A Gift for Hasebe

Writing by: Adventia

In the year 2205, a malicious group known as the “Historical Revisionists” emerged without warning and began to launch attacks after attacks on the past in their quest to alter the change of history for an unknown reason.

To combat these mysterious enemies, the Government of Time gathers individuals bearing a special power to breathe life into inanimate objects to build an army of tsukumogami from numerous famous swords. Granted with the title of “Saniwa,” these individuals are each assigned to a citadel with the spirits of swords they have awakened, referred to as the “Touken Danshi.”

Battles after battles come to test their strength and determination. Very often, a Touken Danshi will be faced with the difficult choice of remaining steadfast in carrying out their mission or succumbing to the temptation of past regrets.

But there are also peaceful days in the citadels, when both the Saniwa and Touken Danshi are allowed a brief moment of respite in the midst of this ongoing war, when the spirits that used to lie dormant in iron and steel can learn to live as humans.

Among the hundreds, thousands of citadels under the jurisdiction of the Government of Time, one citadel makes use of an abandoned hotel building that belongs to the Kiyomizu family. Standing at the seaside, it is the home of a three-person family:

Kiyomizu Mondo, the father, is the owner of the hotel-now-citadel, who is also a fisherman, a craftsman, and a manager of a small department store.

Kiyomizu Erena, the mother, is a former Saniwa whose citadel was unfortunately destroyed by the enemies. During her escape, she ended up at the seaside where she was saved by Mondo, which was how they first met and eventually began to fall in love.

Lastly, there is their young daughter, Kiyomizu Kimi, who has yet to reach the age of ten but is blessed with the same power as her mother, thus becoming the appointed Saniwa to occupy this citadel along with the army of Touken Danshi she has summoned. Energetic, lively, and rather stubborn at times, there is never a quiet moment for as long as she remains awake. Once she has made up her mind, there is little to no chance she will backtrack on her decision.

And today is one such day where Kimi comes up with an idea that she would like to see until the end.

“It’s decided then. We will throw a birthday party for Hasebe!”

One hand pointing at the ceiling and another hand on her waist, Kimi stands in front of her mother and Uguisumaru; the first appears taken off-guard by her sudden declaration while the other calmly looks on as if knowing that it is simply another “creative idea” his little master is having.

“Oh, dear, I didn’t mean it like that,” Erena touches her chin, “I was just saying that I’m very grateful to Hasebe-kun for helping your Papa and I prepare and manage the recent Valentine Day’s campaign in our store.”

“That’s why we’re going to reward him for his hard work.”

“Is it not enough if we just give him a present?”

“No!” Kimi shakes her head, “It’s super boring if I’m the only one giving him a present. Everybody should give him one, too. That’s why we’re throwing him a birthday party.”

“Does a Touken Danshi have a birth date, though?”

“If there isn’t one, then we can just make one,” the little Saniwa smiles confidently, “Alright then, I’ll go find Hasebe and let him know about it.”

With that said, Kimi dashes out of the room, leaving her confused mother behind.

“Aruji is full of spirit today, too,” completely unfazed, Uguisumaru smiles as he pours a cup of tea for Erena, “Erena-sama, are you not happy with her idea?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that,” Erena shakes her head and laughs, “I’m just worried that she may end up causing trouble for Hasebe-kun when he is already so busy.”

“In that case, there is no need to worry,” the sword of the Kobizen clan smiles again, “It is Hasebe we’re talking about after all. Whatever it is, if it comes from Aruji, he will be happy.”

As the two are speaking, Kimi has made her way to the stable at an incredible speed. Once inside, it does not take long for her to spot the one she is looking for.

Ever so busy and dedicated to his duties, even outside the battlefield, Heshikiri Hasebe is almost always occupied with something. At the moment, he is in the middle of bringing in stacks of hays for their war steeds to eat, as well as cleaning and refilling the troughs with fresh water. Seeing his master barging in out of the blue, Hasebe nearly trips on a bucket of horse dung although he fortunately manages to save himself in time to avoid a disaster.

“Aruji, is something the matter? What can I do for y–”

“Hasebe!” without waiting for the other to finish speaking, Kimi points at him straight in the face, “Next week, on this day, it will be your birthday. Prepare yourself, you hear me?”

Then, she leaves just like that, looking perfectly content and full of excitement. “

......What is that all about?”

Standing still like a wooden chicken, Hasebe can only stare at the opened door of the stable where his little master has just run out from. He can make neither head nor tail of the situation, and he doesn’t even know what he should be preparing for.

Furthermore, the animals in the stable will not allow him the time to think for himself either.

“Ah, hey, hey! Easy, easy!” noticing that one of the horses is neighing loudly and kicking at the ground, Hasebe immediately runs to calm the beast, “I know, I’m going to brush you after this, okay? Just wait a bit.”

And so, Kimi’s earlier declaration about his upcoming birthday escapes his mind as the ever-so-diligent Heshikiri Hasebe returns his attention to the duty at hand for the rest of the day.

***

“What kind of present Hasebe would like?”

In the training hall, several Touken Danshi are in the middle of sparring and working out when their little master suddenly pops up and throws a question at them. At first, Kimi only intends to ask a few swords for their opinions but as the discussion goes on, everyone eventually joins in and puts their practice session to a pause.

“Now that you mention it, Aruji, I’m not sure if he has something he particularly likes,” Tsurumaru Kuninaga rubs his chin, “But then again, I don’t have much history with him to start with. Hey, how about you guys? Do you know what Hasebe likes?”

“Nothing comes to mind,” Souza Samonji shakes his head.

“He is capable of many things, but I don’t recall Hasebe ever paying particular attention to something or having a hobby,” says Yagen Toushirou.

“He always gets mad whenever he sees me drinking, so at least I know amasake isn’t something he likes,” Fudou Yukimitsu hiccups as he speaks; his face is red and his words are half-slurring as usual.

“Well, this is a rather tricky situation. Even the swords of Oda Nobunaga have no idea about Hasebesan’s interest,” Ishikirimaru seems to be deep in thought, “What about the swords of the Kuroda clan? Do you guys have something in mind?”

“Ah? If it were up to me, I think any good wine would make a good present,” Nihongo scratches the back of his head, then points his thumb at Fudou Yukimitsu, “But I’m in the same boat as that kiddo. He only ever gets mad at me whenever I’m drinking, so alcohol is probably not a good idea.”

“Hmm… Should we give Hasebe-chan a book about business and management? He’s always stressing out when it comes to our citadel’s financial situation, so it may help him learn some great stuffs,” says Hakata Toushirou, yet he is quickly refuted by another sword.

“But that’s not really a present, isn’t it? If anything, it’s only going to make him work even harder, which is the direct opposite of what Aruji wishes,” replies Kasen Kanesada, “Ah, but if we’re talking about Hasebe, don’t you think it doesn’t have to be anything specific?”

“What do you mean, Kasen-chan?”

“Think about it. Hasebe is very loyal to Aruji, right?” says the purple-haired sword, “Protecting Aruji, being useful to Aruji is what he takes the most pride in. Since that is the case, anything that Aruji gives him will make him happy.”

“Kasen is right,” Tsurumaru nods, turning his attention to Kimi again, “Aruji, you don’t have to think too hard about this. As long as it’s from you, I’m sure Hasebe will be so delighted, he may even cry.”

“Really…?” Kimi still looks unsure, “Will anything really work?”

“Or how about this? Aruji wants to throw Hasebe-chan a birthday party, right? Let’s make it a huge surprise!” Hakata claps his hands, “That way, not only will he get presents from Aruji and all of us, but he will get a full blast from it, as well.”

“Hmm, I suppose that’s a good idea. Despite his grumpy personality, we’ve all been helped by Hasebe’s hard work in one way or another. It’s a good way to show him our gratitude and appreciation,” says Yagen, “Well, Aruji. How does that sound to you?”

“Awesome! Let’s do that!” Kimi’s face brightens, “Let’s tell everybody, but remember to keep it a secret from Hasebe. Do you understand?”

The words “Yes, Aruji” echo from all over the training hall.

Finally satisfied, Kimi sets out to find the other Touken Danshi. As she walks through the corridor, however, her little mind starts to wonder again.

“I can give him anything?” she ponders, “But ‘anything’ is too many. What exactly should I get for Hasebe?”

At this moment, the elevator on the other side of the corridor arrives with a ding. Kimi looks up and spots a familiar figure walking out of the iron box. Immediately, her eyes widen and she rushes to reach him at once.

“Papa! Papa!”

Mondo sees his daughter running toward him. Pleased to see her yet confused at the urgency written all over her face, he cannot stop himself from inquiring into it.

“Kimi, what have you been doing? Why are you running around?” he asks.

“Papa, I want to ask you something!” still gasping and wheezing, Kimi clutches at the hem of Mondo’s clothes, “I want to get a birthday present for Hasebe. Everybody says he will be happy with anything I give him, but I honestly have no idea. What do you think I should get?”

“A birthday present? For Hasebe? Does he even have a birth date?”

“I already decided that his birthday will be next week.”

“Umm, okay?” Mondo can only smile at her, “I don’t really understand what’s happening, but if you’re going to give someone a present, wouldn’t it be good if it’s something useful?”

“Something useful?”

“Yeah,” Mondo grins and gives her a thumbs up, “For example, if the person loves to draw, you can give them painting tools or the like. If the person loves gardening, you can get them flower seeds, or even a hat to shield them from the sun. Don’t you think it will be great?”

Hearing her father’s suggestion, something lights up in Kimi’s mind at once.

“I got it!” she exclaims, “Right! I know what I should get for Hasebe now. Thank you, Papa!”

“Oh, alright. You’re welcome, I guess?” Mondo, who still hasn’t made a head or tail of the situation, can only wave her goodbye when her young daughter runs off again after thanking him, “Be careful not to trip, okay! You’re gonna hurt yourself!”

But Kimi is already too far gone to hear him. With a rejuvenated spirit in her heart, she begins her quest going around the citadel from the first to the fifth floor, telling every Touken Danshi she meets about the upcoming birthday celebration for Hasebe and her plan to surprise him with a fabulous gift that — according to her — will surely make Hasebe extremely delighted.

***

“Have I possibly done something wrong?”

Ironing and folding the clothes, Heshikiri Hasebe is pondering all by himself in the laundry room. The movements of his hands are swift and precise; even though his mind is occupied by a different issue at the moment, it does not hinder him from perfectly accomplishing his duty. But the fact that he remains capable of fulfilling his daily assignments without fail does not make Hasebe feel any less troubled. Instead, it confuses him all the more.

Throughout the week, Kiyomizu Kimi has been acting unusually distant from him. It isn’t to the point that she refuses to speak with him or treats him coldly. Rather, there were multiple occasions when, as Hasebe came across his master speaking with other swords, the little Saniwa would end their discussion immediately and disperse the crowd. Once, it does not bother him much. But when it happens far too many times than he could count, Hasebe cannot help but feel bothered.

“Did I do something that offends her?” the diligent sword puts all the clothes he has folded into a basket and places them on the racks, “But we haven’t even been talking much recently. What could possibly cause the change in Aruji’s behavior?”

He thinks and thinks but still cannot come up with an answer. It causes him great stress; he cannot even taste his meals properly during dinner and he keeps wondering about it at night.

As a result, the morning after, for the first time since he arrives in the citadel, Hasebe oversleeps.

“Oh, no! Oh, no! I’m going to get scolded by Aruji!”

Putting on his clothes in a rush, Hasebe runs out of his room to the Saniwa’s quarter. To his horror, he finds Kimi already up and dressed.

Upon seeing the sword appearing at her door, Kimi smiles and greets him.

“Hasebe, good morn–”

“Aruji! This Heshikiri Hasebe sincerely apologizes for his tardiness!” yet before she can finish her sentence, Hasebe already throws himself to the floor, performing a perfect dogeza, “I have been negligent in my duty. I deserve to be punished!”

“Actually, you come at a perfect time, Hasebe,” Kimi ignores his extravagant display of remorse completely, “Here, here. Let’s have breakfast together.”

And a private breakfast it is that she arranges for him.

Hasebe has yet to recover from his guilt. He hasn’t even found the answer to why Kimi has been avoiding him in the past week, and now the Saniwa suddenly grants him the honor of dining together in the same room.

But even if they call it a private breakfast, there are other swords inside who, for some reason, act as their attendants and provide them with entertainment.

Sitting across from his master at the table, Hasebe can only watch in bewilderment as Yamanbagiri Kunihiro and Shishiou come in carrying their food and drinks on a tray. They both look positively nervous. First, there is Yamanbagiri Kunihiro who trips on his own hood repeatedly, almost spilling everything all over. Then, perhaps in an attempt to plate the meals nicely, Shishiou keeps changing the position of the bowls and tea cups, eventually ending up placing them in a strange manner that is far from looking aesthetic.

And then there are Mikazuki Munechika and Ichigo Hitofuri. The two are sitting at the side, each holding a violin in hand, gracefully stroking the bow as they are playing a song. One would think that a pair of ancient swords of utmost elegance like them would present an equally elegant performance. Alas, the melody that comes out of their instruments sounds more like the cries of a dying beast than actual music. There are instances when Hasebe has to look twice at his comrades to make sure the things they are playing are indeed violins, not a pair of broken trumpets.

“What is it with this strange arrangement? Is this some sort of punishment? Is Aruji punishing me for waking up late by making me listen to these horrible duo?” Hasebe swallows his questions.

The more time passes, the more questions he has but he finds not a single answer to them.

After they finish breakfast, Hasebe soon discovers that this utterly bizarre day still has more to offer to him.

“Hasebe, let’s go shopping!” Kimi says to him.

“Huh? Right now? But, Aruji, I remember you assigned me to take care of–”

“No ‘buts!’” with both hands on her hips, Kimi purses her lips, “I already asked the other swords to do it. We’re going now and that’s final!”

“If… If you say so…” Hasebe isn’t sure how to respond, “Then, I will call the taxi to pick us up.”

“I want to go to the city on a horse.”

“Eh? But that’s dangerous, Aruji!”

“I want to ride a horse!” Kimi insists, “Hasebe can ride together with me. You know how to handle a horse, right?”

“That, I certainly know, but–”

“I already told you no ‘buts!’” the young Saniwa reiterates, “So what if it’s dangerous? That’s why I’m taking you with me, isn’t it? Aren’t you going to protect me no matter what, Hasebe?”

“Y-Yes, of course! This Hasebe will protect you with my life!”

“Good,” finally, Kimi throws him a smile, “Then, let’s go!”

There is no way Hasebe can say no to that face. In the end, he chooses the calmest horse among all the war steeds in their stable and rides together with his master — Kimi in the front, and him in the back while holding the reins.

For some time, their journey is peaceful and quiet. The day is warm, the sky is blue, and the wind is blowing gently. The two of them are conversing normally on the horse’s back, with the little Saniwa occasionally asking him about various things and Hasebe answering them one by one with utmost patience.

However, about halfway to their destination, there is suddenly the sound of horses rapidly galloping toward them. The noises come from the direction of the citadel they have just left behind.

“You there! Give us your valuables or we’ll cut your heads!”

Two dark horses, one with a single rider and the other with two riders, come chasing after them. The single rider is dressed in white robes with a head full of white hair. The other two are made up of a dark-skinned young man with a dragoon tattoo on his forearm and another man wearing an eyepatch. They are wearing a black facemask to cover the lower half of their faces. Aside from the tattooed young man, who is holding the rein of his horse, the white-haired rider and the eye-patched man are swinging a long sword in their hand.

“......What the hell are you doing, Tsurumaru?”

Hasebe throws the white-clothed rider a weird look, wasting no time revealing his identity. Nevertheless, the other person does not change his behavior at all and insists on threatening them.

“You dare talk back to us?! Quickly give us your money! Do you not know who we are?!”

“Yeah, no. Like I said, what are you doing here instead of hanging out the laundry? You even drag Mitsutada and Ookurikara along with you.”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about. We’re just here for your money. Right, guys?!”

“Ah, right, right, yes,” the eye-patched man laughs awkwardly while holding onto his sword, “Please give us your wallet, you two. We’ll leave you alone if you listen to us.”

“...Just quickly get this over with.”

“Psst, Kara-chan. That’s not what you’re supposed to say, right?”

“I don’t want to say it.”

Hasebe stares at the weird trio whose personalities are a complete mismatch with each other. They are obviously Tsurumaru Kuninaga, Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, and Ookurikara; the last one looks like he wants nothing more than to kick the other two off their horses and go back home right this second. What they intend to achieve by chasing him and their master all the way here or why they are putting on such lame disguises like that, he hasn’t the slightest idea.

“Come on, Kara-chan. Just this once, alright? For Aruji’s sake?” Mitsutada, knowing very well the other sword’s temper, tries his best to smile and pat him on the back.

Ookurikara glares at him, then at Hasebe. Truth be told, the fierce look in his golden eyes is more than enough of a threat to intimidate a bunch of grown men without him needing to say anything.

“...If you won’t give us your money, then we’ll take it by force. Your hearts included.”

Yet just like that, his scripted dialogue makes the vicious glare lose its menacing impact in the blink of an eye. At the same time, Hasebe sees Ookurikara’s hands shaking while holding onto their horse’s rein, looking about ready to explode and snap the necks of everyone present, including the horse.

“You guys…”

“Hasebe, let’s run!!” Kimi suddenly yells.

“A-Aruji?!”

“They’re bad people! They’re going to kill us! Run! Run quickly!”

Not knowing what to do, Hasebe ends up listening to her and spurs on their steed. The horse neighs loudly and starts speeding up.

“Hey, wait! Think you can run away from us?!” Tsurumaru lifts his sword.

“Goddammit, you’re persistent! Go away!”

“How can we go away when our prey is right in front of us? Guys, after them!”

To Hasebe’s dismay, the three swords of Date refuse to leave but chase after them instead.

Their three horses race through the empty road as if they are running away from the devil. Along the way, Tsurumaru keeps swinging his swords and yelling at them enthusiastically while Mitsutada is more occupied with trying to keep Ookurikara’s anger from exploding than dedicating himself to the role of a street bandit. This wild chase of theirs lasts for a long time until the downtown is finally in sight. When Hasebe and Kimi’s horse crosses over the red light, Tsurumaru suddenly lets out a disappointed groan behind them.

“Aaarrgh, what a shame! We lost them!” he says, pretentiously ruffling his own hair in frustration, “Damn, just wait for our revenge next time! Guys, let’s go back for now!”

And just like that, they appear like a hurricane and leave like a storm, showing up and retreating at will for no apparent reason.

“...What on earth is that all about?” trying to calm his breath, Hasebe clicks his tongue in annoyance.

“Yay, we won!” in front of him, Kimi appears to have not been bothered at all, celebrating their “victory” without a care, “Now that we’re here, let’s get back to our agenda. Hasebe, onwards! The shopping mall is just up ahead!”

“I, well… Certainly, Aruji. I understand.”

Having no other choice, Hasebe urges their horse to trot toward a large department store a small distance away from them. After entering the shop, Hasebe picks up a shopping cart and pushes it while following his master who already runs off before him.

“Aruji, what would you like to buy?”

“That,” Kimi points at a shelf.

“A pair of red shoes? Alright. What else?”

“And that.”

“A…clarinet? Very well.”

“And that. And also that.”

Before long, the shopping cart is already full of all sorts of things that do not seem to be related to one another: A flashlight, a sombrero hat, a long dress, a set of strange-looking clothes, practically all types of cheese displayed on the shelf except the square-shaped ones. Hasebe is completely at a loss as to why his master would be requiring these items and for what she intends to use them. Whenever he tries to ask, Kimi only tells him not to fuss too much about it.

They spend a long time circling the store before the little Saniwa is appeased. By the time they return, the sun is already leaning far to the west, showering their citadel in a beautiful shade of orange. At some point during their journey back home, Kimi falls asleep on the horse.

“Well, I suppose she must be tired after spending the whole day outside.”

Hasebe looks at his sleeping master and starts thinking back to the past few days. The way Kimi has been avoiding him for the entire week, her strange behavior, and how she suddenly asks him to accompany her today from sunrise to sunset, not to mention the inexplicably bizarre arrangements. What could be the cause of all this?

“Aruji is still very young. Could it be that she has some sort of worries that she cannot express properly?” he thinks, “When she wakes up later, I must ask her about this.”

Just as he reaches this point in his rumination, Kimi suddenly stirs and her eyes slowly blink open. Yawning wide, she looks around, spots the citadel ahead of them, and instantly looks rejuvenated.

“Are we home?!” she asks.

“Yes, Aruji. We will be arriving at the citadel shortly,” replies Hasebe.

“Good. Then, here is my next instruction,” Kimi looks up at the sword riding with her, “Hasebe, after you put the horse back to the stable, go take a bath and quickly come to my room. Don’t forget to bring everything we’ve bought today, do you understand?”

“I-I understand. Does Aruji need my help for something?”

“No questions!” Kimi shakes her head, “Just do what I told you, okay?”

Can Hasebe say anything else but a “yes?” For the last time today, he can only nod and accept his order without complaint.

But a while later, when he comes out of his room after a bath, he finds the entire citadel bereft of its inhabitants.

“...W-What is happening?” carrying multiple shopping bags full of random things in both of his hands, Hasebe stands petrified in the hallway, “Why is no one around? Where is everybody?”

Could it be there had been an enemy attack while he was in the shower? Have his comrades departed to the battlefield without him? Is their master safe?

Myriads of thoughts are running rampant in his head, each one is worse than the last. Immediately, Hasebe breaks into a run, sprinting straight toward the Saniwa’s quarter.

“Aruji–!”

“Oh, Hasebe, you’re finally here! Get in, quick!”

Kimi, alone and unbothered in her room, beckons for the panicking sword to come over. The latter hasn’t recovered from his shock. As if in a daze, he comes stumbling into the Saniwa’s room, almost dropping the things he is carrying to the floor.

“Now, close the door.”

Hasebe closes the door as he is told.

“And wear everything in those bags. Make sure not to miss even a single item.”

“I beg your pardon, Aruji?”

“Come on, stop wasting time!”

Hasebe is at a complete loss. He looks at the contents of the shopping bags; the things they purchased from the store earlier are completely random and, frankly speaking, a total disaster if worn by someone.

“A-Aruji, have I done something wrong? Is this a punishment–”

“HA.SE.BE,” Kimi purses her lips, placing both hands on her waist, “I said put them on. Now.”

Exactly what is going on? Hasebe picks up a set of funny-looking clothes from the first bag and starts putting them on himself reluctantly. It’s only the first thing on the list and he already feels utterly ridiculous.

“Aruji, are the shoes–”

“Yes, that, too.”

“And the long dress–”

“Yes.”

“The sombrero–”

“Yes, yes. Now keep moving and stop talking.”

Like a circus clown, the once prestigious sword of the Kuroda clan stands dumbly while donning the most questionable outfit ever seen by mankind. He is holding a clarinet and a flashlight in one hand, while his other hand is carrying a basket full of cheese.

Kimi looks at him up and down for a moment. Finally, the young Saniwa appears satisfied. She smiles happily and nods her head in approval.

“Good,” she says, “Now we don’t have to worry about Hasebe getting attacked by the sea bear.”

“What?”

“Happy birthday, Hasebe!”

“A-Aruji?!”

“I said… Happy! Birthday! Hasebe!”

Kimi glares, and Hasebe stares. A long moment of silence lasts between the two, until the young Saniwa can hold it in no more.

“Ugh, come with me!”

“Wait, Aruji, where are we–?!”

“Just come!” grabbing Hasebe’s hand, Kimi drags him out of the room.

Hasebe almost trips on his long dress and drops the clarinet. Kimi pulls him along the hallway, out of the hotel’s main building, and into the pool area. As soon as the door slides open, the afternoon breeze blows against his face; the light of the setting sun almost blinds him. When Hasebe opens his eyes, however, he is instantly stunned.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HASEBE!”

Confetti pops from his left and right, a huge birthday cake is sitting on a table with mountains and mountains of presents underneath. All residents of the citadel, from Kimi’s parents, Mondo and Erena, as well as every single sword that has been summoned to serve the Saniwa, gather around the large pool while holding a huge banner that says“Happy birthday, Heshsikiri Hasebe!”

Indeed, there is a mistype on the banner yet nobody seems to realize, or care, about it.

Hasebe stands astonished while watching at the sight before him. Just then, he feels Kimi tugging at his hand, smiling at him.

“I told you, didn’t I? Today is your birthday,” she says.

“Of course,” Hasebe just remembers now. Last week, when he was on horse duty, Kimi stormed into the stable and declared that his birthday would be this week. He didn’t understand what she meant then, and he was so busy it completely slipped his mind.

“Huh… So everything that happened today…?”

“Naturally, it’s all part of Aruji’s plan,” Tsurumaru laughs, “How was it, Hasebe? Are you surprised?”

“Aah… I was so nervous this morning. I can’t play the violin that well,” Ichigo Hitofuri scratches the back of his head.

“Well, these modern instruments sure are tricky for an old man like me. But all’s well that ends well, right? The surprise party is a success, after all. Hahahaha,” Mikazuki Munechika taps on Ichigo’s shoulder and laughs freely.

“Sorry for suddenly chasing you on the way like that, Hasebe-kun,” Mitsutada gives him an apologetic smile, “I hope we didn’t scare you too much.”

“...The next time you want to do something like this, leave me out of it. I have no wish to be part of this farce,” Ookurikara snorts in annoyance, “Anyway, you can stop worrying now about whether Aruji hates you or not.”

“Yeah, Hasebe. You’ve been worried all week since it looked like Aruji was avoiding you, right? It’s because we are all planning this party, so we were afraid you might find out,” Shishiou puts an arm around him, “It turns out great, isn’t it?”

“...I’m just glad that Aruji wasn’t avoiding me because I made a mistake and offended her,” Hasebe lets out a long sigh, feeling that huge burden in his heart finally disappearing, “Thank you, everyone. And Aruji, thank you so much and I apologize for doubting you.”

“Mm-mn, you don’t have to apologize, Hasebe,” Kimi shakes her head, “Hasebe is really cool today, you know? You accompanied me for a fine dining in the morning and you even took me around the city on a horse like a knight in shining armor. You’re the best! I had a lot of fun!”

“Ah… Ahaha, I’m glad that Aruji feels like that.”

Hasebe can only laugh, thinking that had it not been for the revelation of this party, today must’ve been the most stressful day he has ever experienced since waking up in this human body.

That said, there is no harm done and the citadel goes through yet another peaceful day.

In spite of the chaotic start, Hasebe’s birthday celebration proceeds smoothly and merrily. Mitsutada and Kasen Kanesada cook everybody’s favorite meals. Various drinks are being passed around from fruit juices, many types of tea, to alcoholic drinks reserved only for the mature ones. The little swords are playing around the pool, the older ones are having a great time hanging out with each other, including Mondo and Erena who join the Touken Danshi chatting near the banquet area.

Nevertheless, as happy as he is for the appreciation he receives from his dearest master, Hasebe cannot help but swallow his embarrassment since he is the only person in the party wearing so many ridiculous items. Kimi has forbidden him from taking it off until midnight, and his comrades are not being any help with the way they look absolutely elated taking pictures of and with him. Tsurumaru even added a few more bizarre accessories to his already funny-looking attire, including a crown of colorful flowers and large ribbons to “adorn his plain-looking sombrero hat.”

Hasebe makes a mental note to bury him alive in the garden at a later time.

“Are you having fun, Hasebe?” at some point during the party, Kimi approaches him, looking all pleased and happy.

“Ah, yes, of course, Aruji,” the former sword of Kuroda smiles in return, “But if you don’t mind, may I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Why…these clothes?” scratching the side of his face, Hasebe is being careful not to sound ungrateful, “I mean, there are many kinds of costumes. Why do you choose this one for me?”

“Oh, that. Before, I asked everyone what kind of present that Hasebe would like. Most of them said that you will like anything as long as it’s from me, but I felt that wasn’t quite right. Then, Papa suggested that I gifted you with something useful, something that can definitely help Hasebe. And so, here it is!”

“I-I beg your pardon for my ignorance, but… Would Aruji be so kind as to enlighten me on how this attire may be useful for this Heshikiri Hasebe?”

“I told you, didn’t I? It will protect you from the evil sea bear.”

“The sea bear?”

“Yep. We just watched it the other day, didn’t we? Now that you’re protected with all the correct gears, you don’t have to worry about the sea bears attacking you while you’re out there on the battlefield or running an expedition.”

Hasebe thinks long and hard about whatever it is his little master is saying until he recalls it at last.

Of course, the sea bears, those fictional predators that only exist in Aruji’s favorite cartoon series, the one with a yellow sponge and pink starfish as the main characters.

The intention is indeed a noble one and Hasebe feels truly honored. Still, he doesn’t have the heart to tell Kimi that not only those creatures do not exist, but her goodwill also causes him nothing but embarrassment, what’s with the other Touken Danshi poking fun at him every few minutes or so.

But seeing the lively atmosphere around him, the smile of his master, and the way his comrades are laughing, free of worries, he begins to think that perhaps doing something like this once in a while isn’t so bad.

“Hey, there, birthday boy.”

“Hasebe-chan, I wish you all the best and success in the future!”

Midway through the banquet, Hasebe sees his fellow Kuroda swords walking toward him, one a towering man and the other and chirpy little boy. He can only let them sit by his side, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

“Well, thank you, guys. To think that you’re also part of the scheme…” he says.

“Of course, everyone’s on it,” Nihongo takes a sip from his wine cup, “Aruji said you’ve been working hard and that she wanted to reward you. So she decided on a birthday party and pulled us all into her plan.”

“I never had a birthday party before, even though I kind of put in some suggestions for this event, too,” says Hakata Toushirou, “Do you think we should propose to Aruji to give every Touken Danshi a birth date? This looks really fun.”

“Yeah, it’s fun until you have to wear these weird clothes and be everyone’s clown,” replies Hasebe.

“Aww, don’t be like that, Hasebe-chan.”

“He’s right. This is a very rare day. You won’t be able to experience it every year.”

“What do you mean?” Hasebe frowns, but Nihongo throws an even deeper frown at him.

“Am I the drunk one or is it you? Did you not see the calendar when you woke up today?” the great spear says.

“I… I don’t…”

Because he woke up late this morning, he immediately jumped out of bed, scrambled to put on his clothes, and rushed to the Saniwa’s quarter without having the time to check anything else.

“It’s the 29th of February, Hasebe-chan,” seeing his confused face, Hakata decides to tell him, “If I'm not mistaken, this date only comes once every four years in the human calendar, right?”

Hasebe makes an “oh.” But really, he doesn’t even know what he can say at this moment.

“Hasebe-chan, is something wrong?” Hakata peers into his face.

“...No. No, it’s fine,” Hasebe averts his gaze, once again feeling like he isn’t sure if he should laugh or cry.

It’s good that he doesn’t have to play this “dress-up game” every year. But when he thinks about he can only have his birthday celebrated once every four years, does that not sound a little sad?

---End--

Writing by the tensai Adventia;

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Akatsuki_Shin04 AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51402115

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/355663725-a-gift-for-hasebe

Commish Adventia here -> Adven's Writing Atelier (adven-writes.carrd.co)

---TRIVIA---

Sea bear.

Portrait of sea bear which can't attack the 3 sea creatures because they are in a circle.

Portrait of a stupid creature trying to attract the attention of a sea bear. (Hasebe dress like this)

Some things that can attract a sea bear and why.

• Playing the clarinet badly.

• Waving your flashlight back and forth really fast

• Eating or holding cubed cheese; sliced cheese is safe.

• Wearing a hoop skirt.

• Wearing clown shoes.

• Wearing a sombrero in a goofy fashion.

"The Camping Episode" -SpongeBob SquarePants.