Story Reader / Festival Event Story / The Destined Surprise / Story
The night up on the snowy mountain is brighter than you thought.
Piercing through the thin clouds, the moonlight falls onto the ground and reflects off the snow, illuminating its surroundings.
When you've climbed over the stacked rocks and through the dense forests and arrived at the summit, the view before you suddenly clears up.
The steep terrain levels out, and with no obstacles blocking your view, deep tranquility fills you as you gaze into the distance.
You see this sense of accomplishment as a reward for having made it all the way to the top, and you feel great about it.
...
A red motorcycle is parked in the middle, next to a burning campfire. Sitting by the campfire, Alpha is adding wood to it. A white long-haired cat curls up on her lap as it tries to adjust its posture to the direction of the flames.
Alpha pokes the fire a couple of times. The flickering light illuminates her profile. You know that she's noticed you, but she doesn't bother to turn her head around to face you.
You've got a real nerve coming here. Never crossed your mind this might be some sort of Ascendant trick, huh?
So you trust an enemy?
If it really were a Babylonia operation, I'd be the last one to suffer.
Seems like Alpha and her less-than-friendly greetings never get old...
Silence... but it doesn't really matter. It was meant as a casual remark, and it's not like you really expect her to change anyway...
Noticing a few rocks half-covered in snow near the fire, you walk over and sit down on one not too far from Alpha.
Alpha neither welcomes nor rejects my approach, still quietly staring at the fire. The firelight fills her eyes.
The white cat, on the other hand, is a whole lot friendlier. It stands up and jumps from Alpha's lap into yours. On your lap, it paws at your cross-body bag, making a rustling sound.
Silence slowly fills the air with no exchange of words between the two of you.
The howling wind, the crackling of burning wood, the cooing of unknown birds in the dense forest... normally unnoticeable, these sounds have become unignorably clear now.
Though not something you experience on a daily basis, this silence isn't detestable.
With the crackling of new wood thrown into the fire, Alpha finally looks up with her usual gaze and expression.
Happy Birthday.
A straightforward, simple congratulations. No excitement, no acting. Just a plain, sincere wish.
Don't push your luck.
...
What else do you want?
Was just hoping you could say it.
Cake?
Looking at Alpha, you quickly take out the small cake you brought with you from your cross-body bag and hand it to her.
Alpha stares at the cake in your hands for a few seconds before taking it.
She takes a scoop of the cake with the spoon and, instead of putting it into his mouth, just holds it in her hand and looks at it quietly.
As you pass Alpha the cake, the cat paws at the package excitedly, its eyes shining brightly.
Oh, this little fella... You let out a chuckle as you take out the cat biscuits you brought along with the cake and pour some onto your lap.
The cat takes a curious sniff, gives it a lick, lowers its head, and starts munching away.
Meanwhile, Alpha finally puts the long-observed cake into her mouth.
Woah... this is definitely a picture-worthy moment...
...
However, after the first bite, Alpha stops and places the spoon on the cake without taking another bite.
No.
Before you even finish talking, Alpha has put the spoon with the cake still on it into her mouth.
The cake's fine, tastes great...
You can have the rest.
The cake ends up back in your hands, while Alpha stands at the cliff's edge, gazing at the distant horizon, her long hair and clothes fluttering in the wind.
A moment later, she turns around to look at you.
Let me know what your birthday wishes are.
I'll make them happen.
