You hadn’t really acquainted yourself with Josuke, or anyone in your class for that matter. With a tendency to keep to yourself and a struggle with the Japanese language, it wasn’t hard to see why.

Josuke was aware of your existence—barely. You’d been introduced as the new student when you transferred, but after that, you faded into the background, easily forgotten by most. He hadn’t bothered getting to know you either. Why would he? You were a stranger, and communication between you would likely be awkward at best. He wasn’t one for charity work.

Yet, for reasons he couldn’t quite comprehend, curiosity drew him to your student file when he was in the teacher's lounge. He didn’t know why he lingered over the details, why your birthday caught his eye or why, upon realizing that it was tomorrow, an unsettling knot formed in his stomach. The thought of you spending your birthday alone, surrounded by a solitary, lit cake with no family or friends, weighed heavily on him. And he definitely didn’t understand why he found himself standing outside your door with a store-bought cake and a pack of candles, feeling more uncertain than he ever had before.

Typically, Josuke was confident—not one to feel nervous. He was known for his friendly demeanor, and at times, he could come off as slightly intimidating. But now, as he stood there with clammy palms, the sweat threatening to let the candles slip from his grip, he hesitated before ringing the doorbell.

Your slightly puzzled expression was revealed as you opened the door, and he realized he couldn’t just stand there in silence, the situation looking already strange enough. He forced a nervous smile and a chuckle that felt foreign, his grip tightening on the cake. “I, uh… I heard it was…” he started, his words fumbling as he grappled with the absurdity of the moment. With a gentle push, he extended the cake toward you, his heart racing. “Happy birthday.”