1. The plan (and your ridiculous stress)

You started planning Nicholas's birthday three weeks ago.

Mostly because he's the type to deflect absolutely everything.
Ask what he wants for his birthday?

"Ah, just survive practice. That's enough."

Try to get him to pick a cake flavor?

"Literally anything. Except carrot. Or banana. Or— actually I'll just eat air, it's fine."

So it's up to you to make sure he gets the celebration he deserves.
Which means pulling off the biggest operation since your last dorm prank — only this time with more frosting and fewer water balloons.

The secret group chat

You rope everyone in.

"🎈 B-DAY NINJAS ONLY 🎈"

It becomes a disaster almost immediately.

TAKI: i have found a life size cardboard nicholas

FUMA: absolutely not

K: why is that step one

YUMA: i will handle the playlist 😌

HARUA: i can make little handwritten notes for decor!

EJ: i'll keep him out of the dorm for 2 hours. i expect a flawless operation.

FUMA: or at least... not an actual fire

TAKI: no promises

 2. Day of the party: controlled chaos (sort of)

You wake up buzzing with nerves.
Today has to go perfectly.

Nicholas, true to character, is none the wiser. He spends breakfast complaining about someone stealing his socks (probably Taki), teasing Yuma about bedhead, and side-eyeing your suspiciously cheerful grin.

You text EJ one frantic message:

"GET HIM OUT. NOW. 😭"

Minutes later, EJ walks by, claps a hand on Nicholas's shoulder.

"Come with me. New concept idea. Need your opinion."

Nicholas groans but stands, muttering something about how he never gets a peaceful morning.

As soon as the door shuts behind them, it's game on.

The dorm transforms

You practically bark orders — Harua stringing up fairy lights, K blowing up balloons (grumbling but doing it), Fuma carefully arranging the cake box so Nicholas won't see it immediately. Taki is armed with glitter for some reason, which terrifies you all.

Yuma mans the speaker, running through playlists.

"We're keeping it hype but not insane. Remember last time when Taki tried to start a mosh pit?"

"Hey, it was artistic expression!"

Somewhere in the middle of hanging a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICHOLAS 💜" banner, Harua leans over and hands you a tiny envelope.

"For him. Later. In case... he wants something to keep."

You smile, tucking it into your pocket. Harua's thoughtfulness is the glue keeping your nerves from fully combusting

3. The moment of truth

Minutes tick by.
EJ texts:

"1 min out."

You all scramble — lights dimmed, cake candles lit (slightly crooked), everyone hiding behind furniture or half-under the table. Yuma puts on the playlist, volume low, ready to blast it at the cue.

Your heart is hammering so hard you're sure Nicholas will hear it the second he steps inside.

Then the door clicks.
Nicholas's laugh drifts in — mid-rant about something trivial.

"—I swear if Yuma tries to make me do that TikTok dance again, I'm moving out—"

"SURPRISE!!!"

Lights flip up. Music bursts.
Confetti rains down from Taki's hands (he absolutely ignored the "no indoor confetti" rule).

Nicholas stands frozen in the doorway, mouth dropping open. Eyes wide.

For the first time possibly ever, Nicholas has no words.

4. The reaction you wanted

He stares at all of you — at the banner, the cake, the silly little hats Harua made them wear. At you, beaming, hands slightly shaking because you've never been more worried about whether someone would like something.

Then his eyes fill. Just a little. Just enough that he blinks hard and tries to laugh it off.

"You absolute menaces. This is why I never trust you to be normal."

But he steps forward, dragging you into the tightest hug. His arms band around your back so fiercely you squeak. His voice drops low, warm by your ear.

"You did all this? For me?"

"Obviously," you manage, a little choked. "Who else would we do it for, birthday boy?"

5. The best/worst party ever

The next hour is a beautiful wreck.

Fuma tries to cut the cake but Taki shoves him, smearing frosting on his cheek.
K ends up having to physically hold Nicholas back from starting a whipped cream war.
Yuma nearly blows out the candles before Nicholas does.
EJ rolls his eyes so hard you're sure he sees another dimension, but still snaps about fifty pictures.

Nicholas opens his presents with a weirdly shy grin.
Harua's tiny handwritten letter nearly breaks him — he clears his throat about six times before giving Harua a headlock hug.

Yuma's gift is a bracelet, woven in colors Nicholas once offhandedly said he liked.

"It's ugly but you're stuck wearing it forever," Yuma teases.

Nicholas flicks his forehead but then leaves it on.

6. Your moment

Finally, it's your turn.

You hand him your gift — whatever you picked (a custom necklace? a collage book? matching rings?). Nicholas unwraps it slow, careful. When he sees it, his mouth parts in the softest little gasp.

"Seriously?" he whispers.
"You... remembered I mentioned this like once."

You shrug, trying to be cool.

"I pay attention. Deal with it."

Nicholas looks at you like he wants to kiss you right there. Maybe he does.
He settles for pressing his forehead to yours, voice husky.

"Best birthday ever. Because of you."

7. The quieter hours

Much later — after the cake is gone, confetti ground into the carpet, and half the group is flopped on couches moaning about sugar highs — you find Nicholas on the tiny balcony.

He's leaning against the railing, city lights painting his face gold and pink. He's twirling your gift between his fingers, eyes distant.

You step out, bump your shoulder into his.

"Birthday reflection time?"

"Something like that," he says, then smirks.
"I was trying to think of how to give a thank-you speech. But it keeps turning into sappy trash."

You grin.

"Try me."

He huffs, then sobers.

"I didn't think I'd ever have this. People who'd... go through this much trouble just to make me feel loved. Or give me a place that feels like home."

His voice cracks, just barely.

"You gave me that. So... thanks for not letting me get in my own way."

You slip your hand into his.

"Always."

He leans over, presses a quick kiss to your temple — just as Taki's face squashes against the glass inside, yelling,

"GET BACK IN HERE, ROMEO, WE'RE DOING A GROUP SELFIE."

8. The final scene

Nicholas groans but pulls you in after him.

Inside, the others crowd around, Taki setting up a timer, Harua fussing to get everyone's hair in place, Yuma snorting because Nicholas keeps fake-posing like a model.

When the camera finally clicks, Nicholas has an arm tight around your shoulders, your head tipped against his.

He's laughing. Really laughing — bright, unguarded, beautiful.

And you know without question: this is exactly what you all wanted for him.
Not the cake. Not even the gifts.

Just this.
Nicholas, happy. Knowing he's loved.

🎈 Final line

Later, when the apartment is quiet and he's falling asleep next to you, he murmurs in a sleepy rasp:

"Next year... you're planning it again."

You smile into his shoulder.

"Good. Because I wasn't giving you a choice."

🎂 END