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Everything was perfect. Goro had ordered their favorite foods from the Indian place that he and Sumire loved. The living room was littered with candles of Sumire’s favorite scent – lavender and chamomile. The final touch was the soft music he had playing in the background. The white gold ring with the row of diamonds and a single ruby nestled in the center sat in its velvet box in his pocket.
Was it too soon to propose after eight months of dating? Probably. They had known each other for the last three years, though. The flirting had been harmless, the small touches were brief when they were sure no one was looking, and the wayward glances they shared as they traversed Maruki’s palace together were the start of something but neither of them could act on it when Goro was on borrowed time. Sumire had been the first to know he had actually survived and it was then that Sumire admitted her feelings to him. As much as Goro wanted to return her feelings he didn’t want to ruin things with her with his toxic state. Goro had refused to pursue anything with Sumire until he felt like he had gotten past his trauma and other fun shit that the Metaverse, Shido, and Maruki had caused.
Sumire had been a steadfast supporter of his recovery, coming to visit him and assisting him how he saw fit. The only other person who really helped was Akira and he helped ground him in ways that Sumrie couldn’t. They played chess, spoke philosophy, and discussed the other trauma that came with being unwilling participants of a game that they were both doomed to lose. Even after everything Goro had put the man through, he was still there to help him with a smile on his face. Goro still wasn't sure if it was because of Akira needing to save everyone or if it was some way to atone for bringing Goro back against his will.
The door unlocked and Goro was shaken from his thoughts. Quickly he went to the door of the apartment that he and Sumire shared. The two had been living together for the last year and a half ever since he finished rehab. People had told them it wasn’t a good idea but they proved those people wrong. It started with them having separate bedrooms but eventually they migrated towards one another. Sumire had her occasional nightmares and Goro had his bouts of depression where he needed a body next to him to quell his demons.
They kept their distance for a while before they gradually grew closer. Eventually Sumire moved into Goro’s room and Goro started toeing their boundaries. First it was giving Sumire a kiss to the forehead or holding their hand as they watched movies. Then they started to hug when they woke up and before they went to sleep. The kisses grew longer and the hug became embraces and soon they were in a relationship.
Goro was glad it was gradual as he was scared of things moving too fast. He was scared of losing Sumire, one of the few people who understood his trauma.
“Welcome home,” Goro said, wrapping Sumire in his arms.
The redhead hummed and buried herself in his arms. “You're so toasty,” she sighed.
Goro chuckled and pulled away so she could remove her coat and scarf. “Did you have fun with the group?” He asked as he brought over her slippers which he had just taken out of the dryer as he knew she got cold very easily.
“I did! They were all wondering where you were though. Senpai was the only one who didn't ask though,” she hummed as she took off her coat and slid her feet into the warm slippers, a wide smile blooming on her face.
He really hoped his best friend didn't let the cat out of the bag or tell his cat what he was planning. If he did, he was going to carry through with actually shooting him. “I was busy,” he said with his own shrug as he made his way to their kitchen.
“Any chance you’re going to tell me what you’ve been sneaking around with?” She asked, padding after him.
“Patience,” he gently scolded her as he grabbed their food.
“Oh, you got my favorite,” Sumire gasped softly, her hands reaching out for the container that held her food.
Goro tapped her hand away and held the food over his head. “I said be patient.”
“But I’m hungry!” She pouted, reaching up on her tiptoes to get the food, leaning against Goro. Too bad Goro was a full head taller than her so her fingertips barely grazed his wrists.
“You just had curry!” He laughed, holding the food higher from his ravenous girlfriend.
“But you got me butter chicken and garlic naan! I can smell it!” She whined, nearly stepping on his toes. She was trying her hardest to reach her prize and Goro was barely able to fend her off.
“Sumi, just-” Goro backed up but his foot caught on something and down he went, their meal spilling all over both of them with Goro landing harshly on the floor and Sumire falling on top of him.
Sumire laughed as she sat up but Goro wasn’t laughing, instead he was pissed . Sumire noticed this and leaned forward. “Goro what-”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” He barked at her.
The tone made Sumire quickly move away from him to the opposite corner of the kitchen. “I was just trying to… I don’t know. I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad.”
Goro sat up and wiped the sauce from his face and hair. “I told you to be patient . All you had to do was wait a few minutes.”
“I know, I know,” she mumbled, wrapping her arms around her legs. “I was just so excited.”
“That’s not an excuse. Our dinner is now on the floor,” he sighed. Great. Now that was ruined. He was going to wait until after they ate to pop the question.
“I’m sorry,” she sniffled, her face hidden in her knees.
“That doesn’t fix the problem right now,” he groaned. Maybe if he placed another order it would be ready before they closed for the night. “I need you to listen to me.”
“Stop treating me like a child,” she frowned, her eyes wet and teary eyed.
“Then stop acting like one!” he shouted.
Sumire looked up at him with a look of shock before she stood up and went to her bedroom. The sound of the door slamming shut and the lock turning echoed through the apartment and it was then that Goro realized he really fucked up.
“FUCK!” He growled as he pulled at his hair and leaned his head onto his knees to take some deep breaths.
Once he was done with his self loathing he grabbed a kitchen towel and wiped off what he could before he went out to the balcony and shut the door behind him. On the table sat his cigarettes and without a second thought he shook one from the box and let it hang between his lips.
“Sumire doesn't like when you smoke, you know,” a voice said.
“Yeah, I know. I only do it when I'm upset,” he huffed as he lit it and took a deep drag.
“You know she didn't mean it,” she said, leaning against the balcony with him.
“I know but she ruined her own proposal,” he groaned, running a hand through his hair and grimacing at the residual food in it.
“She didn't know that. She thinks you blew up on her because of a normal dinner,” she said.
Goro sighed and hung his head. “It just feels like we're in this cycle of something happening and the other one gets upset.”
“And you think marriage will solve that?”
“Yes. No. Maybe? Fuck if I know. I love her and I want to stay with her but… I don't know,” he admitted quietly.
“Why did you fall in love with her?” She asked quietly.
“I don't think I really had a choice. She was a constant during a time of madness even when she turned against us. And after everything she still wanted to be honest with herself, even if it was easier to pretend. She was stronger than me in that fact,” he said.
Goro couldn't remember a single moment he fell for her. Even though he'd known her for years it didn't really cement until that semester they were in Maruki’s reality. She was kind and determined even though everything was falling apart, even when her own happiness was torn away from her.
He remembered the night Akira decided to go back to their true reality. After the confrontation at Leblanc he went back to his apartment to find Sumire standing there. Before Goro could even ask her what she was doing there she said she was going to miss him and that she needed to see him one more time before it was all over.
He remembered her crying and shaking because they had grown so close. It was probably then that Goro realized he loved her even if he didn't know it yet. He remembered the kiss he gave to her forehead and the empty promise that he wouldn't forget her.
“And after all this time, you still love her, right?” She asked, placing a hand on his arm.
“Of course I do. I couldn't see myself with anyone else,” he said, finishing his cigarette and snuffing it out in the ashtray.
“Then remember the things you love about her,” she smiled.
Goro loved Sumire for multiple reasons. She was beautiful in the way that she was her most honest self, even if childish in some ways. She was a person who brightened his day just by being in the same room. She was patient and supportive, even when Goro didn't appreciate it.
“I need to apologize,” he concluded. It really was his fault for getting so upset.
“You do. She's good for you.”
Goro looked over at her and smiled sadly. “I think you would have liked her.”
His mother smiled back at him. “I would have because I can see how well she treats you.”
Goro sighed and blinked and when he looked back his mother was gone. He wished she was alive to ask for more advice but Goro wasn't allowed that much happiness.
But he was happy with Sumire and that was more than plenty.
He walked back inside and looked at the mess. It was bad but it wasn't the worst. This could be salvaged. They had some leftover curry in the fridge he could heat up, he'd just need to make some rice. And after that he was going to apologize to his lovely girlfriend because she didn’t deserve what he had said to her.
He went about heating up their curry and got the rice in the cooker. As the rice cooked and the curry simmered quietly on the stove, Goro cleaned the kitchen. He was kind of looking forward to his food but he remembered how much Sumire loved the Leblanc curry and he was thankful that Akira always gave them a large amount of it whenever he made it.
Once the place was spotless, he changed in their bedroom. As he passed the bathroom he heard the shower going and knew Sumire was in there. Quickly he heated up her towel and placed it in the bathroom without her noticing. He set out a nice and comfortable pajama set for her to wear on her bed and went to the living room to wait for her.
It seemed like an eternity before she emerged in the fleece set and her hair braided down her back. She stayed close to the doorway, regarding him warily. It hurt slightly to see her guarded but he understood why.
Goro got up and crossed the room to her but paused when she took a step back. “Sumi, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that, okay? I know I'm in the wrong here. It’s just food and I shouldn’t have blown up on you.”
Sumire stared at him for a moment before she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him. “I'm sorry about dinner.”
Goro felt better already and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against him, nuzzling the top of her head. “It's okay. I have curry heating up on the stove and the rice should be done soon.”
“I was looking forward to it, though,” she huffed into his chest.
“We’ll order it again tomorrow. Christmas is not ruined,” he hummed, swaying them a bit as they embraced.
“Are you sure?” She asked, looking up at him with wet eyes.
“Yes, I’m sure. Now let’s go sit down. I want to give you your present,” he urged her, leading her to the couch.
Sumire stepped away from him for a moment, grabbing a thin box that she had hidden on the bookshelf. They sat on the couch together, Goro leaned against the armrest and Sumire tucking her feet under his legs as they sat. “Do you mind if I give you mine, first?” She asked, holding the box to her chest.
“Sure, Sumi,” he smiled as she handed him the box. It was expertly wrapped in black paper with a deep red ribbon keeping it closed. Goro unwrapped it as neatly as possible to reveal a plain, slim box underneath. Upon opening the box, he felt his breath catch in his throat.
“You talked about wanting new gloves and I tried my best to find ones similar to what you had years ago. Admittedly Akira had to help me and I still wasn’t sure I got the right ones. Did you know that there are a lot of different types of black leather because I didn’t and-” Sumire rambled on until Goro pulled her into his lap and kissed her deeply, making her stop talking and relax in his lap.
He didn’t break the kiss until his lungs hurt and even when he did pull away he kissed along her face. “Sumi, I love them. These are wonderful.”
Goro was honestly touched that she bought him something he had mentioned offhandedly but it was something he had wanted for months. He hadn’t worn gloves like these since high school and he had missed wearing them during the colder months. Admittedly he had planned on buying himself a pair but he never got around to doing it whether because he was stubborn or just couldn't be bothered.
“I’m glad you like them. I was worried you won’t,” she chuckled softly, a faint red blush on her face.
“Of course I was going to like them. Sumi, you could have given me candy and a handwritten card and I still would have loved it,” he said before setting the gloves aside. It was finally time and he hoped that it would go to plan. “I need you to close your eyes for me. Your gift is a surprise.”
Sumrie closed her eyes and waited. Goro took a deep breath and took the small velvet box from his pocket. He opened the box carefully and took her hand, slipping the ring onto her finger with ease.
“Goro, what are you-”
“Don’t open your eyes, Sumi. Just hear me out,” he said quickly. His girlfriend nodded and kept her eyes closed as Goro held her hand in his. The ring fit perfectly and seeing it on her finger reminded him that this was the right choice. “We've had quite the journey together,” he said, holding her hand and rubbing the pad of his thumb along the metal.
“We have. It hasn't been easy,” she smiled, tilting her head, her eyes still faintly shut.
“It hasn't but we're still here. After everything that happened we're still here. Even when our world was being ripped out of our hands we still didn't give up hope. When neither of us knew what was going to happen we still kept going. I wouldn't have blamed you if you had wanted to give up. I was close to doing so myself but seeing what you went through, it was enough to motivate me to be strong for you.
“I think what I'm trying to say is even though things were difficult you were always there, even when you didn't need to be,” he said softly.
“Because I love you, Goro,” she said, squeezing his hand in hers.
“I love you too. You're someone I care about and admire and I want to show you how much you mean to me so-”
“Yes.”
Goro stares at his girlfriend for a moment, his brain trying to catch up to what she actually said. “You didn't know what I was going to ask.”
“I don't need to be a detective to know you're proposing to me,” she choked out, tears starting to fall from her eyes.
“Then why are you crying?” He asked, pulling her close to wipe at her face.
Finally her ruby reds met his dark garnet and Goro knew he couldn't look away. “Because I'm happy, Goro.” She looked down at her hand at the ring and grinned. “You make me happy.”
“So then you'll marry me?” He asked, holding her ring clad hand up.
“Yes, a thousand times yes,” she nodded before bringing him into a kiss.
Seeing how happy she was cemented the fact that he was making the right choice and he knew deep in his core that Sumire was the key to his own happiness, even if it took years to get there. But that was the future. They would walk into it hand in hand like they had all those years ago. All that mattered was how Sumire felt in his arms, lips pressed to his, the cool metal of her ring against his cheek, and the promise they were making for one another.