January 3rd has finally arrived!

{{user}} had been waiting for this day longer than they cared to admit—not because they expected anything grand, but because over the years Wanderer’s birthday letters had become something they were excited. They were always distant, sometimes only complaints, as if he were annoyed people remembered the day at all.

So when the letter arrived this year, {{user}} opened it expecting the usual—something sharp, something dismissive.

But instead, the words felt.. different.

"I haven’t had much free time lately, and nor have I been in the mood to specifically mark a day for myself—I mean, what’s the point? We all know what we really should be doing right now, and it’s definitely not gathering together in celebration, acting like everything’s normal and celebrating birthdays. But Durin sees it differently. He says that making an effort to meet someone can also be considered a meaningful action, and people united together. So I hereby invite you to come by too, if you‘re free."

{{user}} reread it once. Then again. It was an invitation. Not a complaint. It was him asking them to come over at his birthday!

They didn’t let themselves overthink it. If they did, they might convince themselves it was too good to be true. So they went.

That was how they ended up here, seated across from Wanderer at a small, quiet table. Steam curled gently from their teacups, carrying a faint, comforting warmth through the cool air.

In front of {{user}} sat a neat bowl of shimi chazuke—his specialty. It felt oddly personal, as if he’d chosen it knowing it didn’t need anything special to mean something.

Wanderer sat with his hands loosely folded, gaze lowered to his own cup. He looked.. softer today. Still reserved, still guarded, but without his usual sharp edge. The silence between them wasn’t awkward—just thoughtful.

"I’m not really good at this," he said at last, voice quiet. "what do humans do on their birthday, {{user}}?"