Chapter Text
Even on a day meant for himself, Tatsumi was always looking towards others.
While he had tried to humbly pass on any extravagance for his birthday, his rather high-class members of FLAVOR had seemingly taken it as a personal affront to their generosity. They had taken up residence in the garden again, seated around a small table laden with various colorful and neatly packaged boxes of snacks.
“Kazehaya-senpai, we received a nice black tea blend the other day from one of Ra*bits’s clients did you want me to brew us all a pot?” Hajime asked, holding up a pale blue and white tin with an elegant script in English spiraling across the front. While it wasn’t unusual for their youngest member to offer such things, Tatsumi had to refrain from a slight chuckle at his earnestness. It seemed everyone had fully intended to not allow him to lift a finger today.
Eichi smiled at him gracefully as he delicately laid out an assortment of cookies atop the serving plate Hiyori had brought with him. “No harm in indulging him Kazehaya-kun,” he said lightly, “Or the rest of us for that matter.”
“It’s rather odd to be so…helpless,” Tatsumi replied wryly, “The rest of Alkaloid wouldn’t even allow me near the kitchen this morning. Aira-san chased me out quite stubbornly.” He shook his head with a fond smile as he thought back on the memory. It seemed that his unit had decided that it was their turn to make breakfast that day, pulling together to make a simple yet warming meal of miso soup and grilled mackerel.
“Just accept it for the day Tacchan~ the road of least resistance and all that,” Ritsu hummed as he leaned his cheek into his palm. His lashes fluttered sleepily as he looked over the other idol’s mildly troubled expression. So unused to people doing things for him, Ritsu thought to himself as he watched Hiyori all but slap Tatsumi’s hand away from arranging the tea set.
Face twisted into a small frown and wagging his finger, Hiyori leaned in closer to the other idol. “Don’t even think about it, Tatsumi-kun!” He huffed out, easily sliding the tea set over to where Hajime had been standing before he went off to get the hot water. “We will not be letting you do everything yourself on your birthday, why do you know how bad that would reflect on our image?”
Tatsumi merely smiled back guiltily. “Force of habit,” he said, adjusting his posture as Hiyori busied himself with setting the cups down on their respective saucers. “You really don’t need to go this far…surely it’s quite troublesome?”
He had a feeling his gentle inquiry might only make Hiyori fuss more. Despite how the sunny noble so often liked making others do things for him (as Jun often told him), Hiyori could be quite the staunch presence once he had decided on something. Tatsumi glanced over at Eichi to see if he would be of any assistance and was met with an amused smile. It seemed even the so-called Emperor himself knew this wasn’t a battle worth fighting against.
Unlike the three FLAVOR members who hailed from the upper echelons of society, Tatsumi wasn’t used to being spoiled or waited on. He was usually the one preparing food, offering tea, and lending a kindly ear to everyone. It wasn’t a bad feeling, just different, like drinking a new blend from a favored base.
Perhaps his unit was more correct than he liked to admit when it came to his inability to rely on others freely.
Hajime returned with a full pot of hot water he set down to steep with a soft smile. He seemed to take note of Tatsumi’s awkward thwarted attempt to help, leaning over to rearrange the floral centerpiece they had brought over from Gardenia earlier that day. “Try not to think about it too much Kazehaya-senpai,” he whispered, “it’s a special occasion after all.”
Yes, birthdays were special occasions, weren’t they? While it wasn’t difficult to make the connection for other people, Tatsumi found himself struggling to apply the same to himself. Even during his agency birthday party, he was already trying to come up with a proper gift idea for Hiiro between the holidays. That was his inconvenient side showing again. Despite how different his position was today, his old ways were difficult to break.
A fragrant floral aroma wafted up to distract him from his train of thought. Bergamot. Lavender. A hint of warm vanilla and something spiced. Tatsumi’s familiar senses were able to discern the blended notes almost entirely subconsciously. The clink of a cup and saucer being placed in front of him drew his gaze upward.
All four of the other FLAVOR members were watching him in varying degrees of amusement. “I hope you aren’t busy thinking of melancholy things Kazehaya-kun,” Eichi said, “It would be a shame to not properly enjoy the tea Hajime-kun has so generously prepared for us all.”
“It’s really not that special,” Hajime quickly jumped in as he continued to pour the rest of the group their own cups.
Tatsumi slowly shook his head. “No, I apologize for spacing out on you all like that. It’s terribly rude to do when you’ve all cleared time for me like this.”
“Again with that Tatsumi-kun! While I am here, the sun shall shine! No gloomy clouds are allowed~!” Hiyori added, with Eichi hiding his smile in the rim of his cup.
“Best not to upset Hiyori-kun too much,” Eichi hummed, setting down his cup with a precise elegance. “It would disturb the tea’s gentle flavors.”
Hiyori merely turned his nose up as he sat himself back down. “As expected, I’m afraid only your collapse might sweeten the cookies.”
Once thrown, the barbs dulled to pinpricks. The two continued to banter as Ritsu absently reached for a delicate cookie from the box. Once again, Tatsumi watched on in a content warmth. It was a familiar scene, one that played out at seemingly every FLAVOR meeting.
The fancy teas and cookies, the attempt to spoil him were indulgent pleasures. This was his real gift from them. A simple everyday life that could continue indefinitely.