Though the carrot chunk fell back down with a "plop" the very next second.
Robin watched Little White's self-entertaining "help," the smile on her face becoming more and more obvious.
She even slowed down her chopping, as if not wanting to disturb Little White's engrossed "game."
Seraphilia processed the beef, glancing at the scene from the corner of her eye.
Robin's profile looked exceptionally soft in the setting sun, her eyes holding a relaxed smile. Little White was beside her like a curious and lively pet, trying to participate in "household chores" in various childish ways. Sunlight pierced through the forest leaves, outlining this ordinary yet incredibly warm scene.
Her heart was filled with a burning warmth, a profound sense of happiness, like finally holding a broken treasure in her palm and gradually warming it with her own body temperature. This was perhaps the scene she had desperately trained for, longed to become stronger for, and ultimately wanted to protect—not a grand, magnificent spectacle, but a peaceful afternoon like this, with a companion, a cloud playing, smoke rising from the cooking fire, and tranquil years.
Dinner was still Seraphilia's cooking—fragrant beef stew, served with soft bread she had baked using a simple method, and a refreshing vegetable salad.
Little White, as usual, enjoyed the privilege of "sniffing" the aroma of the food, happily rolling around in the delicious scent, its screen displaying "so delicious I'm rolling around" emoticons.
Night fell, and the bonfire was lit. After dinner, Seraphilia didn't immediately create cloud animals. Instead, she sat shoulder to shoulder with Robin, watching the dancing flames.
"Two more days," Seraphilia suddenly said softly.
Robin was using the new comb Seraphilia had given her, slowly combing her long hair. At her words, her movements paused, and her purple eyes reflected dancing specks of light in the firelight. She turned to her: "Hmm?"
"Your birthday." Seraphilia turned her head, her ice-blue eyes exceptionally bright and gentle in the firelight. "February sixth. Two more days."
Robin's fingers, holding the comb, unconsciously tightened slightly.
Birthday... what a distant and luxurious word.
In the years of fleeing after Ohara's destruction, every day was just a struggle for survival. This day only meant getting one year older, and an increased risk of being hunted.
She had long grown accustomed to forgetting it, even deliberately ignoring it.
But this time, Seraphilia not only remembered but had even specifically postponed her vacation and traveled a thousand miles to be here.
A warm current mixed with an indescribable bitterness surged through her heart.
She lowered her head, her long hair obscuring her expression, only letting out a soft "hmm," her voice so light it was almost carried away by the wind.
"Is there anything special you want?" Seraphilia asked, her tone very serious. "Besides the books and hair ornament I've already given you, is there anything else you want? Food? Something to play with? Or... is there somewhere you'd like to see?" She knew she couldn't take Robin to crowded places, but perhaps some remote yet safe natural scenery in the West Blue could be reached with Little White's help.
Robin shook her head, her voice still very soft: "...No need for anything special. Your presence, already... is the best gift."
This was the truth.
More than any material thing, Seraphilia's presence and these past few days of companionship were her most precious gifts.
Seraphilia, however, smiled, reaching across the warmth of the bonfire to ruffle her hair: "That won't do. A birthday always has to be a little special. Let me think..." She thoughtfully rubbed her chin, like a child planning an earth-shattering scheme, "A cake is a must. Although conditions are limited here, I can try to make cream with a cloud-like texture... Oh, right, those wild berries we saw today, we can pick some tomorrow to use as decoration. And also..."
She began to quietly calculate, her ice-blue eyes sparkling with excitement and planning.
Robin listened quietly, not interrupting, the softest part of her heart growing even warmer due to Seraphilia's earnest, almost childlike approach.
She no longer felt that her birthday was a day to deliberately ignore; instead, she began to subtly look forward to it.
She looked forward to what Seraphilia would prepare, what the clumsy "cake" would taste like, and how that day would be different from today and yesterday.
Little White also seemed to sense this pleasant atmosphere surrounding a "special day." It floated between the two, and the emoticon on its screen changed to a festive: (★ω★)/ Birthday! Celebrate!
It even simulated scattering flowers—several extremely fine, colorful wisps of cloud energy floated out of its body, twirling and falling like real petals, dissipating without a trace before touching the ground.
Robin watched Little White's enthusiastic "congratulations" and finally couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Her clear laughter echoed in the quiet forest.
Seraphilia watched her laugh and started laughing herself.
The bonfire crackled, illuminating two smiling young faces and a happy, flickering cloud.
As night deepened, weariness set in.
Like the previous two nights, Robin naturally leaned against Seraphilia. When Seraphilia reached out, her hand habitually lifted, not searching for a corner of clothing, but gently clasping Seraphilia's fingers. And Seraphilia skillfully pulled her into an embrace, their fingers intertwined.
Before drifting into sleep, Robin vaguely thought: A birthday... it doesn't seem so unappealing now.
Because someone cherished it so much, and anticipated it so much.
With this warm anticipation, she fell into a peaceful sleep in the familiar embrace and scent.
Seraphilia, after she fell asleep, remained awake and thought for a while longer.
The cake recipe, the location of the wild berries, what else special could be done... The small birthday plan in her mind gradually took shape.
She knew she couldn't give much, but she would do everything in her power to make Robin's twelfth birthday a warm and bright light in her memory that would never extinguish.
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