Story Reader / Festival Event Story / To the One and Only You / Story
Night has fallen. The cafe in front of you isn't open, so you check Veronica's message again just to be sure. Yeah, this is the place. But there's a sign hanging on the door that says, "Closed Today."
Just then, a few new messages pop up on your terminal, ones you haven't had time to check while hurrying over.
Here yet?
You're too slow.
I'll send the location again. The coordinates are...
I heard your footsteps. Just come in.
Looking closer at the "Closed Today" sign, you notice a small line of handwriting underneath: Gray Raven Commandant only.
The moment the door opens, a flood of balloons rushes out all at once. It feels like the entire cafe is packed with them, and now they're all spilling toward your face nonstop.
Each balloon has "Happy Birthday" written on it.
You're here. Three minutes late.
A hand reaches out from the sea of balloons and pulls you close to her.
Alright. Leave the rest of today to me.
She takes the terminal straight from your hands, switches it to silent, locks it in a cabinet nearby, then presses her hand gently on your shoulder to guide you toward a seat by the window.
After the balloon part, next comes... the blessing part.
Following Veronica's words, several small robots roll out one after another from different corners of the room. Each one holds a glowing sign, and their voice modules start playing a cheerful birthday tune in unison.
On this special day, we bring you our special blessings.
May good fortune stay with you every day.
Happy birthday, Gray Raven Commandant!
BANG—
Right after the last line of blessings, the little robots all pull their party poppers at once. Streams of bright ribbons burst into the air, fluttering down around you and Veronica like colorful rain.
Happy birthday, [player name].
After saying that simple blessing, she doesn't speak again. She just looks at you with a serious gaze, as if she's waiting earnestly for a reply.
You're not smiling. If you really liked what I planned today, your face would look a little more relaxed.
Seeing that serious expression, and all those ribbons still hanging from her hair, the laugh you've been holding in finally slips out.
Hm?
When you reach toward her, Veronica instinctively turns her head aside, trying to figure out what you're about to do.
You reach out and gently pluck a ribbon tangled around the "horns" in her hair, holding it up in front of her.
Once she understands your intention, she stops resisting. She quietly lowers her head, letting you take your time untangling the colorful ribbons from her hair.
Her hair and the "horns" on her head are still tangled with ribbons. You try to move your hands more gently, which only makes the process take even longer.
Finally, when you remove the last ribbon from her hair, Veronica looks up and meets your eyes. You don't need her to say it; you can tell there must be ribbons stuck all over your own hair too.
My turn.
She quickly leans in, so close that you can feel her breath brushing against your ear. A tingling sensation spreads across your head as her metal fingertips slowly trace along the ribbons tangled in your hair.
The cafe is completely quiet now. Just the two of you, sitting close enough to hear each other's breathing.
Her hands move quickly, like she's got other things on her mind. A moment later, she raises her fingers, still wrapped in ribbons, showing them off like a prize.
...Done.
Next, according to your traditions, it's the cake-eating part, right?
Flustered, she spreads her "dragon wings," and you hear a soft rustling sound behind her. Her face, though, stays perfectly serious, as if that could somehow hide what she's doing.
Moments later, she appears before you with a massive birthday cake balanced on her long tail, so big it almost blocks your view of her face.
She moves with precision, lighting the candles, then turning off the lights one by one, as if she's practiced this many times.
The cafe falls into complete darkness. Only the soft candlelight flickers between you, illuminating her serious expression.
Next is the wish-making and candle-blowing part, [player name].
I learned from the cafe manager. The deal was that I'd work here for a week as a "special acting manager." My reward is getting to use this place freely today.
I made this cake too. I used the recipe the manager gave me, but I tripled every ingredient. That should make it three times as good.
Under her watchful eyes, you make a wish, blow out the candles, and cut into the cake. You finally understand what "triple ingredients" really means—both your plates are piled high with cream and fruit.
The moment the cake touches your tongue, a burst of rich flavor fills your mouth. Sugar, cream, and fruit all collide at once, sweet and intense—just like her feelings, honest and true.
Under your gaze, she carefully "tastes" her slice of cake, completely unaware of the bit of cream on the corner of her mouth.
The flavor's the same as the triple recipe. Everything turned out fine... But if you want it done exactly your way next time, I can make that happen.
...
You're about to grab a napkin to wipe the cream from your finger when Veronica suddenly takes hold of your wrist and brings your hand to her lips.
This is the birthday cake I made for you with my own hands, [player name].
Which is why not a single bit can go to waste, understand?
...Hmm?
At your signal, she catches sight of herself in the cafe window. Realizing what just happened, she quickly wipes the cream from her lips with the napkin and looks back at you.
Don't think you can get away from it by distracting me. This is your birthday cake, [player name]. I made it myself.
Which is why not a single bit can go to waste, understand?
