Story Reader / Festival Event Story / The Destined Surprise / Story
With Echo
Are you the Gray Raven Commandant? Uhm... here, this letter is for you. It came from Earth and has been checked. Free of dangerous substances. Here you go.
In your hand ow sits a simple white envelope that smells faintly of the disinfectant from the inspection center. Opening it, you see a page torn from a notebook.
Commandant, I hope this letter finds you well:
Hmm... I'm not sure if this is the correct format for a letter. I haven't got to the part in the book I was reading that teaches you how to write letters properly...
...Anyway, I did a quick calculation based on how many days it'd take for this letter to reach you in Babylonia. Turns out the ETA is right around your birthday.
So, Happy Birthday, Commandant!
Sad that I'm not there to say this to you personally, but I hope my wishes reach you on time.
Birthdays... are just so beautiful and romantic, no? The birth of a new life always brings hope and dreams.
People here on Earth have invited me to their birthday parties.
There was this one time when I went to a newborn's birthday party. The baby's granny had a hard time lifting up the baby, and I saw tears in the wrinkles on her face.
People here are barely scraping by, but they try their best to feed their pregnant women and children.
The granny told me that this is all to continue lives and the fire of humanity, that humanity won't vanish from Earth as long as new lives are born.
And there was this one time when I went to this elderly person's birthday party... Wait, is that how you use the word "elderly"? (Crossed out) People dressed as neatly as they could, and they all brought gifts for the camp's eldest member.
"Longevity celebration" is apparently what people in Kowloong call a celebration they throw for a senior, and it's meant to be a family celebration. They don't just celebrate the day the senior was born, but it's also a tribute to the continuation of life.
I still don't fully understand what all these mean. Long ago... I mean back in Utopia, we celebrated birthdays, too, but it just meant getting more ration supplies than usual. I never thought there were all these other meanings attached to a "birthday."
I've stocked up on things I'd love to share with you during my time here and written them all in my journal. Just let me know whenever you're free...
...Oops, went off-topic again there. I was going to say "Happy Birthday"!
If I can't make it in time to celebrate this romantic and important day with you, please accept my sincere blessings through this letter.
—Echo.
The handwriting on the paper has blurred from disinfection and inspection, but you can still imagine Echo sitting upright in the Scavenger camp or conservation area writing this letter stroke by stroke.
It's been a long time since you last saw Echo, and you can't seem to remember the last time the two of you spoke...
Commandant?
You recognize the voice that just came from behind you. Feeling a tap on your left shoulder, you turn around—and see no one there.
...You're as adorable as ever, Commandant.
The purple-haired girl standing behind you on the right smiles and waves at you.
Tsk, sharp as always. We even had a bet that I'd be able to fool you this time.
Echo should be very busy these days according to the schedule you got from her a while ago.
She worked day and night to finish her work and had to bypass the homecoming request as soon as she knew your birthday was coming up.
She ended up all burnt out and almost missed your birthday because she fell asleep on the transport craft back.
You really need to let us know your birthday is coming up ahead of time going forward.
Well, on second thought, you probably won't need to do that anyway... She already memorized the date by heart now and even set a yearly reminder on her terminal...
Oh, she's waking up...
Her face goes blank for several moments, while the armor spins nimbly and moves toward the flowerbed nearby.
...Commandant! Um... Happy Birthday!
Looking somewhat awkward, she pulls out a small party popper from her pocket and pops it. On the other side of the shiny paper strips that come showering down like shooting stars, you can see Echo's face heavy with worry.
People on Earth make this to celebrate birthdays... right?
Nervous, she picks up the scattered paper strips.
I know I'm not supposed to leave these lying around in Babylonia.
With it, Echo's eyes sparkle.
No, I mean, it's your birthday today, Commandant, and it's supposed to be special and...
Liv falls deep in thought trying to find the right words.
...And I just couldn't help but feel happy.
You thought she was going to say a word you'd never heard.
Yup, very happy.
I guess there are words and poems out there that can better describe this feeling, but I think "happy" is the only word now that does my feeling justice.
Back when I was on Earth, I saw lives that had been passed down because of you, Commandant, and all the sparks of hope that came to life because of you.
So, I'm very happy you were born on this planet, and even happier to have met you here...
The girl blushes somewhat as she breaks into an embarrassed smile.
...Yup!
So, what's next on your schedule, Commandant?
Ohh... so you've got things to do today, I gather?
That's great!
Well... I was just going through an online forum and came across a restaurant with a bunch of positive reviews. Want to give it a try?
And I thought I could fill you in on what Cecily and I learned on Earth while we eat...
