The room was quiet — soft and warm like a dream.
The little cupcake candle hadn't been lit yet. It waited patiently, standing proud in its swirl of frosting.
Shiba-inu sat tall in his tiny party hat, eyes stitched full of excitement.
Tama-chan stretched lazily on her cushion nearby, tail flicking gently, her purring barely louder than the ticking of the wall clock.
I looked around my room.
Then whispered quietly:
"She's coming."
I sat down beside them. My hand rested on Tama's soft fur. She leaned into it slightly.
Shiba-inu was nestled in my lap, his body light but warm like always.
We didn't talk. We didn't move too much.
We just waited.
Not in a hurry. Not full of jitters.
Just... ready.
The morning was slowly turning into noon. The sun had moved higher, the light on the floor stretching long and golden.
And in that quiet...
Something beautiful bloomed between us —
A space made of calm, of kindness, of welcome.
A moment already waiting for Yui.
Then—
Knock knock knock!
A sound at the door.
Mama's voice came floating in from the front hall:
"Hideki... come on, sweetheart. Someone's here."
I stood quickly — heart jumping — and smoothed the wrinkles on my pajama top.
I looked down at Shiba.
"This is it, Shiba," I whispered.
Mama opened the door.
And there she was.
Yui.
Her hair was a little messy from the wind, her cheeks pink from the walk.
She was holding Bunny tight in one arm, and in her other hand — a small gift bag that swung as she ran.
She wore a bright yellow cardigan and sparkly socks that peeked out from her shoes.
The second her eyes found mine, they lit up like morning stars.
"Hidekiii!!" she beamed, breathless.
"I CAME!"
I rushed forward, arms already open.
"I waited," I said, hugging her close.
We didn't let go for a while.
Then I leaned in close and whispered softly, just for her:
"I didn't blow it yet."
Yui stepped back and peeked inside the house.
Her eyes found the table — and there, sitting beside mine, was her cupcake.
Strawberry. With the biggest berry on top.
Her face went soft.
"You saved me one?" she asked.
I nodded gently.
"One wish," I said. "Two hearts."
She reached out and squeezed my hand.
"Let's do it together," she whispered.
—
We sat at the table, side by side.
She placed Bunny carefully next to Shiba-inu, who stood tall and ready.
Papa leaned in and lit the candle.
Mama stood nearby, phone ready to capture everything.
We looked at each other.
Counted softly:
"One... two... three..."
And then—
"Haaaappy biiiiirthday to Hideki~"
Yui sang the words gently, her voice like the quiet sparkle of stars.
And together—
Ffffffuuuuhh~
The candle flickered, danced, then faded out.
The wish was sealed.
Two cupcakes.
Two smiles.
One moment.
One silent promise.
Shared.
The candle was out now — just a curl of gentle smoke drifting into the air, like the tail of a dream.
The room was quiet again, warm and golden with afternoon light.
I sat beside Yui, both of us still holding our cupcakes.
Our hands rested near each other on the table.
I turned my head — not too fast, not too loud — and asked in the smallest voice:
"Yui... what did you wish for?"
She didn't answer right away.
Her fingers gently traced the edge of her cupcake wrapper.
Bunny leaned quietly against Shiba-inu, like they were listening too.
Even Tama-chan, curled beneath the table, didn't make a sound.
Then Yui looked up at me —
Her cheeks a little pink, her eyes soft and thoughtful.
"I wished..." she said slowly, "for more days like this."
I tilted my head.
"With cupcakes?" I asked, smiling a little.
She nodded. Then added, even softer:
"With you."
Her voice was so honest, it felt like a hug.
"I wished for more days where we wake up and play and draw and hug... like we always live close."
She paused for a breath.
"Maybe even the same house," she whispered. "Maybe just next door. I don't care... just close."
My chest felt warm — like something blooming right behind my ribs.
I leaned toward her, my voice a little shaky but happy.
"That's what I wished too."
Her eyes opened wide.
Then she smiled — the kind of smile that makes the room feel like springtime.
And together — perfectly at the same time — we both whispered:
"Same wish."
And that moment...
Felt like it would last forever.
The room was still warm —
with candlelight, soft voices, and something invisible floating in the air.
A feeling.
A wish.
Yui's words still lingered, glowing like a tiny star between us.
I sat quietly, my small hands resting on the edge of the table.
My fingers touched the smooth plate, the paper of my cupcake wrapper.
I looked at Yui —
My best friend.
My cupcake partner.
My hug twin.
And from somewhere deep in my chest...
I let it come out.
"I wish..." I said softly, "I could live with Yui."
Her eyes blinked — wide and full of light.
"So we can play together anytime we want... draw, and sing... and hug Tama..."
At her name, Tama-chan stretched from beneath the table.
She gave a lazy little blink, like she heard and agreed.
I looked down at my cupcake.
Then up again — right into Yui's eyes.
"And eat cupcakes," I added.
"Every day. With you."
My voice dropped to a whisper.
"Forever."
Yui didn't speak right away.
But something in her eyes shimmered —
Like a teardrop not from sadness, but from something too big for words.
She stood up slowly.
Walked around the table.
And then —
She wrapped her arms around me.
Not a fast hug.
Not a bouncy hug.
A real hug.
The kind that said:
"I understand."
Her arms held tight. Her voice so small and steady:
"That's the best wish in the whole world."
A pause. Her cheek against my shoulder.
"I want it too."
And just like that...
My wish wasn't a secret anymore.
It was shared.
Spoken.
Held.
Real.