As the clock hand struck midnight, fireworks erupted across Magnolia, dazzling the sky with brilliant colors.
The date was now January 1, X781.
Outside, celebrations raged with laughter and noise well into dawn—but in the dormitory, Noah slept soundly, undisturbed. A salted fish adapts to the environment, after all. If he couldn't sleep through noise, how could he call himself one?
Unfortunately, someone entered his room at that exact moment, opening the door without hesitation, creeping to his bed… and reaching for the quilt covering his sleeping body.
Noah's instincts flared.
*How dare you… steal my blanket!*
Unforgivable! Prepare to face the wrath of the King of Otaku!
His eyes snapped open. In a flash, Noah seized the intruder's wrist and yanked hard, pulling the figure off balance straight onto his bed. Then he flipped, pinning the other beneath him, one hand clamping the wrist, the other curling into a fist ready to strike.
Moonlight spilled through the window.
Noah's eyes widened.
"…Eh?!"
"E-Erza?!"
Red hair tied up high. A short, skimpy black maid top that revealed toned abs. White stockings over long, flawless legs beneath the ridiculously short skirt. A fallen high heel rolling across the floor.
They froze, eyes locking. A pink blush dusted across Erza's face. Noah, suddenly very aware of the compromising position, also flushed.
*A… a beautiful girl sneaks into my room in the dead of night… wearing a maid outfit… reaching out for my quilt. Is she… trying something indecent?!*
"Erza," Noah stammered, "I'm not that kind of guy… of course, if you *force* me, I'll have no choice but to obey…"
*BAM!*
Erza's fist sent him flying. Her face burned crimson as she shouted, half embarrassed, half furious.
"You damn otaku, with your filthy thoughts—don't flatter yourself!"
The truth was simple.
Months ago, Erza had made a promise: if Noah completed a commission that had rotted in the guild for years, she would be his maid for a day. Now, with the Reina request resolved, she had come—late, yes, after the Christmas chaos—but here she was in that very outfit.
Unfortunately, her high heels muffled her normally audible steps, so Noah hadn't noticed her approach. She had only been trying to pull the quilt up to cover him when he caught her. The violent "misunderstanding" was inevitable.
For Noah, Erza breaking into his dorm was nothing new—the lock had long since been shattered from her "wake-up calls." But this seductive maid outfit… what else was he supposed to think?!
And then, a thought slipped out.
"…You're eighteen this year, right, Erza? When's your birthday? I could get you a gift."
It was just an offhand question. Yet Erza's face tightened, her voice growing quiet, tinged with sorrow.
"…I don't have a birthday. Never had one."
Noah's chest ached. Even he, born only as a "weapon," had always been remembered by Faust on his birthday. He may not have known motherly love, but his father's unwavering affection filled that void.
But Erza… to grow up without even a day to call her own… how lonely must that have been? How jealous she must have been of children who could blow candles, receive blessings, and taste sweet cake.
And just like that, she forced a smile, burying that moment of raw sadness. Strapping back on her high heels, she tugged Noah's arm, dragging him outside.
"Enough. You can't keep sleeping. Come, let's light fireworks."
---
Magnolia's firework plaza.
Erza hefted something terrifyingly massive from her Requip space.
"This… THIS is a firework?!" Noah paled. She was carrying a cannon! Did she intend to bombard Magnolia instead of entertain it?
Erza, serious, positioned the barrel toward the night sky. Sliding the fuse down, she frowned. No fire source. She turned to Noah, whose head poked cautiously from cover.
"It's only fireworks! Don't cower. Light it already."
Reluctantly, Noah ignited his glove into fire-type mode and flicked a spark onto the fuse.
"Cover your ears," Erza warned.
BOOM!!
The cannon roared. A spray of lights erupted high into the heavens, blossoming into a fiery fairy whose wings glittered across the night sky.
"See? Macao and Levy built these. Aren't they beautiful?" Erza's eyes sparkled as she gazed up.
Noah admitted, it was stunning. But then out came more.
Bazooka fireworks. Gatling fireworks. Was that… a *landmine* firework?!
"Don't! Don't detonate that—!"
Too late. Erza fired joyfully, her face glowing like a child's. Firework after firework dazzled the sky, lighting Magnolia in crimson and gold.
For over an hour, she played, Noah trailing along, carrying her bags of explosives like a pack mule. And when she ran out, she wasn't done, tugging him toward the all-night Christmas market for more.
Souvenirs. Cakes. Pretty trinkets. Every cute snack or dessert caught her eye, and every one ended up loaded onto Noah's arms.
*Wasn't she supposed to be my maid today? Why am I the pack mule here?!*
Still, her smile was genuine. And Noah carried the bags in silence.
---
Later, when they returned to the dorm, Erza dutifully rolled out a quilt onto the floor. Maid or not, she intended to stay the night.
"Go to sleep, Noah," she said softly.
But Noah didn't reply.
Puzzled, she slipped quietly into his room. He was gone. The lights were out; moonlight alone drifted in.
"…Did he really just go to sleep without even responding?"
And then—
**Click.** The light flicked on.
"Surprise!"
Noah stepped out from behind the door, holding a small cake. A single candle flickered atop it.
"Erza, this isn't a New Year's gift." Noah smiled. "It's a birthday present."
The girl froze.
Her throat tightened as she stared at the cake.
She remembered her childhood—born in X765, but no exact date, no family. Raised in a nameless village, she never celebrated a birthday. As a child she had wept in envy when other children ate cake, received blessings.
Even after joining Fairy Tail and working hard for her first pay, when she finally bought her own cake, she realized—without blessings, it felt hollow. And so over time, she had convinced herself: birthdays didn't matter.
But now.
Noah's words cut straight into her heart.
"…Don't… tease me. I-I don't—"
"Then," Noah interrupted gently, "today will be your birthday. Who says you need an official date? From now on, the first day of every year is Erza's birthday. Look around—the whole city, the whole world even, is celebrating with you tonight.
Happy birthday, Erza."
For the first time in her life, she heard those words.
Her eyes stung. Heat welled in her chest. Against her will, tears slipped down her cheek.
Noah held the cake forward. "Go on. Make a wish. Blow the candle, or your wish won't come true."
She knew it was childish. But, trembling, she pressed her palms together, closed her eyes, and whispered in her heart:
*I wish Fairy Tail will always be happy.*
*I wish Master Makarov will live long and healthy.*
*I wish Noah will be happy too.*
*I wish…*
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