Chapter Text
It was now 6 years since the battle with Ragyo and everyone lived their lives how they planned so far.
Lives have changed for everyone. Ira continued to work at his relative’s ironworks and he is dating Mako, who, surprisingly, decided to practice medicine after finishing high school. Ryuko finished college, though, she still is unsure about what she wants to do. As she looks for a job, she spends her free time with friends and family. Uzu still helped his folks as he was also working as a kendo instructor. He and Ryuko have been in a long-distance relationship and dating for just over five years. Though he was wanting to grow their relationship, though, he was having trouble figuring out how. Nonon is preparing to take over her family business and is practically ready. Houka finished college, specializing in I.T. and recently found a good job that carries his skills. He and Nonon recently began a relationship. Satsuki was trying to fix the Kiriuin conglomerate back up as she finished college.
Uzu was travelling by train to visit his friends for the rest of the weekend as he had to move back to his hometown to work. Weirdly enough, his parents were with him. The train was coming to a stop, signalling him that it was his stop to get off. When he got outside, he spotted a group of familiar faces. Standing on the platform, waiting for him, was Ira, Houka, Nonon, Satsuki, and Ryuko. Everyone was pretty happy that they were together again, especially Ryuko.
They all greeted him as they saw him get off the train.
“Hey monkey,” Nonon said.
“Hello Sanageyama,” Houka said, his and Nonon’s arms linked.
Ira nodded in greeting as Uzu returned the greeting nod, “Sanageyama.”
Ryuko walks up to her boyfriend, grabs the collar of his green knitted top, and gives him a kiss on his lips, to which he returns, happy to see his girlfriend again. She then greeted the older couple, glad to see them. Uzu’s parents adored Ryuko, mainly because of how much they were alike. Uzu’s older brother didn’t seem to like her all that much.
As they all walked from the train station, Everyone was in front as Satsuki followed behind them. Satsuki wanted to talk to Uzu in private. She was curious about Ryuko and Uzu’s relationship and when he was going to take the next step. Ryuko wanted to catch up with Ira, curious about his and Mako’s relationship, as he wanted to catch up with Ryuko and know how Mako was.
“Sanageyama,” Satsuki called to get the green-haired male’s attention.
Uzu looks to Satsuki with a confused look. Satsuki looked at him with a smug grin and a raised eyebrow. He kind of already knew what she wanted to talk about.
Ryuko.
He gave her a grin and spoke up, “Don’t worry. I got it covered.” Satsuki was even more curious as they walked together to discuss his plan.
________________________________________________________
Everyone decided to stay at the Kiriuin mansion during the visit as it was being enough for everyone. Ryuko even got Mako to come and sleepover. Satsuki also managed to convince Mako’s parents and little brother to come over and they did. Satsuki believed that they should come as they seemed to be like parent figures to Ryuko.
Two groups of two seemed to be awake but at different parts of the home. One group was Ryuko and Mako, who were in Ryuko’s room, and the other was Satsuki and Uzu, who were in the kitchen. Each group was discussing different things quietly to not disturb the people who were asleep.
Ryuko and Mako were discussing Uzu’s weird behaviour and how she was nervous about her worst-case scenario: him breaking up with her, especially after being a couple for so long. Mako was trying to assure Ryuko that that would never happen.
Satsuki was helping Uzu with his “little” plan regarding his future with Ryuko. They both threw out ideas of how he could go about this. Satsuki even thought about using another sword match to cover up the plan as he and Ryuko were mainly known to fight. Uzu thought that it was a good idea, though, the problem was how he would mix what he was wanting to do with a sword fight. That’s when Satsuki suggested a way to do so, which he agreed with. The next thing they tried to plan was when. When should this happen? Uzu wanted to do this around close friends and family and he wanted to do so sooner rather than later. So they decided to do this tomorrow as everyone was still around.
A couple of minutes later….
Mako and Satsuki decided to go to bed after speaking for a long time. Uzu and Ryuko were still awake. Ryuko tried to sleep, she couldn’t get the thought of Uzu possibly breaking up with her so she decided to head for the kitchen to get a glass of water. Though, she didn’t expect to see Uzu awake at all. What was weird is that he seemed to be writing stuff down on a pad of paper.
“Hey,” Ryuko spoke.
“Hey, babe. Couldn’t sleep?” Uzu asked, seeing his awake girlfriend.
“No, you?” She responded and then asked, “What are you doing up? And what are you doing with that pad of paper?”
Uzu shrugged his shoulders and replied, “Not really that tired actually. The paper? Oh, it’s nothing really.”
Ryuko’s face dropped a little with disappointment as she turned and walked back to her room. Uzu noticed and stopped her. “Hey, C’mere.” He softly and gently said as he grabbed her hand, making Ryuko turn around in slight shock. She settled down a little as they both looked into each other’s eyes. Uzu noticed how she looked like she was almost on the verge of tears. He pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head.
“What’s wrong, babe?”
“I-it’s just that you’re being a bit distant..a-and I can’t help but think that you’re wanting to break up with me,” Ryuko answered, trying to fight tears. Uzu sympathized with her. He knew that he was her first-ever boyfriend and how much this decision caused him to be quite distant from her as he was trying his best to keep it a surprise.
Uzu kissed the top of her head again and reassured her, “Hey, I’m not breaking up with you. Never. I’m sorry to make it seem that way. I’m only being distant because I have things on my mind that I’m keeping a surprise.” His sympathizing smile turned to a smug smirk, making her giggle slightly. He cups her face with his hands and uses his thumbs to wipe a few of the fallen tears off Ryuko’s face and pulls her up to give her a passionate kiss on her lips.
The two smiles at each other before Uzu wraps his arm around Ryuko’s shoulders and walks her back to her room. Once they reach Ryuko’s room, they both say their goodnights and have a goodnight kiss and Uzu leaves to go to bed himself.
Being reassured, Ryuko has a more peaceful sleep. Uzu notices that he is now tired as he enters his room.
Tomorrow. Uzu thought. Tomorrow.
____________________________________________________________
Uzu decided to get up early to make breakfast for everyone. He cooked bacon, eggs, and pancakes.
Almost everyone was awake and Ryuko seemed to be the only one still in bed. As everyone was eating together, Satsuki was looking around to find her little sister and asked, “Where’s Ryuko?”
Uzu also looked around and said, “Hm, she must still be in bed.” Satsuki gave him a raised brow and smirk that looked quite smug. He understood the look he was being given, picking a tray for the “breakfast in bed” type of meal. He got a plate and filled a third of it with eggs, another third was filled with bacon strips as the last third had a few pancakes. He then grabbed a medium-sized mug and filled it with coffee, the way Ryuko likes it, as he puts the plates and the coffee on the tray. He grabs a small pouring container filled with maple syrup and places that on the tray.
He picks up the tray and headed towards Ryuko’s room. He heard Nonon make a sly comment, “Wow, monkey, making Ryuko breakfast-in-bed, are you? I didn’t know a monkey like you could make such a gesture.” Uzu ignored Nonon’s comment as he knocked on Ryuko’s door. He heard Ryuko tiredly call from the other side of the door,
“Yeah?”
“Hey, It’s me. I got something for you.”
A second later, a “Come in” was heard and he entered.
He saw his girlfriend trying to wipe away the tiredness from her eyes. When she saw what Uzu had, she perked up a little and happily asked, “What’s this?”
“Breakfast-in-bed for my girlfriend,” Uzu replied. Ryuko sat up in the bed with her leg crisscrossed as Uzu placed the tray in front of her.
Ryuko seemed to be a little suspicious of Uzu, “Smells wonderful. Any special occasion?”
“Maybe. I wanted to do something special for my girlfriend as I want to have a match later in front of everybody.” Uzu said, a little playfully and a little serious.
“Ok...You’re on.”
“Good. Now, finish up your breakfast, babe. We have a match later and you’ll need the energy.” Uzu confidently said. He pulled her close as he cupped her cheeks with his hands and kissed her passionately on her lips, which she loved. He got up and went back to the kitchen, leaving his girlfriend to her breakfast.
When he was in view of the others who were sitting at the large table, he looked to Satsuki. She was giving him another raised brow with a facial expression that read “So, did you do it.” He grinned and gave a slight nod, trying to not be obvious.
_________________________________________________________
It was time. Time to activate his and Satsuki’s plan. Time for the match.
He stood in front of Ryuko. He stood in his signature fighting stance as did Ryuko, both holding shinais as swords. Everyone watching from the green that surrounded the hilltop.
Uzu charged toward Ryuko and took the first hit, striking straight down to her head. She was able to quickly block the hit as she brought up her shinai, colliding with his. They were trying to not go easy on one another until the time was right for Uzu.
“Men! Dou! Kote!” Uzu’s battle cry was all that was heard over and over as he swung and struck from all sides. He saw how she kept up with him and blocked every strike. She has definitely improved.
30 minutes later….
This spar grew intense.
Everyone was in awe of the battle, though Satsuki had an amused look, confusing the others.
Nonon was the only one who dared to ask Satsuki what was going on. “Hey, Satsuki, What’s that monkey planning?”
“Just wait and see, Nonon.”
“She’s right, look.” Houka jumped in, noticing how both Uzu and Ryuko were tired out.
Uzu walked toward Ryuko, shinai still in hand. They knew that Ryuko wasn’t one to give up, even if she was worn out. Everyone just watched as Uzu walked a little closer to Ryuko as she tried to catch her breath.
Right as she caught her breath and pulled back her shinai to strike, she saw Uzu drop his shinai, get down on one knee, and put his hand in his pocket to bring a small red box out of it. Out of surprise, she dropped the shinai and covered her mouth with her hands as Uzu opened the box, revealing a simple silver ring.
Everyone else in the crowd seemed to be dumbfounded. Mako squealed in excitement. Satsuki put a hand on her chest as she grinned at the pair. They were all looking at the two in anticipation of Ryuko’s answer.
“My god, Uzu.” Ryuko gasped as she was starting to tear up, her hands still covering her mouth.
“Ryuko Matoi, the woman who helped me see the world better after taking my eyes. The woman who I loved and dated for 5+ years. The woman who makes my heart skip a beat when I look at her. The woman who makes me smile just by looking at you and hearing your voice after a long and hard day. Ryuko Matoi, will you do me the honour and marry me?”
Ryuko was trying and failing, to hold back the visible tears of joy that had already escaped her eyes as she sniffled. Both Mako’s and Uzu’s parents’ eyes gleamed with their own joy and anticipation as they watch the special moment.
Ryuko was seen to be giving Uzu a nod. She sniffed again and said, “Yes. I’ll marry you,” She looked at him in his eyes and finished, “Uzu Sanageyama.” Ryuko held her left hand out to Uzu so he could the ring on and he did.
When Uzu finished putting the ring on her finger, he grabbed Ryuko by her waist as he got up on both feet, twirling her in the air a few times out of joy and excitement. As he did so, they both laughed and everyone surrounding them cheered or gave him amused grins. As he set her back down the grass, they cupped each other’s faces with their hands and shared a passionate kiss.
Everyone who was surrounding them went up to the now engaged couple. Mako ran to hug and practically tackled Ryuko to the ground in excitement. Both Mako’s and Uzu’s parents walked up to them, Uzu’s parents congratulating him as Mako’s parents did the same with Ryuko. Satsuki smiled as she quietly walked up to her little sister and gave her a congratulatory hug.
Uzu looked into Ryuko’s eyes, smiled, and leaned in to whisper into her ear, “Surprise.” Hearing that word, she smiled back at him.