Surprise Celebration - Almost Complete Attendance - Empty Questions - Realization and Special Celebration - Semi-Empty Appreciation

I'll name him Gabriel!

His second name should be Philip! You know, short for Philippines

You just like the brand of cigarettes called Phillip, that's why you want to name him that!

...

Gabriel! Look at the lights! Look who went to see you!

This is a celebration for you!

...

What should we call you? Gabriel or Philip?

We should call him Philip! There are too many Gabriels in our class. There's two Gabriels and one Gabrielle

...

It's your big day today! We're going to eat outside!

We're also going to invite our close relatives to eat

...

It's your big day today! We're going to celebrate in our house and celebrate with our neighbors!

We're going to have party games!

...

It's your big day again today! What do you want to do?

We can't invite your classmates, it's too troublesome

...

We have a surprise for you! We just ordered a 16-inch pizza! You can eat whatever you want

...

We're going to eat in a buffet! This is one of the most popular buffer and you can almost eat anything here

Be sure to grab all the seafood that you can! There are also scrumptious dessert

...

Class, it's Philip's big day today! Be sure to make him happy!

Congratulations!

Are there foods?! Do you have something happening in your house?

...

Philip! Let's go! Come with us to the mall!

Let's celebrate your big day over there! My treat

Let's play billiards and bowling ball

...

Philip! It's your big day today?! Why didn't you tell us?

What do you mean?! It's an important day for you

Right...

Well, we want to celebrate it with you! So it's my treat!

...

Philip! What are you doing?! Let's celebrate your big day! Let's drink alcohol and eat!

You don't have money? Don't worry! I got you. I'll even pay for your commute!

...

You've arrived! Come! Drink!

...

Aren't you going to celebrate your special day?

Alright, fine. If you want to do something, call us. We'll be there for you

...

Philip! It's your birthday! Do you want to go somewhere?

No? But you have to celebrate it at least!

Alright, here's money. Buy whatever you want to buy

...

Philip? Happy birthday! Do you have any plans to celebrate?

Do you want to drink?

If only we get together with our friends again...

Are you sure? Then, I wish you a happy birthday

See you next time!

...

...

...

Birthday?

...

"Happy birthday to me..."

Philip smiled with full of emptiness. His vision was dark and gloomy. He remembers the last time he had his birthday or at least celebrated his own birthday. He couldn't even remember when was the last time

But this time, there was a bright light at the end of the darkness and gloominess. It was a warm light that should soothe Philip's emotions, but all he could feel is pain

He doesn't want to go to the light, but an unstoppable force is forcing him towards the light

In the end, he let himself be engulfed in the warm yet painful light

~~~

Philip slowly lifted his head and he looked in fromt of him with a faint glow of golden light in his eyes

The light from the chandelier lit up and the ceiling lights also lit up, illuminating the entire dining hall

As the dining hall lit up, everyone's appearances became clear. Everyone in the mansion were present, even several maids and butlers that are lined up at the other door, waiting to serve the food. Though, there are people who are missing and they Terra, Ariii, and Kyouko

"BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"

The liveliest one greeted Philip

"BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHILIP!"

The ones who are closest to Philip, or the ones who has feelings for Philip, greeted him, like Tenshi, Natsume, Natsuki, Celine, Sheena, and Clara

"A mortal's day of birth, you should celebrate it while it lasts! Celebrating it now is better than never"

Sai declared as Chibi Sai waved her hands while she is being carried around Sai's arms

"I greet the Sword Concept's belated birthday"

Ken spoke

"Birthdays are curses and blessings. Depending on how you celebrate will dictate it"

Katara spoke

Meanwhile, Clara, Corleona, and Braudain had warm, but empty smiles. Braudain has a look of relief while the two royal princesses seems melancholic

Rue has a warm smile as her arms are crossed while Satou smiled with confidence. He looks like he is proud of Philip or some sort

Bea just woke up several minutes ago. She would feel indifferent, but this time is an exception as she tried to wake herself up more

Even if Bari just met Philip, she's still grateful to Philip that he liberated her from her duties as the Spirit King of Flowers and reunited her and Marielle with Mei'er. She doesn't feel anything but gratitude to him, so she's happy that Philip get to celebrate his birthday

Marielle also has a melancholic smile because she never got to celebrate her birthday outside of the thorned tower. Though, she is happy that her mother always celebrate it with her. She's already sitting on her seat as Bari placed her there

Mei'er, on the other hand, couldn't show a lot of emotions for now because of the influence of the Crystal Flower, but it's apparent that she's trying to smile warmly as she holds Bari's right hand

Natsume and Natsuki has bright smile as they're clapping they're hands and cheering while waving party items and Natsu is just standing there with crossed arms and giving a smirk

Sheena was just smiling with tears at the corner of her eyes as her hands clapsed together on her chest. She adores the surprise that Tenshi made for Philip

Kyouko is nowhere to be seen, even after six months. Jude tried to call her in her room, but there was no reply

Camille and Vanessa were already sitting on their respective seats. They also greeted Philip as Camille softly clapped her hands and placed her the tip of her fingers on her lip as she smiled sweetly while Vanessa only had her arms crossed while looking at Philip with longing and thankful eyes

Alucard just stood there and looked at Philip with the degraded version of the [Blood Eyes of Truth]. He was smiling warmly at him

Also, Merry is sitting on the ground near everyone while her tongue is sticking out and she's wagging her tail

Jude and Mathilda only stood together with a professional look in their faces. Although they are thankful for what Philip has done, serving everybody comes first because the moment everybody sits down, it was time for them to lead the maids and butlers to bring out the food

Though, they only have to give a sign to the maids and butlers, as they have practiced earlier, because Tenshi urged both of them to sit down on the table and eat with them once in a while, especially since Philip would be happy to see them eating with them, rather than just standing in one side and waiting to serve others

Terra is nowhere to be seen because when Jude tried to call for him, the door and hallway near Terra's room was turned into jade crystals. So, they have no access to Terra's room and they couldn't call for him. Besides, everyone is already used to Terra being absent at the most important events

They also don't know that Terra is performing a task that Philip asked him to do. He needed full concentration and focus to do so and turning his room into jade is the result of that

Ariii is also sleeping, as far as Philip and Tenshi knows, so they doubt that she will be attending

Lastly, Tenshi had the sweetest smile while looking at Philip. She flicked her index finger and a small beam of light shot towards the wick of the candle that was on a cake that was place in front of Philip earlier and it lit up

The cake is a medium size blueberry cheesecake with a single small candle in the middle

"Belated happy birthday Philip! I hope this is going to be your best birthday yet... Even though it already passed a month"

Tenshi closely greeted Philip again

"Make a wish Philip!"

Natsume shouted

"..."

Everyone went quiet and they took the moment in silence as Philip looked at the cake and candle with empty eyes and empty smile

"..."

Everyone thought that Philip is taking his time to wish in his mind, but Tenshi thought otherwise. She just smiled as she plans to make this day his best birthday

"..."

Philip looked at the fire at the tip of the candle. He began to go into a trance as the fire hypnotized him

His surroundings slowly became more quiet until nothing could be heard, even though

no one is making a sound. Instead, a deep ringing sound flooded his ears, but he's not bothered by it

Eventually, his vision was engulfed by the fire and his eyes dilated. His vision was blinded until it faded to black

~~~

『 Extreme Self-Awareness skill has been permanently reactivated 』

『 Soul Link with Tenshi Hikaru has been re-established 』

『 Eye Vision skills has been returned 』

「 Philip... 」

Emily spoke with concern

*CRACKLE*

*FIZZ*

*FWOOM*

A loud noise came from a distance as the Mobiüs Octingenity constantly generate its power, but couldn't since it is inside the ⟨⟨ World of Absolute Nothingness ⟩⟩

"..."

Philip was just quiet as he stared at the absolute nothingness in front of him. His eyes are empty and devoid of light, but his body is hot, almost burning

"How did they know?"

「 I am not sure... As far as I know, Tenshi made the preparations behind your back as you went to each ans everyone's room since morning 」

"..."

「 Do you want to bring Tenshi here in the World of Absolute Nothingness and talk to her 」

"..."

Philip pondered for a second as he slightly lifted his head

"Yes... Sure..."

「 ... 」

『 Transferring Tenshi Hikaru through Soul Link... 』

After a moment, white light emerged from the black nothingness and grew into a swirl behind Philip. It was then that Tenshi emerged from the light. She saw Philip with his bacl facing her

She didn't physically transfer into the ⟨⟨ World of Absolute Nothingness ⟩⟩, but only her mind and soul. Even if the time in the real world stops in relative to Philip when he goes to the ⟨⟨ World of Absolute Nothingness ⟩⟩, it was possible for Tenshi to transfer and resume her time

"Hm? Philip? Where are we??"

"A world were absolute nothingness exist..."

"..."

Tenshi's eyebrows furrowed. She looked around and saw Mobiüs Octingenity that she saw a glimpse earlier. She saw the Mobiüs Trinity, which slightly hurt her head along with the Mobiüs Octingenity. She looked down and saw a majestic white garden and a silver shard that's resting on the white grass

She's starting to question if this world is actually a world of absolute nothingness

Tenshi never knew the existence of the ⟨⟨ World of Absolute Nothingness ⟩⟩ until now. It was because, not only Philip never talked about it, she never caught it within his thoughts or memories

Probably because it actually is a world of absolute nothingness that nothing can go inside or outside without special means, not even nothingness itself

Tenshi inferred all of that all on her own

"..."

Of course, since Soul Link has been re-established, Temshi could feel what Philip's feeling right now. Though, she couldn't read his complex emotions

"Are you angry?"

Tenshi asked. She already knows why Philip went here after greeting him a happy birthday

"No... I'm just kinda sad..."

"Why is that?"

"..."

Philip became silent

"..."

Tenshi waited for his answer patiently

"How'd you know that it was my belated birthday?"

Instead, Philip returned a question

"Remember after the battle against Amare? After Amatsuka talked to you and I returned while hugging you from behind?"

"..."

"Soul Link was established that entire time... So, I heard your entire conversation with Emily"

"You did?!"

Phili slightly turned to his right

"Yes... The Omega System revamp, Emily's birth, the memories of the previous Gods of Darkness, the existence of True Gods, Sprout of Regenerative Ivory, and even your Resurrection ability... I also experienced the time when you were stuck in the black world for who knows how long. I take it that this is that black world?"

"You also did?!!!"

"Yeah! It was unbearable... But I knew you were with me, so I endured it as long as you had..."

"..."

"So, because of that... I heard that you missed your birthday!"

"..."

"When I woke up, I knew I had to prepare a celebration for you, even if it was belated and a month has already passed since your birthday"

"Why?"

"Why?? Isn't it normal to celebrate one's birthday? Especially since you're special to me, I wanted to make it special for you"

"..."

"Should I not have done that?"

"...!"

Philip snapped. He turned around and faced Tenshi with an expression full of concern and worry

"No no no... It was fine. I just can't handle surprises..."

Philip hovered towards Tenshi and tried to reach for her hand. Tenshi lifted his left hand and reached towards Philip

Philip gently held Tenshi's hand with his constantly numb right hand from always being destroyed and obliterated

Even though his hand is always numb, he could feel the softness of Tenshi's palm

"I can appreciate what you did to me... But you didn't have to do it"

"But I want to do it! It's rare for me to celebrate a birthday... At least I get to experience it once in a while"

"...!"

Philip just made a realization. Tenshi was just born four years ago, during the transition to Mysticism Age, and the Totality Catalyst accelerated her growth and became a mature woman, yet with a small body

Meaning, Tenshi could only celebrate at least four birthdays and considering she was in a military squadron, she might not be able to celebrate due to missions that might've intersected with her birthday

"Alright, I'm sorry... I didn't realize it sooner"

"You don't have to say sorry... I know what you feel, so I would at least want to make you happy. That's why birthdays are celebrated, right?"

"..."

Philip smiled softly

"I guess so"

"C'mon, let's go back! Let's celebrate your belated with everyone else"

"Okay"

Tenshi then went ahead and hugged Philip

He returned the hug and he genuinely smiled as light slowly returned in his eyes

「 ... 」

『 ... 』

Little did Philip know, Tenshi is shaking and trembling while they are embracing. Only Emily and the system noticed the change

~~~

In all honesty, Philip doesn't hate his birthday, he just doesn't want to celebrate it because there's no point, especially when he's not happy at all

But if people went out of their way to prepare a celebration for his birthday, then he would let them. He just felt bad for everyone because they went out of their way to celebrate it with him, instead of doing their own thing

This is going to be his first time celebrating his birthday after several years and currently, he's happy that he's celebrating it with his new family

Philip closed his eyes and in no time, he returned back in the mansion as his vision returned on the candlelight. Tenshi also clasped her hands and smiled

"..."

Everyone was still quiet until Philip began to speak

"I wish for the protection and prosperity of the mansion. I wish that everyone will be happy and our journey will be safe!"

*Whoosh*

Philip blew the candlelight and it turned into smoke

*CLAP CLAP CLAP*

Everyone started clapping and sang the last part of happy birthday to Philip

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~~~"

"YEEEAAAH!"

"WOOHOO!"

"..."

Philip finally lifted his head and smiled, even though his eyes aren't fully filled with happiness yet

"Thank you everyone!"