December 11th, 4064 - 3AM
"Royyyy!" Rika says, hugging her newest addition to the group. She's half drunk, her vision foggy and her brain a mess from all the alcohol. "My loveee~" She says, lifting up the now 14 year old. Spinning him around in the air as if he's a toddler. "It's been-" Rika squeaks, her voice woozy and slurping her words. "It's your birthday~"
"Yeah." Roy says, pretty dismissive, jumping down from Rika's grasp and sitting on the busted couch. "My birthdays have never been anything special, why celebrate?" Rika is shocked by this, falling to the floor and holding her chest in exaggerated pain. "ROYYY~ YOUR KILLING ME HERE!! HELP!!" "You don't need my help." Roy says, very dismissive, as he grabs the remote to put on something to watch on TV.
"I don't feel the need to celebrate living anymore." He says, sitting up as the TV doesn't turn on. Rika sits up, getting serious while still being drunk. "You're young, you shouldn't be saying things like that." Roy gets up, stretching and begins to walk to his room since the TV won't turn on. "There's no point, Rika. You can just leave me be." Roy walks past her, heading to his room and closing the door. Rika lays on the floor for a few minutes, her mind trying to think of something that could make Roy happy. She stands up, cracking her back, then gets walking to his room.
"Hey.. Roy?" She says, swiftly knocking on the door. "If its about the birthday thing... you can leave." He says through the door, the sound of video games on the TV loud as he turns up the volume. "Can you listen to me at least?" Roy sighs, hearing her but pretending he didn't. "Look." Rika begins, "I get you don't wanna celebrate your birthday, and after what you went through last year I understand. But...." Her mind flashes with the memories of the things Roy must've experienced, and she gets a little teary eyed. "I just want you to still feel like a kid. Without all this assassin stuff."
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The entire house goes silent, as Rika rests outside of his door for a couple seconds. Roy opens the door, as Rika falls back onto the floor. "Ok. Fine. We can do one thing." He sighs, looking away blushing of embarrassment. Rika smiles, hopping up and spinning Roy around. "THANK YOU! Aunt Rika wouldn't be able to live with herself if you stay in your room sulking all day."
Rika takes Roy out of the house, to a couple stores, buying him some brand new games, then taking him out to eat dinner. The 2 begin to walk back from the restaurant in Kelbath, entering the forest. Roy hold's Rika's hand, as the 2 of them walk through a dark forest in the night. "Why...." Roy thinks to himself, clutching onto Rika's hand, with his bag of games in the other hand. "Are you so focused on my birthday? I don't get it." Rika smiles at this question, "Well.... I'm not your real aunt. But I promised your father I'd take care of you like I was your mother if anything ever happened. I made the vow the day you were born." The 2 of them look towards the sky, the stars shining bright as they walk past a river, illuminating them.
"I'll die for that promise."