Since you are a close friend, I think you should avoid those gifts with strong couple connotations as birthday gifts. It is good to choose some accessories or practical small gifts to give your friend a sincere birthday blessing.
First, boys always like to play computer games, so it would be a good choice to choose computer peripheral products as birthday gifts. If you think such gifts are too ordinary, then this mouse that looks like a sports car model will be the best choice. Just imagine which boy doesn't like sports cars. This mouse combines boys' interests and hobbies most perfectly, and it must be the favorite of your blue-faced friend.
Second, since he is your special blue-faced friend, the birthday gift you choose must be special and not indistinguishable from the crowd. I recommend you this tungsten steel American military license plate pendant. In addition to its fashionable and cool appearance, it can also be customized with your friend's name, birthday, etc. Each military license plate is customized exclusively, which shows more attentiveness.
Why not give him an unexpected surprise on his birthday? Recently, a type of customizable chocolate is very popular. If you give it to a male friend, you can customize it to look like a set of mahjong tiles. Your friend will probably stare at you with wide eyes when he receives it, wondering whether it is edible chocolate or inedible mahjong tiles.