Chapter Text
Reigen Arataka, while certainly a cheap man, does not skimp out on buying people presents.
It’s not like he’s had many people to buy them for in the past decade, anyways. His parents and his sister, of course, other relatives when he knows he’s expecting to see them, now his newborn niece and brother-in-law, even occasionally a loyal client, just to make sure they keep coming back for his services. If it means he’ll make a profit, he’s glad to go out of his way every once in a while and stray from the strict budget he’s maintained since moving out of his parent’s home. His gifts never take much thought, anyhow; nothing is ever personal. Body lotion and cheap jewelry for women, cologne and cheap watches for men. Whatever the most popular new toy is for kids, when that seldom happens.
But Serizawa’s birthday is in four days, and Reigen finds himself utterly lost as he stares at the department store he finds himself at. It's a Saturday, so the mall is crowded even at eleven in the morning, and he wracks his brain to think of something that Serizawa would like. Well. Serizawa would probably like anything he was given; he's always overly grateful for any sort of kind gesture directed towards him, and who knows the last time he got a birthday present from anybody besides his mother. Reigen could go for his usual present for men, but he wonders if giving Serizawa cologne would imply that he smells funny, or if a watch would be a jab at his punctuality. No. Neither of those will do. But would would Serizawa like?
It is in this moment that Reigen realizes he knows less about Serizawa than he probably should. From a coworker standpoint, obviously he knows plenty. They've been working together every weekday for months, now. And he knows a lot of personal things about Serizawa's life, considering that he himself has been somewhat of a major turning point for it recently. He knows that from a young age, Serizawa's ESP was strong and out of control, so much so that he spent half of his life locked up in his room, until he was persuaded by a group of psychic terrorists to leave his house and work for them. Reigen knows that Serizawa is a good person who left Claw after meeting the right people, who accepted Reigen's job offer with much more gratitude than probably warranted, considering how badly Reigen needed someone with actual powers to work for him full time. He knows that Serizawa has to shave every day or his stubble will grow back. He knows that he likes his tea with a little honey and that all of his erasers are red. But he doesn't know what Serizawa likes. What he does in his free time, what his favorite shows are, if he ever exercises (he must, the way he's built), if he's ever traveled anywhere (presumably not since he was younger), where he likes to eat. If he showers in the morning or at night, or both. At least he must in the morning; he always smells faintly like the shampoo Reigen himself uses when he first walks into the office. What music he listens to, or podcasts, or something. Okay, maybe the showering thing is irrelevant to a potential gift idea, but Reigen nonetheless is becoming painfully aware of how little he really knows about his coworker.
Reigen decides that he'll ask Tome at work, after Serizawa heads off to his classes. He's heard them talking about various games and shows before. Maybe some type of merchandise would be a good gift. He had also considered some more practical things, like for the apartment he knows Serizawa has recently moved into, but he was worried he would get something Serizawa already owns, or that the whole notion would come across as condescending. In fact, it isn't that recent anymore-Serizawa has been working at Spirits & Such for well over six months at this point. So to Tome he'll turn.
That's...embarrassing, to say the least. But she's probably his best bet, and Reigen could always use the help. Regardless of how little he'd like to admit it.
The following Monday, moments after Serizawa is out the door, Reigen calls Tome over to his desk.
"I'm still working on the filing," she says, glancing up.
"It's not about that," Reigen says. Tome stops, setting the papers down on the her desk.
"Is it about Wednesday?" she asks.
"Yes. Well, kind of," Reigen says.
"Don't tell me it's getting cancelled," Tome says. "I haven't seen Mob in weeks."
"No, no, it's still on," Reigen says, waving his hands around dismissively. "I just need your help with something.
Tome cocks her head curiously. "What is it?"
Reigen opens his mouth before he speaks, the words dying on his tongue. "It's just...well, do you know if there are any things you think would make a good present for Serizawa?" he asks. Tome stares at him blankly for a moment. "Like, any shows or games that he likes that I could get him something from." At this, Tome's face lights up.
“Oh, yeah. He’s been obsessed with Calamity Melee lately. We talk about it all the time.”
Thank god. It sounds familiar, so it must be somewhat popular, as Reigen himself isn't very into that kind of thing. “Mm,” Reigen says, tapping the name out into his phone. "That some sort of anime?"
“It's a video game. His favorite character is Takeshi. It’s even his lock screen on his phone. I bet a figure of it would be perfect,” Tome says. "Here, I'll show you," she says, getting up from her desk and pulling out her phone.
“Great idea,” Reigen says, typing in figure after his name. But then a weird twinge flutters in his stomach-he pushes it down instantly, mortified by the flash of jealousy he's just experienced. Jealous? Why would he be jealous? Because his 14 (15, maybe?) year old employee knows what his other employee's favorite anime character is, and he doesn't? Jesus. It's not exactly a topic of conversation that comes up often between Reigen and Serizawa on the job, and he hasn't done a very good job at finding out what Serizawa is into. He has no one to blame but himself.
And that would be just like him. To not get to know the people he spends nearly every day with, because he isn't used to that type of closeness with most people. Because it means having to air out parts of himself he hasn't shown anybody in ages.
"...have a bunch of nerdy shit like that. Stuff. Sorry," Tome is saying from right beside him.
"What?" Reigen asks, unaware of the mental tangent he's gone on.
"Were you even listening? I said the store a few blocks away should have what you're looking for."
"Oh. What's it called again?"
Tome narrows her eyes at him. "Game Central."
"Thanks," Reigen says, choosing to ignore her rather sassy tone. "You can get back to filing now."
"If you insist," she says, turning around sharply, her long uniform skirt brushing past as she walks back to her desk. Tome's attitude is certainly a bit much, especially when talking to her superiors, but Reigen finds it oddly endearing sometimes. It means that Tome trusts him enough to act herself around him. He just hope she isn't like that with her teachers.
Tuesday morning goes by smoothly; the only job Reigen gets is a physical exorcism (or, massage) that he's able to handle on his own, leaving Serizawa to do his own thing as Reigen answers emails and reorganizes some of his files. Tome won't be coming in later, as she has some sort of business to attend to, which is fine; Reigen isn't particularly in desperate need of extra help right now. It's almost been a little too quiet for his liking, in both the monetary and situational sense. He doesn't like when there's not enough spiritual activity. It makes him feel like something big is brewing. And it isn't the best for his paychecks, either.
Around lunchtime, Reigen asks Serizawa if he could make them some tea. It's not like he's too busy to do it himself, but selfishly, he loves when Serizawa makes him tea, even if it's the cheap kind he buys at the grocery store. It was one of the first things he had Serizawa do on the job-a simple task that would benefit both him and their clients and didn't require too much skill or personal interaction. The first time Serizawa had served tea to some clients, he was trembling so hard the cups began to slide off the tray, but he used his powers to catch the liquid in mid-air, which surprised both him and Reigen. Evidently, Serizawa still wasn't used to using his powers for little things, and certainly not outside of a combat situation, but it was little incidents like this that made him feel more comfortable using his powers both near other people and in everyday circumstances. Still, he doesn't use them terribly often for things other than spiritual matters, claiming that he doesn't want to grow dependent on them, similar to Mob. Reigen understands, but he thinks that if he was an esper, he would most certainly abuse his powers.
By the time Reigen is done with his internal monologue, Serizawa has returned from the office kitchen with two steaming mugs of green tea. He really needs to stop doing that; one day he's going to zone out during something really important.
"Thank you," Reigen says, taking the mug from Serizawa's hand before he can set it on his desk.
"Of course, Reigen-san," Serizawa says, heading back to his desk with his own mug.
"You can drop the -san, you know," Reigen says. Serizawa's gaze snaps back to him. "I don't use it with you."
"Yeah, but...you're my boss," Serizawa says.
"Yeah, well. We might as well be in the same position, all things considered," Reigen says, and Serizawa knows what he's talking about.
"Oh. Okay," Serizawa says, and for a moment Reigen hopes he'll say his name as proof he understands, without the honorifics, but instead he goes back to studying, so Reigen goes back to his computer. He briefly considers mentioning the birthday thing now, but the concentrated manner in which Serizawa is glaring at his paper stops him.
An hour later, though, Reigen is getting restless and sick of answering emails, so he casually excuses himself to grab lunch from the nearby convenience store. He asks Serizawa if he wants anything, to which he replies that he does and offers to make the run for them, but Reigen insists he keeps at his schoolwork. He returns some twenty minutes later with two tuna rice balls, one of which he sets on Serizawa's desk. Serizawa is so deep into his notes that he doesn't notice.
"So...I heard tomorrow's your birthday," Reigen says. Serizawa looks up from his notes with a surprised face, then down to the food, then back to Reigen.
"How did you know?" he asks. "And thank you very much."
"Mob told me. Also, it's on all of your documentation for the office, so..."
"Ah," Serizawa says. He looks somewhat more flustered than usual.
"Have any plans?" Reigen inquires.
"No, not really. I have class and it's on a Wednesday, so I can't stay up too late.
"How about we all get dinner after? My treat," Reigen suggests.
"Really?" Serizawa says.
"Sure! I mean, you guys all threw together something for my birthday a little while back, so this is nothing. Company policy, actually. Birthdays can't go uncelebrated."
"Ah-if you insist, that would be really nice," Serizawa says, smiling. "There's a new Korean place I’ve been wanting to try. Oh, but my class doesn’t get out until 8:00.”
“That’s alright,” Reigen smiles. “I’ll ask the kids if they’re free.”
“Okay.”
Truthfully, Tome and Mob and the other have known about Reigen’s plans for over a week now, but Reigen scrolls through his phone mindlessly as he pretends to text them.
"What's the name of that restaurant?" Reigen asks.
"Seoul Food," Serizawa says.
"Got it. We'll all be there tomorrow at 8:30."
"Okay," Serizawa says. "Thank you very much. I'm very excited."
"Of course," Reigen says.
"I haven't had a birthday celebration in...I don't really know how long," Serizawa admits.
"We'll make sure it's a good one," Reigen says, winking. Serizawa flushes.
The next day at work isn't particularly notable, either; Reigen wishes Serizawa a happy birthday when he gets to the office and then things proceed as normal. Tome comes in for a few hours, about thirty minutes before Serizawa has to leave to make up a test. Reigen almost makes a comment about having to take it on his birthday, but realizes the reason was likely because they were working late and Serizawa must have had to miss it, so he keeps his mouth shut to preserve his own dignity.
Reigen and Serizawa arrive at the restaurant at the same time, 8:25. He had given Tome the task of picking up the cake (he paid in advance; he wasn't going to make a child buy it for him, as cheap as he is), more so out of laziness than anything, but also because the thought of showing up in front of Serizawa with a cake seemed somewhat...embarrassing. The present is small and is tucked in between his upper arm and his body nicely as he walks up to Serizawa, greeting him for the second time today.
"It's a bit early, isn't it," Serizawa says, sounding vaguely distressed as usual.
"Nah, we're right on time," Reigen says dismissively. "Can't be late to your own birthday dinner, anyways!"
"I guess not," Serizawa says.
"Hello, Shissou," comes a familiar, gentle voice, and both Reigen and Serizawa turn around quickly.
Mob and Ritsu are standing side by side, Mob's small smile making Reigen feel just as warm inside as it did the last time they were together. Even Ritsu looks somewhat happy to be here, his usual displeased expression nowhere to be found.
"Hey, Mob," Reigen says, and if he wasn't holding a box of an anime figure, he might have reached out to ruffle Mob's perfectly stick straight hair.
"Happy birthday, Serizawa," Mob says, looking up to Serizawa, who shakes his hands in dismissal even as he smiles big.
"Thank you," Serizawa says.
Tome and Teruki arrive not long after, and then they're all seated at a booth near the front of the restaurant. Reigen's stomach is aching; he's barely eaten all day, and the smell of food is becoming stronger with every passing second. A waitress brings by menus and Reigen briefly glosses over his. At this point he would eat whatever was set in front of him. The cake, which Tome has stealthily placed next to Reigen, is calling his name right now. The waitress spots the box beside him as she begins to take drink orders.
"Are we celebrating anything tonight?" she asks.
"Yes, actually," Reigen announces, "it's this young man's birthday." Serizawa's eyes widen and he shakes his head, even though it's the truth, and the waitress smiles at him.
"Oh, lovely! You'll have to take a look at our cocktails, then!" she says.
"Oh, uh-" Serizawa starts. "I don't really drink."
"Our customers receive half-off on drinks on their birthday," the waitress smiles. "Are you sure there's nothing you'd like to try?"
Serizawa looks to Reigen, who nods encouragingly. "Come one, Serizawa! If you don't drink it, I will," he jokes.
"What would you get?" Serizawa asks.
"I usually go with a lemon sour if I'm at a bar, but they have a couple of beers that look good," Reigen says, drawing his finger over the drinks menu. "I would try this one."
"Okay," Serizawa says, looking up towards the waitress. "The Orion Premium Draft, please."
"Of course."
Reigen almost orders a drink for himself, but decides against it, being a weekday and all. He knows that he's a somewhat of a lightweight, and the last thing he needs to have at work is a hangover.
The waitress returns with their drinks and takes their food orders, and Serizawa politely waits until she leaves to take a sip of his beer. Reigen observes him closely, drinking his own soda as he does so.
"How is it?" he asks.
"It's...bitter."
"Wel, yeah. It's beer."
"I've never had alcohol before," Serizawa says.
"Really?" Reigen says, probably sounding a bit too surprised considering that Serizawa has spent most of his adult days holed up in his room. "I mean, it's overrated, you know?"
"But you told me to get one."
"It was free, of course you had to get one," Reigen says. "And it's your birthday."
Serizawa takes another sip. "Fair enough."
They all chat for the next twenty minutes or so, and it feels so familiar to have them all back together like this. It must have been months since they were all in the same place at the time. Their food arrives and Reigen wolfs it down in record time. Serizawa finishes his meal in its entirety, although somewhat slower, and Reigen wonders what his appetite must be like usually.
"How do you feel?" Reigen asks.
"Huh?" Serizawa says.
"You know, with the beer."
"Oh. Uh, I don't really feel any different."
Figures. "That makes sense. You're a big guy, after all." Tome scoffs from across the table. Reigen can see a hint of jealousy in her eyes. He ignores whatever expression Serizawa makes at his comment to address Tome.
"Oh, don't give me that look. You'll be able to drink before you know it."
"But I'm only fourteen," Tome says.
"Six years will go by before you know it!" Reigen says, his stomach swirling the way it does when he bullshits. Up until recently, the last decade of his life had felt like an eternity. "And it's not like you have to wait that long."
"Are you encouraging underage drinking?" Tome asks.
"Of course not," Reigen protests. "I'm just saying, I don't think you're below the law."
"That would be correct," Tome says, taking a sip of her soda with a haughty expression. Serizawa chuckles.
"It's not that good," Serizawa tries.
"Well, of course it isn't, you're drinking beer," Tome says. "Whatever fruity drink my mom likes doesn't even taste like alcohol!"
"Do I need to speak to your mother?" Reigen asks, and Tome laughs.
"She let me have a sip once," she says. "My dad's beer tastes like shit."
"Language," Reigen says, conscious of how well her voice carries throughout the small restaurant, and she gives him a sheepish look.
"Sorry. It tastes like piss," she corrects.
Serizawa struggles to contain a laugh through a mouthful of beer (or a gag, possibly) as Ritsu snorts. Reigen rolls his eyes. These kids are too much for him in the best way. Too good, in fact, because they've all been done eating for a little while and he's almost forgotten to bring out the cake.
"Oh," Reigen says. "Are you guys too full for cake?"
Serizawa's eyes widen. Tome and Teruki shake their heads enthusiastically as Reigen picks up the box that's been sitting beside him the entirety of dinner. He doesn't know if Serizawa is pretending not to have seen it yet or not, but he looks surprised still as Reigen opens the box to reveal a small, plainly frosted cake.
"I hope you like chocolate," Reigen says, feeling oddly shy. Almost more flustered than he had been when they all surprised him on his own birthday at the office.
"Oh, I love chocolate," Serizawa says.
"Should we sing?" Tome grins.
"No. Please," Serizawa says.
"Are you sure?" Tome says.
"I'm sure."
"Fine," she sighs.
They do make him blow out candles, though, if for the picture Reigen takes on his phone more than anything, which Serizawa doesn't realize he's taken until after he's done it, and grows terribly red afterwards. Mob laughs at this, having spotted Reigen's phone peeking out from over the table as he pushed candles into the frosting, and it's a delightful sound.
They all eat a slice of cake, except for Teruki, who evidently doesn't like chocolate. The box with Serizawa's present has been pressing into Reigen's thigh uncomfortably for the entirety of their meal, and he decides he should probably relieve himself of both the pain and anticipation that's been building up ever since he realized Serizawa's birthday was rapidly approaching.
“Um…happy birthday, Serizawa,” Reigen says, pushing the box a few centimeters towards him on the table.
"Oh! You got me a present?" he asks, staring at it with big eyes.
"Well, obviously," Reigen says. "Go ahead and open it."
"Okay," Serizawa says, a warm smile lighting up his face. Even Reigen is a bit caught off guard with how delighted he looks; the usual tiredness is absent from his face as he carefully peels the wrapping off. He gasps upon seeing the present.
"Oh, my god, I didn't even know this had been released yet!" Serizawa exclaims, holding the box up for a curious Tome to see. She smiles at the figure, whether in admiration or satisfaction at her own contribution, Reigen doesn't know.
"Man, Takeshi looks sick as hell," she says.
“It’s my favorite series right now! How did you know?” Serizawa asks, looking to Reigen.
"I'm your boss, of course I know these things," Reigen says. Tome rolls her eyes from across the table.
"Thank you very much, Reigen-san," Serizawa says, bowing his head, which nearly bumps into Reigen's shoulder as he goes.
"Now, now, there's no need for all that," Reigen says. He's suddenly aware of their physical closeness; obviously they've been sitting next to each other the whole time, but the way Serizawa beams makes the gap seem much smaller somehow.
Reigen tries and mostly succeeds at hiding his dread upon being handed the bill. Reigen knows that this dinner means his grocery shopping for the next few weeks will be less fruitful than usual, but that's okay. He's been prepared for it. And the way he feels, and imagine everyone else must feel, it's certainly worth it. He leaves the restaurant with a sense of...something, he can't quite identify it, but he imagines it's something in between satisfaction and peace.
He can’t help but wonder how long this good feeling is going to last.