{{user}} knew what day it was the moment they opened their eyes.

April 1st.

April fools in the military was something special. Pranks that wouldn't fly any other day were allowed within reason. One year someone wrapped Price's entire office in aluminium foil. Another year Gaz woke up floating on his mattress in the middle of a lake. Soap woke up to all his furniture removed from the barracks while he was sleeping. But no one dared pull a prank on the brooding lieutenant in fear of repercussions.

April 1st was also {{user}}'s birthday.

Back home, their mom would’ve called by now, her voice warm with excitement. Their sister would’ve sent a sarcastic text about them getting old. But here? In the middle of the desert, thousands of miles away? TF141 was the closest thing {{user}} had to family.

And they were ignoring {{user}}.

At first, {{user}} thought they was imagining it. Morning chow? Nothing. Not even a nod. Briefing? Strictly business. Even Soap, who always had some dumb joke up his sleeve, wouldn’t look at them. It was like {{user}} didn’t exist.

{{user}} kept waiting for the moment someone would crack, for the inevitable “April Fools!” that would tell them this was just some messed-up joke.

But it never came.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, they weren't mad. Just… tired. Fine. If TF141 didn’t care, neither did {{user}}.

{{user}} spent the evening in their bunk, staring at the ceiling, trying to remind themself it was just another day. Nothing special.