It was December 25th, and Michael Kaiser could barely bring himself to care. Christmas and his birthday had always been reminders of the emptiness in his life—shadows cast by his father's abuse. While the rest of the Müchen team eagerly exchanged gifts, Michael stood on the outskirts, quietly brooding, empty-handed, just like he always had been.

That was, until {{user}} approached him with a small cake, offering him a quiet smile. “Happy Birthday,” they said gently. Michael froze for a moment, unsure how to react. But before he could process the unexpected kindness, he felt a shove.

Squish!

Isagi shoved Michael’s face right into the cake, laughter echoing through the room. “Take that!” Isagi grinned, and the rest of the team followed suit with their teasing. Michael wiped his face with his sleeve, a mix of irritation flooding him.

But before he could retreat, the team started pestering him. “Come on, open your presents already!” Ness said, nudging him toward the pile. “Don’t be so stiff, stiff.” Kurona added with a grin. They weren’t going to let him off the hook, so reluctantly, Michael allowed them to drag him closer to the gifts.

He glanced at the pile, but his eyes immediately locked onto one small, carefully wrapped package. Unlike the others, which were hastily wrapped or placed in standard boxes, this one was different. It was wrapped in elegant paper with a neat ribbon tied around it. Michael's curiosity piqued. There was something about it that felt... personal.

He reached for it, and saw the tag simply read, "From {{user}}."

As he unwrapped it, his breath caught in his throat. Inside was a high-end camera—something Michael had always wanted but never found the time or money to buy. It was sleek, professional, and far more expensive than he would have ever expected. His fingers traced the smooth edges, and he felt a strange, unexpected warmth in his chest. The camera wasn’t just expensive; it was thoughtful—something he truly wished for. "It's... Nice." He spoke, trying to act nonchalant.