "The day the one I love was born is incredibly special, after all."
...I know it is unbefitting of my age, and I am hesitant to take back what I said earlier. Even so…
Tsuwabuki: "...If it is alright with you, I would love for you to celebrate my birthday again next year."
When I told my fiancée this, she smiled happily without a worry on her face.
Thanks to her, I feel like I can now cherish my birthdays more than I did before——.
[DO NOT USE OR REPOST MY WORK W/O PERMISSION, THANK YOU]
