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SINCE THERE WASN'T MUCH TO DO 

in Japan, Sae would just take strolls around the streets to kill time and sometimes he would ask Y/N to join him and she would do so without any hesitation and those strolls felt different. It reminded him of the time when they were at the beach. There was nothing professional, it felt just like two friends walking together. 

And it was again a night like that. He dialled her number while standing on the sidewalk and usually she would pick up his calls quickly but today it took him several tries to get her to pick it up. 

"Hello?" She said and her voice sounded sleepy which brought his hopes down. 

"What were you up to?" He asked. 

"I was just about to go to bed," Y/N replied, her voice still groggy. "If it's nothing important then I'll be hanging up now."

And before he could give her an answer, he heard the sound of the call getting disconnected. Sae sighed, disappointed by the abrupt end to their conversation. He stared at his phone for a moment, contemplating whether to call her back or let it be. In the end, he decided to respect her need for rest and not disturb her further.

Feeling a bit restless, Sae decided to continue his stroll alone. He walked aimlessly through the quiet streets, his mind preoccupied with thoughts about what was going on between him and her. Everything was so sudden that it didn't even make him realise that few weeks back he would've done anything to put her out of his sight and now he was desperate to see and spend time with her.

Sae's footsteps grew slower as he pondered over these thoughts. He realized that his feelings for Y/N had gradually shifted, from indifference to genuine fondness. It wasn't just about the physical attraction anymore; there was a deeper connection that he couldn't ignore. The realization made him feel vulnerable yet strangely hopeful.

But what made him put those thoughts away was the confusion about Y/N's feelings for him. He wasn't sure if she was feeling the same things or not. He was sure that she had noticed his change in behaviour because that led to her teasing him about liking her but that was something she had done previously too... when he didn't have these feelings. 

His mind raced with different possibilities. Maybe she had picked up on his subtle cues and noticed the shift in his behaviour. Or perhaps she was simply teasing him without any deeper intentions. Sae found himself caught in a whirlwind of uncertainty, not knowing how to interpret her actions.

As he continued his aimless stroll through the streets, Sae decided that he couldn't let his assumptions or doubts hold him back. If he wanted to understand Y/N's true feelings, he would have to find the courage to talk to her openly and honestly. It was the only way to bring clarity to the situation. 

His late-night stroll soon came to an end and he returned back to the hotel at around 11:50 pm. Unlike the streets that were still busy, the atmosphere inside the hotel seemed quiet so he made sure not to make much noise while going back to his room.

As Sae entered his hotel room, he noticed a dim light coming from the bedroom area. Intrigued by the soft glow emanating from the bedroom, Sae cautiously made his way towards it. As he approached, he saw that the source of the light was a small bedside lamp, casting a warm and cozy ambience across the room and Y/N sitting by the window on the couch with a cake kept on the table in front of her. 

"Surprise!!!" 

Sae's eyes widened with surprise as he took in the scene before him. Y/N's voice rang out with excitement as she greeted him with a beaming smile. The unexpected sight instantly lifted his spirits, replacing the restlessness and uncertainty he had been feeling earlier with a sense of joy and anticipation.

He couldn't help but smile in return, his heart warming at the sight of Y/N's thoughtful gesture. The dimly lit room, the inviting ambience, and the cake on the table all conveyed a sense of intimacy and celebration.

Sae walked closer, his gaze shifting from the cake to Y/N's face, his curiosity bubbling up. "What's all this?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and delight.

Y/N motioned for him to join her on the couch, patting the seat beside her. "I wanted to do something special for you," she explained, her eyes sparkling. "It's your birthday..." She looked at the clock "In 7 minutes!!" 

Sae's surprise deepened as he realized the significance of the timing. He hadn't even realized that his birthday was approaching, and the fact that Y/N had remembered and planned this surprise for him touched him deeply.

A mix of emotions swirled within Sae's chest—gratitude, happiness, and a hint of disbelief. He sat down beside Y/N, feeling a warmth spread through him. "You remembered my birthday," he murmured, his voice filled with appreciation.

Y/N nodded, her smile widening. "Of course I did! I am a nice manager you know. I wouldn't let you be lonely on your special day."

Sae smiled slightly as he felt his heart throb against his chest. It was them alone in yet another calming atmosphere. As they sat together on the couch, the soft glow from the lamp casting a warm ambience around them, Sae couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness with Y/N. It was moments like these that made him appreciate her presence in his life even more.

"I prepared a song for you too!" She beamed. 

Sae's smile widened as Y/N mentioned the song she had prepared for him. He couldn't help but feel touched by her thoughtfulness and the effort she had put into making his birthday special.

"You really didn't have to go through all this trouble, Y/N," Sae said, his voice filled with gratitude. "But I must admit, I'm excited to hear the song you've prepared."

Y/N chuckled softly, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, I hope you like it," she replied, her voice filled with anticipation. "It's not a professional performance or anything, just a little something from me to you."

Sae's heart skipped a beat as Y/N's words filled the air. He knew that whatever she had prepared, it would hold a special meaning for both of them. As she reached for a nearby music player and pressed play, a gentle melody began to fill the room, accompanied by Y/N's sweet voice singing a heartfelt birthday song. 

Sae listened intently, his gaze fixed on Y/N. The sincerity and warmth in her voice resonated deep within him, evoking a range of emotions. It was a simple gesture, yet it held a profound impact on Sae, making him realize just how much Y/N had come to mean to him.

As the song ended, Sae found himself at a loss for words. He was overwhelmed by the depth of Y/N's care and the connection they had formed. The atmosphere in the room seemed to shimmer with a newfound intimacy, and Sae couldn't ignore the growing desire to express his own feelings.

His eyes were fixated on her as she put the candles on the cake and lit them. The flickering light danced across her face, accentuating her features and adding a touch of enchantment to the moment. She took out her phone and looked at the countdown and when there were only 10 seconds left for it to turn 12, she started saying the countdown out loud. 

"10"

"9" 

"8"

"7"

"6"

"5"

"4"

"3"

"2" The smile on her face made it look like it was her birthday and not his and he felt grateful that she was so excited for his birthday.

"1!" she exclaimed but instead of bowling the candles out, Sae leaned towards her, placing his hand on her face, pulling her in and pressed his lips on hers followed by a huge firework outside. Y/N's heart jumped at the sudden kiss, that was the last thing she was expecting to happen but she couldn't help but kiss him back, a surge of emotions washed over both Sae and Y/N.

It was a spontaneous and heartfelt moment. As the kiss deepened, time seemed to stand still for Sae and Y/N. At that moment, nothing else mattered except the electricity that sparked between them. The outside world faded away, leaving only the two of them in their own intimate bubble.

When they finally pulled apart, their breaths coming in unsteady gasps, Sae's eyes met Y/N's, searching for confirmation and understanding. She pulled back and averted her eyes from him "You were... umm, supposed to to blow the candles out... after I said 1..."

Sae blinked in surprise, his mind still reeling from the intensity of the moment. He hadn't expected his impulsive action to divert from the original plan, and now he realized he had caught Y/N off guard.

"I... I'm sorry," Sae stammered, his face flushing with embarrassment. "I got carried away. I didn't mean to disrupt the moment."

He quickly grabbed the knife and blew the candles out while Y/N was looking out of the window at the fireworks that were slowly fading away "Those... fireworks were supposed to go out when you would blow the candles..." 

Sae's heart sank as he realized his mistake. He hadn't meant to ruin the surprise or take away from the planned moment. He felt a pang of regret for not following the original plan and possibly making Y/N feel uncomfortable.

"I'm really sorry, Y/N," Sae apologized sincerely, setting the knife aside.

"Ah- no, it's fine... I also brought you a gift!" She said with excitement, trying to hide her flustered self as she stood up and walked out of the bedroom. Sae watched as Y/N walked out of the bedroom, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He couldn't help but replay the moment in his mind, the intensity of the kiss and the mix of emotions that followed. It was clear that Y/N had been taken by surprise, and he felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him.

As he waited for Y/N to return with the gift, Sae couldn't shake off the feeling of regret for his impulsive actions. He wanted to make things right and ensure that Y/N didn't feel uncomfortable or pressured.

When Y/N reentered the room, holding a gift in her hands, Sae stood up and walked towards her. His expression was apologetic as he spoke softly, "Y/N, I'm really sorry for what happened."

"Sorry, for what?" She asked.

"The... kiss" 

"Oh... uh- it's... fine. After all, I kissed you back too."

Sae felt a mixture of relief and confusion at Y/N's response. Her words seemed to suggest that she wasn't upset about the kiss, but he couldn't help but wonder if she was just saying that to ease the tension between them. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Y/N as she put forward the gift "Open it! I don't know if you'll like it or not..."

Sae's gaze shifted from Y/N's eyes to the gift she held in her hands. He could sense her anticipation and nervousness, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity and gratitude. He carefully took the gift from her, appreciating the effort she had put into choosing it.

Sae began unwrapping the gift, his fingers tracing the edges of the wrapping paper. As the paper fell away, revealing the box beneath, he felt a mix of excitement and anticipation. He opened the box to find a pair of football studs. 

"I didn't know what you would like... so I just brought you studs."

A genuine smile formed on Sae's lips as he looked up at Y/N. "Thank you, Y/N," he said.

"Try them on!!" She urged.

Sae nodded, grateful for the gift and eager to try them on. He quickly slipped off his shoes and put on the new football studs, lacing them up snugly. As he stood up and took a few steps, he could feel the difference in comfort and support compared to his old pair.

"These are perfect, Y/N," Sae remarked, a genuine appreciation in his voice. "Wait..." he mumbled, looking at the shoes "Don't tell me you had them custom-made?"

Y/N chuckled softly, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, maybe I did," she replied, her voice filled with mischief. "Remember the Nike shoot you did... It was then when I asked them if they could help me with it and since you are sponsored, they agreed."

Sae's eyes widened in surprise as Y/N revealed the special effort she had gone through to get the football studs custom-made for him. He was amazed by her thoughtfulness and the lengths she had gone to make his birthday gift unique and meaningful.

"That's incredible, Y/N," Sae said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "I can't believe you arranged all of this during the Nike shoot." 

But the moment between them was ruined by Y/N's ringtone. Sae looked over to the ringing phone kept on the shelf next to him and he took it in his hand. "Someone named Nishinoya is calling," He said and Y/N quickly took the phone from him and exited the bedroom. But what bothered him was the way Y/N had the number saved. 

Nishinoya 💞💞 is calling...

But there was nothing he could do about it and he switched his attention back to the shoes he was wearing. On the other side Y/N was silently panicking while talking on the phone. "Did it go well? I made sure to put off the fireworks right on time! Asahi is dying to know if it was nice or not." 

"Don't even talk to me about it! The fireworks were great but everything else shifted to a really different direction." She whispered. "I-... It was ughh!! I'll talk to you when I come back. OK?!"

"Huh...? Alright..." 

Y/N cut the call and returned back to Sae who was waiting for her patiently. "It's umm late..." She said and Sae looked at the clock and realized that it was well past midnight.

"Yeah, you're right," Sae replied, his voice tinged with disappointment. "I didn't realize how late it had gotten."

Y/N glanced at the clock too, a sheepish smile playing on her lips. "I guess time flew by with everything that happened," she said, her voice filled with a mixture of amusement. She wanted to leave as quickly as possible because with him in front of her, the only thing that her brain could think of was the kiss they shared. 

"So... I'll get going now..." 

"Y/N!" He called out seeing her walk towards the door "Thank you for today... It was the best birthday ever."

"Yeah, no problem..." She said and exited his room.

Aaaaa!! This is by far the longest chapter I guess! But we have completed more than half of the story <333 Hope you enjoyed it!!