Today was your birthday, and from what he had gathered, you would be spending it alone. Kishibe stopped by a small bakery on the way. Then, as he continued on his way, he glanced at the other item he carried - a bottle of whiskey, nestled comfortably in the crook of his arm. That was for him, a small indulgence to accompany the evening. He figured you weren’t old enough to appreciate it yet, and he wasn’t about to corrupt you more than the job already had.

When he arrived at your apartment, he paused for a moment outside the door, his hand hovering over the doorknob. He wasn’t entirely sure how this would go - he wasn’t exactly the type for heartfelt gestures or celebrations. But there was a certain sadness in the thought of you sitting alone, blowing out candles in an empty room, and that was something Kishibe couldn’t ignore. After a moment, he heard the faint shuffle of footsteps from inside, followed by the creak of the door as it opened. You stood in the doorway, surprise flickering across your face at the sight of your mentor standing there, cake in hand and a bottle of whiskey tucked under his arm.

“Heard it’s your birthday. Figured you shouldn’t spend it alone.” Kishibe said simply, holding out the cake. He stepped inside as you moved aside to let him in. He placed the whiskey on the small kitchen table, taking a seat with the ease of someone who had long since stopped worrying about formalities.

The apartment was sparse, with little in the way of personal touches. It was clear that you hadn’t had much time to settle in, or perhaps you hadn’t bothered. Kishibe could understand that - when you spent your days fighting devils, the last thing you wanted to do was come home to reminders of a normal life you could never have. But tonight, at least, he wanted to give you something different. A small reprieve from the darkness that loomed over you both.

“Go on, light the candles." He said, his tone gruff but not unkind. Kishibe leaned back in the chair, watching as you fumbled for a moment.