Today is 23 July..

What I want is...

July 23 at 6:00 p.m.

"Uh....Brother, tomorrow..." The raven-haired boy said in a pleading tone.

"Sorry Sasuke, today I have to go on a mission with Father until next week. Leave it for another day.” The older brother refused without hesitation before putting on his shoes and walking out.

The moment the door was completely closed The younger's heart immediately dropped. He walked slowly and soullessly up to the room, locking the door.

"Again...you said that to me again," the boy said softly. He lay down on his bed.

Tomorrow is my birthday......you never gave me importance. Even though I You're my special guest.

Every year I try to find the gift that I think is the most special for you. In case it's my birthday, you'll agree to come to my birthday party.

But...it was never true. Even though we're hardly together at all, hyung, do you know? Every year tomorrow, how lonely I am. Is there any way for you to be with me, play with me, teach me ninja skills without saying "Sorry Sasuke?" Save it for later." He wanted his brother to say, "Sure, Sasu.

more"

"Sasuke...Sasuke...." Someone's voice called out to him. Who was it..? He thought, it was coming from below. He hoped that the voice he heard was his brother's. Sasuke didn't hesitate and rushed downstairs.

"Brother...!" Sasuke exclaimed.

"What is it, Sasuke? I just sent him away just now. Come..let's have dinner with mom. When it's finished, we'll blow out the candles on the birthday cake to celebrate in advance together," the mother said in a gentle voice.

Sasuke began to return to his old wistful expression. He must be thinking too much.

How could this be possible since he was the one who saw Itachi until the last moment he left the house?

He probably thought he was too childish. Would he let his birthday alone stop him from carrying out a mission that was important to the clan and village? No....he has to be an adult. He's old enough that he doesn't need a birthday party.

But...even so, he was still lonely without the special guest he had been waiting for to wish him well.

July 22 at 6:40 p.m.

"Okay, finish eating and wash the dishes. Let's blow out the birthday candles with Mom." The mother put out the fire and lit the candles.

Inside the kitchen, there was only a cake, candles, and the dim light from the candles. And loneliness....

Even though he thinks he's grown up But....it was meaningless if he didn't see his older brother's face in the last year before he stopped thinking like a child.

"Alright Sasuke, make a wish and blow out the candles," the mother said. Sasuke forced a smile before bowing his head to make a wish.

He had planned to ask for this for many years. And this year he really wanted it to be true.

Sasuke lowered his head and blew out the candles. And that second His tears flowed uncontrollably.

"Oh..why are you crying, Sasuke?"

"Please let me know. "When I blew out the candle smoke, it got into my eyes." Sasuke made an excuse and pretended it was nothing.

"No matter what, it's good. Mom will cut the cake for you. Or does Sasuke want to cut the cake himself?"

"Mom, you'd better cut it for me or else I cut it crookedly and the cake would be beautiful." He said like that. But he hardly cared about the cake at all.

But when he got the cake He ate distractedly. He would rather the person sitting next to him be Itachi. No matter how delicious the cake was, it didn't attract him to it at all.

July 22 at 7:00 p.m.

"I'm full. I'll go up to my room now, Mother."

"Oh... Sasuke still has a lot of cake left on his plate."

"I don't really like sweets," Sasuke shouted from above.

He went in and locked the room door as usual. The reason he shed tears when blowing out the candles wasn't because of the smoke. But it was because of his heart. He had never been so lonely before.

He could only describe himself on his bed until he fell asleep.

July 22 at 11:55 p.m.

"Huh...how long have we been asleep?" Sasuke rubbed his eyes sleepily.

"Wow...! We haven't done today's homework yet...!" Sasuke hurriedly opened it to find his bag, but he realized he'd forgotten it downstairs.

Sasuke slowly felt his way down the stairs, his hands clenched, he didn't want to turn on the light because he was afraid his mother would wake him up.

As Sasuke reached the ground floor, he noticed something strange crossing his path. Sasuke quickly brought up his kunai to protect him, despite his shock, he continued to search for his bag. Sasuke noticed that there was a strange light in the living room.

So he slowly opened the door, but from that corner he couldn't see the object. As Sasuke became sure that there was no one, he slowly entered the room.

What he found surprised him. When it's just a lamp

"I wonder if Mother forgot to put it out." But Sasuke still didn't put out the fire and continued to search his bag.

"Are you here, Sasuke?" A person's voice came from the side of the lamp.

It's a familiar voice. But I couldn't believe that I would be able to stay here. A sound that made his heart flutter and swell again.

"Brother...!!!" from the original position where the lamp used to be.

Now it was his older brother who stood holding his bag in his left hand.

On the other hand was a cake left over from last evening, with the number of candles on it according to his age.

"Happy birthday, Sasuke." His older brother walked up to him and sat down in front of him.

“This is not your clone. Or an illusion spell, right?" Sasuke asked while smiling, mixed with happiness, shock, and surprise.

"No, on such an important day, how could you use a fake one?" Itachi smiled softly as he put down Sasuke's bag.

Those words made Sasuke's smile widen and he began to hold back tears.

"Brother..." Sasuke happily embraced his brother.

"Heh heh...Sasuke, the cake will fall," his older brother warned. But still kept a kind tone and smiled.

“I don't care, I already ate. Besides, I'm here too." He continued to hug his brother.

"Sigh...Sasuke better come blow out the candles first. Otherwise, you'll definitely eat cake coated with candle tears. And it'll be exactly midnight in just a few seconds." Itachi said before smiling a little.

Sasuke blew without hesitation.

"Oh... Sasuke didn't ask for a blessing first?"

"No.....well.....the wish I made last evening has come true," Sasuke said timidly.

“Then that's good. Let's eat the cake." Itachi handed Sasuke the fork he was holding onto his thumb.

I don't know if it was because he was interested in eating or what. But Sasuke felt that his birthday cake eating it with his brother was many times more delicious than eating it with his mother.

"Uh..Huh....that's.." Sasuke said in a voice that was trying to suppress his embarrassment.

"What is it, Sasuke?"

"Can you give me a word?" When I finished asking, Sasuke lowered his head in embarrassment.

"Okay, ma...so what part should I take?"

Sasuke didn't expect Itachi to say such a thing. He was even more delighted when Itachi actually fed him. His heart swelled and he was very happy.

Sasuke quickly found something else to talk about to relieve his embarrassment.

"And what is your mission?"

“Right now, he's probably staying overnight in the forest. The one with Father is a separate body."

"Oh, then, Father.."

"Oh..It's because of this father that I was able to come."

"So Father... gave you permission to come?"

"Yes...and when you come back from your mission, don't forget to thank Father."

Sasuke was a bit surprised at how hard people were. In such a frame, Father would allow Itachi to risk abandoning his mission for a period of time to come to him.

"Huh...." Sasuke's tears flowed again.

“What is it, Sasuke? Ninjas don't cry."

"Well, what can I do? Well, bro....haha...." Sasuke fell into Itachi's chest.

"Just one day today," the elder said. He gently rubbed his hand against Sasuke's head.

Sasuke let out a loud gasp. But he sang He didn't know how to feel between being extremely happy to see his older brother.

Or maybe he feels angry that his brother doesn't have much time to spend with him.

Until he fell asleep in his brother's arms.

Itachi carried Sasuke up to the bedroom so he could let him sleep comfortably.

before having his doppelgänger who was with Father invite him back.

July 23 at 8:00 a.m.

"Sasuke-kun, please. Yesterday's homework was easy, right^ ^" The pink-haired girl's voice greeted him as she did every day.

"Um.." He didn't care about the girl in front of him. But instead I looked out the window.

Even though his face was now smooth and emotionless, in his heart he was happier than any other day.

Even though he didn't do his homework yesterday. He didn't care if the teacher called him to scold or punish him.

Right now, there were only images from last night that he could still replay in his head.

"Hehe..." He accidentally laughed lightly and smiled. He will keep this happy moment in his heart forever...