"Raffy, today is Thomas's 10th birthday. Let's all celebrate together and make it a great day for him. Later, be sure to tell him 'Happy Birthday,' okay?"
Oh, I see!
He have to make sure to say 'Happy Birthday' properly!
But can he even talk yet?
Rafayel decided to give it a try.
"O-meh-toh!"
Ah! He did it! He can talk!
It was the first time he had spoken since being in this body, and he was thrilled to find that he could form words better than he had expected.
If he had just been born, he wouldn't even be able to move, let alone talk… he need to learn to walk soon so he can go out and watch some real-life fantasy BL!
Feeling determined, Rafayel made a mental note to practice to walk whenever he had the chance.
"Oh! Raffy, you said 'Happy Birthday' so well! Thomas, Raffy is wishing you a happy birthday!"
"Huh!? Really!?"
Thomas immediately moved closer, crouching down so they were at eye level while Rafayel remained cradled in their father's arms.
"O-meh-toh!"
"Thank you, Raffy! I love you!"
Before Rafayel could react, Thomas lunged forward and hugged him tightly, squeezing him in an iron grip.
So… strong…! My spine… it hurts!
The pressure was too much, and Rafayel couldn't hold back a small cry.
"Fweh~n!"
The moment he let out the distressed sound, Thomas instantly pulled away in a panic.
"I'm so sorry, Raffy! I was just so happy! Ahh, don't cry, please!!"
Seeing Rafayel tear up, Thomas himself looked like he was about to start crying too.
"Ugh! Thomas, you idiot! Raffy, forget about that silly brother of ours and come play with me instead~!"
"I wanna play with Raffy too!"
"That's not fair, you two! I'm the birthday boy today, so I have the right to hold Raffy as much as I want!"
With that, Thomas and the other two siblings began bickering over who got to play with Raffy.
Watching the argument unfold, Selene finally intervened with a gentle laugh.
"Now, now, if you all keep shouting like that, you'll scare Raffy. What will you do if he ends up hating you?"
At those words, the three of them froze on the spot.
Then, as if realizing the horror of such a possibility, they scrambled to reassure him.
"We're best friends, Raffy, so don't hate me, okay?" Thomas pleaded, sounding a little pathetic.
"T-that's right! We're all super close! Look, we'll even hold hands to prove it!"
"I'm best friends too!" the youngest chimed in.
Seeing their desperate attempts to stay in his good graces, Rafayel's tears naturally came to a stop.
They really don't want him to dislike them, huh?
The thought felt almost extravagant to him.
To be this loved by everyone… he must be really lucky to be a part of this family.
For a brief moment, Rafayel recalled his past life and the family he had left behind, feeling a tinge of loneliness.
But at the same time, a sense of excitement swelled within him as he thought about the life ahead.