[ Voice ]

[bydesign]

[ Madoka's voice comes over the journal singing!! ]

Happy birthday to me~! Happy birthday to me~!

Happy birthday [ ........ nope too shy to go on. She cuts herself off with giggles at and is almost audibly covering her face. She still sounds pretty pleased though; ] Ah, never mind, forget that! It's too embarrassing!

But, back when everyone was still at Isla Empieza, did anyone see somewhere that might have cake? Just a small one would be fine...

Comments

[ written ]

[deathsought]

The people from my world would tell you that my birthday is not one worth celebrating.

That's up to you.

[ written ]

[bydesign]

I haven't met them.

Obviously, I think it's much better to all have cake together.

[ written ]

[deathsought]

Neither have I, but that's for the best.

My magic awoke this morning. Thankfully, only a spider in the corner of my room died. If you really want me to, I'll try to have one piece with you and the others, but no more than that.

[ written ]

[bydesign]

Maybe I should have Komaeda-kun keep away. The rest of us should be fine.

But that's kind of sad for him to get left out.

[ written ]

[deathsought]

So, he doesn't have a Soul Gem, then?

[ A beat. ]

Let him go. I don't want you to have to pick who can or can't attend, least of all for my sake.

[ written ]

[bydesign]

I don't think so.

~ [ Madoka draws a long squiggling line for... Way too long while she considers. ] ~

I think it would be best to share with everyone at once, so I'll ask him when I get a chance. But if he's nervous, I'll come share with you.

[ written ]

[deathsought]

[ He's patient. He can wait. ]

Just as long as he knows the risks.

[ written ]

[bydesign]

I wonder if his luck is good enough to keep him safe. I don't really know how it works at all...

[ written ]

[deathsought]

I think it would take more than luck.

[ Or at least, a ton of luck. ]

[ written ]

[bydesign]

I think so too, but I don't know enough to say for certain.

[ written ]

[deathsought]

Is there no way your magic could keep him safe from mine?

[ written ]

[bydesign]

My magic? Did I say something like that?

[ written ]

[deathsought]

Oh. I see. Perhaps I just assumed you were like Mami and Homura.

My mistake.

[ written ]

[bydesign]

I am and I'm not.

It wasn't very hard to guess, huh?

[ written ]

[deathsought]

Not really, no. Most people who approach me while knowing full well who I am and what I'm capable of either have less than good intentions, or a death wish. But there have always been a few who knew they would be safe, or weren't afraid for another reason.

[ written ]

[bydesign]

I hope we meet more of the latter while you're here.

[ written ]

[deathsought]

If not, it won't matter. I'm used to being alone by now.

[ written ]

[bydesign]

Being used to something is different from being happy.

[ written ]

[deathsought]

[ Zeref falls silent for a few moments. It would take him weeks to tell the full story, and she likely wouldn't want to hear it anyway. His eyes lower, and he's forced to blink back a few tears. ]

No. [ He conceded, quietly. ] But it's too late for that. At least, it is in my own world.

[ written ]

[bydesign]

That's not where we are.

[ written ]

[deathsought]

I haven't seen how much of a difference that will make, yet.

[ written ]

[bydesign]

That's probably because you aren't looking for differences.

[ written ]

[deathsought]

I've only noticed so far that there are a lot less people in this world who are capable of using magic.

[ But for the most part, yes, she's right, he hasn't. ]

[ written ]

[bydesign]

Is it common in your world?

[ written ]

[deathsought]

Only about one tenth of the world's population.

[ Even if the series focuses only on the mages so much that it would give the impression otherwise. ]