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(F/n) was sleeping peacefully in her bed. It’s been seven weeks now, meaning that her cast would come off a little over one week from now. She’s held strong for the first four weeks but the more she was unable to do the things she wanted to, the more restless she’s been. She refused to go to volleyball practices when Koutarou asked because she felt envious that she wasn’t able to participate/learn new things. Her brother respected her decision but too felt bad that there wasn’t much he could do to improve the situation.

“Shh, you’ll wake her up,” Kaede hushed.

“Isn’t that the point?” Rui huffed.

Kaede, Rui, Koutarou, and Keiko were all huddled by the door of (F/n)’s bedroom.

“I can’t believe it’s her birthday today,” Koutarou said, “She’s already five years old,”

“What are you, mom?” Keiko scrunched her face up at the dramatic reaction Koutarou gave.

“Guys the candle is going to seep into the cake if we don’t hurry up,” Rui warned the two.

Keiko opened the door gently and the four of them filed into the bedroom. (F/n) stirred but kept on sleeping. They walked over and surrounded her bed. Koutarou gently reached over and brushed the baby hairs out of her face.

“Baby owl~” he gently cooed to wake her up.

(F/n) stirred and stretched. She sighed deeply before slowly opening her eyes, “Hmm?”

“Happy birthday!” Keiko, Kaede, Rui, and Koutarou exclaimed.

(F/n)’s sat up and blinked before smiling, “It’s my birthday?”

Keiko giggled, “You and Kou both forgot your own birthdays,”

Koutarou huffed, “Hey! I was busy with school and stuff,”

Rui gently ruffled (F/n)’s hair, “Alright birthday girl, why don’t you make a wish and blow out these candles?”

Kaede brought the cake closer to her and (F/n) thought about her wish before blowing them out. Everyone cheered and Keiko pulled out a fork and offered (F/n) a piece of cake. (F/n) happily ate it, her cheeks sporting a pink hue and her smile as bright as the sun.

“Don’t eat too much now,” Hiromi said from the doorway, “You don’t want to spoil the special breakfast I made for you,”

(F/n) beamed, “Special breakfast?”

Hiromi nodded, “Come on, it’s ready,”
Koutarou picked (F/n) up from bed and everyone filed out of her room and into the kitchen.

“WOAH!” (F/n)’s eyes widened and sparkled upon seeing the breakfast spread. All of her favorite breakfast foods were laid out and had many portions. She buzzed eagerly and Koutarou helped her place all of the items onto her plate. She dug in happily while everyone watched and served themselves.

“This is the happiest I’ve seen her since she broke her arm,” Ronin, who poured himself a mug of coffee, said to Hiromi.

“Yeah,” Hiromi nodded, “I’m glad she’s feeling okay today,”

“Is… you know who coming?” Ronin asked.

Hiromi nodded, “Yep, they’ll be here for dinner,”

Ronin sipped his coffee before kissing his wife on the cheek, “I’ll come home early after work,”

Hiromi smiled and Ronin ruffled (F/n)’s hair, greeting her happy birthday once more before leaving for work. When (F/n) finished her breakfast, she was given more of the small cake from earlier (which wasn’t allowed but Keiko never listens to the rules).

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(F/n) was coloring in her coloring book while one of her favorite cartoons was playing in the background. Keiko was also coloring in her own coloring book while absentmindedly listening to the cartoon. Koutarou was at practice, Rui and Kaede were at work, and Hiromi was in the kitchen cooking.

“Say, what do you want for your birthday (F/n)?” Keiko asked her little sister.

“Hmm,” (F/n) thought about it, “I don’t know,”

Keiko chuckled, “You don’t have anything you desire? A toy maybe?”

(F/n) placed the crayon on her chin to resemble her thinking, “My cast to come off,”

Keiko hummed, “You’ll be getting it off next week,” Keiko informed her.

(F/n) huffed, “Stupid,”

“Is there anything else you want besides that?” Keiko was trying to confirm a hypothesis she mentally had.

(F/n) pursed her lips, “Maybe… spend time with Takumi…”

Keiko smirked, ‘I knew it,’ she smiled, “Aw, you sure do love spending time with Takumi,”

(F/n) nodded, “He’s the best,”

“Is he your best friend?” Keiko raised her eyebrow.

“No,” (F/n) shook her head.

“No?” Keiko was genuinely shocked, “Then who is your best friend?”

“Brother-owl!” (F/n) happily answered.

Keiko shook her head with a laugh, “Of course,”

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It was almost dinner time and everyone had come home from work. Koutarou was on his way home from practice. (F/n) was sitting on Rui’s lap when she heard the door open and saw her brother and Akaashi.

“Brother owl! Kaashi-owl!” Rui helped (F/n) down from his lap and (F/n) ran up to them.

“Happy birthday baby-owl!” Koutarou greets her happily with a hug. (F/n) smiled and hugged him back before turning her attention to Akaashi.

“Happy birthday (F/n),” Akaashi greeted her. Koutarou handed (F/n) over and Akaashi held her.

“I missed you!” (F/n) exclaimed.

Akaashi smiled slightly, “I missed you too,”

Rui greeted the two from the couch and asked, “When’s you know who coming?”

“They just got off the train,” Akaashi answered while Koutarou went to his room to change.

“Who?” (F/n) asked.

Akaashi gave her a small smile, “Just some friends of ours,” he answered vaguely.

(F/n) hummed in response and Akaashi was grateful that she didn’t try to pry for more information. He brought (F/n) to the kitchen where Hiromi and Ronin were preparing the big dinner.

“Oh, hey Akaashi, how are you?” Hiromi happily greeted her son’s best friend.

“Hello, Hiromi-san,” Akaashi bowed before placing (F/n) on the chair, “I’m good, how are you?”

Hiromi smiled, “I’m doing good. How’s volleyball going? You’re vice captain right?”

Akaashi nodded, “It’s going well. We seem to be improving every practice,”

“That’s good to hear,” Ronin jumped in, “How’s Koutarou as a captain?”

“Well,” Akaashi reflected, “He brings the team together,”

Ronin understood the hidden meaning behind Akaashi’s words and chucked, “Sounds like him,”

Kotuarou enters the kitchen and coughs, “Ahem,”

“Brother owl!” (F/n) happily greeted even though she had just seen him not that long ago.

“To know my own parents and best friend would talk behind my back,” Koutarou said dramatically as he walked up to (F/n), “I’m taking my real best friend with me elsewhere,” he picked (F/n) up and walked to the living room.

Akaashi, Hiromi, and Ronin all looked at one another before chuckling. Koutarou sat down on the couch next to Rui and placed (F/n) on his lap. After a couple of minutes, the front door opened and (F/n) looked at who was there with wide eyes.

“Takumi?!” (F/n) was shocked.

Takumi was holding a present and a tiny bouquet of flowers in his arms. His hair was done nicely (and not like Kuroo’s) and he was wearing a nice dress shirt. His cheeks sported a red tint (they never truly return to normal whenever he’s with (F/n)) and he greeted her softly, “H-happy birthday,”

(F/n) smiled and got off Koutarou’s lap to give him a hug. Takumi set down the present and welcomed (F/n) into his arms.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” (F/n) said.

“It was a surprise,” Takumi replied before pulling away and handing her the flowers, “Here… for you,”

(F/n) took the flowers and smiled, “Thank you,”

Rui looked at Kaede who was smiling, “Isn’t he such a charmer… doesn’t he remind you of me?"

Kaede rolled her eyes, “Sure,”

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It was now time for cake and presents. Everyone finished their dinner and chatted happily among themselves. (F/n) and Takumi were seated together and much to Kuroo’s dismay, Takumi had no issues eating this time. (F/n), as usual, had a huge appetite and ate a lot. Takumi would watch in pure adoration while he nibbled on his food.

Once the table was cleared, Hiromi lit the five candles that were on the cake and brought it to the table. Everyone then started singing Happy Birthday to (F/n).

“Alright (F/n), make a wish,” Ronin said.

Everyone watched as (F/n) stayed silent for a couple of seconds before blowing the candles out. They cheered once all the candles were no longer lit, and Hiromi took the cake back to cut it into slices. While that was happening, everyone brought out the presents they got her, and (F/n) opened them one by one.

Rui and Kaede got (F/n) her own school backpack. Since she turned five, she could be enrolled to start Kindergarten which is what prompted the gift of choice. Keiko, with the help of her college friends, got a bunch of books that they all had as kids so that (F/n) could read them when she started to learn how to read more comprehensively. Ronin and Hiromi got (F/n) more clothes since she was growing out of a lot of them. Then came Koutarou, Akaashi, Takumi (and Kuroo’s) gifts.

Akaashi handed (F/n) her present, which was in the shape of a box. She unwrapped it and opened the box. In it was a light blue volleyball.

“A volleyball!” (F/n) excitedly announced what it was.

“Not just any volleyball,” Akaashi told her and helped her take it out of the box. She observed the volleyball and saw that there was writing on it. She could make out a couple of the words and turned to Akaashi for more explanation.

“See the writings?” Akaashi pointed, “They’re all from the team. They wrote you personal praises and encouragement so that whenever you feel down, you could read them,”

“Aww that’s so sweet,” Hiromi cooed.
(F/n) smiled and traced over the writings before hugging Akaashi. Koutarou was next and he set his gift down. (F/n) opened it and it was a picture frame. It had a collage of two pictures. The top one was one where Koutarou had his head pressed up against Hiromi’s pregnant belly. The bottom picture is the day that (F/n) was born and Koutarou was holding her for the first time. The caption that was customized on the frame at the bottom was “best friends from the beginning.”

(F/n) was a bit confused as she didn't recognize who the baby was in the photo and Koutarou had to explain it to her. Once she understood, she practically tackled her brother to the best of her ability due to the cast and thanked him graciously.

Now it was time for Takumi’s gift. Kuroo placed the box onto the table and (F/n) began to unwrap it. The box revealed a scrapbook and it was titled “Growing Up Together.” (F/n) opened it and saw that there were pictures of her and Takumi which were taken by her brother, his brother, and other volleyball members who were around them whenever the two were together.

“There's a lot of empty pages because…I hope we continue to be friends so we can fill them together…” Takumi shyly explained.

(F/n)’s cheeks were dusted pink and she smiled and gave Takumi a big hug, “I like that idea,”

Takumi returned the hug and his entire face turned completely red.

Everyone was awed at the sight of them. They represented pure, unadulterated love.

-

“You have to admit,” Kuroo started, “Our siblings are really cute together,”

Koutarou huffed but nodded, “Yeah…”

Takumi and (F/n) were cuddled on the couch. Rui and Kaede were watching them while they played. Akaashi, Kuroo, and Koutarou were outside playing volleyball when it was starting to get late. Kuroo was now tasked to either wake Takumi up to say goodbye or just to take Takumi and explain how they had to leave while he was asleep.

Hiromi walked into the living room and saw the two children asleep in each other’s arms. She saw the time and knew that Takumi had to leave… unless.

“May I suggest something?” Hiromi asked and everyone looked at her, “If it’s okay with you, why not let you and Takumi spend the rest of the night here and leave in the morning,”

Kuroo thought about it, “I wouldn’t want to intrude…”

“Nonsense,” Hiromi smiled, “Why ruin their sleep and wake them up? I’m sure Kou can find some extra clothes for you to wear for the night,”

Kuroo blinked in thought before agreeing, “I guess one night won’t hurt,”

“Can you spend the night too Akaashi?” Koutarou asked him with puppy eyes. Akaashi looked at him, also not wanting to intrude but knowing that Koutarou’s puppy eyes was a weakness of his own.

“Sure,” Akaashi sighed out.

“Sleepover!” Koutarou cheered and ventured to his room saying, “Hey! Hey! Hey!”

Surprisingly, Takumi and (F/n) didn’t wake up to the sudden change in volume and continued to sleep.

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a longer chapter for once <3