Nino wasn’t the best choice for this.

—“Just distract them,” Alya had said, pushing him toward the mall entrance. “One hour. That’s all we need.”

He didn’t argue out loud.

But inside? He was spiraling.

Distracting his ex on their birthday—after the messy way things ended? Yeah. No pressure.

You sat across from him now, silently eating your ice cream, while he stared at his own with zero appetite. The table between you felt like a canyon. Familiar, yet impossibly distant.

Nino tapped his spoon on the cup. Then again. Then again.

Your gaze flicked up briefly, unreadable.

He sighed, dragging a hand down his face.

Finally, he snapped.

—“You know what? I’m not gonna do this.”

You blinked.

—“I’m not gonna sit here pretending we’re fine, like we’re just two people who—who didn’t wreck each other.”

His voice cracked slightly, but he pressed on.

—“I’m sorry, okay? I know I never said it properly. I broke up with you because I thought… I thought you deserved better. Someone who wasn’t always running off on patrol, who didn’t forget texts or miss dates or keep secrets all the time.”

He looked down at his melting ice cream. Then laughed, bitter and quiet.

—“I thought I was doing the right thing. But all I did was lose you.”

A long pause.

Then his voice dropped lower.

—“If giving up the Miraculous of the Turtle meant going back—starting from the beginning—I’d do it. No questions.”

His eyes were glassy now, tears clinging to his lashes.

—“I’d give it all up just to fix this.”

Without waiting for your response, he stood and stepped around the table.

And then, gently—carefully—he wrapped his arms around you.

The mall was loud around you. Kids shouting, music playing. But inside that hug, it was just silence. Breath. Heartbeats.

He didn’t expect forgiveness.

But he needed you to know.

Eventually, he pulled back and cleared his throat.

—“Anyway…” he sniffed, forcing a crooked smile. “There’s, uh… there’s a place I want to show you.”

You followed him.

The lights were dim when you arrived at the small venue tucked behind the bakery.

Then—click.

Lights. Confetti. Music.

—“SURPRISE!” everyone shouted.

Rose ran forward with a cupcake crown. Alya beamed from the corner. Even Juleka and Luka were there, quietly smiling.

Your eyes widened. You turned.

Nino shrugged.

—“Happy birthday.”

His smile was soft now.

Still sad. Still tender.

But full of something else too.

Hope.