Chapter Text
7
As I write this, I can’t help but ponder the question:“Why do birthdays matter?”
They say that celebrating birthdays is to help children understand the aging process and the importance of growing up. As you grow older, you are given the sense of new responsibilities and more rewards for living yet another year. Birthdays made some of us feel pretty significant in the big world. It gave our lives a sense of purpose and meaning.
Then you become an adult and grow tired of life. For that is when we finally see the world for what it truly is; we come to understand that we are pretty small beings in a larger world. It makes us feel.. insignificant.
Feeling insignificant causes us to perceive other things as insignificant. Our job, other people’s lives, and sometimes our own families. Now, I say all this because when our birthday dates started to come around again, we come to a realization. We see them as… insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Some of us see our birthdays as another tick coming from our clocks as it ticks its way until both the hour hand and the minute hand reach the 12.
Forgive me reader for boring you with such a depressing thought. I couldn’t help but think back during the last time I..
I…
Celebrated my birthday
-transition to flashback
We see Doi, Nico, Nate, Natalia gathered around a table and the journal owner seated. It appears to be some sort of birthday party minus some things considering the apocalypse like environment everyone is still dealing with.
Doi
“Happy birthday to you! Your turn Nico!”
Nico
“Happy birthday to you!”
Doi
“Your turn Nate!”
Nate
“Happy birthday to you!”
Doi
“Your turn Natalia!”
Natalia
“Happy birthday to you!”
Doi
“Everyone together!”
Everyone
“Happy birthday dear *distorted noise*! Happy birthday to you!” [the name is once again hard to make out]
Everyone began to clap as the young lad blew out a fake candle.
Boy
“Thank you! Thank you all!”
Doi
“Hey kiddo, how does it feel to be 13?”
Boy
“Like I’m finally a teenager! So now I can drink alcohol.”
He poses so proudly over his perceived maturity and what that entails.
All the older members of the group exchange looks.
Natalia
“Woah woah haha."
Nate
“Ha!”
Doi
“Hey hey easy there kiddo, that’s not until you’re 18."
Nico
“Only 5 more years to go brother! Haha”
Boy
“Haha.”
Nico gave her big brother a hug.
Nico
“I love you brother.”
Boy
“Heh, I love you too sis.”
Doi
“Now now, the birthday present.”
Nico
“Oh yeah! Brother, Mr. Doi and I have a special present for you!”
Boy
“Oh?”
The boy looks around for presents but considering the current unrest their homeland is in... There isn't much extravagantly wrapped presents that await him.
Boy
“Where? I don't see anything.”
Nico
“Tell him Mr. Doi! Tell him!”
Doi
“Kiddo...”
He attempts to gather himself for what is likely to be a bombshell that could change their current relationship/partnership.
Boy
“Oh?”
Doi
“I would like to adopt you two. I mean, it won’t be legal since we don’t exactly have documents or anything but, yeah um, until then I want to adopt you kids. If you're okay with that?"
Nico claps her hand in glee.
Nico
“Isn’t that wonderful brother? Mr. Doi can be our father!”
She turns to her sibling to hear his thoughts and is shocked by what she witnesses.
The boy’s expression began to morph into a frown. His mannerisms quickly indicat that this news was not what he wanted to hear. He quickly got up and made his way into a separate room away from the main area.
Once he was away from everyone, he attempted to gather his thoughts. The boy was so overwhelmed with emotions, he didn’t know what to say.
'Doi my father?” the boy thought to himself. But I already have.. oh, right..'
He folds into himself upon remembering his parents' fate.
'I.. I can’t say no. Look at Nico, she’s so much more happy. She has been through so much already as is and this would benefit her a lot more by having a positive parental figure. She could be happy...'
After considering all the points, he gets up ready to give Doi his thought out answer. The boy walked out of the room and slowly walked back to the others who were still standing where he left them, concerned over why the boy had left in such a rush.
Boy
“Yes. I-I want you to become my father.”
Doi
“Kiddo, are you sure, I can al-”
Doi is interrupted before he can continue with a raised hand by his young ward.
Boy
“No, I accept your offer.”
Doi smiled in a sincerely joyful way, which contrasted from how the boy gave a fake grin which reeked of uncertainty. The boy still wasn’t too sure about this decision, however he still felt that he had to commit to it for Nico. For his little sister's sake.
His decision is proved correct by how she lights up upon hearing her big brother's acceptance.
Nico
“Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you, brother! Thank you!”
––Later that evening––
Nico was sleeping on her brother's lap. They were both lying on a couch considering there was a limited amount of space and rooms in their hideout. Doi approaches the two and tries to be considerate of those who were fast asleep.
Doi
“Hey kiddo?”
He whispers, not wanting to wake anyone up.
Boy
“Yeah?”
Doi
“Mind if we talk for a bit?”
Boy
“No, I don’t mind it."
Doi sits down beside the boy, taking great care to keep space between himself and his wards.
Doi
“I’m really proud of you, you know that right?”
Boy
“You are?”
Doi
“Yeah kid. You’ve become a lot stronger. Not just physically but also mentally. I know things are tough right now and with that whole situation we witnessed a couple of weeks ago, I um, I’m sorry you two have to go through this.”
Doi has a look of regret that those so young have to endure such a hardship at their tender age. The boy however seems very indifferent to the situation Japan has seem to found itself into and just shrugs.
Boy
“It is what it is, I guess. Me and my sister are happy (all things considered), and you helped with that. You saved our lives back then and even now. If not for you… Nico she... she would be all alone.”
Doi pats the boy on the back trying to console the young man.
Doi
“Lucky for us, she is not alone; she has you. You are her strong protector and it’s up to you to help keep her safe and make her feel happy. It's the solemn duty of any older sibling.”
The boy takes the older man now adoptive father figure words into consideration.
Boy
“Yeah... thank you Doi. It means a lot coming from you.”
Doi
“Hm of course. Hey, you want to go with me and Natalia to sneak a cake?”
Boy
“A cake?”
Doi
“Yeah, for your birthday. Your sister begged to get you one and well, it never really worked out haha. Hence why we had to improvise fake candle and all.
But now it is the best opportunity for us to scout around for provisions and a nice birthday treat.”
While he seems confident, the boy isn't so sure.
Boy
“But, what about the demons?”
Doi
“No worries, it’s close by. It shouldn't take us too long to look around and we'll be gone before any demon notices. Hopefully we find a refrigerated one heh.”
His attempt at humor is enough to ease the boy's worries. If Doi can joke around, it can't be that bad.
Boy
“Alright, sounds like a deal.”
The boy slowly got up from his spot and placed his sister gently on the couch proper. The boy gave her a kiss on the forehead, puts a pillow under her as a replacement and then turns towards Doi who nodded his head.
Doi
“Ready to go?”
Boy
“Yeah.”
Natalia then chooses now to walk out of the hallway leading from where she and her brother were sleeping at.
Natalia
“Hey hey, are you guys ready to go?”
She gestures to the door in a 'heading out' type motion.
Doi
“Hell yeah. We’re taking him too.”
Natalia
“Perfect, the dangerous trio of musketeers ready for battle.”
After suiting up and bringing some weapons and tools just in case, they exit the door and begin to make their journey onward to the nearest grocery store.
The stand in front of said store to get an idea what they have to work with.
Doi
“Little hard to see but these lights are doing us a bit of justice.”
Natalia
“I’m surprised electricity has managed to survive. Especially considering there's likely no one running the electricity companies in our current climate. Obviously we aren’t depending on solar energy panels either considering I doubt everyone could even afford that tech and even if they could...”
She points up to show the current dome covering most of skyline and the sky itself from being visible to the island nation that blocks even the sun's rays from entering.
Doi
“Yeah, that's unfortunate."
While they're making small talk, the boy startles upon realizing an important thing he forgot.
Boy
“Oh... OH Doi!"
Doi
“What’s up kiddo?”
Boy
“I can’t believe I left my sword behind.”
He facepalms over making such a rookie mistake.
Doi
“Oh yeah you’re gonna need that. We may have brought only the bare minimum of self defense but wouldn’t want you not punishing the demons properly now would we?”
Boy
“I’ll be right back okay?”
Doi
“That’s fine kiddo, hurry though. Don't want to attract any unwanted attention over such a short trip.”
The boy nodded and quickly hustled off back to the homebase.
After some time, the boy arrived home. He went to where he remembered leaving it last.
Boy
“Ah there it is.”
The boy grabbed the sword from where he last left it and turned around ready to head back out but something strange caught his attention, prompting the boy to look back.
The boy noticed his sister was gone from where he last saw her.
He also heard noise coming from one of the rooms.
Boy
“Sis?”
He whispered out, unsure if he wanted to attract attention yet or not.
The boy took slow steps towards the room he heard the odd noise from.
Boy
“Sis, is that you? Can you hear me?”
Once the boy got close enough, he could actually make out something:
Nico
“Stop it! Stop it! Get off of me! Stop it!”
She yelled, though muffled from both the door and something else her brother was uncertain the cause of.
The boy’s eyes widened as fear struck him. The boy, without hesitation, busted the door open, the wooden frame cracking from the strength of the impact.
When he looked inside, the boy was suddenly hit with a jolt of confusion and anger. His body and hands shook, his feet felt glued to the ground. The boy was in complete disbelief over the sight he was witnessing.
There was Nate and Nico. Nate had Nico pinned to the ground with his knee while she had bruises on her face. Clearly something had happened between the boy's group leaving and him coming back to get his sword.
Nico
“Big brother! Help me!”
She pleaded, finally getting the cloth stuck over her mouth free.
Nate, upon noticing her outburst, quickly turned his head back to see what got her attention.
He sees the frame of Nico's brother barely holding back his fury.
Nate
“You son of a-”
Nate got up from where he was holding Nico and attacked the boy suddenly. The boy tried to swing his sword, but it was too late. The teen had grabbed the boy’s hand, which held the sword, and twisted it from the younger man's grip, prompting the boy to let go. Nate then proceeded to grab ahold of the boy and pin him down onto the ground and then proceeded to beat the boy with his fists.
Nico got up from her position and tried to help by attempting to pull Nate off her brother, but Nate had then turned around and slapped her hard enough to knock her unconscious.
Nate stood back up after being confident the two wouldn't be able to stand and looked at the bloodied face the boy had. Tears rolled down the boy's eyes as he felt too powerless to get up.
Nate
“God damn brats!”
He kicked the boy harshly.
Nate
“I didn’t ask for any of this!”
Nate kicked him again and again, likely using the violence as a morbid attempt to vent his feelings.
Nate
“I lost everything too ya know? This shit took everything from my sister and I too! Don’t you understand that?!? Don’t you dare call me a monster, we’re just like you!”
Once Nate was done kicking the boy, satisfied by what damage he was able to inflict, he then turned towards the boy’s sister and approached her with sinister intents.
Boy
“P-please..d-on’t. I’m b-begging..you!"
Nate
“Sorry kid, but I’ve suffered for far too long. I deserve an award for enduring all of this bullshit."
Nate kneeled down and gently rubbed Nico's cheeks with the back of his hand in almost a mockery of affection.
Nate
It’s only right that I get to-”
A sword was swung before the dastard was able to complete his sentence.
Nate's body slumped over, the impact of what was thrown at him nailed his back while impaling his vital organs enough to kill the teen before he could even comprehend what hit him.
Doi fell over as if the way he sped over to check what happened to make the boy take as long as he did took all his remaining energy after his quick effort to protect Nico.
Boy
“Mr. Doi!”
He cried out, tears in his eyes over his savior once again being a guardian angel.
Doi
“Oh my God. Kids! Oh my God.....”
Doi broke into tears as shock threatened to consume him as he rushed over to check for Nico's pulse. Once he finished her assessment, Doi then quickly got up and ran to the boy's side.
Doi
“Kiddo are you alright?”
Boy
“Thank you for saving us...heh, again...”
Doi wrapped the boy's arm around his neck and began to help the boy up.
Doi
“Come on, we need to get you and your si-”
The wood of a improvised bat bashed into Doi, prompting the man to drop the boy as the impact flung him into the wall
When the boy landed onto the bloodied floor, he quickly turned back toward where he heard the thunk against the wall.
Boy
“Father, nooooo!”
Doi collapsed against the wall, still bleeding from where the nails of the bat pierced him. The assailant swings the bat again before Doi can recover, making sure to finish the job the first swing failed to. The figure turns around to reveal that Natalia was the perpetrator, who then immediately falls on her knees and sobs.
Rage began to consume the boy as his vision turned red at the sight of Doi's body bleeding out a crimison red onto the hardwood.
Boy
“You killed Doi. You killed him. He saved us from that monster and yet you killed him in cold blood. You took him away from us. You took him away from my sister!”
As the boy points at her in his anger and disbelief over Natalia's actions, he becomes overwhelmed by a blind fury. He grabbed his sword and adjusts his grip to make sure it is held firmly. He breathed heavily and his eyes fixated on Natalia, like a tiger who has found its prey.
Natalia
“Wait. Kid, I can explain—”
She's cut off before she can make her case. The boy was in a state where he would not listen to reason, so he swung at her from overhead. The only thing Natalia could do was lift her own weapon up to block the boy’s strikes. However, she wasn’t strong enough nor her weapon that sturdy to defend herself against a boy who could only see red.
The boy kept swinging his blade against Natalia's wooden bat out of sheer blind rage.
Natalia
“Stop! Stop! Please! Don’t do this! Stop!”
The boy changed his tactics last minute and went for the hand that held the improvised bat with nails. The boy swung at Natalia’s arm and cut it off. The boy then swung overhead again and split Natalia’s head in two.
The boy’s breathing grew heavy as he watched the corpse fall. Out of pure emotion overload, he slashed her body several times in frustration until sadness finally overcame him and caused his weight to grow heavy and he fell onto his knees.
The boy covered his face with his hands and cried there, seemingly alone for a long time with his thoughts.
But then...
Doi
“Kidd..o”
A faint noise came from where Doi had originally collapsed.
Boy
“*Sniff* Huh?”
Doi
“Come here.. please.”
The boy quickly made his way over to Doi’s side. Blood leaked from his mouth and his eyes remained close. It was clear Doi was barely clinging on.
Doi
“Listen..to me…closely.”
Boy
“I’m listening.”
Doi
“Take..care of…your sis-sister..she n-needs... you now..more than ever.”
Boy
“I don’t know if I can do it alone..”
Doi
“You got..got to..try. I know..you can protect..her. I know it…you’re a strong boy…I’m proud of you..ya know.
You know..I’ve always wanted..children of my own…I wanted..to adopt some…You guys were..you guys made my..dream come true. Being able to…take care of my..own kids. The world..couldn’t accept it before..They told me..I could never…I was denied…true happiness. Yet..haha..while the world is..at its end, I f-finally found happiness..in the end. You two..gave me that…"
Boy
“Please..Please... *Sobs* Don’t go. No no, don’t leave. Please don’t go...”
The boy was firmly in denial, he didn't want to accept that this would be how it ends. It can't! It couldn't be! Yet the tears were unending
Doi
“You would..always call me…Doi…but to hear you..call me..’father’. It brings great…joy to my…h-heart...”
Doi passed away after that last part, clearly using up the last of his energy. His hand that attempted to wipe the boy's tears slumps over like a puppet with strings cut.
The boy contined sobbing as he rested his head on Doi’s stomach searching for signs of life in vain.
Boy
“Please don’t leave me. Oh please not on my birthday. Don’t..Don’t go away..”
But it was clear that despite his pleads, nothing was going to change. Doi's body still remained still and unmoving.
After a moment of mourning, the boy's raised his head and placed his attention on Doi's weapon, the Ashenwolf that was left laying where it was discarded.
The boy glances over at his sister who while still unconscious, was still breathing even if faintly and finds a new resolve and reason to live for. A new sense of determination caused the boy to clench his fist before taking up Doi's Ashenwolf.
The boy places his sister carefully on his back as she continues to sleep.
The next scene transitions to show the boy throwing fire onto the ground.
The last scene then shows the boy walking down the street with a blank expression as he carried his sleeping sister. Behind him, the house they once lived in had become a house of flames.
Never again did I return to that place. Never again did I celebrate my birthday....
*You grew tired*
*You closed the book and fell asleep*