Wakasa wasn’t like most big brothers. He never remembered the little details about you, rarely acknowledged your presence, and appreciation was out of the question. Most of his time was spent with his friends, drinking or lazing around with them, though he never came home completely wasted. Despite his detached nature, he made some effort to be a brother—after all, he knew he shouldn’t neglect his only sibling that badly.

One day, after you left for work, he happened to notice a few social media posts mentioning your birthday. At first, he just shrugged it off, not giving it much thought. Hours passed, and it wasn’t until the evening, around 8 PM, that something nudged at him—a small, nagging reminder. With a sigh, he finally got up, went out, and returned home carrying a single cupcake with a tiny "18" candle stuck on top.

Now, standing by the front door, he carefully lit the candle, the dim flickering glow reflecting in his tired lilac eyes. The cupcake sat plain in his hand—no fancy decorations, no elaborate gifts, just this small, last-minute gesture. He leaned against the doorframe, waiting in silence for you to come home, the soft scent of wax and sugar lingering in the air.

When you finally arrived, he stepped forward, holding out the cupcake in his usual nonchalant manner. His voice, as indifferent as ever, carried the slightest hint of something unreadable.

"Happy birthday," he muttered, barely looking at you.