Miyuki’s (belated) birthday celebration!

Miyuki woke up and got out of bed, rubbing her eyes. She moaned in distress as she realised what day it was. ‘August the 5th, huh? Guess it’s my birthday…' She trundled down the stairs from her bedroom, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. As always, there was noone there in her house with her, noone to greet her with a 'Happy Birthday!’ or to hug her and wish her all the best. But she was used to it - she had been alone for the past seven years. What did she expect from her 18th birthday, even if it meant that she was a woman now? It wasn’t like her mother was going to miraculously recover. It wasn’t like her father would come back from the dead. She was alone, even on her birthday.

She opened the front door, picking up the presents and cards that she got from the neighbours every year on this day - they would leave them at her door, instead of coming in and celebrating with her. It had been the same for the past seven years. She had always been alone on her birthdays.

But this year, it was different. Miyuki could feel it, and she hoped and prayed that someone, anyone, of her new friends would remember. After all, she was in 0048 now, and it was a family…And family didn’t forget, right?

She walked the short distance from her house to the dorms; she was, as far as she knew, the only one would occasionally leave the dorms at night to sleep in her own bed, as she only lived 10 minutes away. She took a deep breath, and opened the door of the dorm…And found the entrance corridor completely empty. She frowned, feeling that something was off.

She wandered up to her dorm room, hoping to find some of her roommates there, but…still empty. The room next door, also empty. Blinking, she sleepily dragged her feet along to the dining room, hoping to at least get some breakfast there before starting the day. She opened the door to the dining room, and…got a face full of confetti and a loud chorus of 'Happy Birthdays!’ from what appeared the be the entire 0048 group. Miyuki blinked several times rapidly, then broke down in tears of happiness, feeling that she had finally found her family again.

“T-t-thank you, everyone…”