Archive of Our Own

BoBoiBoy POV

Unlike last year, I do remember my birthday today! And Ochobot won't having a hard time to wake me up. Hehe

I already a full grown mature teenager now. I hope what awaits me I shall face it right after I cleaning myself.

By:N4r43

Third POV 

Well, little does Boboiboy know, Ochobot already expected it. Surprisingly, it's not that hard to fool his best friend. All Ochobot needs is just mentioning random people's birthdays when he's near Boboiboy's presence, and that'll make the elemental user start to count.

So, yeah, Ochobot knows that Boboiboy knows what day today is. So, while Boboiboy starts his morning routine, he sends a message to the Kokoatiam Gang. Boboiboy's 15th Surprise Birthday Party Plan has now commenced.

"Guys, Boboiboy's awake!" Yaya announces as she flies into the dining room of TAPOPS-U.

"Don't worry, we have time." Qually says from the kitchen. 

"You got that right. Boboiboy's morning routine is surprisingly longer than any of us." Ying remarks while helping Qually in the kitchen.

"Not to mention, what those troublemakers did." Fang mutters. He's sitting on the dining bench, looking irritated.

Ever since the battle in Gur'latan, Boboiboy's watch has been upgraded to accommodate the third tiers. However, at the same time, it also triggered the elementals to be able to go out individually and act freely. Well, as freely as they're still bound to Boboiboy. So, now, in TAPOPS, they have seven extra members. Because, now, thanks to Solar, they can go out while Boboiboy is also present in real life.

By: Artic 525

Going back to the story...

The trio troublemakers decided that it'd be nice to prank their master on his day. And so, when Ochobot sends them a video. None of them is surprised when they open it.

"*AAAAHHHH!!! MY HAIR!!!*" Boboiboy's scream is clear even though he's in the bathroom.

"I still believe we should've stopped them." Yaya winces.

"Ey, no worries. Oboy's hair can return to normal." Gopal waves his hand nonchalantly. "Solar has already prepared it."

"Well, if Boboiboy can find it." Fang grumbles.

And that's phase one. Distract Boboiboy for the whole day, making him think it's not his lucky day. Courtesy of Cyclone. Surprising, I know.

"Oh my goodness...why is my hair standing up like ICICLES???!!!" I grumbled as I tried to comb my hair into its normal shape again.

This cannot be happening, on the day I *actually* remembered my own birthday and woke up on my **own** that my hair is like this!

I dunked my hair under the  running water on the sink with the hope of softening up my hair. Even after a while of putting my hair under the water, it's still not as soft as it was supposed to be.

Geez, the amount of gel *someone* put on my hair.

After looking somewhat presentable enough with my hair, it is time to *actually* do my morning routine. I took my time getting ready, taking extra care for today due it being my birthday.

Last year they prepared a surprise birthday party for me with everyone included which was, wow. This year, I'm going to be the one surprising *them* instead! 

Hehe, they must've been so surprised that I woke up early.

—

Boboiboy then went out from his room with a grin on his face, ready to find and surprise his friends with his appearance.

By: Amy winter 

Boboiboy rushed down the stairs, taking two rows at once, he couldn't wait to surprise his friends! But what he did not see coming was a figure crashing into him in the middle of the staircase, causing Boboiboy to fall backward and the figure to land on him.

Even before Boboiboy could register who it was, a hand was shoved toward his face, and the very familiar voice hit him with recognition.

"I am so sorry, Master! I don't see you there!" Gempa squeaked, his voice oddly too high. 

Boboiboy took his hand and they stood up carefully on the stairs.

"That could have gone wrong so bad!" Gempa was still not finished with his regret as Boboiboy patted away the dust from his clothes. 

Boboiboy immediately reassured his counterpart. "Hey, hey! It is okay, I am fine! And why did I say about calling me 'master'? Don't, alright? It is weird," Boboiboy said. Although it was true he was the seven elemental master and they only came alive due to him (kinda), he still felt uneasy every time they called him a name that made their relationship formal.

"Oh, I–I forget. Sorr–"

"It is okay." Boboiboy stopped Gempa before he could apologize again. He squeezed past his counterpart and walked downstairs.

"Where are you going?" Gempa asked, following him.

Boboiboy gave him a proudful smile. "I am going to meet my friends and celebrate my birthday party with them." He flexed Gempa a thumb up.

Gempa blinked. Boboiboy did not waste another second and proceeded toward the front door, but as his feet touch the cold ground, a strong hand pulled him from behind.

"Wait, Mas—Boboiboy!" Gempa called and the said person looked at him expectantly.

"You can't leave the house yet!" Gempa said, making Boboiboy frowned.

"Why not? It is my birthday, I get to celebrate it with them!" 

"Yes, but there is this one person who you need to celebrate with first."

If Boboiboy was confused before, he was at absolutely bamboozled now. He waited for Gempa to explain.

"Over here," Gempa dragged him toward the living room couch. His grip on Boboiboy's wrist was too strong for him to be able to escape. When they arrived there, Boboiboy saw there was a chest box, a paper and a pencil.

He looked up to Gempa. "What is this?" He asked.

"Have you forgotten? Dad gives you a birthday letter every year." Gempa reminded.

Boboiboy widened his eyes, landing his gaze in the chest box. "Right," he replied, and without wanting for Gempa's instruction, Boboiboy opened it.

Inside it, like usual, were letters. Except this time, there were four unlike last year which had five. Every year, on his birthday, he would take one, read it, cherish it, and then store it somewhere else.

Today, it would just be the same as usual.

He grabbed the letter with the 15th envelope pin and stared at it, felt it in his hands, and then forced it down his pocket.

"Thank you for reminding me, Gempa," Boboiboy said, aiming to the door.

Once again, Gempa stopped him. "Don't you want to respond to his letter?"

"I can do that tonight," Boboiboy stated.

"You will forget."

"Do I look like the type to forget about this?" 

Silence filled the room for a moment, nobody saying anything. Then Boboiboy made a move and Gempa got in his way again.

"You will get tired and want to sleep early tonight. Isn't it better to read and respond to it now when you are energetic and just wake up?" Gempa reasoned, smiling.

Boboiboy considered it for a second, he couldn't help but feel like Gempa was there to distract him, but in a blink of an eye, the Earth elemental had already pushed him toward the couch, sitting him down.

"It's okay, Boboiboy. You can take your time to read it." Gempa's gentle voice, *his* voice, was soft for his ear, guiding him to open the envelope.

Boboiboy glanced at Gempa's smiley face and then tore the envelope open. He took out the letter inside and started reading it, he was halfway through it when Gempa said in a small voice, 

"Can you read it aloud for me?" 

Stunned, Boboiboy stared into Gempa's soul, trying to read his mind. 

What are you trying to achieve here? 

But outside, Boboiboy just nodded and asked Gempa to sit down. The Earth elemental insisted on standing.

So Boboiboy did it once again, rereading it, this time with more tone put and feeling the impact with each word as he read the letter, avoiding looking at Gempa's place. After Boboiboy finished reading, he was left feeling crushed with the overwhelming missing he had for his parents, of how much he yearned to see their faces.

How life was so cruel to separate them and make them only be able to see each other once a while a year.

Boboiboy missed his parents' faces. Mom dad. Their sweet smiles that could melt his heart. Their powerful laughter that could bring him back.

Last year's birthday was an unexpected but a gracious event to happen because he finally got to reunite with his parents after what felt like forever. Hugging and touching them again. And he knew that the gift from his parents last year was that emergency lamp button, but he couldn't help but feel that the real present was his parents coming back home just so they could celebrate his birthday with him.

It was one of the most pleasant things to ever happen in his life, but at the same time, Boboiboy couldn't help but felt something was missing. Like apart of him was still missing. 

He didn't put away the letter, changing his gaze to Gempa. "That is all what Mom Dad said."

Gempa was still smiling to him, raising his eyebrows. "Well then," he said, walking toward the table. "Write them back a letter."

He pushed the pencil toward Boboiboy.

And Boboiboy, still crushed by the desperateness of his longing, widened his eyes at Gempa's action.

"What's wrong? Don't you want to reply to their letter?" Gempa asked.

Boboiboy straightened his back. "It is not that I don't want to... It is just... I should have left the house earlier."

"Why? To meet and celebrate your birthday with your friends? But what about your parents? Shouldn't you as a son respond to your parents first?" Gempa pointed out, making Boboiboy froze in his seat. 

"I—" Boboiboy scratched his head. "I guess you are right."

"Here." Gempa gave him the pencil and the boy took it. When Gempa was busy placing a paper sheet in front of him, Boboiboy noticed something.

"Hey, this pencil is too dull!" He remarked, gaining Gempa's attention.

Gempa thought for a while. "I will try to find another pencil. In the meantime you can start writing," Gempa stated and Boboiboy pouted.

"Shouldn't I be using a pen since my pencil mark might be washed away when it arrives to Mom and Dad?"

"That could happen, but I can't find any pens, you would just have to use that. I will go now, good luck on writing the letter."

And just like, Gempa backed away to the staircase.

Boboiboy did not turn to watch him leave, rather focusing on what he wanted to write. If he was honest with himself, he was never really a letter person. But he always tried to write a detailed and full letter back to his parents to inform them about his days. Especially when they had not met for a long time, so he never ran out of things to say.

Now, he bent his body toward the table and started writing his introduction. But the dullness of his pencil proved to be an obstacle. He squinted his eyes, rewriting each word he wrote to make them more noticeable. But in the end, he only made the front of his letter look ugly. Boboiboy lifted up his head to search for an eraser on the table. There was none.

Boboiboy looked at the scratches-dirtied letter and turned his head. "Gempa? Have you found any pens?" He called out.

The answer was almost instant. "No, I cannot find it!"

"Have you tried my study desk? Find my pencil bags?" 

"I can't find that either. Sorry."

Boboiboy saved his throat by holding back from yelling at Gempa to tell him to not apologise, attention back to the letter.

"Can you find me an eraser too?" Boboiboy shouted, ...covering his mistake with his arm and wrote below it with another.

"Ok!" Gempa's distant yell was heard.

After what felt like forever, Gempa finally came, placing a bunch of pencils and an eraser to his table. Boboiboy did not need to ask to know he failed to find him a pen. What was it with pens being missing during a necessary situation?

"Thanks," Boboiboy said and grabbed the closest pencil. He was caught off guard when he lifted up. 

"What's wrong?" Gempa asked. He had not sat down.

"The pencils..." Boboiboy looked at the pencils on the table. "They all are way too sharp! They seem like they would break if I put any force!" 

"Oh, really?" Gempa shied away. "You complain that it was too dull last time so I made sure to sh5arpened all of them this time," he said embarrassingly, eyes on the floor.

Boboiboy felt like a thunder strike him.

"Wait wait no! Don't be sad, that is real nice of you, it is really not that bad. I should just be careful when writing, that is it!" Boboiboy reassured his counterpart as the other's expression dropped.

No wonder why he is taking such a long time! , Boboiboy thought. Well, I shouldn't waste his effort then. 

"I would write Mom and Dad the best letter ever. Thank you, Gempa!" Boboiboy gave him a thumb up, a promise.

Gempa smiled. "You definitely will. I can tell you really love your parents to do that, including the other feelings too..." 

Gempa fell quiet and left Boboiboy guessing what he meant and how he knew.

"I am you, after all," Gempa said, giving Boboiboy a big smile.

Boboiboy blinked but decided to forget about it and continue writing. He needed to write ASAP so he would still have time to surprise his friends, he just hoped this won't take him too long.

Realising he needed to erase his mistake first, he grabbed the eraser and was short by how small and tiny it was. It looked very old with how dusty and grey it was. Gempa did not say anything as Boboiboy passed him a glance and erased his words on the paper with his big hands. But he found his handwriting to still leave some marks even aftermath. He bent down to write on top of the mark when a hand landed on his shoulder and caused him to overpressure his hand's force.

Snap!

The pencil lead was broken. Boboiboy looked up to see Gempa was surprised by his side.

"Sorry, I don't mean that, I just want to watch you work—" 

"It's okay. You give me many pencils after all," Boboiboy urged up a smile to calm down Gempa.

He took another pencil and aimed to write again.

"Wait!" 

_shesshhh_

The second pencil lead nearly snapped off, breaking a small part of it. Boboiboy looked at Gempa again.

"You should write down there. Mom and Dad wouldn't be able to see if you write over the old mark."

"You are right." Boboiboy nodded and started a new introduction. 

He could feel Gempa was watching him struggling with the second pencil. Eventually Boboiboy decided to use a new one. Gempa stayed to watch him write the letter which made him feel like he was being judged, although he knew Gempa was not the type to do and had not made any spelling mistakes yet.

Finally Gempa walked away and Boboiboy felt more comfortable to write whatever he wanted. He stopped to wonder which memory he should tell his parents first? He already responded to their greetings, birthday wishes and Amato's joke, now he needed to answer their questions about the last missions and events he had. This was the part where it took him the most times to both think and write.

_ I should tell them about my missions first. They would like to know that. _ He thought.

He once again bent down to write, his pencil on the paper writing, and then the loud placement of a glass of water on the table broke his concentration and snapped the pencil lead again.

Boboiboy looked up, annoyed now if he was honest.

"I make you water if you are thirsty," Gempa informed him. Boboiboy waited for him to apologise. He did not.

Boboiboy coughed. "Thanks."

"You have any idea what you want to write?" Gempa asked, leaning toward him.

Boboiboy made room for him. "Just about the missions I went through the past months."

"Hmm, I feel like I have seen the introduction before," Gempa said, holding his chin.

"Hehe, yeah. I repeat the lines I wrote last year." Boboiboy grinned.

"How do you even still remember what you wrote last year?" 

"I tend to reread Mom and Dad's letter and memorise what I had written to imagine their reaction. It helps to feed my needs of them."

"And how would their reaction be?" Gempa asked.

"I imagine they will be all worried for me, but at the same time proud. I imagine they would want to ask me themselves to see if what I am telling them was true when we got to meet each other," Boboiboy explained as he wrote his current letter. The pencil pressed gently on the paper sheet.

Gempa was still watching his hand moving, his mouth firing the next question. 

"And did they ask you last year? About your missions?" 

"...No. But only because it was inappropriate that time. They were there to celebrate my birthday, I don't think it would be the right time to bring it up."

"So you don't tell them?" 

"Well, they didn't ask."

"How would they know you want to tell them about your adventure if you never clarify it, Boboiboy?"

Boboiboy snapped his head toward Gempa, looking up to his face. A smile spread across the identical cheeks, a hint of slyness.

When Gempa did not continue, Boboiboy refocused his attention on the paper, figuring out what he should write next. 

Oh! The gift! He could thank them for their birthday gift last year. Although Boboiboy had never needed to use the red button, he pressed the blue one as much as he could because then the 3D version of his parents and Uncle Mimi would show up, and oh boy, how much did he miss them.

He wanted to tell them about that, the mixed feeling he received every time he looked up at the sky and saw the echoes of his beloved family members. It was a  beautiful. A magnificent sight to witness. He wanted to write that down, but there was also a heavy burden in his hand that stopped him, overloading him with negative emotions he never wanted to own.

Jealousy. 

Anger. 

Shame.

Why did all the other children get to spend time with their parents everyday but he could meet them for a limited amount of time per year? 

Why did his parents have to be two of the greatest superheroes ever and be the protecters of the galaxy? Why couldn't they just be _his_ parents?

And why, why did he feel like this? He was also a superhero too. He also knew the burden and the responsibility of having to protect the galaxy. He also had friends who were in the same spots as him due to their missions or backstory. Why was he acting so ungrateful and unfair to his parents now? He should be grateful that they were even alive and healthy to be able to meet him for another time, unlike some people who had really lost their parents. 

He reasoned with himself, trying to make him see the larger picture, that there was really no reason for him to get this upset. But every time he tried to write, he always made a spelling mistake or his words would fall off the lines. Causing him extra time as he needed to erase them until the point he gave up and just crossed them away.

Gempa eyed him warily, his cheerful face was strained. Boboiboy drank the water to avoid being crushed by the weight of his thought.

After what felt like forever, Boboiboy finally finished writing his letter. Gempa pricked up when Boboiboy raised the paper sheet to read what he had written.

"Boboiboy, can I hear it too?" Gempa asked and stood up, but to no avail, the seven elemental master was not listening.

The Earth elemental stood there awkwardly, staring at the boy.

Then, Boboiboy's hand trembled and he suddenly flipped over the paper, trying to tear it apart as he folded it into two.

"Wow, stop!" Gempa halted him before he could do more damage. "What's—"

His eyes flung open once he saw the other's face. "—wrong...?"

"It is not good enough," Boboiboy mumbled, wiping away his eyes. "The letter. I can never write to make it good enough." 

There was a silence filled with only a sobbing, and then Gempa's calm voice disturbed the atmosphere. "And why isn't it good enough?" He asked quietly.

"Because I can never make Mom and Dad understand what I am feeling, and I really want to, but at the same time... I am afraid. We haven't met for a long time and then suddenly I will be sending them a letter full of my negative thoughts. They would hate that, wouldn't they?" Boboiboy's voice cracked as he explained, wiping away his tears like they never spilled.

Nobody said anything for a moment, and then Gempa spoke up again. "Do you know, Master? I always thought that for a superhero, you can be a little too nervous sometimes." 

Boboiboy halted at the title.

"Coward is a more suitable word, but I feel like it would be too mean," Gempa chuckled softly, the other's confused face only made him want to laugh more.

"They are your parents, Boboiboy. Not your enemies. Not a mission for you to solve. You do not need to be afraid to tell them anything. You aren't and will never be a disobedient son just because you say that in your thoughts."

Gempa reached out for the letter, but really, he was holding Boboiboy's hands. 

"I think that is enough for today. Why don't you go and hang out with your friends like you wanted earlier?" Gempa suggested, taking in the boy's still surprised face.

"It is okay. It doesn't matter what you write, your parents will love it." Gempa saw that Boboiboy jerked his head, like he was doubtful. "I know, because after all, I am also a part of you too." Gempa patted his shoulder. "You can go now."

Finally, Boboiboy got a move himself, but he did not rush away. He instead stayed behind and told Gempa, "I—The paper is in a very ugly state now. Can Mom and Dad read it?" 

Gempa smiled. "Of course they can."

...

Boboiboy caught a breath. "How can you be so sure?" 

"Because I will help you and rewrite your letter," Gempa simply said.

And just like that, Gempa moved toward the TV table and pulled out a new sheet of paper under it. If that was not enough to throw Boboiboy off guard, he also pulled out a pen from his pants pocket.

"You—you have a pen all this time?" Boboiboy asked, pointing at him.

Gempa just exchanged a look between the puzzled boy and the pen like he never realised it. "It seems like, I do indeed have a pen all this time." He flashed a smile at Boboiboy and sat on the couch, facing the desk and the new sheet of paper. He placed Boboiboy's letter ahead of his, a pen tucked in his hand.

"You don't need to worry," he said suddenly, snapping Boboiboy out of his thoughts. Gempa gave him a glance and smiled one more time, "You can leave it to me."

Boboiboy stared at him unbelievably but it was already too late and Gempa had started writing, completely ignoring the seven elemental master's existence.

Boboiboy stood there absolutely lost for words. He considered saying something to Gempa, but words couldn't come out of his mouth no matter how many times he tried. Eventually, he decided to let it go and just moved forward. 

He peeked at Gempa one last time then opened the front door and left.

Now, outside in the bright world, he looked at his superwatch and thought to himself,

_There is still time._

By: AnahIsHere

The moment sunlight kissed his face and he'd barely breathed in the fresh air, a familiar voice, but with a different tone, spoke.

"Where do you think you're going, Boboiboy?" A light tap on his shoulder startled him.

Right behind him, a figure with only red and black as the main colors from head to toe - Halilintar. His lightning element and one of the first elements he awakened. A man of few words, with a stern face but very reliable and strong. Hali stood with his arms crossed, waiting for his answer.

"Well... I was planning to go out and meet our friends." Boboiboy scratched his head, "They're probably waiting for me to celebrate my birthday." Oh man, why did that sentence sound so self-confident? But he was really eager to see them and wanted to know what kind of party they had prepared for him. Would it be like last year's party or would it be different? There were too many possibilities he could think of.

The person opposite him was silent for a moment and just stared at him, as if trying to see through him. That made him embarrassed because honestly, he didn't know what Hali was thinking, even though he was a part of him.

"You..." Boboiboy swallowed, waiting.

"Haven't had breakfast, have you?"

That question almost made Boboiboy fall over comically. So he thought it was something serious. He had worried for nothing. He didn't want anyone, except Gempa, to see him vulnerable, especially on his birthday morning.

"Oh, right, breakfast." He laughed awkwardly. "I'm not really hungry."

Without warning, Hali stepped forward and reached out to touch his hair, seemingly noticing something stuck in it. His touch was almost like combing, as BoBoiBoy could feel the deliberate movements on his head. Each time his fingers encountered a hardened section from the gel, he carefully untangled it with the utmost gentleness, ensuring that BoBoiBoy felt no discomfort. Fortunately, thanks to the recent rinse with water, his hair remained damp, making the task easier. Occasionally, Hali would ruffle his hair slightly to aid in drying it faster.

Hali sighed and shook his head. "That Taufan… always up to his little pranks," he mumbled in exasperation.

Only when Boboiboy’s hair was finally soft and back to normal did Hali stop. He took a step back, looking over his work with a slight smirk of satisfaction.

The boy in the orange hoodie ran a hand through his hair, it really did feel much better. He giggled. "Thanks, Hali."

The reserved boy merely gave a nod before positioning himself behind Boboiboy. His firm hands rested on his shoulders, guiding him gently toward the kitchen. Before proceeding, he made sure to close the front door that had been left open. Once Boboiboy was settled on a wooden chair that Hali had pulled out for him, the latter finally released him and headed toward the refrigerator.

Boboiboy, already knowing what Hali was about to do, quickly spoke up. "Hali, I’m not hungry. You don’t have to prepare breakfast for me."

"And when exactly do you plan to eat?" Hali shot back, still rummaging through the fridge.

Hmm… even he wasn’t sure himself. “I guess they’ll have something prepared for the party.” Though, honestly, he wasn’t sure about that either. It felt like he was starting to assume his friends would take care of everything for him when, in reality, he just wanted to surprise them instead. Perhaps he needed to put an end to that line of thinking.

While he was caught up in his thoughts, Hali quietly continued preparing breakfast for him. Naturally, Hali could sense Boboiboy’s emotions—all the elements could. The closer they were, the stronger their connection. But that was a problem for later. Right now, breakfast was the priority.

"Tok Aba told you before leaving that you need to eat breakfast at home first," Hali said. The sound of clattering pots and pans snapped Boboiboy’s attention to the kitchen. Holding a pan in one hand, Hali continued, "So I’ll cook for you.”

"Wait… really? You can cook, Hali?" Boboiboy’s eyes widened. "I mean, I can’t even cook myself…"

Hali gave him an unimpressed look. "Gempa can cook."

"Ah… yeah, you’re right." Boboiboy scratched his cheek sheepishly. He had asked an unnecessary question, hadn’t he? Not only could Gempa cook, but even Taufan was skilled at baking. As for the other four elements who appeared later, he wasn’t sure. He had never seen them in the kitchen before. The same went for Hali. Since he had never seen him handle any cooking utensils, he had simply assumed Hali was like the others who couldn’t cook.

"My bad, I was just surprised. I just didn’t know you could," Boboiboy said, gesturing toward Hali and the small kitchen.

The rhythmic chopping of vegetables and scallions was oddly satisfying, each slice precise and evenly cut. Watching Hali work, Boboiboy couldn’t help but think that he looked just as skilled as Gempa in the kitchen. Well, considering Hali was the element most proficient in handling sharp weapons, slicing vegetables was probably child’s play for him.

Once the vegetables were chopped, they were tossed into the heated pan and stirred evenly. The aroma of onions and fresh vegetables started to fill the air, teasing Boboiboy’s appetite.

"There are many things you don’t know about us, Boboiboy."

Perhaps it was a trick of his ears, but Boboiboy couldn’t shake the feeling that Hali had placed particular emphasis on his name. He had always noticed that there was something distinctly different when Hali called him. Unlike Gempa, who occasionally slipped and referred to him as "Master", a habit that had persisted even before he asked them all to stop, Hali had never once made that mistake.

Just "Boboiboy." Always "Boboiboy."

And yet, when Hali said it, his name carried a strange weight to it. Perhaps even heavier than when Gempa addressed him as "Master."

How strange. They shared the same face, the same voice, and the same body, yet they were so undeniably different. Even after all this time, after finally being able to interact with his elements face to face, Boboiboy still found himself awed by their individuality.

It felt surreal to see "himself" from the outside. He knew how he acted when he was them—impulsive, witty, steadfast, mischievous, calm, naive, smart. But watching "himself" as an observer? That was an entirely different experience—one that words couldn’t quite capture.

It was like stepping into a mirror maze at an amusement park, surrounded by countless reflections of yourself. That’s what it felt like for Boboiboy, standing before seven mirrors, each shaped differently. Some were straight, some round, some warped and distorted.

But at the same time, they weren’t really mirrors at all. A mirror, no matter how much it distorted your image, would still mimic your every move. The elements, however, didn’t. Sometimes, Boboiboy could barely predict what they would do next.

Perhaps that was why, no matter how often they told him they were a part of him, there was always the slightest flicker of doubt in his mind. Of course, he trusted them. How could he not? Otherwise, it would mean doubting himself, and that thought alone was ridiculous.

But then, when he spoke to them… was he speaking to himself? Or to individuals entirely distinct from him?

Lost in his thoughts, Boboiboy propped his chin on his hand, his gaze fixed on Hali as he cooked.

"I want to know more about you. About all of you."

Hali stopped briefly before glancing back. "You will, eventually. We’ve got plenty of time to understand each other."

"Hmm..." Boboiboy hummed absentmindedly, curious about what his red-cloaked friend was making.

It seemed like Hali was cooking fried rice, judging by the scent. The sizzling sound grew louder every time he flicked the pan, yet not a single grain of rice spilled out. The delicious aroma filled the air, making Boboiboy’s stomach rumble in protest. It was hard to resist when something smelled this good.

It didn’t take long for Hali to finally finish making breakfast. A plate of fried rice, along with a spoon, was placed in front of Boboiboy. The presentation was simple, but there was a generous variety of food on the plate. He wasn’t sure he could finish it all by himself.

After cooking, Hali quickly tidied up the kitchen, making sure everything was as clean as before. He then stood nearby, waiting for Boboiboy to finish eating so he could wash the dishes afterward.

Seeing that Hali was done with his tasks, Boboiboy motioned for him to sit. “Hey, Hali, I don’t think I can eat all of this by myself. Why don’t you eat with me?”

After a brief moment of hesitation, Hali sighed softly, grabbed a spoon and plate, and sat across from Boboiboy.

For an Elemental like Hali, hunger was a foreign concept. Unlike living beings, he did not require sustenance to survive—his existence was tied solely to Boboiboy. The other Elements only ate out of curiosity or for the experience, but it never truly nourished them.

Even after Hali had taken his share, the portion still seemed a bit too much.

No matter what, Boboiboy resolved to finish it anyway. Hali had put effort into making this meal for him, and he wasn’t about to waste it.

Afterward, he would go out, meet his friends, and surprise them.

Wait, what about the other Elements?

“Hali.” The black and red jacket Elemental lifted an eyebrow in response.

“Where are the others?”

Hali gave a nonchalant shrug. “I don’t know. They could be anywhere. But they’re definitely close by.”

It wasn’t much of an answer, but it made sense. The Elements couldn’t stray too far from him, though the exact distance remained uncertain. They weren’t necessarily within view, but they were never truly far. Just thinking about searching for them one by one was exhausting. He decided to let them do as they pleased.

“So, Hali, do you want to come with me after we’re done eating?” Boboiboy asked on a whim. Maybe he’d invite Gempa too if he finished writing his letter.

“No, you go ahead.” Hali shook his head.

“Why not?”

“Because you should have moments with them for yourself, Boboiboy.” Hali’s crimson eyes met him directly.

“But it’s fine if you’re there too…” Boboiboy pouted slightly, feeling a little disappointed by Hali’s reasoning. The others wouldn’t mind, and by now, he’d already gotten used to having his Elements around him.

“We’ll be there.” This time, Hali’s voice carried undeniable certainty. “We’ll always be with you—one way or another.” His crimson eyes glowed with unwavering determination, as if silently making a vow that could never be broken.

Boboiboy felt touched and deeply grateful.

The Elements were one of the best things that had ever happened to him. They had chosen him, stayed by his side, and given him the power to protect the people and ideals he cherished. He was who he was today because of them.

Others might see them as mere weapons, a means to an end. But to Boboiboy, they were just as precious as his friends and family. Call him greedy if you want, he never wanted to lose a single one of them.

They protected the world, so he would protect them. He wouldn’t let what happened in Gur’latan happen again.

He clenched his fists, remembering. Back then, he had been too weak. That was why he lost Hali. That desperate cry for help—was it truly his own voice calling for his friends, or was it Hali’s emotions echoing within him? Even now, he wasn’t sure. But it had been a long time, and even if he asked, Hali likely wouldn’t want to speak of it.

The soft tapping on the table startled him, making him look up at Hali.

"Why the long face? It’s your birthday today."

Look who's talking—the guy with zero expression.

"You should cheer up too. You’re a part of me, after all. So technically, this is our birthday."

Doubts aside, Boboiboy had always believed they were a part of him. When Hali was taken from him, the pain had been indescribable, his body, his mind, and, most of all, his heart had ached. It was as if a piece of his soul had been ripped away. The loss hadn’t lasted long, but the emptiness had been terrifying. The pain, deep and raw, had left its mark.

"No."

Wait, what?

"Boboiboy." Hali repeated, firmer this time. "You’re too kind for your own good. There’s a limit to everything."

Now Boboiboy was just confused. What did that have to do with anything?

"What do you mean, Hali? How is this related to what I just said?"

"It is." Hali’s response was sharp. "This is your birthday. Not mine. Not anyone else’s. Yours alone." He crossed his arms.

Boboiboy hesitated, wondering if the Lightning Elemental was actually upset. So he quickly raised his hands in a placating gesture.

"Relax, Hali. But isn’t that the truth? Even Gempa always says you’re all a part of me."

Hali exhaled heavily. "Gempa is right. We are a part of you. But at the same time, we are not you." 

Hali remained silent for a moment, letting his words sink into Boboiboy’s mind. He could sense every emotion his friend was feeling—determination, nostalgia, and a lingering fear of something long past.

"I appreciate your kindness. But there are things meant only for you, Boboiboy. You have everything we possess, but we don’t necessarily have everything you do. That’s the difference between us." His voice was gentle yet firm.

One could become seven, but the seven would never truly be one. That was a truth Boboiboy had to accept.

"But…" Boboiboy looked down at his intertwined fingers. "It doesn’t seem fair."

"Be a little selfish for once," Hali said with a small smile.

"It’s okay."

"Alright then." Boboiboy sighed, finally giving in. "I get it now."

Hali nodded in satisfaction.

Today, Boboiboy saw a side of Hali he hadn’t noticed before. He was always someone who let his actions speak louder than words. But now, his words, though brief and to the point, carried a depth that resonated. As if he had known exactly what to say.

"Hey, Hali… what you just said, it was really… um…" Boboiboy struggled for words. "It almost felt ...like you were reading my mind." He laughed sheepishly.

"We can sense your emotions, but sadly, we can’t read your thoughts. I’ve just been with you long enough to understand you, Boboiboy." Hali shrugged, but Boboiboy knew there was warmth behind the gesture.

"Thank you."

"For what?" Hali raised an eyebrow.

"For this fried rice!" Boboiboy quickly replied. But then, a thought occurred to him.

"A! Since you said today isn't your birthday, let's pick another day to celebrate!" Boboiboy suddenly had an idea.

Hali, on the other hand, thought it was unnecessary. But knowing how chaotic the troublemaking trio could be, he chose to stay silent.

"What do you think? Sounds good, right? So, which day should we pick? Should we celebrate all seven of you at once? Or maybe split it up—like you, Taufan, and Gempa first since you appeared first, then Blaze and Ais, and finally Duri and Solar? We could celebrate the days you all first appeared!" Boboiboy rambled on excitedly.

Hali started sweating at the thought.

"Wait! I don’t even remember when you guys first appeared!" Boboiboy clutched his head in panic.

Seeing how things were getting out of hand, Hali leaned forward and flicked Boboiboy’s forehead, making him yelp, "Ow!"

"I think you should put that idea aside and focus on eating. Your food is getting cold."

Now that he mentioned it, Boboiboy realized he hadn’t even touched his fried rice. Without hesitation, he took a bite—only to be hit by an intense, fiery heat that spread through his mouth. His throat burned, and he immediately began coughing.

Hali moved closer, patting his back.

"Too spicy, Hali!" Boboiboy wheezed.

"Really? I think I might’ve gone overboard with the sambal…" Hali admitted, a bit guilty.

Curious, he took a bite of his own portion, only to immediately regret it. His face tensed slightly as he fought the urge to cough. If Boboiboy weren’t busy struggling, he would have laughed at him.

"Here." Hali handed him a glass of water, acting as if the spiciness didn't affect him at all.

"Thanks."

In the end, both of them pushed through, determined to finish their meal. By the time they were done, Boboiboy’s stomach was full—not just from the rice, but from all the water he had gulped down to ease the spice.

Once they finished, Boboiboy stood up, preparing to leave for real this time.

"Wait."

What is it this time? Boboiboy wondered.

"You forgot this." In Hali’s hand was Boboiboy’s signature dinosaur hat. He couldn't believe he had almost left without it.

"I nearly forgot! Hehehe ~" He put the hat on. "Alright, I’m off now. See you later, Hali!"

"Yeah."

By: YSol/Solany

Letting his foot guide him to where he wants to be, Boboiboy imagines the Kokotiam gang's faces once he shows up on time and surprises them. There will be shocks and disbelief, maybe they will even scream and point at him, “Who are you and what have you done to Boboiboy?” in all caps lock. 

But they wouldn’t even predict this in their million years! Boboiboy, have gifts for all of them! That’s right, gave them these incredible gifts on his birthday, then watched as their shocked souls faded away. Hm, hm. A great plan indeed, Boboiboy is getting a bit proud of himself. 

But, what should the gifts be about…? 

Curse me-self Boboiboy! How come you just thought of this just now? Waking up early and on time, didn’t forget about your own birthday, then just met up with them to say ‘Hi’?? That is not a surprise, that is meeting your expectations! 

Would there still be time for him to wind up a love poem for all of them?

“Boboiboy!!!” 

A high and spirited voice came from his side before a force crashed and clung onto him. That force rests all their body weight around Boboiboy’s neck and waist, locking him in a koala hug. 

“COUGH. Ah, Taufan?” said Boboiboy as he felt the back and head of the body that was weighing him down. “Release me, please?” 

The body listened to him and climbed down. Now standing in front is his elemental self, Taufan. 

“Boboiboy!” Taufan spreads his arms as if he’s about to bear hug him again.

“Hi, Taufan.” Boboiboy slightly crouched to prepare if Taufan was going to pick him up and swung him around.

“Where are you going?”

“To the Kokotiam.”

“Oh? Meet up with the gang? Like this?”

“Yep. I planned to do that but… I realized I need to have some gifts for them.” Boboiboy ponders his current dilemma, ignoring the look Taufan is giving him. The elemental looked him up and down, and pursed his lips slightly. Is there something wrong with Boboiboy’s clothes today? Didn’t Hallintar already fix his hair? 

“...Do you have any ideas for the gifts, Taufan?”

“Hm? Yeah…just a moment…” The squint Taufan gave him is nerve-wracking.

“Taufan!” 

Behind the said elemental, runs a tired and wheezing boy. It is Solar, face-planted on the pavement road as if he just ran a marathon. 

“Ah, Solar! You’re finally here. What took you so long? Aren’t you the light element? Can’t you just teleport?” 

“I, I will…blast…you with this radioactive light beam…And destroy your hoverboard. Let’s see…what does having legs feel like, huh?” Solar grits his teeth while slowly standing up. He will end Taufan today. 

“Can’t you just teleport?”

“I just don’t want to.” Solar did not think about teleporting. Then he finally acknowledged the elemental user.

“Good morning, Master.” 

“You and Gempa honestly… Please, just call me Boboiboy.” Boboiboy imagined another coin increase every time Gempa and Solar addressed him in formality. He’s close to becoming a millionaire. 

“If you say so, Mas- Boboiboy,” and that’s half of a coin into his imaginary bank. 

“Where are you going if you don’t mind me asking?” 

“To meet up with my friends at Kokotiam.”

“Meet up?” Solar scrutinized him up and down. Ouch. “You know today is your birthday, right?” 

“Yes! Why are you guys looking at me like that?” Boboiboy wailed as his elementals kept gossiping and looking at him, judgmentally. 

“No. Big fat no.” 

The order is given with a loud bang, from the supreme judges as they stare down the quivering Boboiboy.

“Meeting up? In simple jeans and a hoodie? Not dressed like that you aren’t.” An imaginary fire appears behind Solar, as the elemental grabs Boboiboy’s wrist and pulls him away. 

“This is your birthday, Boboiboy. And you need to be the most special person on this day!!!” 

“Hold up- Wahh–” screams Boboiboy as he turns into an atom and moves along the wavelengths of light. 

Taufan, who has been left behind, checks the time on his watch and pulls a thumbs up towards the sky, then he flies to Boboiboy and Solar's possible location.

“A mall?” BoBoiBoy muttered 

Solar brought Boboiboy to a sparkly building with different sizes of crowds coming in and out of the entrance, all carrying huge paper bags. 

“A shopping mall to be exact.”

There is no shopping mall or any mall in Pulau Rintis. Did they teleport to somewhere outside of the island? 

“I didn’t bring any money with me!”

“Hmph. Don’t underestimate me, Master. I am Boboiboy Solar after all,” said Solar as he pulled out a familiar wallet possessed by the elemental master. 

“Now, let’s not waste more time, chop chop.” 

Sweat-dropped Boboiboy wearied about his situation, as he let Solar pull him inside. 

.

.

.

“Turtle-neck or a dress shirt? Maybe we have to consider some blazers too…” Solar mumbled for the whole fashion hunt. Boboiboy couldn’t escape because his arm got trapped by the said elemental’s elbow hook. 

“Denim jacket! You would like to go with something casual right?”

“Hey Solar, why don’t we just choose something I already have at home?” 

“Please, Master. I know the back of your wardrobe like my rays. And a lot of them are what you have worn on repeat every year. This year, we will make a difference. You will look new and amazing.” With glinting eyes and excitement that burns like fuel, Solar adds another slim black-pressed trouser and puts them on Boboiboy’s linked arm. 

“Why do we need to make a difference? Every year is the same. Another day in our lives. Not like anyone will care about what I wear to meet them.” Boboiboy sighs wearily, he just wants all of this to end soon. 

“What are you talking about? Of course, they will care!” Solar disagrees. 

“Why would they care? It's just me in the end.”

“Because they care about you, Boboiboy.” A new voice joined in their squabble at the corner of the store. 

“Dressing up is not just throwing nice-looking clothes on yourself. But it’s a way to express yourself too. It’s a way to prove ‘you deserved it’.” Ending in a pitchy tone, Taufan scoops the piling of clothes on Boboiboy’s arm to hold it himself. 

“Okay? Why does that matter if people care about what I wore?” 

“Because we care about you,” Taufan repeats. “Wearing new clothes means a new beginning, and also means that you acknowledge the new you! Especially on an important day such as this, we are happy that you acknowledge you’re special.”

“But-”

“Ahh! The blabbermouth you are.” Solar hand-picks some from the piles in Taufan’s arm, then pushes it towards Boboiboy. “Try wearing these. If you like it then we will go with it.”

Although reluctantly, Boboiboy still heeded to Solar’s order and headed to the changing room. 

A few minutes later, while Boboiboy is admiring himself in front of the mirror, Solar’s head pokes in. 

“AHH PERVERT!!!” The elemental master punches the invading head. “Oh, it's just you Solar? Why would you peek in like that! What if I’m still changing?”

“Ouch…” Solar groans as his background music is the wind elemental cackles “We share the same body. What is there to you that I haven’t seen?” 

Boboiboy blushes and knocks the light elemental’s head again. Solar ignores the throbbing pain and looks at the mirror.

“Well well, seems like my eyes work as fine as they always do. A feat only I can pull. Gorgeous, magnificent.” 

As Solar keeps mumbling creepily behind the curtain, Taufan has also poked his head in to look.

“Wow! You look so handsome, Boboiboy! As expected from our Master!” 

Blushing from the praises on both of his ears, Boboiboy whines “Why don’t you guys come into the dressing room like a normal person??? Don’t just stick your heads in and look at me like a weirdo outside the dressing room!” 

Seems like the elemental doesn’t listen to what he just said. Boboiboy wondered how long it would take the clerk to see these two and call the security on them. 

“Let’s check out then!” Taufan pulled his master’s hand.

“Don’t I have to take them off?”

“Just leave them on!”

Cha-ching.

“All right. Now it’s my turn. Hair time!” Taufan hugged Bobiboy close to Solar.

“Huh what again-” The elemental master can’t even get the chance to speak. 

“Oh.” They are back in his bedroom. Boboiboy wonders how much time he has to get back to the houses before he can actually leave and find his friends. 

“I have the perfect hairstyle for this! Just wait for me, Boboiboy.” Then Taufan ran to his bathroom.

Why is Solar still linking arms with him? He literally can’t run or move anywhere else.

Taufan came back with a hair gel tube and a mysterious machine. “Now let’s unspike your hair!” 

“Hah? So it really was you guys’ prank!

“Sorry sorry.” Still keeping that annoying grin on, he points the big head of the machine towards Boboiboy. “It will be a bit strong so hang on.”

“What strong-” He can’t end his sentence again as Boboiboy got blown to his next life. Literally. A strong gust of hot air blew out from the machine, and the last thing Boboiboy saw in his life was Taufan’s irritating smirk. His hat at least was caught by Solar.

“Done~”

Whatever effort Hallintar tried to fix his hair this morning was for naught, Boboiboy is a Visual Kei idol now. 

“This much, and…” Taufan starts to work his way through the punk spirit in Boboiboy’s hair. With gel and combs, he patiently styles it with Solar as his advisor. 

“Perfect!!! What do you think my good sir?” Taufan brought a tall mirror and spun it around for Boboiboy to see himself. 

Combined with Solar's stylish yet casual clothes and Taufan's 7:3 hairstyle, Boboiboy can hardly recognize himself!

“Oooh you’re such a handsome man, Boboiboy.” Solar coo-ed at his master, pinching his cheek to alleviate the cute aggression he’s having. 

“We all love you as you are, Boboiboy. But it wouldn't hurt to make yourself look prettier for your birthday. Style a new hairstyle, choose different clothes than what you usually wear, and admire a special you on the most special day. Remember this for yourself: You're important. You deserved to be special." Taufan holds the elemental master’s shoulders, standing behind looking like a proud father. 

“Now, want a free ride to Kokotiam?”

The speech just now makes Boboiboy feel a bit, weird. He still doesn’t understand why people would care to see what he wore, but it feels nice to look good. On his special day. 

“It’s okay. I will walk there again. It’s not too far away.” 

“I see. Blind everyone with your handsomeness Boboiboy!” Taufan pat Boboiboy's back roughly.

“Remember to credit me, okay Master?” Solar smiles as he gently look Boboiboy walk through the door.

Boboiboy just chuckles and leaves the two elementals in his room. As he walked downstairs, Gempa saw him and froze. Before slamming himself to the floor and lying there unconscious. Weird? 

Boboiboy is about to walk through the front door, Hallintar catches him as he is walking through the living room. Hallintar started to cry and gave him a thumbs up. What is wrong with this duo? 

Bobiboy gets out of the house and decides to walk to the Kokotiam again, feeling a little lighter and excited to show everyone how he looks.

By: Mem (Gatto -w-)

As Boboiboy rounds the corner, still feeling the lingering embarrassment from his recent makeover, a sudden, thunderous crash echoes through the street. He spins around, eyes widening at the sight of Sai buried under a precarious mountain of wrapped presents, desperately trying to keep them from toppling any further.

“SAI!” Shielda’s voice rings out, somewhere between exasperation and concern. She strides over with a clipboard in hand, eyebrows drawn tight. “I told you to wait for me!”

Sai, face flushed with determination (and maybe a little bit of guilt), grits his teeth and attempts to hoist the entire pile back into place. “I’ve got it! Just... almost...” One of the larger boxes slips, and he lunges to catch it, nearly losing his balance in the process.

Boboiboy stifles a laugh as he walks over. “Need a hand?” he asks, trying to sound casual despite the amusement in his voice.

“No,” Sai snaps a bit too quickly, refusing to admit defeat. “I can handle it.”

Shielda just shakes her head, casting Boboiboy a look that says, he’s always like this. “You’re going to drop them again,” she mutters, adjusting her grip on the checklist.

“Am not,” Sai huffs, still stubbornly clutching the pile, sweat beading on his forehead.

Boboiboy finally steps in, grabbing a few of the top boxes before they slip from Sai’s grasp. “You know, teamwork makes things a lot easier,” he jokes, his easy smile taking the edge off Sai’s tension.

Sai hesitates, but when Shielda gives a small nod of approval, he begrudgingly lets Boboiboy take a few more packages. “Fine,” he mutters, averting his eyes.

As they redistribute the load, Shielda relaxes a little, though she still shoots Sai a look of warning. “Next time, wait for help,” she chides gently, her tone softer now.

Sai grumbles something under his breath but doesn’t argue, and Boboiboy just grins, caught between the twins’ familiar, sibling-like bickering. As they continue down the street, Boboiboy can’t help but think that despite the chaos, there’s something kind of nice about their dynamic—loud, messy, but undeniably close.

Once the stack of gifts finally stabilizes, Sai takes a deep breath, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. Just as he’s about to move on, his gaze lands on Boboiboy’s new look, and he suddenly freezes, eyes widening.

“Did... Solar and Taufan kidnap you and brainwash you into being fashionable?” he blurts out, his tone a mix of disbelief and suspicion.

Boboiboy’s cheeks redden instantly. “What? No! They just... thought I should look more ‘special’ for today,” he mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck.

Shielda, standing beside her brother, gives him a light elbow to the side. “Be polite, Sai,” she murmurs, though there’s a hint of amusement in her usually calm eyes.

Sai huffs, crossing his arms defensively. “I’m just saying! It’s weird seeing him all... dressed up. You look fine as you are, anyway,” he grumbles, almost like he’s admitting something he doesn’t want to. Then, quieter, he mutters, “Not that Solar’s fashion sense is all that bad or anything...”

Boboiboy can’t help but smile, feeling oddly reassured despite Sai’s blunt way of putting things. “Thanks, I guess?” he chuckles.

Without saying much, Shielda steps closer and thoughtfully adjusts Boboiboy’s collar, smoothing out a crease. “It suits you,” she says softly, giving him a rare, approving smile. “It’s different, but... it highlights your confidence.”

Boboiboy’s heart skips a beat at the compliment, and he quickly averts his gaze to hide his embarrassment. “Y-Yeah, well... I guess it’s okay,” he stammers.

Sai just rolls his eyes, pretending not to notice the way his sister’s smile makes Boboiboy look like he’s about to melt. “Whatever. Just don’t let Solar turn you into a fashion model or something.”

As they continue down the street, the earlier tension fades into a comfortable banter, and Boboiboy can’t help but think that maybe this day isn’t turning out so bad after all.

As they make their way toward the Kokotiam, the atmosphere feels a bit lighter, filled with the soft hum of bustling streets and distant chatter. Sai walks a step behind, seemingly deep in thought, before he hesitantly nudges Boboiboy’s shoulder.

His usual stubborn expression is softer now, almost unsure. “You know... I get why they wanted you to dress up,” he starts, not quite meeting Boboiboy’s eyes. “You always put others first, no matter what. Maybe they just wanted you to feel... celebrated for once. Not just as our leader but as you, y’know?”

Boboiboy blinks, caught completely off guard by the admission. A warm smile slowly spreads across his face, his earlier embarrassment melting away. “Oh... I never thought of it that way,” he admits quietly, feeling a bit choked up despite himself. “Thanks, Sai.”

Shielda, walking just ahead, glances over her shoulder, a rare, gentle smile gracing her features. “He’s right. You’re always looking out for everyone else. It’s nice to see you take care of yourself, too.” She reaches out and adjusts one of Boboiboy’s sleeves, making sure it sits just right.

Sai quickly clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable with how sentimental things have gotten. “Yeah, well... that doesn’t mean you need to dress like a pop star every day,” he mumbles, scratching his cheek to hide his flushed face.

Shielda can’t help but tease him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Aww, are you embarrassed because you actually complimented someone?”

Sai sputters, his face turning an even deeper shade of red. “Wha—No! I just—Stop twisting my words!” He huffs and picks up his pace, trying to hide his flustered state.

Boboiboy just laughs, the sound bright and free. “You know, I kinda like this look on you, Sai,” he teases back, nudging him lightly.

“Don’t push it,” Sai mutters, but there’s no real bite in his words, just a grudging fondness.

As they continue down the street, Shielda just shakes her head, smiling softly. Boboiboy can’t help but feel grateful for moments like this—messy, genuine, and full of warmth.

As they near the Kokotiam, Boboiboy starts to notice that the route they’re taking feels a bit... off. He furrows his brows, glancing at the familiar, winding path through the park. “Uh... are we taking the scenic route or something? The Kokotiam’s the other way.”

Shielda doesn’t miss a beat, casually pointing toward the rows of blooming flowers lining the path. “The view from the park is nicer. Plus, the weather’s good today.”

Boboiboy narrows his eyes suspiciously. “Uh-huh... sure.” He tries to veer off to a shortcut through the side street, but Shielda smoothly steps in front, blocking his way with an effortless pivot. “Trust me, it’s better this way.”

Boboiboy squints at her, more intrigued than convinced. “You’re acting weird.”

Just then, a chime from Sai’s phone breaks the brief standoff. Sai pulls it out, glancing at the screen. His lips twitch into a smirk as he quickly types a reply. Boboiboy doesn’t miss the way Shielda and Sai exchange a look—like they’re sharing a secret.

“Okay, what’s going on?” Boboiboy presses, crossing his arms.

Sai just shrugs nonchalantly, though his innocent whistle completely gives him away. “Dunno what you’re talking about,” he says, though the mischievous glint in his eyes betrays him.

“Seriously,” Boboiboy insists, trying to catch a glimpse of Sai’s phone, but Sai tucks it away, shaking his head.

Shielda just hums thoughtfully, guiding them down a winding path that leads around the fountain. “You’re too curious for your own good,” she teases lightly, her tone calm but giving nothing away.

Boboiboy huffs, now more curious than ever, but he decides to play along for now, figuring out that whatever they’re planning, it’s probably something he’s not supposed to know yet. Still, as they continue through the park, he can’t help but glance between the twins, trying to piece together their little conspiracy.

As they reach the center of the park, the late afternoon sun casting golden light over the flowers, Shielda suddenly stops. Boboiboy glances back, a question on his lips, but before he can speak, Shielda pulls a small, neatly wrapped package from her bag and hands it to him.

“It’s not from the group—it’s just from us,” she says softly, her calm tone carrying a hint of warmth.

Boboiboy blinks in surprise, carefully untying the string and peeling back the paper. Inside, resting on a small cushion, is a handmade bracelet. The cord is woven with earthy tones, and dangling from it are tiny, intricately carved charms—each representing one of his elemental forms.

His breath catches as he gingerly lifts it, fingers brushing over the familiar symbols. “You... made this?”

Sai rubs the back of his neck, looking off to the side. “Yeah. You don’t really get stuff for yourself, and, uh... Shielda thought it might be nice for you to have something like this.”

Shielda gives a small nod, her expression a touch softer than usual. “We wanted it to be something you’d actually use. Durable, but... meaningful too.”

Boboiboy’s heart swells, warmth pooling in his chest. Without thinking, he pulls both of them into a tight hug, squeezing them with all the gratitude he can’t put into words. “Thank you. Really... This means a lot.”

Sai freezes at first, clearly caught off guard, but then awkwardly pats Boboiboy’s shoulder. “Okay, okay, don’t get all mushy,” he mutters, though the faint redness on his cheeks betrays his embarrassment.

Shielda just smiles, a rare, contented look on her face. “You deserve it,” she murmurs.

After a moment, Boboiboy pulls back, grinning wide as he carefully slips the bracelet onto his wrist. It fits perfectly, the charms clinking softly as he moves. “It’s perfect,” he says, beaming.

Sai scoffs, trying to regain his composure. “Yeah, well... don’t go breaking it on your next adventure. Took us long enough to make.”

Boboiboy chuckles, giving Sai a playful nudge. “I’ll take good care of it. Promise.”

As they continue walking, Boboiboy can’t help but glance down at the bracelet every now and then, feeling his heart flutter with happiness. No matter what the day brings, he knows he’s got friends who care—a reminder he’ll carry with him, quite literally, from now on.

As they reach the last block before the Kokotiam, Sai suddenly gets visibly jittery, shifting his weight from foot to foot. He glances at his phone, then back at the road ahead, before blurting out, “We’re gonna be late!”

Boboiboy raises an eyebrow. “Late? We’re, like, way ahead of schedule.”

Sai doesn’t seem to hear him—or maybe he’s just pretending not to. With a dramatic sweep of his arm, he points toward the Kokotiam. “I must secure the perimeter!” he declares, then takes off at a brisk pace, practically jogging ahead.

Shielda just sighs, shaking her head with a mix of fondness and exasperation. “Sometimes, Sai’s enthusiasm gets the better of him.”

Boboiboy watches Sai’s retreating figure, stifling a laugh. “Is he always this dramatic?”

Shielda shrugs, her eyes softening. “Only when he’s trying to distract himself. Don’t worry—today’s about celebrating you. Just enjoy it.”

Boboiboy hesitates for a moment, still trying to piece together what’s going on, but Shielda’s calm assurance makes it hard to feel uneasy. He lets out a breath, finally relaxing. “Yeah... I guess I just wasn’t expecting all this.”

Shielda gives him a knowing look. “You’re important to us. It’s only natural that we’d want to show you that.”

They continue down the path, the hum of the town growing louder as they near the Kokotiam. Boboiboy can’t help but glance down at his new bracelet, the small charms glinting in the sunlight. The earlier knot of anxiety in his chest loosens, replaced by a gentle, comforting warmth.

He hadn’t realized just how much he needed this—the reassurance, the effort, the reminder that his friends truly see him, not just as their leader but as himself. As they approach the entrance, he can’t help but feel a little more confident, his steps lighter.

Whatever’s waiting for him inside, he knows it’ll be good—because with friends like these, how could it be anything else?

By: irismy case

Just as soon as Sai left, before the two could take another step, a loud rustle came from the nearby bushes. Shielda got into her battle position, standing in front of the birthday boy despite not having any of her armour or weapons on her.

A jingle of a bell, “Meow?” 

The warrior relaxes her body once the familiar green cat appears, busy shaking off the leaves and dirt stuck onto its fur. 

Another soft thud follows the cat, “Argh Cattus, I told you we need to be discreet so that we don't disturb…”

The boy lying on the floor slowly looks up to the two figures blocking his window of sunlight, “….Master.” 

Another coin into his imaginary bank, Boboiboy thought.

He chuckles, extending his arm towards the Elemental, “Need a hand?” 

Shielda sighs at the sight as the other reaches for Boboiboy's help to get up, dusting any dirt from his clothes while laughing awkwardly. Cattus gives him a judgmental meow as a response.

“Uh, well, we weren't following you guys or anything. Oh, and you look fantastic today! And it's just-“ Duri shoots a glance at Shielda for her to help him out.

However, she raised only a brow in confusion while Cattus meows in disapproval. The cat trots towards Boboiboy’s legs and starts purring, rubbing its fur all over him. The boy laughs, bends down and begins to pet it. 

“Why are you guys all the same? You don't have to call me Master, you know. Feels weird.”

“R-right, Mast- Boboiboy!” The leaf Elemental smiles brightly.

Another half a coin into his imaginary bank.

With more purring, Shielda bends down to pat Cattus too. Just then, Boboiboy realises something different around Cattus’s collar. 

“A flower crown?” His fingers brush over the fresh petals. 

Duri’s eyes light up, and he bends down, along with the rest, gently taking the crown off of Cattus and gesturing to Boboiboy, who turns his head a little so his Elemental can put the crown on top of his newly styled hair.

“Me, Cattus and…” Just in time, the small yellow power sphera turns around to give a quick wave to the others,

“Bellbot made this for you! It…isn't much, but the flowers are intentionally chosen for you!”

Shielda smiles at the thought, while Boboiboy nods and hums, signaling for the other to continue. 

“Here, those orange gladiolus represent hope and strength. The purple iris represents your wisdom, while the red roses symbolise your passion for hero work and our love for you!" Duri states, giving finger hearts before continuing, causing the receiver to laugh.

“To top it all off, the yellow bachelor’s buttons is our wish to bring peace and positivity into your life every day!” 

“Meow!”

Warmth and gratitude fill the boy as he reaches out one hand to Cattus, the other holding onto Duri’s. He looks up to the smiling Elemental, and his heart aches with appreciation and love. But deep down, a touch of guilt, regret and sorrow bubbles within him as a memory resurfaces.

_A striking flash of red slices through Fang’s dragon, hitting the boy physically as well. It was too fast, and Rimba couldn't keep up, but fortunately, Gopal caught the other in time._

_A loom of electric red towers over the kids, and Boboiboy, frustrated, knew he had to do everything to stop this, once and for all._

_“YOU’VE CROSSED THE LINE, KIRA’NA!”_

_Crackles of red and black engulfed every inch of Gurla’tan as the Elemental desperately reached out to the raging empress._

_A glimpse of Halilintar was all it took for Rimba to willingly sacrifice his arm to get the other back._

_”HAND THAT SWORD OVER TO ME! GIVE ME BACK MY BROTHER!”_

Not just towards Duri, but to every elemental who unintentionally got caught in the crossfire because of his carelessness. His mistakes and failures as the elemental hero were passed on to them, causing them pain, and ultimately losing them multiple times. 

He didn't treat them like tools, at least, he hoped he didn't. But with the way he kept ‘using’ them, without suffering much of the consequences himself, them sacrificing their elemental selves so he could stay alive, did he deserve all of that?

Did he deserve them?

As if sensing a negative disruption, Duri places his other hand on top of Boboiboy’s. Shaking his head with a worried smile, as if telling the young master that everything was alright, with no words exchanged between them. Shielda glances at the both of them and gives gentle pats to the boy’s back as encouragement, while Cattus continuously rubs its head on his legs.

“You may not be perfect, but you're everything we could ask for, Boboiboy.” The Elemental pet Cattus, with a genuine smile, bounces back up on his feet, and the others follow suit. 

“Don't ever forget that.” A glimmer of neon green shines in his eyes as Boboiboy lets out a puff of laughter out of relief. 

Glancing at another emerging figure behind, Duri gives a quick wave, “Then, I'll get going. Have fun celebrating!” 

“Wait, you're not coming with us, Duri?”

The Elemental simply shakes his head, “This is your day to celebrate with the others; we shouldn't bother you! Don't worry about us and have fun with the others!” 

“Wherever you go, we won't be far to follow! Happy birthday, Master.”

Boboiboy had already lost track of the imaginary coins deposited in his mental bank. When he was about to reply, he turns his head to a familiar mature, deep voice behind him.

“Shielda? What's taking you guys so long?”

“Ah, Captain Kaizo.” She turns to reply, “There was some…flowery disturbance.”

The man takes a final step forward to the pair, staring at the flower crown on the boy’s head and the green cat greeting his presence. “Figured.”

“Captain Kaizo? Why are you…” Boboiboy pauses as he looks back again to see his Elemental gone without a trace. 

“Ah, are we late?” Shielda worriedly questions.

Kaizo shakes his head in response, “It simply got…overwhelming.” 

The captain thinks back to when he was at the Kokotiam, where half the people were admiring his looks and asking, "How did Boboiboy manage to make such a handsome friend?" and the other half were the older folks bombarding him with food and drinks long before the party started. 

Boboiboy, oblivious to what's happening, tilts his head while Shielda nods her head in sympathy. 

“Ah…Captain, you're walking too fast for an old man like me…”

An older figure gradually emerges behind Kaizo, who steps aside to give the other space and offers a small respectful bow.

“Apologies, Tok Aba. And please, call me Kaizo.”

The elder only laughs it off with a nod before getting tackled by his grandson by the hip.

“Atok!”

“Boboiboy!” 

The warmth between them intertwined as they fell into a brief familial embrace. After releasing each other, Tok Aba cups the boy’s cheeks as a habit, which Boboiboy fails to avoid. They haven't seen each other all day, and Boboiboy grasps every moment he has with his grandpa.  

Kaizo takes in the sight; nostalgia comes over him like pulsing waves, recalling to when he held his parents’ arms in his own. Pushing the feeling down before it got any worse, he clears his throat to get some attention, “Well, I will take that as our cue to go first. Let's go Shielda.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Meow?” 

The man slowly let his gaze wander to the ground, “…You too, Cattus.”

Tok Aba gives a light chuckle and a nod, while Boboiboy was utterly confused once again as to why they couldn’t walk to the Kokotiam together.

“Before we go back, I just wanted to let you know,” Kaizo pauses in his step, “you're one of the best Cadets TAPOPS could ever ask for.” 

He quickly turns his head in the direction of the Kokotiam instead of the boy, “And…thank you for taking care of Pang well. You look well-dressed today, too. Happy birthday, Boboiboy.”

“E-eh, Captain?!” Shielda gives a quick wave to the grandpa and grandchild before rushing behind Kaizo, who suddenly walked faster than usual. 

Cattus follows, emitting a short purr of amusement after spotting a light pink shade behind the captain’s ears.

“My grandson…” 

The elderly gently holds the boy’s hand in his, “When we get there, I'm not sure if there's enough time to say all this to you. So I asked Kaizo to give me some time with you.”

“You know I always have time for you, Atok.” Boboiboy shakes his head in response. 

“I know. You've been by my side since you came back from…Gur’kalan?” 

The boy laughs, “It’s Gur’latan, Tok!”

Tok Aba sighs, his lips forming a small smile. “Oh, these strange planets you visit all sound the same to me…but what matters most,” his hands rest on Boboiboy’s shoulders, “is that you're back here, safe and sound.”

Boboiboy nods with a chuckle before Tok Aba pulls his grandson into another embrace. Slow, steady pats with the elder’s calloused hands on his back, while the younger tightens his grip on his grandpa's shirt, digging his head into the other’s chest, the flower crown barely hanging on to avoid being crushed.

This was all they needed. Away from everyone, away from the hectic moments of life itself, just the two of them for the first time in a long while.

The occasional whispers from the wind, plants colliding their petals with one another, and the distant chirps from birds grounded them back to their reality. 

“Tok Aba?”

“Yes, Oboi?”

His grip tightens as he buries his head deeper, “I missed you, a lot…” 

“I missed this.”

Tok Aba didn't stop his rhythmic back-pets, which Boboiboy found soothing and comforting, not wanting him to stop. 

A sign that he’s here on earth, not on missions, not in the training grounds breaking apart his muscles, not worrying about whether he or his friends will live to see another day.

“Boboiboy,” Tok Aba glances down to the smaller figure, eyes ever so soft, “that day when you came back for the first time in a long while, I was worried, you know? You had all these injuries…”

The boy stiffens, but the other continues, “…but you were smiling like you usually do, so I knew you were doing alright.” 

“And when you said that you wanted to stay here and take care of me instead of doing your hero work, I can't help but wonder if I'm being too much of a burden-”

“You're not a burden, Atok!” Boboiboy detaches himself from the other in alarm. “That's my decision. You’re everything to me, Tok. I would do anything to spend as much time in the world with you. It's just that…”

Boboiboy couldn't continue. He knew the reason why he couldn't spend more time with Tok Aba. But that same reason is how he managed to make such friends today, whom he calls his second home.

The elderly nods, “My grandson has really grown up well.” Taking his hands into his calloused ones, “I just want what's best for you, Oboi. I'm proud that you're doing hero work and how much you love it, but putting your life on the front lines multiple times, your Tok just can't handle that.”

“But more than anything,” a soft smile, “I just want you to stay safe, healthy and happy. You're all that I have left, Oboi.”

The boy’s glossy eyes stare back into warm, affectionate ones. 

‘You’re all that I have, too, Tok.’

But he couldn't say that; he still had his parents, as absent as they may be, and his friends around as well. So he kept it to himself, burying these words in his heart.

“So, if you want to return to work, please don't let me be the reason to stop doing the things you love, my dear grandson.” Tok Aba reaches out to wipe away a stray tear that trickled down the boy’s face and fixes the flower crown on his head.

“I will, but not now Tok.” Boboiboy smiles, “For now, I want to rest and spend all the time that I have with you.” 

Because Boboiboy knows that time is not on his side.

“I love you, Tok Aba!” 

“I love you too, Boboiboy.” 

The elder glances at his watch for a second, “Then, I've said what I wanted. Shall we go ahead? My present is also waiting for you.”

Taking one last glance at Tok Aba, he silently vows to take care of and spend more time with him.

Boboiboy enthusiastically nods, locking his arms around his grandpa as they slowly approach the entrance of the Kokotiam, which is buzzing with exciting chatter and festive lights.

By: kurokiwrites (ao3)

However, there was one crucial detail Boboiboy had forgotten. A teensy, minor, microscopic, miniscule, petite, tiny, cute little nugget of information that had coincidentally slipped his mind in the haze of his excitement.

And that was the fact that the universe despised him with a seething passion.

His peripheral vision registered movement long before they appeared before him, their motions fluid and well-trained, with the grace of both a predator and hunter respectively.

Boboiboy could pinpoint the exact moment his heart rate picked up. He could count every second it took for his muscles to tense, for him to take his stance between the figures and Tok Aba, and to tap into the familiar power connecting him to each of his elementals.

This was bad. They were too close to the Kokotiam, and if the intruders had any harmful intent, he wasn’t confident he could protect Tok Aba while minimizing collateral damage. Most of his elementals were destructive, and while he was working on fine tuning his precision, he would ultimately fall into bad habits when times got desperate.

Why today? Why now? Had a moment of reprieve been too large of an ask?

A calloused but firm hand on his shoulder shook him from his spiralling thoughts.

Tok Aba’s exasperated voice pierced through his roaring blood: “You two can come out now,” he sighed. “Is it really necessary for you two to hide like cats?”

What?

A round of mischievous giggles, melodious and bell-like, filled the air and fully bursting the underwater bubble that Boboiboy had been plunged under. He arched his chin, brightening at the sight of two sheepish, but unapologetic elementals stepped into the road before them.

Blaze was grinning like a loon, his frenzied enthusiasm an open book. Ais, characteristically, was more reserved, but he couldn’t mask the smile or the cherry blossoming on his cheeks.

“Sorry!” Blaze scratched the back of his head. “It was meant to be a surprise!”

“Not a very good one,” Tok Aba huffed.

“So this is where you two were,” Boboiboy realized. “I haven’t seen you guys all day! Do you want to join the party too?”

Ais shuffled on his feet, self-conscious but keeping his eyes on the teenager. “No, actually.” He crossed his arms. “We’re not here for that.”

Boboiboy frowned. “Then… do you need help with anything?”

A loud crash erupted in a distance, quickly followed by a cacophony of cat screeches, clanging metal and unidentified screaming. Instinctively, Boboiboy tilted his head towards the noise, which sounded suspiciously like it was coming from…

In a rare moment of coordination and twin telepathy, the elementals pressed up against each other’s sides and stood on their toes, like they were actively blocking out Boboiboy’s line of sight from the Kokotiam. It was a futile effort, considering their minute size against the larger backdrop, but their action itself was more than enough to redirect his attention.

“Is something wrong?”

“Y-yes, actually!” Blaze blurted, shoving Ais away and raising a finger to Boboiboy’s chest. “It’s your birthday, right?! We have something for you before the party!”

Tok Aba dipped his head in interest. However, Ais whirled to the fire elemental as if he’s the one who’d gone senile instead. “We do?” Blaze jabbed his elbow into Ais’ ribcage. “Ow-! Yes, we do!”

Neither Tok Aba nor Ais looked particularly convinced nor safe by Blaze’s ingenuity, but Boboiboy didn’t believe Blaze’s ideas could be too outlandish—

Blaze gave him a full thumbs’ up, grinned with all teeth and announced with his full chest: “A fight!”

Behind him, Tok Aba sighed in disappointment.

Beside Blaze, Ais buried his face into his hands and mumbled what suspiciously sounded like a prayer for strength.

“A… fight?” Boboiboy parroted, wondering if his elemental had gone off the rockers somewhere along the way. Perhaps it was the stress getting to all of them.

Rather than backing up, Blaze doubled down and started driving the point home. “A fight! You’re all pent up with all that nervous energy, it’s not good for you! I would know.” He wrapped an arm around Ais’ shoulders, pulling him close. “A little spar before the main event will unwind all that tension in your shoulders! You, versus me and Ais. Doesn’t that sound exciting to you?”

“I didn’t agree to this-?” Blaze slapped a hand over Ais’ mouth, effectively silencing his protests. Ais slumped over and sighed, all too used to his twin’s antics.

“Oi,” Tok Aba deadpanned. “Are you trying to destroy the Kokotiam?”

Blaze flinched, and boy wasn’t that a strange sight. “A friendly spar!” he clarified. “We won’t go overboard, I promise! And we can go somewhere where we won’t cause too much damage too!”

“You’re too trigger-happy,” scolded the old man.

“Ah…”

“A spar…” Boboiboy echoed, testing the word on his tongue. As it left his lips, a spark of excitement crackled in his chest, its electrifying aftershocks spreading to every ounce of his body. His heart sped up once more, not out of fear, but rather anticipation.

His keenness damped slightly as he cinched the hem of his shirt, the new fabric a reminder of the other elementals’ well wishes. “I can’t.” He couldn’t hide the disappointment from his voice, however hard he tried. “Solar and Taufan spent so long on my appearance. I can’t ruin their work.”

Blaze visibly dampened at the words, but another concerningly loud crash reverberated from the Kokotiam.

“What- what they don’t know won’t hurt them!” Ais interjected, abruptly and strangely energized out of nowhere. “It’s a small exercise! Solar and Taufan won’t be at the party, so if no one tells them, they won’t ever find out!”

Blaze grimaced from Ais’ change in attitude, but jumped in with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. “Yeah!” he agreed passionately. “Come on, Master! It’ll be fun!”

Tok Aba sighed, but he couldn’t stop his grandson nor his elemental powers. He patted Boboiboy’s head and tucked arms behind his back. “Don’t get hurt, okay?” he said. “I’ll go finish up setting the party. Remember to stay safe.”

Boboiboy nodded happily. “Of course, Tok Aba! It won’t get out of hand!”

His grandfather gave him a look that said, I don’t believe it for a second, but for your sake, I will hold my tongue. Nevertheless, he shook his head with a fond sigh, and left in the direction of his stall.

After Tok Aba was a safe distance away, Boboiboy returned his attention back to his elementals.

A smile made its way onto his face. He was getting kind of excited now. They hadn’t really done something like this before, but going up against some of them sounded fun!

“Alright, let’s do this!”, he announced and Ais and Blaze went into a combat stance.

“Give us everything you’ve got, Oboi!”, Blaze shouted back with a wide grin on his face.

“You’re gonna regret saying that…”, Ais murmured.

Boboiboy simply smirked.

Then he lifted his right arm and clutched his power watch. It was time to call upon his most trusty ally for this. 

“Elemental Power: Boboiboy……Gempa!”

He felt the familiar, calming energy ripple through him, as he changed forms and became the earth elemental himself. 

With confident stomp of his feet, Boboiboy Gempa erected a circular arena around them - plenty big enough for a good fight. He made sure to make it look as effortless as possible.

“If we’re gonna do this, we will do it responsibly, yes Blaze?”, he said.

Immediately the grin on Blaze’s face faltered a bit - albeit only for a split second.

Ais on his part however wasted no time to summon his ice bow and fired off a precise arrow straight at him with no hesitation.

Boboiboy knelt down, pressed his hand flat onto the ground and an earthen wall rose to intercept the icy projectile only a couple centimeters in front of him.

“You didn’t think it would be that easy, Ais, did you?”, he teased the other elemental.

“No, I didn’t”, Ais responded calmly. Too calmly. 

Driven by pure instinct, Boboiboy Gempa dove out from behind the wall - just in time to not be caught in the explosion that shattered his cover into pieces.

“Damn, how did he know?!”, Blaze complained loudly, the next fireball already in his hand.

Mobility wasn’t exactly his forte, but right now Boboiboy Gempa had to be quick on his feet to dodge the incoming barrage of ice and fire.

I need some space

With a quick touch to the ground, he sent some earth pillar’s into Blaze’s direction.

“I’ve known you for your whole life, Blaze! I could see you coming with my eyes closed!”, he laughed lightheartedly. This was more fun than he had expected.

In response, Blaze’s face took the color of flame.

“Oh yeah? We’ll see about that!”

A pair of chakrams appeared in his hands and with a quick twist of his body, he launched both of them towards Boboiboy Gempa.

No time to dodge!

Covering his hands in his trusty rock-gauntlets, Boboiboy Gempa braced for impact and concentrated.

The rotating weapons were approaching him from two sides, pincering him in.

There!

His fists closed around the Chakrams and stopped them right in front of his face.

Boboiboy already had the next taunt on his tongue, but it got stuck in his throat, when he felt a chilling cold seep into his feet below. He glanced down to find them encased in a thick layer of ice. He was stuck.

On the other side of the arena Ais lowered his bow with a satisfied look on his face.

“All yours, Blaze”

The fire elemental jumped high into the air, launching himself up with a pair of fiery thrusters from his hands, before raising them above his head.

“With pleasure, Ais!”

Boboiboy saw that trademark crazed grin creep onto Blaze’s face.

Not good!

“MAXIMUM FIREBALL!”

He was glad that he had taken precautions with the arena, so at least the surrounding area was safe - but now Boboiboy Gempa had to worry about himself first!

A single layer wouldn’t be enough here. He called up as many walls as he could and hoped that they would somehow shield him from the blast.

With a blinding explosion the fireball crashed into Boboiboy Gempa’s defensive rampart, leaving behind nothing but rubble and a cloud of dust.

“You overdid it again”, Ais commented with a frown.

Blaze looked at his partner with disbelief: “What? No way! He’s using Gempa!”

Before the two had the chance to continue their squabble, they were interrupted by a sudden movement in the dust cloud.

“See, it’s-”, Blaze opened his mouth only to be surprised by a pair of glowing red swords slicing at him.

“HALI?!”

Blaze barely managed to deflect the blow with his chakrams.

“We thought we’d level the playing field a bit. You don’t mind, do you?”, The lightning elemental smirked at him.

Regaining his composure, Blaze raised his weapons.

“Fine by me! Two on two then!”, he shouted as he exchanged a flurry of blows with Halilintar.

“Nope!”, a third voice chimed in, as Taufan flew past the ensuing melee with his hoverboard, heading straight for Ais.

He sent out a low-flying air-disc that sweeped the ice-wielder off his feet before he had time to get out of the way.

Instead of following up with another attack Taufan came to a stop above Ais and looked down on him with puffed cheeks.

“I tried so hard to make sure Oboi’s hair looks perfect today and now it’s all messed up from fighting again!”, the air elemental berated Ais.

Ais didn’t bother to get up from the ground and exchanged his bow for his cannon, firing off a salvo of shots towards Taufan, who effortlessly evaded them with a twirl.

“Stop moping and fight”, Ais poked at his opponent, a faint, barely noticable smile on his face.

“Well, I guess now that I’m here already…why not enjoy myself a little?”, Taufan grinned back, air-spheres forming in his palms.

From a distance Boboiboy Gempa watched on with a chuckle, as the elementals went head to head with each other.

It’s a bit chaotic, but it’s fun, he thought.

Luckily everyone else was busy, so he had time to kneel down and remove the Ice around his ankles. He gently chipped away at the frozen shackles, careful not to get hurt in the process.

More explosions and flashes of lightning in the background hurried him on to get done quickly.

Once he had finally freed himself, he flexed his shoulders and bumped his rock-fists together.

“Okay, let’s wrap this up! Earth Golem!”, he shouted and formed the rubble into his trusty construct.

Immediately all heads turned towards him.

“You brought out Giga?! No fair! Now we’re down four for two!”, Blaze lamented.

“Who was ganging up on who earlier? You are in no position to complain!”, Halilintar pointed out, while he kept hacking away at the fire elemental.

Finding themselves severely outnumbered, Ais and Blaze were slowly but surely driven back to the edge of the arena.

“It was a good fight, but it looks like it’s our win”, Boboiboy Gempa concluded confidently with his hands on his hips.

Taufan landed to his right, getting off his hoverboard in a fluid motion and tucking it under his arm, while Halilintar lowered his blades on the other side of him.

Boboiboy couldn’t see him, but he also felt Giga’s reassuring presence behind him.

“Okay, Giga now-”, he commanded his golem but was interrupted by the sound of a male adult laughter echoing in the distance. It sounded…familiar.

He frowned, trying to discern the source. 

In front of him, Blaze and Ais exchanged panicked looks. Were they that upset about losing?

“We...We’re not done yet!”, Blaze declared, a nervous smile on his face.

Boboiboy Gempa couldn’t tell if the sweat dropping from the fire elemental’s forehead was because of exhaustion or anxiety.

In the background there were struggling noises mixing in and…was that cat screeching?

“Come on guys, it’s no shame to lose~”, Taufan cheerily comforted the pair.

“Let’s do it, Blaze”, Ais said, his eyes full of determination, like this was a life or death situation.

“Yes, let’s go!”, Blaze confirmed with a serious expression that was so unlike him. 

Halilintar eyed the two suspiciously :

“You aren’t going to…”

Ais and Blaze bumped their fists together and exclaimed in unison:

“Elemental Fusion!”

Boboiboy Gempa’s eyes widened, as the two were swallowed by a gleaming light.

Seriously?!

A wave of hot air caused him to squint, then immediately a cold one followed and sent shivers over his skin.

“Happy Birthday, Master!”, Frostfire greeted him energetically as he stepped out of the light.

“Uhh, this is going to be tough”, Taufan said with concern.

“Then we better finish him quickly!”

Halilintar, direct as ever, charged straight at Frostfire, his body covered in lightning.

But he realized too late that he had been expected.

“Blazing Knee Strike!”

A powerful blow to Halilintar’s stomach sent him flying through the arena.

“Hali!”, Taufan cried out in shock over seeing the lightning elemental being outmatched.

Frostfire seized the moment and dashed forward.

Boboiboy Gempa locked eyes with the powerful Fusion and raised his arms to defend.

The impact came but it was unexpectedly…light?

Instead of attacking him, Frostfire had used his sturdy rock fists as a stepping stone to leap over him!

“Blazing Frost Punch!”

A heavy impact blasted through the air behind him.

“Giga, no!”

Boboiboy turned around just in time to see his Golem crumble to dust under Frostfire’s fist.

Frostfire looked back over his shoulder with a burning intensity in his eyes.

“Now it’s two on one. I like those odds”

Taufan slid into Boboiboy Gempa’s view, visibly concerned and clutching his hoverboard tightly.

“What do we do Master? This isn’t going well so far…”

The wind elemental was right, Boboiboy Gempa thought. It didn’t seem like they were going to win like this.

Which meant…

“We’ll try a different approach. Come back you two!”, he commanded.

Taufan’s eyes lit up with recognition and there was a frustrated gruff from Halilintar somewhere further away - then they were both enveloped in golden light and merged back together with their master.

“Wow, you wanna fight me on your own? I respect that”, Frostfire nodded, surprised but approving.

Boboiboy Gempa smiled at his opponent, almost mischievously.

“Sorry, but I have other plans”

Once more he grabbed his power watch and shouted:

“Elemental Power: Boboiboy Triple Split!”

On each side of Boboiboy, Solar and Duri emerged from his form. Appearing akin to angels descending from the heavens, they flanked him on both ends, facing down the fusion with their own element dancing in their fingertips.

While Duri remained his bubbly, innocent demeanour, who was more than happy to participate in what was meant to be a small, non-destructive spar; Solar looked positively murderous, his bloodlust darkening the shadows casting across his face.

“I spent,” Solar began, voice low and dripping with thinly veiled rage, “hours meticulously constructing an outfit for Boboiboy, and you walking popsicle sticks decide to go ahead and ruin it all?”

Under the light elemental’s death glare, Frostfire cowered and leaned away from Solar, acting like they were caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Unfortunately, by fusing, the two elements had inadvertently allowed Frostfire to shoulder the blame of his predecessors. 

“I just got here!” he protested. “That’s not fair!”

Boboiboy winced. “I got overexcited too. Solar, I’m so sorry!”

Solar didn’t even turn to look at Boboiboy. “Don’t apologize. I know you would never discard our gifts for you so thoughtlessly.” His eyes narrowed dangerously. “These two, on the other hand…”

“Don’t drag me into this!!” Frostfire wailed.

Suddenly Solar turned hard of hearing. “Duri, come here,” he barked, extending. “Let’s teach these knuckleheads a lesson.”

“Okay!” Duri chirped, agreeing all too easily.

Boboiboy blinked. “Wait, guys—”

Before any of them could react, the pair of elementals joined their fists, a burst of gold and emerald light washing over the scene and blinding everyone present. As the light died down, Sori stood where they once were, brandishing his signature mace menacingly.

Sori turned to Boboiboy first, nodding politely. “Happy birthday, Boboiboy. May you have a prosperous year ahead.” He snapped back to the perpetrator. “Let’s make things more interesting, shall we?”

The steady rumbling in Boboiboy’s chest shifted against his will, like it was being pushed away by a gust of wind instead. Boboiboy felt his form shift without his input, and suddenly Gempa and Halilintar were standing beside Sori.

Boboiboy looked down to his clothes, realizing belatedly he had been transformed into his Taufan form. Taufan’s giggles echoed faintly in his mind, his joy a refreshing breeze.

“Sorry,” Gempa apologized, pressing his palms together and bowing his head slightly. “I couldn’t miss out on the fun. We won’t do it again, I promise.”

“Woah!” Boboiboy Taufan’s eyes sparkled, influenced by the wind elemental’s excitable personality. It was like slipping into a glove that fit just right, soothing and simple. “You can do that? I never knew!”

Halilintar groaned. “Don’t make it a big deal.” He massaged the bridge of his nose. “It’s nothing noteworthy. In fact, you should be furious because we acted without your permission.”

“But it’s so cool!” Boboiboy Taufan insisted, the stars in his eyes so bright they would put the night sky to shame. “There’s so much of you guys that I don’t know! It’s awesome!”

Halilintar shuddered, but the blush on his face was unmistakable. “It still alludes me how you’re frustratingly positive to this day.”

Gempa shoved him. “Don’t be rude.” He winked at Boboiboy Taufan. “See you in a bit, yeah?”

“Wait—”

And that was how Boboiboy Taufan, Sori and Frostfire lounged around for a grand total of five minutes waiting for Gentar to finish his intro.

“NOW WITNESS THE ULTIMATE FUSION! BOBOIBOY GENTAR, AT YOUR SERVICE!” Gentar hollered, hands on his hips. “ABANG IS HERE!”

“Abang to who, exactly?” Frostfire muttered. “You’re the youngest one here…”

Gentar shrieked. “No, I’m not!” He whirled to Boboiboy Taufan, pulling him into a hug. He lifted him off the ground and spun him around, somehow more excited than both Boboiboy Taufan and Sori combined. “Abang Gentar wishes you a happy birthday, Grandmaster! May Grandmaster receive lots of blessings!”

“Ah, thank you, Gentar! And please, just call me Boboiboy—”

A spin before Boboiboy Taufan got dizzy, Gentar set him back on the floor, before taking Sori’s side to stand against Frostfire. “Bersedialah kau!” he declared, summoning his hammer alight with rose gold electricity. It loomed over Frostfire like an omen, its shadow a prophecy of their fates. “Abang will make sure you So-ri for ruining Broboiboy’s outfit!”

“Oi, that’s my thing,” Sori groused. “Now say so-ri.”

The pair exchanged a high five, with Gentar being more enthusiastic while Sori remaining calm, but snickered under their breaths as Frostfire slowly withered away from second hand embarrassment. 

“Which dumpster did you adopt them from and can you please put them back?” Frostfire pleaded. 

Boboiboy Taufan choked, trying valiantly to stifle his laughter with his hand but ultimately failing. His face burned from the strain, but he couldn’t bring himself to make Frostfire feel worse than he already has.

“Come on, Brofire! Don’t be so cold!”

“Hm,” Sori agreed amicably. “You’ll be So-ri for all the fun opportunities you’ll miss!”

Gentar cackled madly and doubled over, falling on his knees and hands. His hammer collapsed to the ground beside him, shaking the land nearby and causing Boboiboy Taufan to stumble slightly. 

“My idols,” Frostfire mourned, a tear falling from their cheek. “My image of them is forever ruined…”

Without missing a beat, Sori chimed in: “Well, So-ri, I deeply apologize for your distress.”

Gentar and Boboiboy Taufan exploded into mad bouts of laughter, the latter unable to hold himself back anymore. He clutched his aching stomach, throwing his head back.

“F-F-Frostfire—” Boboiboy Taufan gasped through broken breaths, “I can’t- I’m so- I’m so sorry—!!”

“This is so stupid!” Frostfire howled in utter despair.

In an instant, a humanoid silhouette took up the majority of Frostfire’s vision, his eyes widening as a hand reached for his face. Unable to react, Frostfire squeezed his eyes shut and tensed himself for the worst abuse—

Only for a pair of rough hands to grab each side of his head, digging their fingers into his scalp and palms pressing into their ears. Terrified but confused, Frostfire cracked an eyelid open to see Sori with his infamous I-Know-What-You-Did-Last-Sunday-8PM smile, veins bulging from his forehead. 

“Do you know how much I spent on Boboiboy’s outfit?” He grabbed tufts of Frostfire’s hair and began pulling. “Do you know how difficult it is to get a job as an elemental being? I’ve been fired from at least 7 mamaks by now.” He then squashed Frostfire’s face together, smushing his cheeks.

Boboiboy Taufan choked. “You worked at a mamak?” he wheezed. “7 of them?”

“TAPOPS currency does not convert to Ringgit,” Sori spat, stretching Frostfire’s cheeks like mochi. “My hard work, Frostfire. How dare you squander my goodwill and sacrifices?”

“Wait, what happened to the fight-?”

Gentar popped up beside him, completely recovered and rearing to go. “Let’s not interrupt them, Broboiboy!” he said. “Abang knows when it’s none of his business! Also, Sori is scary, aah…”

Backed into a corner, Frostfire’s trembling fists blazed with frost, which neither of them noticed through Sori’s attempt in finding out how malleable a fusion’s face truly was. Boboiboy Taufan noticed too late, and before he could warn them, the pair exploded into a pillar of ice, freezing them more solid than a mammoth from the ice age.

Though fully encased in the ice, Sori’s mounting frustration was palpable, and it was clear Solar’s influence on the fusion was growing exponentially. His entire body lit up in an emerald glow, melting the ice immediately around him as he slowly swam towards the still-frozen Frostfire.

Gentar promptly rolled all over the floor, his shrieks of laughter echoing throughout the arena. And despite the small bubble of concern hovering in Boboiboy Taufan’s chest, it was quickly overrun by the immense amount of joy that flooded his systems, bringing him to soar amongst the clouds, his head a balloon ready to drift away.

When was the last time he had let loose like this? 

Lately his fights had been with lives on the line so often…he had forgotten how much fun he used to have just playing around with his powers. 

Seeing the fusions goof around like that filled him with indescribable feeling of lightness.

It was as if all his worries and sorrows that been accumulated over his years of defending the earth, defending the galaxy, were unraveled and whisked far away.

This was fine, wasn’t it?

He could just forget about all those things for a bit.

A relieved sigh escaped Boboiboy Taufan’s mouth and he let his heart fly.

Seeing the now thawed-up Frostfire and Sori drenched like wet dogs made him snort.

They looked ridiculous. Maybe he should…? Yes! That would be a great idea!

Boboiboy Taufan pushed himself off the ground and shot up into the sky with unparalleled ease, not even bothering to summon his hoverboard.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”, he cheered, as the wind brushed over his skin. It was like it was seeping into his body and blowing away every bit of sadness that had ingrained itself in his body.

He felt himself change. It was liberating. He was so alive.

Far below him, he saw the three fusions look up to him with alarmed looks on their faces.

“Broboiboy, stop! You’re-”, Gentar started, but Boboiboy Taufans’s, no Boboiboy Beliung’s tempestuous voice drowned him out:

“Don’t worry everyone! Here comes the hairdryer!”

He dove down like a falcon on the hunt, a storm following in his wake.

With a gargantuan splash, Boboiboy Beliung landed right in the water left from the earlier squabble and blew all of it away like autumn leaves.

Of course, the Fusions were all swept off their feet too.

“Up you go!”, Boboiboy Beliung laughed, sending another gale that sent Sori, Gentar and Frostfire tumbling into a windy carousel in the arena. 

He didn’t notice that his cap also flew off into the cyclone.

“Uwaaaaah, mayday, mayday! I never learned how to fly!”, Gentar screamed, perhaps a pitch higher than intended as he helplessly flailed around with his arms to no avail.

Sori for his part was gliding in a much more controlled fashion, almost like he was parachuting. He gave Gentar a thumbs-up and explained:

“Calm down and spread your limbs! Increasing your surface area will stabilize your flight!”

Immediately Gentar corrected his posture and returned the thumbs-up with a flashy smile, as if he hadn’t been panicking just a moment ago.

“Terbaik, Brori!”

“Guys, would you mind focusing on the problem?!”, Frostfire shouted at the top of his lungs. He was trying to gain back some control by using his flames but it was only working partly. The currents summoned by Beliung were too chaotic and fighting against them was a pointless endeavor.

Down on the ground Boboiboy Beliung was laughing so much, he had to hold his stomach. Seeing the fusions struggle like that was positively hilarious.

He wiped a tear of joy from his eye and exhaled deeply.

“Well, I guess I will go save them from their misery~”, he chuckled and lifted off.

His first stop was Frostfire, who seemed the most likely to crash by himself right now.

Boboiboy flew next to him and held out his hand.

Frostfire looked at him with utter bewilderment.

“Wha-”

“Come on, FF - I won’t bite~”, Boboiboy Beliung laughed before taking the initiative himself and grabbing onto the Fusion’s arm, to drag him along.

He pulled over to Sori, who surveyed him a curious, discerning look.

“Ohh, interesting!”, he mused, suddenly at ease, before taking Boboiboy Beliung’s other hand.

Now they just had to pick up one last errant hero.

“Alright, you two - can you catch our dear abang for me? My hands are a bit full!”, Boboiboy Beliung chimed happily.

“Don’t call him that, it’s gonna get to his head”, Frostfire complained but otherwise complied and got ready.

“Why don’t we let him have that? Look at him, he wants to be called abang so badly!”, Sori snickered towards Gentar’s direction.

The self-appointed number one hero awaited the three of them with open arms and sparkling eyes.

Frostfire visibly fought with himself, but gave in with a sigh.

“Fine…take my hand…abang”, he forced out, his head turned to the side.

“Of course, Brofire! Don’t worry, I’m here for you now!”, Gentar said in a comforting voice while grabbing on.

“Urgh! See what happens?!”, Frostfire whined, his ears flushing bright red.

“Alright, now form a circle, everyone!”, Boboiboy Beliung commanded happily, Gentar and Sori following suit and grasping each others hands to complete it.

 As soon as that was done Boboiboy Beliung grinned and suddenly stopped the winds keeping them afloat - causing the four of them to drop out of nowhere.

He got them. Even Sori. All three of the fusions screamed in fear, as the ground approached rapidly. Frostfire was clutching onto Gentar a lot tighter than before.

Boboiboy was the only one laughing like a maniac.

Just before the impact, he brought back the wind in full force and launched them upwards again.

By now Sori had joined in the laughter and was excitedly chanting: “Again! Again!”, while Frostfire looked like he was holding onto his “abang” for dear life, who gladly played the part of the reliable big brother.

After repeating this for a few more times, Boboiboy Beliung landed them safely on firm ground and asked with a broad smile:

“Wasn’t it fun?”

“It was Terbaik, Grandmaster!”, Gentar confirmed with a thumbsup.

“I think…I think I’m gonna die”, Frostfire muttered, his skin having taken on a distinctly paler color.

 Sori looked at his master with keen eyes.

“You can control him now?”

Only then did Boboiboy Beliung realize who he had turned into. It was like a veil had been liften in his consciousness.

“Oh. I…huh…I…I guess I can!”, he exclaimed with disbelief, then excitement.

The celebration was cut short when something flew through the middle of the four of them.

Something vitally important.

“My cap!”, Boboiboy Beliung shouted.

“Your cap!”, the fusions parroted.

Immediately the circle broke up into pure chaos, as everyone scrambled to catch the cherished piece of headwear in their own way.

“Wait guys, I can just-”, Boboiboy Beliung tried to stop the others, but panic had completely deafened them.

The trio ran around like a flock of headless chickens, frantically hopping and grabbing for the cap to no avail.

“I got it, I got it!”, Frostfire proclaimed prematurely, his head tilted up and eyes locked onto the target. He didn’t pay any attention to where he was going.

“Heh, leave it to abang Gentar!”, Gentar ignored the others and prepared to dive for the “headwear in distress”.

“So-ri~, but it’s gonna be mine!”, Sori announced confidently, having already calculated the flight-path of the cap. He had positioned himself exactly where it would land. Now nothing could go wrong.

Frostfire jumped, stretched his arm to the limit and grasped his hand on the treasure.

At the same time Gentar catapulted himself towards it from a distance.

Sori was surprised at Frostfire managing to actually catch the cap. Then he noticed his posture.

“FF, be careful!”, he shouted, but it only started the fusion further.

When Frostfire’s feet touched the ground, he tripped on a small rock, rubble from the earlier combat, and fell over backwards, straight in Sori’s direction.

Who would have been able to stop him.

If not for Gentar crashing into them at full speed.

Three voices screamed up, as they tumbled to the ground in a jumbled pile of bodies.

A horrible tearing sound echoed through the arena, followed by dreadful silence.

“W..what was that sound, Brofire?”, Gentar asked, uncharacteristically nervous.

“I…I don’t know”, Frostfire squeezed out from beneath him. He was sweating profusely.

Sori being crushed at the bottom still had his priorities straight:

“Check the cap, FF”

Frostfire chuckled anxiously:

“Why would there be anything wrong with it?”

“Ohhh, I don’t know~”, Sori chimed, his voice laced with murderous intent.

“Wel, I’m..I’m sure everything is alright”, Frostfire gulped and pulled his arm out of the pile of bodies to get a look at the cap.

All three of them gasped, when they saw the state it was in.

“Defcon One!”, Gentar exclaimed in shock.

The cap had returned to its regular orange color, as if a spell on it had been broken.

There was dust and dirt all over it - that much wasn’t so uncommon. It had been in a lot of fights before and things like that were easily cleaned up.

What wouldn’t be so easily repaired was the rift that went almost halfway through the cap.

“Oh no”, Frostfire murmured.

“Oh no”, Sori echoed, his widened eyes looking past the cap at Boboiboy, still in his Beliung form.

A sudden breeze washed over the trio, as Boboiboy Beliung leaped over to them in a single step.

Gentar was up on his feet immediately, throwing his body inbetween his “younger brothers” and Boboiboy Beliung like a shield.

“Stay calm, Grandmaster! They didn’t do anything wrong! It’s all my fault! Punish only me!”, he begged.

“It’s not as bad as it looks, right, Sori?!”, Frostfire jumped up, frantically trying to hide the cap from Boboiboy Beliung’s view.

“Yes, yes! Don’t worry! We can fix it, it’s just a small tear!”, Sori confirmed, joining in to create a barricade.

Boboiboy quickly closed the gap, sending shivers down the fusion’s spines.

They looked at each other, communicating wordlessly.

It’s been an honor bros, Gentar thought, a single tear in his eyes.

Looks like this is the end, Frostfire resigned himself to his fate.

I’m sorry everyone. I couldn’t stop it, Sori silently lamented.

They closed their eyes, prepared for the worst.

Instead of being torn to shreds, they found themselves pulled into a tight hug.

“It’s alright, everyone. You don’t need to worry. It was just an accident. You’ve tried so hard to make me happy today…and you did! I don’t want to ruin your hard work!”, Boboiboy Beliung comforted the fusions.

“No, we are sorry Boboiboy. We ruined your treasured cap”, Frostfire said with his head dropped down.

Boboiboy gently patted Frostfire’s head:

“It’s just a cap. I can always get another one. But I can’t replace any of you”

Of course it hurt him to see his long-time companion being destroyed like this. But he meant his words and the fusions felt that he was being genuine.

“Are you crying Gentar?”, Sori chuckled.

“What? Sniff. No! Sniff. I’m not crying!”, Gentar said, waterfalls running down his cheeks.

“Happy Birthday again, Boboiboy. Thank you for being there for us!”, Frostfire said, now looking up again with a smile.

And with that, the trio was enveloped in a golden light and merged back with their master.

As he returned to normal, Boboiboy heard another voice echo through his mind:

Happy Birthday Master! Don’t forget to enjoy your day to the fullest!

He smiled contently.

Thank you, Beliung. I will!

Though his muscles were sore, Boboiboy couldn’t deny that he felt a lot better after the fight. Blaze was right; maybe a good outlet was what he needed after all. His chest was lighter, and he had a spring in his step.

After some intervention for his disheveled appearance in an attempt to appear normal, he showed himself, where he was greeted by his friends lounging around the counter. Yaya, who’d been nursing her cocoa, noticed him and waved him over. In a domino effect, the rest of his friends stood from their seats and beamed, happy he had finally arrived.

“Woah!” Ying cried out. “You look like you fell in a hole!”

“What happened to your cap?” Yaya fretted, staring at the ruined cap in his hands.

Boboiboy sighed. “Blame the elementals. Sorry I’m late, my watch doesn’t exactly tell time.”

“Oh no!” Yaya frowned. “I can run home and grab my sewing kit before we begin, it shouldn’t take too long.”

“It’s not important.” A strained smile crept onto his face, but he couldn’t deny a small bout of gratitude bubbling in his chest. “I don’t want to keep anyone waiting for too long.”

Yaya hesitated. Like him, she knew how important Boboiboy’s cap was to him, the only link between him and his father. They could wash and repair it later on, but he knew with the extent of damage they caused, it’d be nigh impossible to make it seem seamless.

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “It can wait.”

So despite the disappointment he felt, he forged onwards, joining the rest of the group.

Ying grinned like she was the cat that ate the canary. “Well, what are you waiting for? The night’s not getting any younger!”

They pulled him towards the table they’d set up in his absence, with a wondrous spread: carefully prepared dishes, desserts and drinks all laid out on the orange tablecloth; all his favorite cuisines gathered in one place.

Gopal pulled his chair out for him at the very head of the table, and Yaya sat him down by force as the rest of his friends handed out utensils and plates, refusing to let him contribute to any of the preparation. Though awkward, Boboiboy couldn’t fight the warmth blossoming in his chest, tears threatening to spill because how lucky he was, that he had friends with hearts of gold.

They enjoyed the feast Qually, Gopal and Tok Aba prepared, and Boboiboy savored every bite, doing his best to burn each taste and scent into his brain. The flavors danced on his tongue with a harmonious symphony, tasting of summertime and love.

Ochobot couldn’t eat, naturally, so he chatted with them and took pictures throughout.

After the meal, all the plates were wiped, leaving only crumbs and sauce behind. Gopal had tried to lick them clean, but even a glutton such as himself was forced to see sense eventually. However, his appetite was instantly revived when Tok Aba brought out the main event under the moon and starlight: 

A two-tiered birthday cake covered in orange buttercream, with his elementals’ symbols drawn on the first tier’s sides using chocolate. Small, silver balls of sprinkles covered the cake, pooling around the corner where the tiers met. On the second tier was a cartoonish drawing of him doing a thumbs’ up with the words Terbaik! written below. One large, chromatic candle was placed above Cartoon Him’s head, no wick to be seen, and a smaller, normal candle beside it.

Tok Aba produced a lighter from his pocket. As everyone gathered around the cake, he lit both candles, stepping away as miniature fireworks burst forth from the candle, its flowers of fire reflecting in Boboiboy’s eyes of wonder.

Next to him, Yaya clapped gently, counting down from 3 under her breath. “Happy Birthday to you…”

His friends, although off-key, sang together in unison. Qually stumbled over the lyrics, constantly referring to the writing on his wrist; while Fang failed to hit some of the higher notes and his voice cracked.

“Happy Birthday to you…”

Boboiboy, through the light of the sparkler, watched each and everyone of his friends.

Ying, Yaya, and Gopal, for staying by his side since the very beginning. They’ve gone through thick and thin together - if they weren’t here, neither would Boboiboy. If they told him to jump off a cliff blind-folded, he’d gladly do it. Wherever they went, he would always follow, and vice versa.

Ochobot, who was the beginning of the new chapter in his life. Ochobot was the catalyst, the key to this life Boboiboy would never trade anything for. He’s his companion, best friend, and the voice of reason whenever Boboiboy couldn’t think straight. 

“Happy Birthday to Boboiboy…”

Fang, for believing in him. They had a rough meeting, but ultimately, their friendship prevailed despite it all. He may be blunt, brutally honest and at times thickheaded, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Fang had pulled him out of his own behind for more times than he could count.

“Happy Birthday to you…”

Qually, he may be a newer addition to their group, but he was just as appreciated. Like Fang, their first meeting was anything less than stellar, but their hardships had brought them together and turned a foe into a friend. He showed that everyone had the capacity to do good, to be better.

“Happy Birthday to you…”

And finally, Tok Aba.

Boboiboy’s vision misted.

Oh, god, Tok Aba.

Tok Aba, his grandfather, who always puts up with him and his shenanigans. Who remained patient and steadfast, no matter how many mistakes Boboiboy had brought to his doorstep. Who offered him sagely advice, became his anchor in a world filled with deception and harm, continued to choose kindness time and time again.

Boboiboy may be more independent nowadays, but without Tok, he was nothing. And how had he repaid him? By giving him more gray hairs? Inviting danger to his home? By leaving him alone in his home, waiting for a grandson who stubbornly insists to fix every mistake out there when it doesn’t concern him?

He needed to do better. Tok Aba deserved a grandson who wouldn’t worry him, who wasn’t on the cusp of death every other weekend. He needed to get stronger, not just for himself, not so he could protect Tok Aba until the very end.

“Happy Birthday to you…”

The voices and claps trailed to a pause. The sparkler fizzled out, leaving only a thin trace of smoke behind. All eyes were on him and the remaining candle - its fire so delicate, its light small and almost nonconsequential; but it was stubborn, refusing to go out.

Just like him.

Sniffling, Boboiboy was unable to stop the sobs bubbling from his throat, tears running down his eyes. He was so, so happy and grateful for everyone. For his friends, for his family, and the elementals.

Yaya and Tok Aba, who were sitting on both sides of him, put an encouraging hand on each of his shoulders. 

“Go on,” Tok Aba said softly. 

Boboiboy smiled back, nodding and wiping the tears with the back of his palm. With a deep breath, he leaned over, and blew out the candle.

Applause erupted from his friends, some more enthusiastic than the others. “Dey, make a wish!” Gopal cheered him on. “Wish for infinite dumplings! No- for infinite cake instead!”

Ying narrowed her eyes at him. “You can already do both of those, 真是无药可救...”

Cracking a smile, Boboiboy clasped his palms together and let his eyelids fall.

I wish… we can all come together, and repeat this day for many, many years to come.

It was a simple, perhaps even naive wish, but there was nothing else in the world he could ever want more than this. If fate allowed, he’d want every day to be exactly like this one.

When he opened his eyes, his vision was flooded with all his friends’ excited expressions, with colored paper bags and boxes in their hands.

“It’s gift time!” Gopal announced, shoving his gift into Boboiboy’s hands before any of them could do it. “Open mine!”

A wave of murmured protests phased through the crowd, with Fang rolling his eyes at their lack of patience. He survived off pillows to stave off starvation once; he’d survive waiting a few minutes for his turn.

Gopal’s gift was hastily wrapped with a green wrapper, the bow sloppy and barely holding anything together. It was clear that he’d done it himself, and Boboiboy would rather have that than a present wrapped in perfect angles from the store.

With a pull of the ribbon, the wrapper fell apart to reveal a video game. “Not just any video game,” Gopal chimed in as if reading his thoughts. “It’s PAPA ZOLA: GAME ON! The newest game in the Papa Zola franchise!”

“Hey, but Papa Zola’s our friend,” Yaya argued. “He apologized over text saying he couldn’t make it because he’s overseas with his family!”

Gopal huffed. “Dey, it’s a popular game!” he argued. “We need to let loose once in a while, too! We haven’t got much time for ourselves after TAPOPS, so you can play this to release some of your stress in the station!”

“I always wondered what became of the game,” Boboiboy confessed. Gopal was right, though, that they haven’t gotten much time for leisure after becoming a cadet. Maybe he and Blaze were right; they needed to look after themselves before they blew a gasket. 

And it was a reminder of a kinder past, where it was just them, Adu Du and Probe.

“Thank you, Gopal,” he said honestly. “Let’s play it together, yeah?”

Gopal winked at him. “Of course! I’m the best Player One in the galaxy!”

Next it was Ying’s turn, who stepped up and pressed her gift into his chest after he put the game down. Boboiboy nearly fumbled and dropped it because of its small size, but he caught it in his palms. 

It was a yellow small data chip the size of his thumb. “Put it in your watch,” Ying instructed, and he did so in a heartbeat.

His watch’s screen buffered, reloading itself as a holographic screen popped up, indicating “Installation Complete!” it faded back into the watch, where a pixelated cat had taken over its main interface. Strangely enough, it was frowning, and wearing a simplified version of Halilintar’s cap.

“Meow!” it chirped. “The time is: 8:20P.M.! Meow!”

Boboiboy choked. “You… made it so my watch can tell time?”

Ying waved him off. “You’re always complaining about it, haiyah.” She crossed her arms. “Don’t worry, there’s a normal interface. The cats were a joke.”

She moved to swap the screen, but Boboiboy yanked his hand away. It was such a straightforward gift, but it was so in character of Ying. Always prioritizing efficiency and convenience, but it meant she’d taken all his minor grievances to heart.

It couldn’t have been easy to code, either. He’d joined in on Ochobot and Nut’s attempts to reverse engineer the watch for future reference, but the only thing he understood was the question in the end where Nut asked him, “Do you have any questions?” Ying, always so flippant, but only they knew how much work she put into her every action. 

“No, no,” he said quickly. “I like the cats. The elementals would love it as well. Thank you, Ying.”

Ying blushed. “Well,” she said, “I’m sure they will.”

With Fang’s turn, he simply handed Boboiboy a purple box the size of his palm. Curious, Boboiboy opened the lid to find a glass ladybug sitting on a bed of foam, with seven black spots on its wings.

“It’s a nightlight,” he said, pushing Gopal’s teasing face away. “I’ve… noticed… and understand that you might suffer from unpleasant dreams. We may not be there when it happens, this may offer some comfort in those times.” Then, as an afterthought, “I also learned from the internet that ladybugs are a symbol of good luck. I hope it will impart some of its fortune onto you.”

Woah…

Like everyone else, Boboiboy was never vocal about his nightmares. Most of them always left the confines of his memory before they took root, but they left him exhausted and drained regardless. Fang had noticed, saw the signs, and cared. 

It was common knowledge they all cared for each other, but coming from Fang, stoic and battle-hardened, always left him breathless every time. How can someone who’d seen the worst of the galaxy, been knee-deep in tragedy one after the other, still open his heart to anyone else?

“Thank you,” Boboiboy said. “I’ll keep it by my bed.”

Fang nodded, the faint blush on his cheeks barely visible from the dim light. “It may look fragile, but it’s actually made from a crystal with a high shatterpoint,” he rambled. “It also recharges from ambient radiation and ionizing agents, so there is no need for any external chargers…”

Yaya stepped in, stopping Fang before he could dig himself a bigger hole. “Here’s my gift.” She handed him a pink plastic container with pinker ribbon. As Boboiboy unwrapped it, she revealed the deadly secret of what was inside: “I tried a new recipe for this special occasion. I hope you like it!”

If Boboiboy were in Gempa or Gentar form, there was no doubt he’d have become solid metal. But he wasn’t, so his muscles locked in place as his hand held the lid mid air, his eyes gluing on the seemingly delicious but potentially lethal confectionary. 

“I added curry leaf, dried basil, rosemary powder… oh! And oyster sauce too!”

Around him, his friends all winced, stumbling to offer excuses for him to skip out, but they all fell flat and they just silenced themselves in early mourning. Yaya’s genuine kindness and anticipation killed a bit of Boboiboy’s self-preservation, so against all reason, he picked up one cookie—chocolate with pink chocolate chips—and brought it to his mouth, to everyone’s horror.

The cookie crumpled between his teeth. He fought his instincts from throwing up and rolling around the floor, and allowed it to rest on his tongue.

His first thought was: I’m not dead.

His second thought, as he hesitantly chewed and moved it around his mouth: Wait, this is good.

His third and final thought was: Wait, this is good?!

It’s not anything world changing or mind blowing, but it was edible. Yaya’s cookies were edible.

“Wow!” he cried out, too shaken and surprised to be anything but honest. “This is awesome!”

Yaya’s smile could rival sunbeams. One by one, his friends stopped praying for his health and looked at him as if he’s gone crazy. Using sign language, Fang signed: ‘Blink twice if you need immediate medical attention.’

“No, this is actually delicious!” Boboiboy ate another one, and it was genuinely good. So good, in fact, that it was either a hallucination before he saw the light or a miracle had happened. He was banking on the latter.

“I’m glad, then,” Yaya sighed with relief, clasping her palms together.

It was then Boboiboy noticed the bandages on her hand, the color blending in with her skin tone. He set the container down, his surprise instantly replaced by concern. “Yaya, did you hurt yourself?”

Yaya instantly hid her hand behind her back. “It’s nothing, I was just careless when I was baking the cookies. It was late, and I forgot to wear my oven mitts…”

“You should have rested, it could have waited.”

The gravity manipulator chuckled. “I know, but I was so excited,” she admitted. “It was fulfilling work to me, so it didn’t feel tiresome at all. It’ll heal soon.”

The image of Yaya staying up at late hours in the light, rushing around the kitchen after their taxing missions stung Boboiboy’s heart. He never, ever wanted his friends to strain themselves for his sake, but… 

Boboiboy nodded, and solemnly closed the container with grim hands. “I will eat every last crumb,” he swore, even if it might be his last meal. “Thank you, Yaya, really.”

Speaking of meals, it was Qually’s turn. In his hands was a forest-green covered book, its bindings made of dried vine. “Thank you for giving me a second chance.” Gingerly, he passed the book into Boboiboy’s hands, shifting uneasily on his feet. “It’s not as grandiose as the others - but I’ve compiled all the recipes we’ve enjoyed throughout our adventures, and added some more. You have a talent for cooking, Boboiboy, I would be honored to help you cultivate it.”

Boboiboy opened the book, flipping to the first few pages. To his surprise, it was written in Malay. The writing wasn’t particularly masterful or beautiful, but it was comprehensible. He recognized some of the dishes they’ve already enjoyed on various planets together, with recommendations of substitution ingredients he can only find on Earth or TAPOPS. How much time had he spent on this? To translate it, to research on various ingredients and to write them down all by hand?

Some of the dishes were particularly familiar; inspired by their journey and even elementals. ‘Blazing Salsa’, ‘Iced Mint Soba’, ‘Gempa’s Nasi Lemak’ and more, it was clear that it had taken so much work and time. Cooking, on its own, was always a labor of love. Qually was a testament to that through and through.  

“You wrote this yourself?” Boboiboy asked, amazed. “You didn’t have to, Qually, we have translators!”

“I wanted to,” Qually defended himself. “You’ve already helped me so much, Boboiboy, this is the least I can do.”

Boboiboy set the book down next to the rest of the gifts, smiling unfathomably brightly. “I’ll be sure to refer to it the next time I cook,” he promised. “I can’t wait to try some of the recipes! Thank you, Qually.”

Now that his friends had given them their gifts, now it was time for the last two. The two that tore Boboiboy between dread and excitement.

Ochobot and Tok Aba stepped in after Qually, the power sphere holding a box twice his size that it was a miracle he could even float straight at all. “Happy Birthday, Boboiboy.” He passed the box into his hands, eyes crescent moons. “This is from me and Tok Aba!”

Boboiboy’s eyes bulged at the sight, nearly stumbling as he underestimated its weight. How did they even manage to hide this behemoth of a gift?

Heart racing, he unwrapped the ribbon and opened the lid, his friends and Tok Aba leaning over in curiosity. Boboiboy blinked at a picture of him and his friends: the cover of an album the thickness of his open hand.

As he lifted it from the box, he quickly realized it wasn’t an album but a scrapbook. And the very first two pages laid out across him, was a myriad of signatures and short well wishes. From Yaya, Ying, Gopal, Fang, Qually, Koko Ci, Tarung, Sai, Shielda, Nut, Cattus (with a paw print)—nearly everyone they befriended in their adventures. He even spotted unexpected names like Roktaroka and Emotibot… all wishing him well with various doodles.

He turned to the next page, two pictures, one on each page. The first was a picture of their group when they were only ten. The second was Boboiboy and Ochobot, young as ever, posing in front of the original Kokotiam. It was decorated with stickers, multicoloured drawings around the pictures, with descriptions below like The Beginning! and My Very First Friend.

Stunned, he turned the pages, all with moments in time from his past, some of which he’d nearly forgotten. The penmanship and doodles varied in personality, almost like…

“Well,” Tok Aba said knowingly. “The elementals offered to help too.”

Boboiboy gaped, taken aback. The more he read through it, the more he realized how distinct each of them were. 

Halilintar’s rough writing under a picture of Boboiboy’s first attempts to summon his swords: A humble beginning. A miracle how you survived your childhood.

Taufan’s bouncy writing, trailing off the line they’d drawn just for him under a picture of Boboiboy falling from his hoverboard: Let’s have even more fun together, Master!

Gempa’s rounded writing, under a picture of Boboiboy’s legs sticking out from the dirt: You’ve come so far, Boboiboy. We are proud to call you our Master.

Blaze’s rushed and chicken scratch writing under a picture of Boboiboy fixing a chicken coup: ME AND THE CHICKENS WILL ALWAYS FIGHT FOR YOU, MASTER!!!!! 🔥🔥 🔥

Ais’ sloppy writing under a picture of Boboiboy drinking cocoa at the Kokotiam: Eat more and grow up big and strong.

Duri’s cute, bubbly handwriting under a picture of Boboiboy helping Tok Aba in his backyard: Thank you for being our Master, Boboiboy! :3

Solar’s perfectly written cursive, under a picture of Boboiboy studying with his friends: Knowledge is power, and I know enough that you are worth the galaxy and more. Thank you, Boboiboy.

The pages went on and on, from his childhood to where he was now, capturing both the mundane and highs. Every picture was given equal importance, whether it be his first bike ride or the time he defeated Retak’ka. They were all celebrated, everyday a gift.

At the very end of the book—was a simple white page with a picture of Tok Aba, Ochobot and Boboiboy. Like the rest, there was a handwritten note under the picture, except this time there were two. One neat and familiar, and the other a squared, robotic font.

I have watched you grow from a young boy to a wonderful young man. You stayed kind and compassionate, persevering despite what life has thrown at you. For that, I am blessed, and forever grateful to call you my grandson. Happy birthday, Boboiboy.

You were my very first friend! If it wasn’t for you, Boboiboy, I would have never known what friendship or freedom was like. You are the reason why I am here today, Boboiboy! Let’s go on many more adventures together!

Boboiboy stared.

That was all he could do. He stared at the last page like he was under a spell, until Ochobot broke it by wrapping his arms around him. Body seizing for a split second, Boboiboy hugged him back with twice the force, cradling Ochobot between his neck and shoulder. When Tok Aba patted his hair, Boboiboy reached over and pulled him into the hug, squeezing just enough before it could hurt.

“Thank you!” he sobbed, hiccuping. “Thank you so much!”

“No,” Tok Aba said warmly. “It is us who should be thanking you. Thank you, Boboiboy, for bringing such joy into our lives.”

“Dey, he’s right!” Gopal jumped in, hugging Boboiboy’s other side. “We’re all thankful to you, you know?”

Ying hit his back. “Hey, don’t ruin the moment!”

The hug lasted for a good while, while the others waited for him to compose himself. He wiped his snot and tears with a handkerchief Yaya handed him, and turned to the group with a wide smile.

“Guys, I—” His traitorous throat clammed up again. “I don’t know what to say. I can’t thank you guys enough.”

“Haiyah, after everything you’ve done for us, this is the least we could do,” Ying retorted. “Just let yourself enjoy it! 放松一下嘛！”

“Actually,” Yaya said, “there’s one gift we haven’t brought out yet.”

“From who?” he asked, uncertain. Everyone has already given him their gift, haven’t they? Now that he looked around, where was Fang and Qually? He could have sworn they were here a second ago.

“All of us.”

Boboiboy turned. Fang and Qually had reappeared behind him, the wisps of darkness around them slithering back into their shadows. A sheen of sweat had formed around their foreheads, their shoulders heaving as they caught their breaths.

Between them was a massive box, maybe twice Boboiboy’s height and width. It was red and wrapped in a blue ribbon with a bow at the front, and looked like a pain to move even with their powers. He was even a bit intimidated by it. 

“This is too much, guys—”

There was a knowing gleam in Tok Aba’s eyes. “Don’t be shy.” He gently pushed his grandson forward. “Go on.”

He closed his fingers between the loose ribbon. He turned to his friends, all excited for him with supportive thumbs’ ups; to Ochobot and Tok Aba, who nodded in approval.

With a deep breath, he pulled the ribbon out in one fluid motion. To his surprise, the wall of the gift was smooth, almost like rough plastic instead of cardboard like he expected. No wonder Fang and Qually had struggled with its weight.

The question was: how on Earth should he open the rest?

His ears perked to the sound of humming, the noise coming from within the box itself. As Boboiboy watched in wonder, a glowing blue outline carved itself from the front, forming the shape of a door.

He held his breath, anticipating as the panel raised to reveal the contents within—

Boboiboy gasped.

Amato stepped out of the box, dressed in a casual collared shirt and cargo pants. “Happy birthday, son,” he said, ruffling his hair. “Sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner- I’d wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Happy birthday!” Mechabot cheered, hovering by Boboiboy’s side. “It’s been a while, Boboiboy!”

Not for the first time today, Boboiboy stared. Yet this time, he couldn’t even afford to blink, as if his father and Mechabot were a mirage, ready to dissipate if he so much as moved a muscle.

But the warm hand in his sweaty hair was real, and so was his father before him.

“Ah Boi, are you-?”

Boboiboy threw himself into Amato, burying his face into his father’s chest and wrapping his arms around his chest. His father’s heartbeat was grounding, the warmth of their bodies solidifying his hopes. Mechabot also joined the hug, surrounding him on both sides.

Dad was here. They were really here.

“I—” Fat globs of tears escaped Boboiboy’s eyes, and god knows how much of those he’d shed today alone. “I thought you were busy!”

Amato hugged him back, sighing fondly. “I made time.” He ruffled his hair. “How could I miss such an important day?”

“You missed the last few,” Gopal added unhelpfully. Yaya and Ying elbowed him into silent gasps of pain.

“I missed you,” Boboiboy confessed, clinging to his father’s shirt, neither uncaring if his tears stained the fabric. “I missed you so much.”

His father’s hand held the back of his head gently, rubbing soothing circles on his scalp. “I missed you too. My boy, all grown up.” He chuckled softly. “I’m so proud of you and the man you’ve become.”

An unfamiliar weight settled around his head, flattening his hair. “I know you’re outgrowing the last one,” Amato continued, pressing the cap down until it fit perfectly like a glove. “So, according to our tradition, here’s to the new chapter of your life. Happy birthday, Boboiboy.”

Boboiboy nodded into his father’s chest, smiling so wide it hurt.

Extra Scenes:

#1 - A Distraction

Yaya: Amato just informed me he’s running late, but Boboiboy’s already on the way here! What should we do?

Ying: We need a distraction!

Yaya: Yeah, but how?

Blaze and Ais, who happened to stop by for some cocoa: Say no more.

#2 - The Box

Fang: Sir Amato, please stop moving around- IT’S FALLING!

(Splat)

#3 - Inside the Box

Amato, eating from a plate that Tok Aba and Qually portioned for him: 

#4 - Inside the Box 2.0

Amato: Ow!

Mechabot: What?

Amato: I’ve been squatting for too long. I think I sprained my hip!

Mechabot: God give me strength…

#5 - Designing the Scrapbook

Gempa: If I hear any one of you complaining about your hands hurting from writing, I will show you what hurt really feels like. Now WRITE.

By: Halo and Upan