Morning began with a single remark from Fang Zheng.
"Shinji, isn't your birthday coming up soon?"
"Huh?"
Shinji Ikari, who was serving rice, froze when he heard Fang Zheng. He had become so numb to the passage of days that he could barely remember his own birthday. Remembering who he was was already good enough.
"Is... that so?"
"That's right, June 6."
Fang Zheng checked and confirmed that he had remembered correctly.
"That's the day after tomorrow. So? What kind of birthday present do you want?"
"Th-this doesn't seem right..."
Shinji Ikari, who had already developed a bit of manliness under Fang Zheng's training, actually became somewhat embarrassed at those words.
"After all, it's just my birthday..."
"What does that matter? It's rare for everyone to be living together. Celebrating a birthday is only natural."
Fang Zheng did not think much of Shinji's refusal. Maybe birthdays were considered private matters in Japan and the West, but on the mainland, there was no such thing as privacy when it came to birthdays. Back in elementary and middle school, whenever someone in class had a birthday, everyone would chip in for a cake and have a blast. Nobody cared much about presents. They just smeared cake all over each other's faces and had fun.
Of course, wealthier students would have their parents book private rooms and invite their classmates out for a meal. Those without money did not mind either. Messing around and laughing in class could be even more enjoyable. At least most of the time, it was far more fun than having your family hold a birthday banquet for you.
Japan did not have that custom, and Fang Zheng was not their homeroom teacher, but holding a birthday party at home still sounded nice.
Of course, it also depended on