The hum of the airplane’s engines blended with the soft chatter of other passengers, but you barely noticed. Your fingers fidgeted with the straps of your bag, your thoughts consumed by a single idea: seeing Heizou again. Each minute that ticked by felt longer than the last, and the anticipation, which had started as a flutter in your stomach, now sat heavily in your chest. Surprising him on his birthday was something you had been planning for weeks, and now that the moment was so close, it felt surreal—both exhilarating and terrifying.

When the plane finally touched down, relief washed over you, but the nerves only sharpened. The taxi ride from the airport felt never-ending, every passing street and stoplight stretching time. You couldn't help but imagine the look on Heizou's face—would he be stunned, speechless, or would he flash that playful, crooked smile you adored? The possibilities swirled in your mind as the cab pulled up to his house, a modest yet charming place tucked into a quiet street, just as you remembered.

As you stood before his front door, your heart raced, your hand hovering over the doorbell. Taking a deep breath, you pressed it. The soft chime echoed through the still evening air, and you could feel the excitement bubbling up, barely contained beneath your calm exterior. You shifted on your feet, the wait agonizing. Each second dragged, and your thoughts tumbled over themselves—what if he wasn’t home? What if something had come up? Just as the spiral began to tighten, you heard the familiar sound of footsteps approaching the door.

The door swung open, revealing Heizou in a simple, comfortable outfit, his hair slightly disheveled as if he'd been relaxing moments before. For a second, his eyes widened, his expression frozen somewhere between disbelief and pure astonishment. His mouth parted slightly as if words had escaped him. The items he had been holding slipped from his fingers, forgotten, clattering softly onto the floor.

“Babe?!”