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"Will you stay on the surface or go back?"
The question was out of nowhere and startled Chisaki a little, causing her to look up and stare at the young man sitting opposite of her. It wasn’t that the question itself was surprising, it was to be expected that they would talk about it sooner or later now that her parents and more people had woken up from the slumber, but the moment Tsumugu chose to ask was rather random. It was late already and grandfather was sleeping, so it was only the two of them drinking tea in silence.
Chisaki wished she wouldn’t blush when realized how intensely Tsumugu was looking at her, wondering how long he had been looking like this at her already and she quickly let her eyes wander down. As long as she didn’t look at him she would be able to ignore his eyes on her.
"If you and grandfather don’t mind it, I.. would like to stay here." She softly said, knowing neither of them would have anything against it, so it wasn’t surprising Tsumugu didn’t comment on it since he was probably aware that she knew that. "I love Shioshishio and my parents and everyone and it is where I was born after all, but.."
The young woman stayed silent for a short moment, lifting her hand to brush some of her hair behind her ear.
"It’s easier to stay here with my nurse training still going on and someone has to take care of grandfather when you are gone. And it’s not like I can’t go and visit the sea whenever I want to, so that’s no issue. It’s my home of course, but.. this here has become a home to me too, so leaving it would be sad."
Shyly she lifted her gaze, curious about what Tsumugu looked like now and to outsiders he would look the same he always does, but Chisaki knew him good enough to be able to spot the differences between his face before she had told him about her decision and the way it was now. She could tell from the way his eyes softened and how his lips almost turned into the slightest smile.
"It’s not like you to come to a decision so quickly."
Chisaki pouted.
"I didn’t start thinking about it only after you asked me, you know! Jeez.."
"Still. I am glad though." Tsumugu said as he got up, Chisaki doing the same and picking up her empty cup just as he had and brought it to the sink in the kitchen. They didn’t need words anymore and it was routine for them to do most things silently.
"Is it surprising to you that I stay here?"
"Not really. The only surprising thing is that you decided already. You have become so used to your life here that you wouldn’t leave it behind as soon as you have the chance to. Surely you love your parents, I know that, but—"
"You have become my second family and I don’t want to give that up. I love being with y—" Chisaki finished his sentence, before slapping her hand over her own mouth stopping herself from saying more, realizing what she had just said and blood rushed into her cheeks. She hadn’t meant to say that, she hadn’t meant to say that, she hadn’t meant to—
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Tsumugu laughing and all she wanted was to get out of this situation as quickly as she could, so she tried to get past him, but he softly grabbed her arm to stop her.
"There’s no need to be so embarrassed, Chisaki. I already know how you feel." He let her out of his grip and she hurried into her room, but not without mumbling how much of an idiot he was.
She still hadn’t directly told him how she felt about him and she knew that there was no need to because they both knew how they felt about each other, but one day she would tell him. She had to tell him.
A week later they were at the station, waiting for the bus to arrive. Chisaki was only accompanying him til here since her place was here and his would be at his university for the next few weeks and when the bus came, he pulled her into a hug and Chisaki knew she had to say it now.
"I love you." She mumbled, burying her face in his shoulder and she knew Tsumugu was smiling.
He let go of her and they shared quickly a few last words, telling the other to take care and their ways parted, only for a short time of course and it wasn’t as if they were walking different paths. It wasn’t his or her life after all, it was their life together.