Meridian turns 7 in a few days.
The revelation completely blindsided me, mostly because there wasn't a mention of it from anyone.
I only found out because Meridian and I were discussing our favorite seasons.
Jinnah watched me pace our room with a curious expression. "My lord, may I ask what troubles you?"
"I'm thinking about what to get Meridian for his birthday," I answered. "I have no money, and neither do you. I don't even know what Meridian would want if I did have money."
Jinnah hummed. "Lord Meridian doesn't seem to be a very materialistic person. Perhaps a homemade gift would suffice?"
"Tch– everything I make sucks."
"Ah, but Lord Meridian cherishes every gift the same, no?"
I paused.
Jinnah had a point, Meridian definitely wasn't picky.
"I guess."
"You know, you've never celebrated your birthday, my Lord," Jinnah said.
That was true.
Lilith didn't really believe in that sort of thing, but mostly I didn't care to celebrate it. I've had a lifetime of birthdays in my old life, so they kinda lost their meaning to me.
Still, I wanted Meridian to enjoy his birthday.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
I glanced at the door. "It's open."
The door cracked open and Meridian poked his head through. "Are you ready to play?" He spoke softly, but his eyes were focused on me.
Had he heard anything?
Better to play it off. "Yeah uh, here I come." I glanced at Jinnah and gave her two winks. In my mind, I was saying, 'Keep this a secret.'
She winked back.
I stepped out of the room and joined Meridian in the hall. The two of us walked in a comfortable silence as a maid passed us by.
She cleaned the floors with a shadow tentacle.
I glanced at Meridian with several side-eyes. He met my gaze on the final one and grinned.
"What's wrong, Lafayette?"
I cleared my throat. "Oh, it's nothing really. I was just wondering if you had something you've always wanted?"
Meridian tilted his head and took a long blink, that smile still on his lips. "Yeah, but I already have it."
I raised a surprised brow.
"Well?"
Meridian leaned close and bumped my shoulder with his. "You," he teased.
A blush crept up my cheeks as I forced a laugh. "Oh, you're a funny guy."
Meridian giggled softly. "There's only one funny guy between us."
Was he complimenting me?
We continued our walk in silence a little longer. Was it just me or is the hallway longer than usual?
We were near Meridian's room now.
I took a deep breath and stepped in front of Meridian. He stopped with a patient smile.
"Meridian," I began. "I'm serious here, what's something you really want?"
Meridian tapped a finger on his cheek as he pretended to think hard. "Hmm, all I've ever wanted was a strong friend. Someone I could always rely on." He looked into my eyes.
"And that wish has been granted."
He took me into his room and pulled me in. I frowned but said nothing.
This was going to be harder than I thought.
In the center of the room sat two unfinished statuettes. They resembled anime figurines, but only vaguely.
Meridian released my hand and sat down with his legs crossed. He reached for a figurine. "I've been copying those drawings you made all night. But…"
He showed the figurine to me. "…These proportions are really weird." The figurine he showed had massive breasts and a small frame.
I tilted my head.
I could swear I've seen an anime with a character just like that. But the name doesn't wanna play in my mind right now.
I shrugged and took my seat beside him.
"That's because you're focusing more on copying from the page. 2D artwork doesn't perfectly fit the 3D medium."
Meridian blinked. "Huh?"
I signed and grabbed a pencil. I then drew a square on the page. "What's that?" I asked, with a point to the square.
"A square?" He answered.
I chopped the top of his head, he pouted.
"Wrong, it's the bottom of a pyramid."
Meridian frowned deeply. "Clearly it's not."
I grinned. "You only think that because you can't see all of it. That's exactly why your figurines aren't turning out right. It's because you're stuck working with one angle."
Meridian nodded. "Oh I see, but then how do I see the rest of the 2D image?"
"You'd rotate it just as you'd rotate a 3D object." I began sketching the character from different angles.
Meridian's eyes widened. "I hadn't even thought about that, you're a genius!"
"Yes, I am quite the genius." I lifted my head with a smug grin. Meridian hugged me while giggling.
"You know, if you did get me something, I wouldn't mind a book with all your knowledge in it." He whispered against my chest.
My smile froze in place.
Of all things he could ask for? He chooses the one thing I can't make in time, damn it.
— — —
I spent the rest of my day keeping a close eye on Meridian. I hoped he'd spill some knowledge on what he wanted for his birthday.
But besides the book idea, he looked truly satisfied. Which means tomorrow, the day before his birthday, I'd be putting on my writer's cap.
So I decided it was best I turned in early tonight. Though as I sat in bed with the sun setting outside, I couldn't sleep.
Dragon, I called in my mind.
"What is it, boy?" He asked.
I sighed. I was just bored, so I thought I'd ask you some questions.
He huffed but said nothing.
I continued.
I've been wondering why you haven't tried to take over my body or turn me to the dark side. Like, I feel like that's the standard trope.
The dragon let off a soft chuckle. "I'm merely waiting for the opportune time. This vessel will soon be mine."
I chuckled alongside him.
You and your jokes.
A long moment of silence passed.
A bead of sweat rolled down my forehead.
Dragon, that was a joke, right?
Dragon.
No response.
Well, now I'm definitely not sleeping tonight…
— — —
I had a dream that night.
I was back in Japan, but it was different from when I died. I was younger, fit. And the world wasn't as gray as it had been then.
I was in a grassy field near a bridge with a river that flowed under it.
"Kenji!" I heard someone call from behind me. I turned around to see Saori. She was jogging down a hill and waving at me. A wide smile was plastered on her face. "I missed you!"
I swallowed a hard lump down my throat.
Seeing her again.
It triggered a deep sense of guilt, sadness, and loneliness.
"I-I missed you too," I whispered awkwardly. I massaged the back of my neck as I averted my gaze.
Saori wrapped me in a tight embrace. She buried her face in my chest and took a long sniff before she brought up her face. "You always smell like ramen, you know?"
A soft chuckle escaped me. "Can you blame me? It's the cheapest thing in the market."
Saori playfully rolled her eyes as she pulled away from me. "You're such a cheapskate, you know that? But that's why I'm here."
She reached for the bag on her back and brought it around her chest. She then brought a hand to unzip the bag.
That's when I noticed a ring on her finger. The promise ring I gave her about a year after we met.
I remember the promise I made.
The promise to never abandon her. I closed my eyes and remembered how she wore that ring to the end.
Even when I stopped talking to her.
Even when she officially started dating my friend. She still wore that ring. Tears came to my eyes and rolled down my cheeks.
I really was a piece of shit.
"Kenji, you're crying." Saori brought her hand to my cheek and used her thumb to wipe my tears. "Is my cooking really that bad?"
I shook my head as I opened my watery eyes. "No, your cooking is the best. The best I've ever had." I stepped forward and took her hip in my hand.
She gasped and placed a hand on my chest. She then blushed. "Kenji…"
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm sorry for abandoning you."
Tears welled in Saori's eyes. "I wish the real me could've heard that."
"Yeah, me too."