Chapter Text
The alarm went off in the room as the early morning light filtered through the window, casting a bluish tint over the surrounding surfaces.
A hand slipped out from beneath the covers, reaching for the source of the sound. After silencing it, Saku turned his drowsy gaze to the phone’s screen to check the time. It was a little early for a Saturday, but a long day lay ahead of him.
And he was looking forward to it.
He washed the sleep from his face in the shower, brushed his teeth, and shaved, moving through the familiar motions of his routine.
For clothes, an open flannel over a black shirt would do. He wanted to be comfortable for the long day ahead, after all.
He looked in the mirror before going out, his fingers poking at some of his bangs, thinking that maybe a cut was overdue.
The reflection staring back at him wore its usual controlled, impassive mask; the one he had relied on for most of his life, with varying degrees of success. Beneath it, however, churned a mix of emotions.
Anticipation, tangled with nervousness.
A small upward tug at his lips escaped before he turned and stepped out the door.
The walk to the station was quiet, the street mostly empty. A chilly morning breeze pushed fallen petals along the sidewalks.
He strolled at an unhurried pace, thinking back to how their first meeting had begun.
The first impressions over the phone hadn’t been great, he remembered, scoffing softly as a grin tugged at his lips. He was deeply grateful that his stubborn insistence had eventually cracked through her defenses after those initial calls.
Then it had only taken that late-night conversation for him to notice.
The fears, the goals, the drive to do good. Everything had poured through the line, revealing the human warmth behind the frigidly polite, impersonal voice he had heard before.
And that day, he had probably already developed a soft spot for her.
He arrived at the platform where he would wait for the next train. The sky, overcast when he had woken earlier, was now clear and bright, just as the forecast from the night before had predicted.
He put on some music on his phone while he waited, letting his thoughts drift back to his recollections.
Meeting her at Kikyo had caught him completely off guard.
Even now, the memory made embarrassment crawl up his spine—the chance that he had stared too long, that she might have noticed.
The way she had appeared so suddenly in the Kikyo hallways had wiped his thoughts clean. For a moment, he’d forgotten where they were, why they were there, what he was supposed to do next.
He didn’t consider himself shallow, someone led by appearances.
That day, he found himself questioning that belief.
Conversations that people at school would have about “having a type” had always seemed ridiculous and frivolous to him.
And yet, something about her—everything about her, really—had aligned so perfectly in that first encounter that it left him tongue-tied, stumbling over his words.
If types were real, then maybe this was what people meant.
This realization had only deepened his discomfort.
Guilt over his sharp tone and rude words, compounded by this new, uninvited feeling, weighed on him.
He promised himself not to bother her anymore.
His train arrived at the platform with a short, melodic jingle, accompanied by the soft hiss of metal and brakes. A voice mumbled through the speakers, blending into the background noise as he, distracted, stepped onto the train.
Too restless to sit, he leaned against the divider by the door, gazing out the windows at the buildings slipping past.
He remembered how, months later, he had rushed out of his home when Ren had called him. Too scared to call his own dad, he had asked his homeroom teacher for help instead.
Had he used that as an excuse to reach out to her? It wasn’t like he had the contacts of any other lawyer, or that he could have called a firm at that late hour.
Whichever the case, Ren had brought them together yet again.
His poor heart hadn’t stood a chance.
He had promised himself he would just be a friendly figure, help her feel at ease and not add to her anxieties. Be grateful for the help she offered without expecting anything in return.
But seeing her grow accustomed to him, draw closer, tease him, banter back in kind, smile more in his direction, be silly, be brave, push through her fears with purpose… tell him how much she treasured their moments.
It was a lost battle.
He had thought the chances of his feelings being returned were slim. And by the time he had decided to stop pushing them away, to confront his feelings and see if, with time, she might even consider him… she had kissed him.
She had kissed him.
Him.
He couldn’t help but smile. He hid the spontaneous smile behind his hand, his head resting against the plexiglass, a little self-conscious about being on a crowded train.
He had been so stunned that day, stunned that she had returned his feelings, taken the first step, and once again pushed through her own limits to bridge the gap between them and kiss him so suddenly.
So spontaneous.
He was still too incredulous at his own luck.
It made him feel warm, disoriented, undone.
He exited the train as it arrived at his destination. The platform was busier than the first, since it was located in a commercial district, the station’s different melodies and buzzing sounds blending into a constant background hum.
And outside the gates, she was waiting for him.
She stood in a quieter section of the station entrance, brow furrowed as if deep in thought.
“Subaru,” he murmured, savoring the sound of her name on his lips.
Startled, she turned toward him, and her face lit up with a wide smile when she recognized him among the crowd.
Seeing her expression shift from worry to joy made his heart skip a beat.
It wasn’t the first time, but he doubted he would ever grow accustomed to it.
A shy smile spread across his own face in response.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“Not at all,” she replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I got here about five minutes ago.”
She shot him a cheeky smile.
“Seems like the two of us are early,” she said, glancing at him sideways as they started walking toward the exit together. “Eager much?”
He hummed noncommittally and offered his hand. Their fingers intertwined, and they strolled slowly through the busy streets.
He guided her toward the shipping district, and they wandered through some of its streets, stopping at the stores Subaru was interested in. A few were stationery shops or stores with quirky, outside-the-box designs for useful items.
Some were clothing shops, where Subaru browsed for both of them, sometimes holding shirts against Saku and studying him with a thoughtful expression.
Saku had also jotted down several stops at snack street vendors for their itinerary in the area: taiyaki, dango, takoyaki, senbei, matcha ice cream, and more.
Subaru wasn’t exactly a stranger to street snacks—being friends with Kaoruko, of all people—but there was something new about sharing these treats with him.
She also appreciated seeing the effort Saku had poured into planning the day.
Even though he had complained the night before about trying to fit too much into a single day, he had gone ahead and organized everything to the T for her.
So here he was, furrowing his brow while scrolling through his notes, the cogs of his mind clearly turning as he plotted efficient routes and guided her through the different streets, famous spots, stores, and snacks.
She had always been the planner among her friends, and for the first time, someone had put this much thought into catering to her, creating the “date experience” she had asked for.
It felt different.
It felt strange.
And yet…gratifying.
She could definitely get used to this.
I should probably return the favor at some point, she thought.
He motioned for her to follow, steering her inside an arcade. It was one of the larger establishments along the main road, packed with machines of all shapes and sizes.
“Er, I’m not good at these…” she warned, stopping in her tracks.
“Have you tried them?”
“No.”
“Well, there’s always a first time.”
“But maybe… you try them and I can take a photo of you…” she said, waving her phone like a white flag.
“Nonsense,” he interrupted. “I promised I’d take you to all the places you’ve missed out on. The arcade is an essential stop. Pretty sure you Kikyo girls have never set foot in one of these.”
“You may be right on that…”
He looked around, trying to decide where to start. He settled on the basketball hoop game. Subaru was tall, so she’d probably have a knack for it—and she could gain some confidence by winning here before moving on to the other games.
That plan backfired rather quickly.
“You know the goal is to get the ball in the hoop, right?”
“Oh, very funny,” she shot back, rolling her eyes. “I already told you, I’m terrible at this. Why don’t you show me how it’s done?”
Saku took the ball from her with one hand. He set his jaw, focused, and threw.
The ball clinked against the rim before dropping neatly through the net.
“You’re such a show-off,” she scoffed, though a smirk tugged at her lips.
“Sorry,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. He hadn’t meant to come across like that.
At her request, he gave her a few tips on the game. After a few tries, she managed to sink a perfect shot herself.
“Yay!” She bounced lightly, eyes shining as she turned to him. “Did you see that?”
“Yes, I did.” He smiled, and since there was no one around, he leaned in and pressed a gentle, chaste kiss to her cheek. “Congrats.”
The unexpected gesture caught her completely off guard.
She flushed, swallowed hard, heart thudding in her chest.
They tried a handful of different games. Subaru did decently well at the musical and rhythm games, especially for a beginner. Saku wasn’t much better, so they ended up having fun and repeating several rounds in some of them.
Shooting games proved difficult for both, but since it was a cooperative mode, they managed to survive a few levels together. They dropped those rather quickly.
Subaru wanted to try air hockey next, and she was absolutely terrible. Saku tried to go easy on her, but after she managed to send the puck bouncing off the walls of the table only to somehow score on her own side three times in a row, he couldn’t hold back his laughter any longer.
“You know the goal…”
“Don’t,” she warned, pouting and cutting him off before he could repeat his earlier quip.
Saku raised both hands in surrender, though the urge to tease was still strong.
In the end, she laughed at herself, conceding to her own complete defeat.
Their last stop was the claw machines. Saku spotted a small silver cat plushie, the kind that could be attached to phone cases, and decided to try his luck.
“Saku, aren’t these machines usually rigged?” Subaru asked, leaning close to whisper in his ear. She grinned, pleased with the reaction she was getting.
His ears flushed, flustered, and he hit the button before lining up the claw properly, making him lose immediately.
“That’s an excuse only losers use,” he said, regaining his composure and dropping another coin in.
“Haven’t you tried like ten times already? Seems to me it’s about time you used that excuse yourself,” she teased playfully.
“Oh, very funny, very funny indeed,” he shot back. He tried again, but the claw missed the plushie once more.
“Can I try?”
“Sure.” He inserted a coin for her and stepped aside. By watching him, she’d already picked up the rather simple basics of the game.
Three tries later, a tiny grumpy black cat plushie clutched the claw all the way to the exit.
Subaru reached for it and shot Saku a cocky smile, raising an eyebrow.
“You were right, they weren’t rigged after all,” she teased. “It was all about skill.”
Saku chuckled.
Subaru then slid the tiny toy into his shirt pocket.
“Wait, no… it’s yours,” he said, reaching for it to return it, but she pushed it back.
“You wanted to get the other one for me. I got this one for you, keep it.”
“But I should be the one getting one for you.”
“Don’t get hung up on old-fashioned gender roles.”
“It’s not that. I meant to give one to you. It’s an important milestone in the ultimate high school dating experience, you know, and I promised you all that.”
Subaru chuckled and pressed a quick peck to his cheek.
“Don’t worry about that. The best thing you gave me was the chance to beat you at this game.” Her teasing grin was back in full force. “The plushie is just a memento.”
Saku rolled his eyes and scoffed.
“Well, I’ll get one for you another day, then.” He squeezed her hand.
“Looking forward to it,” Subaru said as they resumed walking. “Where are we going next?”
Saku scrolled through his packed itinerary on the phone, pensive and humming. Subaru tried to peek over. How much research did he do in advance?, she wondered while the scrolling continued going through a long section of notes.
“Are you ok with not having lunch yet?” Saku asked.
“Yes, we did eat like three lunches worth of street snacks after all.”
“Then we can take the train, and have lunch a little later.”
“Where are we going?”
“You will see,” he gave a small squeeze of his hand.
They walked toward the station, Subaru following along the route he had carefully planned to their secret next spot. By the time they decided to board, the train was crowded, so she stayed close to the door.
He guessed she might feel uncomfortable in such a packed space, so he stayed close, subtly positioning himself as a shield between her and the rest of the crowd.
When they had to transfer trains at the next station, they exited through the other door. He helped her off the train, lightly grasping her elbow, then quickly released her as soon as she was safely on the platform. He turned on his heel and hurried toward the next train.
Subaru, slightly perplexed by his sudden rush, followed him.
The next train was much less crowded, and as it carried them farther from Tokyo, she began to suspect where they were headed.
“So… what do you think?” he asked tentatively. Both of them gazed out at the sea through the train window, Enoshima Island just visible on the distant horizon.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured.
“I know early April isn’t exactly the best time for the beach, but I really wanted to bring you here,” he said, keeping his eyes fixed on the blue horizon. The day had warmed and turned sunny, and he was quietly happy about that.
“Thank you.” She pressed a quick peck to his cheek. His lips curved into a smile at the soft contact.
“It’s nothing. I promised, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did.” She leaned her head on his shoulder while still looking out at the view. “Did you go on a lot of dates here back in the day?”
“Of course not!” he blurted. “I came here every summer with the guys. I suppose this would be my first date here.”
She straightened and looked at him, a teasing glint in her eyes.
“Oh, come on, you can tell me the truth,” she said. “I’m not blind, you must have been popular even back then.”
“It’s the truth. You can ask Rintaro,” he mumbled. Standing up as the train pulled into their station, he added, “I told you, I was a loner in middle school, I'm kind of introverted, and, just in case you forgot, Chidori is a boys’ school.”
“Okay, okay,” she laughed, stepping onto the platform. She turned to him with a fond smile. “Then let’s go on our first beach date… just the two of us.”
They had arrived at Shichirigahama Station.
The air was filled with the salty scent of the ocean, and the distant cries of seagulls echoed across the streets.
The sun warmed their skin as they stepped out of the station.
For lunch, they chose an Italian restaurant with good reviews and a pleasant view; one Saku had spotted during his research the night before.
Afterwards, they strolled slowly through the tourist-filled streets, passing by important landmarks along the way.
As the sky began to shift toward warmer hues, they made their way to the beach, walking close to the water’s edge.
They had fallen into a comfortable silence, Subaru gazing thoughtfully at the gentle movement of the waves.
The last months had brought a lot of sudden change in her life.
Just weeks ago, she had been in that classroom, lamenting the experiences she’d missed, imprisoned by her own fears, regretful.
But now, she felt at peace with herself and the choices she had made.
She had managed to get here. With his help, of course.
She stole a sidelong glance at Saku and smiled softly.
They had time. They were still in the prime of their lives.
And the future laid ahead.
Together.
But… the future could wait—right now, she was here, fully alive in this moment.
The warmth of their intertwined hands.
The salty breeze brushing her face.
The sand rasping softly against her feet.
The gentle, steady sound of the waves.
All the storm and turmoil of her emotions had quieted, replaced by something gentler.
There was no word more fitting for this whirlwind of joy, longing, admiration, and ache.
It had to be love.
And with it came a happiness that felt both peaceful and complete.
Why did she suddenly miss the warmth of his hand?
When had he let go?
The thought was abruptly interrupted by another sensation.
Cold water.
Specifically cold water droplets splashing the skin of her face and neck, as well as her shirt.
Her eyes found the source: Saku.
He was standing with his feet in the water, jeans rolled up to his knees, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
“Sorry, was it too cold? You looked like you had something on your mind,” he said, not looking that remorseful.
Subaru glanced toward the shallow boundary where the water met the sand, looking at the gentle sway of the waves in front of her.
“I was just thinking about everything that’s happened lately,” she muttered, eyes cast downward.
“I still don’t know what came over me to tell you about my troubles over the phone, or why I decided to let you help Miharu and Renji in the first place. But I’m glad it worked out the way it did. I consider myself lucky that you’ll have me.”
Another splash of water, softer this time, sprinkled cold droplets across her skin.
“Nonsense,” he said, his expression suddenly serious. “I’m the lucky one.”
He held out his hand, a silent invitation.
She rolled up her pants and reached for his hand, and they stayed like that, hands together as Subaru hesitated on the dry sand, unsure whether to step into the water.
“This won’t do,” Saku said, his usual patience nowhere to be found.
He stepped closer.
“Eh? What are you d—argh!?”
Before she could react, his arms were around her waist, lifting her in a swift, sweeping motion.
She froze at the sudden contact.
His arms snug around her, her chest pressing against his, her hands grasping for balance and clutching the fabric of his shirt just below the nape of his neck.
He stepped into the water again, then loosened his hold slightly so she could slide down, still in his embrace, the waves brushing their knees.
“Better,” he declared, his grin buried against her shoulder, playful and warm.
Subaru might have agreed… if she hadn’t been too flustered to think straight.
She just hummed, pressing herself closer against his chest, gripping his shirt tighter.
“I mean it,” he continued, still hiding his face against her shoulder, unable to meet her eyes if he was going to speak honestly. “I’m the lucky one. I know I’m not good at opening up, but I have been thinking that I should say this.”
He squeezed her waist lightly.
“I’ve been in love with you for some time already. Not long after we met again.”
Subaru slid her hands from his back to the sides of his face, gently pushing him back so they could meet eye to eye.
“Really?”
He nodded, letting her hold his head.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” she whispered.
Her fingertips brushing softly against his temples.
“I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable,” he confessed, closing his eyes at her touch. “I… thought it was one-sided. And I didn’t want to ruin the trust you’d put in me.”
He leaned his forehead against hers, their noses brushing.
“I’m really lucky,” he whispered.
He leaned in tentatively, his lips brushing against hers.
He tried to gauge her reaction, ready to pull back if it was too much.
Instead, Subaru, whose hands were already caressing his temples, slid them further into the back of his head, threading through his hair and drawing him closer.
He took the silent invitation as it was, savoring the kiss, moving with a rhythm as steady as the waves lapping at their skin.
Slower than he wanted.
Her soft gasps invited him further, his tongue seeking permission against her lips.
She welcomed him, matching his eagerness with eagerness of her own.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, eyes locked.
“I love you,” he whispered. “That’s what I wanted to say today.”
She smiled, burying her face against his shoulder.
“I love you too.”
He couldn’t help grinning at her words. Yep, definitely the lucky one.
===============
The train back home was quiet—it was off-season, after all.
Subaru had fallen asleep against his shoulder, more tired than she let on, hugging her bag tightly.
Inside it was a small bag with donuts she had been eyeing on the way to the station, which he had gotten for her.
They had planned to snack on them during the ride home, but she had dozed off instead.
He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and tilted his shoulder to make her more comfortable.
The hum of the train surrounded them, and the passing scenery shifted from the sea on the horizon to the urban sprawl of the city.
Saku woke her gently when they reached their stop. After a short transfer on another line, they arrived at Subaru’s building.
“I had a great time today,” she said, leaning in to give him a quick peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“Me too,” he replied softly. “We can go again in summer, and maybe do some fireworks.”
“I’d like that.”
Subaru fiddled with the key in her hands and averted her gaze.
The silence stretched between them.
“Do you want to come inside? I remember you wanted some coffee last time.”
He ran a hand through his hair, slightly nervous, a faint blush creeping across his face.
“Sure,” he muttered. “Only if it’s not a bother. You must be tired.”
Subaru shook her head.
“The nap on the train helped me recover, and we still have all these donuts to eat,” she joked. “How about you? You must have stayed up late with all that planning you did.”
He shrugged.
“I’m okay,” he said, eyes on the floor between them.
She reached for his hand, their index fingers hooking together, and gently pulled him inside the building.
She guided him inside her home, already familiar to Saku.
They settled by the kitchen island like before.
They munched on donuts and whispered jokes.
Laughter mingled with soft touches.
They kissed.
Then they kissed again.
The donuts were long forgotten.
They didn’t drink coffee.
At least, not until the sun had risen, spilling morning light through the window.
========================== EPILOGUE ========================
“Aren’t you going to be late?” Mio asked, growing exasperated, already turning on the TV.
“Subaru is still getting ready, and I haven’t gone through all the instructions yet,” Saku interjected, annoyed at his sister while fixing his tie.
“More instructions!?” Mio turned to him, aghast. “Saku, he’s a dog. I’ve taken care of dogs before.”
“But Mochi is a puppy, and puppies are—”
“Dogs, Saku,” Mio cut him off bluntly. “Puppies are dogs.”
She turned back to the TV, scrolling through the streaming options.
“Everything is going to be fine. You two just go and enjoy your party, and Mochi and I will binge the last season of that dating reality show that just dropped. Right, Mochi?”
She patted the spot next to her on the couch.
Mochi, a small cream-colored puppy that was standing next to Saku, jumped up to snuggle next to her.
On the couch he was supposedly banned from sitting on.
Saku groaned and pressed the bridge of his nose.
“I’m ready! Sorry for the delay,” Subaru called, hurrying out of the bedroom toward them.
“Subaru! So good to see you,” Mio exclaimed. “I love your dress, by the way.”
Subaru wore a blue night dress, her hair swept into an elegant updo. The color matched Saku’s navy blue dress shirt beneath his suit. No matter how long they had been together, he still found himself dazed by how beautiful she was.
“Eyes up, brother,” Mio teased, making him realize he’d been staring. He shot his sister an annoyed glare in response.
Subaru just chuckled at the bickering siblings, already used to their antics.
“Thanks for helping with Mochi today, Mio. We owe you,” Subaru said, petting Mochi goodbye.
“Don’t worry, you know I’m his favorite auntie.”
“Of course,” Subaru giggled.
“Beggars can’t be choosers, I guess,” Saku teased back, earning a playful tongue stuck out from Mio.
“Bye, Mochi,” Subaru added to the puppy, who had been busy gnawing at his own foot. Mochi looked up at her and wagged his tail. “Behave well with Mio, okay?”
===============
“Saku-chan! Subaru! Thank you for coming!” Shohei’s voice rang out as usual, turning the heads of the people around them as the couple made their way toward him.
“Thank you for inviting us, and congratulations!” Subaru exclaimed. She kept a polite distance from the energetic man but leaned in to give Suzu, Shohei’s bride, a hug.
“Thank you, Subaru,” Suzu replied softly. She wore a stunning white dress, her hair swept into a bun adorned with sparkling decorations. Shohei, the groom, was equally dressed for the occasion—his tuxedo crisp and his normally messy hair slicked back neatly.
The two women began talking between themselves, while Shohei draped an arm over Saku’s shoulder, pulling him away.
“Saku-chan, I’m so happy! Today is going wonderfully. Suzu decided on all this decor for the party,” Shohei said, gesturing around the venue to show Saku their surroundings.
Round tables were arranged throughout the venue, draped in cream-colored tablecloths. Each table was adorned with crystal vases filled with jasmine, their small white blossoms woven into delicate arrangements.
“I mean, she asked for my opinion a lot, and I don’t know… ” he added, scratching the back of his head. “When she showed me the options, I just pointed at things. But to be honest, sometimes I think she was playing games with me, showing me two identical images.”
Saku chuckled, a polite smile tugging at his lips.
“Everything looks amazing,” he said.
He had gotten to know Suzu well over time. She was a sweet girl, her gentle nature balancing Shohei’s energy perfectly. But she also had a quirky sense of humor, making his theory entirely plausible.
They were definitely a great couple.
“Do you want to see the preview of the wedding photos we took earlier?” Shohei asked, pulling his phone out of his pocket and holding it tentatively toward Saku.
He was a little cautious, knowing Saku’s usual reaction to being bombarded with photos of things Shohei loved.
But this time, Saku smiled softly and shrugged.
“Of course,” he said, pulling his own phone out. “Do you want to see the latest Mochi photos as well?”
“Aw, man, of course! He’s so damn cute!”
==============
“And then the photographer told us to pose like this, and I think this one is going to be one of my favorites—but we’ll see when we get the final album,” Suzu explained to the other girls, showing them the screen of her phone. “It’s definitely going to be my screensaver now.”
“You two look beautiful!” Kaoruko exclaimed. Subaru and Madoka nodded in agreement.
“Thank you!” Suzu replied. “I really like this one. I look so fit! I suppose those horrible times of skipping delicious carbs paid off.”
“Wasn’t it like two weeks?” Madoka teased.
“Exactly,” Suzu agreed with a wink.
“What are you going to do when it’s your turn, Kaoruko?” Subaru decided to tease her friend. “If there’s one person who could beat Suzu in love for sweets, it’s you.”
“My boyfriend is a patissier—that game was over before it even started,” Kaoruko joked back. “I will keep eating my cakes and my metabolism and the photographer will have to manage.”
The girls chuckled, but Kaoruko’s banter wasn’t over.
“Also… I don’t know, maybe I’m not the next one anyway,” Kaoruko added, winking at her silver-haired friend.
Madoka grinned and raised her brows, Suzu leaned in, curious, and Subaru quickly averted her gaze, flustered.
=============
“Haven’t you and Kaoruko been together longer anyway?” Saku shot back defensively. The group of boys had gathered in their own little circle, off to one side of the venue.
“What’s three months in the grand scheme of things?” Rintaro shrugged, still grinning.
“You’re already living together,” Ayato pointed out.
“And with a cute doggo to boot,” Shohei added. “Aaaand your family loves her. If you two ever break up, I’m pretty sure Mio’s keeping her instead of you.”
“I can totally see that happening,” Ayato agreed, grinning.
“Even Mochi would,” Rintaro chimed in, teasing.
“We’re not breaking up,” Saku muttered, clearly annoyed by the direction the conversation was taking.
Shohei, already a little tipsy from the wine, gave Saku a playful bump with his shoulder.
“Hey, if you ever need help, I can always ask Suzu to subtly extract some information from her,” Shohei offered. “You know—whether she’s already expecting it, ring sizes, that kind of thing.”
=============
“I can always tell Shohei to subtly push Saku in the right direction,” Suzu offered.
“I think Shohei’s idea of subtlety probably doesn’t match Subaru’s,” Madoka quipped.
“Oh, thanks, but don’t worry,” Subaru said, waving it off. She fidgeted with the glass in her hands, her ears turning red. “Life’s been busy since changing jobs. I’m still adapting, so I don’t mind if Saku wants to take things slow.”
“That makes sense, wedding planning takes a lot of time, but I would say, it has been a great distraction from work,” Suzu added. “Congratulations on the new job. Is it at a different school?”
“Thank you,” Subaru said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, a little awkward with the attention still on her. “No, actually, it’s a non-profit dedicated to children’s legal aid.”
She fiddled with the glass in her hands for a moment.
“It’s been incredibly fulfilling. I’m still learning the ropes, though.”
=========
“From Kikyo to a non-profit?” Rintaro asked. “That’s a big change.”
“Yeah,” Saku agreed. “She liked teaching, but she was unhappy with Kikyo as an organization.”
He looked down at his glass of wine, pensive.
“The differences in principles eventually got to her, and with the post-graduate studies she did, she decided to test the waters. She started there a couple of months ago.”
“And how is it? Does she like it so far?” Ayato asked.
“She’s really happy. She can’t stop talking about it,” Saku said with a soft smile.
He thought of how she would come home every day and tell him all about her day as they cooked dinner together, gushing over even the smallest details of the cases she was helping with.
“But it was a big change,” he added quietly, “and I know it’s been really hard on her.”
His gaze drifted to the other side of the room. He spotted Subaru’s profile easily among the guests, one glass of sparkling wine in hand as she talked with the other girls.
Saku could recognize how Subaru’s unwavering drive to move forward had pushed her to step out of the comfort zone that Kikyo had been for so long. The change had been frightening, but deeply fulfilling. She was doing well, just as he had expected, learning the ropes quickly. Though her own performance anxieties remained a heavy source of stress.
It was their home, Saku’s steady presence and the recent addition of Mochi, that had become her new safe haven, a place where she could recharge every day.
“So now’s not the best timing,” he said, still looking at her in the distance. “I don’t want to add to all that stress while she’s still overwhelmed by it.”
He watched her laugh at something Madoka said.
Then she glanced around the venue, tentative, until their eyes met.
She smiled at him before turning back to her friends.
Still… she would look gorgeous in white, he thought, turning his attention back to the others.
===========
“We want to say thank you for accompanying us on this important day,” Suzu said, beaming, as she and Shohei approached the table where their friends were seated.
The round table was set with sparkling wine glasses for each guest, along with some leftover cutlery from dinner. Jasmine flowers adorned the centerpiece.
After exchanging greetings, Ayato stood and raised his glass, prompting the rest of the table to fall silent.
“Congratulations, Shohei,” he said with a smile. “You have been a great friend since forever.”
He looked around before adding more.
“And since you two met, and Suzu— for some reason—decided to give you a chance, you have been the happiest I have ever seen you.”
Subaru leaned toward Saku and whispered in his ear.
“Is that true? I can’t imagine Shohei being sad.”
Saku stifled a snort.
“Since those early days, he would gush about you,” Ayato continued. “Talk about every little thing you did, the bentos you made for him, the gifts he prepared for you…”
Suzu looked moved and glanced at Shohei, who was beginning to fluster.
“He would immediately brag about you to any new female friend he met,” Ayato added.
“I can attest to that,” Madoka quipped.
“Me too,” Subaru chimed in, remembering how she had met Shohei, only to be shown her photo on his phone two seconds later.
Suzu giggled and pinched Shohei on the cheek.
“As he should,” she joked.
Rintaro stood and raised his glass as well.
“And I’m sure everyone at this table wishes you both the best for your future. We look up to you guys.”
The others stood, raising their glasses in unison.
“May the future be bright and gentle,” Saku added. “Here’s to a lifetime of wonderful memories together, and bringing out the best in each other. Cheers.”
“Cheers!”
Saku cast a sidelong glance at Subaru, who was standing next to him. She was smiling softly, eyes on the newlyweds.
Suzu pressed a chaste kiss to Shohei’s cheek and wrapped her arm around his waist, while Shohei, blushing, rambled energetically with Rintaro.
===========
He paid the taxi driver, then turned to Subaru, who was slumped against the seat, fast asleep. He carefully lifted her into his arms to help her out of the car, and she instinctively shifted, resting her head against his collarbone.
He fumbled a bit as he unlocked the front door, kicking his shoes off by the entrance once they were inside.
The living room was dim, lit only by the muted glow of the TV playing some random show in the background.
He laid Subaru down on the bed, slipped her shoes off, and gently woke her.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” she murmured sleepily. “Oh… did I fall asleep on the ride back?”
Saku hummed in agreement as he loosened his tie.
“Thanks for bringing me home,” she said, glancing down at her dress, hardly comfortable for sleeping. “I think I should change.”
Saku went back to the living room and draped a blanket over Mio, who was asleep on the couch, then turned off the long-forgotten TV.
Mochi, sleeping next to her, lifted his head drowsily at Saku’s movement, waved his tail, happy to see him. Then he promptly curled up again.
On the couch he was supposedly banned from sleeping on.
Saku changed out of his suit and into more comfortable clothes before heading to check on Subaru. She glanced at him through the mirror while brushing her teeth.
He rested his chin on her shoulder as he reached for his own toothbrush.
“You looked beautiful in your dress tonight, by the way.”
“Thanks. I saw you looking over a couple of times, now I know why,” she teased.
“I always look at you,” he said matter-of-factly, starting to brush his teeth.
Subaru didn’t bother with a comeback. She just smiled, leaned in to kiss his temple, and stepped out of the bathroom.
When Saku entered the bedroom again, Subaru was already tucked in bed.
A small ball of cream-colored fur curled up at her side, taking over part of what should have been his share of the bed.
Saku scoffed softly, then carefully maneuvered himself onto the mattress without disturbing Mochi.
“Tonight was a lot of fun, wasn’t it?” Subaru said, lying on her side with one elbow propped against her pillow.
“Yeah. It was good to see everyone,” Saku agreed. “Shohei was a ball of energy, even worse than usual.”
“Totally,” she replied. “But they looked so happy together. And having their families there too… It was wonderful.”
He hummed in agreement, gently stroking Mochi’s back.
“I guess it was a good distraction from work, too,” he added. “You should prioritize rest if things are too intense.”
“Oh, you don’t really need to worry about that, I have everything under control,” she said, flexing her bicep in an exaggerated, playful gesture.
Saku gave her a doubtful look, remembering how she had panicked just two days earlier over not knowing a specific local penal code word for word.
“Hey.” She swatted his shoulder lightly. “I know what you’re thinking, and trust me, I really do have things under control. I’ve already learned the ropes at the new job.”
“Okay,” he said, his gaze softening. “I trust you.”
“I’d even say…” she added, “I’m kind of bored of the new job already.”
Saku slowly raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t been expecting that.
He had seen her and listened to her for the last couple of months. He knew how motivated she was about her new career path. Why was she lying now?
Catching his unconvinced expression, she tugged the covers closer around herself and turned onto her side, her back to him.
“Yes. A little bored,” she insisted. “I think it would be good for me to find something else to do. Like a distraction.”
“A… distraction?”
“Yes,” her voice came out muffled as she curled further into the blankets, sounding a bit nervous. “Maybe I’ll use my free time to plan something...”
She suddenly turned back toward him and leaned in to give him a quick peck.
“Good night, Saku,” she said.
Before he could reply—or ask any follow-up questions—she turned away and curled beneath the covers, her ears flushed red.
Still a little stunned by how abruptly the conversation had shifted, Saku moved closer and wrapped his arms around the bundled Subaru from behind.
Mochi, determined to avoid being caught in the squeeze, hopped to their feet.
Saku traced gentle patterns along her arm before finding her hand and lacing his fingers through hers. She squeezed back, intertwining their fingers.
They stayed like that, lingering in a silent embrace.
His cheek rested against her ear.
The soft, steady rhythm of a slumbering ball of fur breathing against their toes.
After a while, Saku carefully rolled one of her fingers between his own, pensive.
The odd gesture caught Subaru’s attention.
“You know,if you wanted to measure my ring size, it would’ve been easier to check my jewelry box,” she teased. “One of the perks of living together.”
Saku dropped her hand as if it had burned him, heat rushing to his face. The fact that he hadn’t thought of the jewelry box at all only made it worse.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh? You thought you were being subtle?”
“Look who’s talking,” he shot back. “Miss if-only-I-had-some-big-event-to-plan-to-keep-me-from-boredom.”
Subaru snorted at this.
“Good night…” Saku murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple.
“Good night, Saku,” she replied. “My jewelry box is in the second drawer, by the way.”
“I already know that,” he quipped as he retreated to his side of the bed.
From her bundle of blankets, Subaru chuckled.
Her breathing soon evened out, slipping into sleep, but sleep evaded him now.
With eyes wide open, he stared up at the ceiling.
So he decided it was time to open a couple of dozen tabs in his phone’s browser and start doing some planning of his own.