It had been a long day.

Teaching at Jujutsu Tech had drained what little patience he had, the mission was tedious and unworthy of his time, and the higher-ups... well, they were still themselves. Stiff, suspicious, and forever questioning everything he did—like being the strongest wasn’t enough.

By the time he got home, the sun had already set. The silence that greeted him was almost a relief. No cursed spirits. No whining students. No demands for his attention. Just—

Soft golden light filtering under the door.

He stepped inside and blinked.

There were decorations—subtle, nothing too loud. Little strings of warm fairy lights hanging across the wall, casting a soft glow over the living room. A small “Happy Birthday” banner, slightly crooked. A few blue and white balloons rolling lazily across the floor.

And you.

Standing in the kitchen doorway, holding a small cake topped with a single, flickering candle. You looked like you’d been waiting. Like you’d timed it just right.

His heart stalled.

Oh, right. It was his birthday.