Knock, knock, knock.
"Jax, get up," Mikasa called from outside my door. "Stop pretending to sleep, I know you are in there."
She knocked a few more times before realizing the door was not fully closed. It creaked open at her touch.
"Huh? Jax is not here."
She tilted her head, staring at the neatly folded blanket, the empty bed, and the cloth bundle resting on the nightstand.
"Good morning, Mikasa."
My voice came from behind her.
She turned quickly, frowning. "Jax, you have been acting mysterious again, just like the past two days."
I smiled and leaned down, gently pinching her cheek. "Do you want to know what I have been working on?"
"Mhm." Her eyes lit up instantly. Every time I spoke like that, it meant I had prepared something for her. "Jax, tell me quickly."
Instead of answering, I stepped into the room and picked up the cloth bundle from the nightstand. Then I returned to her side and lightly ruffled her hair.
"Happy birthday, Mikasa."
I placed the bundle in her hands. "This is for you. Open it and tell me if you like it."
She accepted it carefully, looked at it for a moment, then handed it back to me. "Hold it for me. I want to open it myself."
I chuckled and held the bundle steady while she skillfully untied the vanilla fiber and unfolded the white canvas.
Her eyes widened.
"Wow, it is a scarf!"
Seeing the surprise on her face made every hour I spent crafting it worthwhile.
Without warning, Mikasa wrapped her arms around my neck, rose onto her toes, and pressed a quick kiss to my right cheek.
"Thank you, Jax," she said softly as she lowered her head. "I really like it."
I cleared my throat, picked up the scarf, and gently wrapped it around her neck, adjusting it so it rested comfortably against her shoulders.
"By the way, where did you learn that?" I asked, trying to sound calm.
"I learned it from Mom. I saw her kiss Dad like that once." She blinked at me innocently. "Is it not allowed?"
After spending a month with her, I knew that when she blinked repeatedly like that, she was not being entirely honest.
"I am not sure that is the whole story," I replied with a faint smile.
"No, no way." Her face grew even redder.
Before I could press further, she grabbed my shoulders, spun me toward the staircase, and began pushing me forward.
"Dinner is almost ready. Hurry up and go downstairs."
Just like that, the conversation ended. I allowed myself to be guided from the second floor to the living room.
The wild rabbit I had hunted earlier was now simmering in the kitchen. Hank and Yato were preparing rabbit stew. Several steaming dishes were already arranged on the table, green vegetables, fresh bread, and even a bottle of milk, something reserved for special occasions.
"Oh, Mikasa, happy birthday."
Hank stepped out of the kitchen wearing an apron and smiled warmly when he saw us.
"Dad."
Mikasa ran to him with her arms open and hugged him tightly. Then she looked up at him expectantly.
"Present."
"Yes, yes, your present." Hank laughed and ruffled her hair before noticing the scarf. "Did Jax give you that?"
"Mhm." She nodded proudly. "Present."
Hank shook his head with a helpless smile and reached into his coat pocket. From it, he pulled out a finely crafted small box.
"A music box," he said. "I had someone bring it from the Royal Capital. Twist this knob a few times and let it go. It will play music. You cannot find something like this in the local market."
"Thank you, Dad!"
Mikasa accepted the music box with shining eyes and hurried back to my side to show it off, holding it carefully as if it were treasure.