codeforhope | Voicemail

[Haha, boy, living with humans has certainly made a lot of dates suddenly important. Like birthdays, Komasan didn't really care about those as much before. He can barely keep track of his own age without having to ask his brother, and even then he doesn't have an exact number. So imagine his surprise when he found out Chihiro's birthday was coming up.

Imagine his horror when he realized he didn't have a present. In his defense, he's been preparing for a trip. ...But even then, Chihiro managed to give him an egg, and he didn't even do anything to earn that. Komasan can't give him anything nearly as great, so he had to do some scouting around Ecruteak to get some ideas.

Eventually he comes back, standing in front of the hotel door much like how he used to stand in front of Chihiro's door countless times in Goldenrod. Some things never change.]

C-Chihiro? [He calls as he knocks, Shiro and Noko next to him as they wait patiently. Noko is wearing some sort of elaborate outfit, and there's a very good reason for that.] Do...do you wanna go out for your birthday, zura?

[/smooth]

[In all honesty, Chihiro knew his birthday was coming, but he just hadn't really made much of a big deal about it. He never did with birthdays, even though the past couple involved pretty elaborate parties and get togethers with friends and classmates. This year it would be a bit different. A little quieter for a multitude of reasons, but Chihiro wasn't going to let it bother him, not when he was enjoying a trip with Komasan.

Even so, when he hears Komasan calling from the door, he can't help but smile to himself. Komasan could just come in...they're sharing the room, after all.

He walks over and pulls the door open.]

If you would like to, I-

[...he pauses, looking down when he notices Noko. How can't he notice Noko? And oh my god it's cute]

[Probably to the relief of everyone in this hotel, Komasan doesn't scream when the door opens. Most likely because this is his room too, but also because he's fairly certain there weren't any Garchomps around when he left. Garchomps...Garchomps are terrifying.

He does, however, notice the way Chihiro stares at his Dunsparce (which is much less terrifying than a Garchomp) and gives his little Pokemon a nod.]

Give him the invitation, zura.

[Noko then proceeds to sit up like she normally does when she performs a trick, but not before digging into her itty bitty snake kimono, pulling out a tiny envelope and holding it in her mouth. She then begins to...twirl her way over to Chihiro, bouncing slightly as she does so, as if she were dancing. This was practiced, they actually worked on a tiny snake dance to hand over a piece of paper.

Which Noko holds up for Chihiro once she's close enough. Go on, take it. It's only covered in a little spit.]

Ah, an invitation...?

[Chihiro watches as Noko does her thing, and it's honestly more adorable than a little fat snake has any right to be. She just dances all the way over to him, and by the time she makes it over and he takes the paper carefully from her, he's giggling under his breath.]

Thank you, Noko-chan.

[She'll even get a little pat atop the head before he opens it. Let's see what this says...]

[Inside Chihiro will find a brochure for the dance theater, pretty much the staple of Ecruteak.]

We stopped by earlier and they made that dress for Noko-chan, zura.

[Which...probably wasn't very hard since all they had to do is throw cloth over a snake. Still, it was a nice gesture.]

I-I thought...maybe you'd like to watch the show they're performing today, zura...

[They have classes and junk too, but Komasan isn't sure how much Chihiro is into this stuff.]

[The dance theater, among other things, is one of the big places in Ecruteak that Chihiro likes to visit whenever he comes to town. They're always showing new and different things, so it never gets old. He thought he recognized the dress that Noko was wearing.

The smile that breaks onto Chihiro's face is telling of how he receives the gift, holding the invitation close to his chest.]

I would love to, Komasan-chan! Thank you so much, all of you.

A-Ah, you like it, zura?!

[Chihiro's reaction is all Komasan really needs, but he supposes he better follow through to keep up said reaction, huh?]

Then we should get going before it starts to get crowded, zura! Maybe...maybe they'll let us wear one of those fancy outfits, zura!

Hehe, I don't see why they wouldn't. They already let Noko-chan.

[He can't say he blames them though. Who wouldn't want to see a snake in a dress?]

We can go get something to eat afterwards.

[Woah, food!? Whose birthday is this again? Komasan practically feels spoiled.]

Yeah! ...Ah, did you have anything in mind, zura? I, um, I don't know what's around here, zura...

[And it's definitely not because he wants to go somewhere Chihiro likes to go. For his birthday. Which is today.]

[It's everyone's birthday when good food is involved, obviously.]

There's a place that I really like that isn't all that far from the theater...I'll show you where it is on the way there.

[Chihiro says this as he walks back into the hotel room for a moment to gather up his bag, checking to make sure all of his pokeballs are secure in one of its side pockets.]

[Meanwhile Komasan leans against the door frame while he waits, like a cool person would do. ...Because he's cool.

Please think he's cool.]

Well, if you like it, then I'll probably love it, zura.

[Both Shiro and even Noko just give him a look. That...that wasn't cool at all, Komasan.]

[He smiles as he closes the flap on his bag and hangs it over his shoulder.]

I hope so! It has the same sort of feel to it that the rest of the town has...it makes it easy to forget you're someplace else, sometimes.

["Someplace else" meaning Johto. He does miss Japan an awful lot sometimes, especially since his last memories of home...weren't.

As he walks back over to where Komasan is standing, his expression turns just a little bit shy- or hesitant, perhaps- as he glances down at his hands gripping his bag's strap.]

And, um...thank you for offering to do this with me, Komasan-chan. It's very nice of you.

Mm...yeah, this city reminds me a lot of home, zura...

[Not his house near the city, but more so his old shrine. There was just a more...traditional feel about this place, and Komasan often expected to run into a komainu statue sooner or later. Sadly, he'll just have to make due with real komainu-like Pokemon. Ugh.

As Chihiro walks by, Komasan pushes himself off the door frame and recalls his Pokemon, unsure what to make with the sudden lack of eye contact. Chihiro must really want to go, that's what he tells himself as he follows him out. Well that's fine, it's his birthday after all, he's allowed to be excited.

Like before, he doesn't hesitate to grab his hand. It's fun to walk together.]

Ah, you're very welcome, zura. Don't worry, I didn't forget you're supposed to get people presents on their birthday, zura.

[He's actually really proud that he remembered that.]

[You're so good, Komasan. Has anyone ever told you that?

He glances over when Komasan takes his hand, responding by tightening his grip just slightly before continuing on down the hallway.]

I wouldn't have minded if you didn't, really...I'm glad to just have you with me.

[Well it's Komasan's turn to act all shy, although he makes a much bigger show out of it than Chihiro does. He looks away, face bright pink as he scratches his cheek with his free hand.]

I-It wouldn't be fair to not get you anything after I got you presents on those other holidays, z-zura!

[...Wait.]

Are...Are birthdays holidays? Heh...I'm not sure, zura!

[Haha, nothing weird about that! R-Right? He'll just drown out any doubt with an obnoxious, nervous laugh.]

[If Chihiro notices Komasan's shyness, he doesn't say anything about it as they make their way down to the lobby together.]

Ah...I suppose you could count them as a holiday, for you and your family if you decide to celebrate it. Bigger holidays are for lots of people all over the world to celebrate.

[...but thinking about that, it causes him to pause, looking over at Komasan.]

Do Youkai have birthdays?

[...That's a good question.]

Mm...Maybe? If they're a new youkai, they might try to, zura...

[It sounds like something someone who just became a youkai would do, to try and hold onto their old life. But even then, after awhile, it'd just become pointless.]

Now that you mention it, I can't even remember the last time I've had a birthday, zura.

[Is that weird? Maybe that's too weird. As they walk through the lobby, Komasan doesn't say anything more as to not make things any weirder, opting instead to quickly open the door for them.]

Really?

[That's both a little surprising to Chihiro, and...somewhat sad. He imagines Komasan out of anyone to really want to celebrate his birthday, so hearing that he hasn't wasn't what he was expecting at all.

He walks through the door, but no sooner does he do that before he's turning back to Komasan again.]

Why don't you celebrate your birthday today, with me? It might not really be today, but...I figure if you haven't had one in a while...it would be nice, right?

[Komasan nearly walks into the door frame when he hears that, and it takes everything in him not to yell. Oh god, Chihiro, why do you have to be so cute? He's the only person he knows who would be so kind as to share his own birthday, his own special day.]

T-Thank you... B-But this is about you, zura!

[Chihiro's already done a million things for him, Komasan can barely keep up at this rate.

...At the same time, rejecting his offer might hurt his feelings. IT'S LIKE HE CAN'T WIN.]

I mean...w-we could, but I wouldn't mind either way, zura.

[It's easier to share your birthday when you've already done that, once. And it would be nicer to share the celebrating, he thinks.

Chihiro's smile turns soft.]

It would be more fun if we could both celebrate. And everyone deserves to get the chance to have a birthday.

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