Work Text:
Okarun had always been a bit of an overthinker. It wasn’t that he doubted his feelings—far from it. He was absolutely sure that Momo Ayase was the love of his life. They’d been through so much together, from their awkward beginnings in high school to their first year at university. She was his anchor, his spark, the person who made the world feel like it made sense.
But when it came to how to tell her all of that, he felt completely out of his depth. He’d seen enough movies and read enough stories to know that proposing was a big deal. It was the moment that cemented everything, the declaration that said, You’re my forever.
He wanted it to be perfect, but every time he tried to picture the moment, his brain sabotaged him with the worst-case scenarios. What if the ring wasn’t the right size? What if he stumbled over his words? What if she… said no? That last thought was so ridiculous that he shook it off as soon as it crept in, but it left a lingering nervousness that he couldn’t shake.
And so, for weeks leading up to his planned proposal, Okarun was a mess.
Momo noticed the change immediately. Normally, Okarun was full of energy and conversation, his voice tumbling over itself as he shared his thoughts or reacted to her jokes. But lately, he’d been quieter, more withdrawn. At first, she thought it might just be stress. University had been a big adjustment for both of them, and the workload was no joke.
But it didn’t stop there.
He started zoning out during their study sessions, staring at the same page of his notebook for minutes at a time. He fidgeted constantly, tapping his fingers on his knee or tugging at the hem of his hoodie. And worst of all, he avoided looking her in the eye whenever she asked him if something was wrong.
Momo tried to brush it off, but the doubt crept in slowly, like a shadow she couldn’t shake. She’d always thought their relationship was strong, but what if she was wrong? What if Okarun was starting to have second thoughts? After all, they’d been together since high school. Maybe he felt like they’d rushed into things. Maybe… he wanted out.
The thought terrified her.
One afternoon, after a particularly quiet lunch, Momo couldn’t take it anymore. They were sitting on a patch of grass outside the university library, the sun casting long shadows as it dipped toward the horizon. Okarun was picking at the corner of his sandwich, his mind clearly elsewhere.
“Hey,” Momo said, trying to keep her tone light. “What’s going on with you?”
He looked up, startled. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been weird lately,” she said, leaning forward. “Quiet. Jumpy. It’s like you’re not even here half the time. Did I… do something?”
“What? No!” Okarun said quickly, his voice a little too loud. “You didn’t do anything, I promise.”
“Then what is it?” she pressed. “Because it feels like you’re pulling away from me.”
Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. “I’m not pulling away,” he said, panicking. “It’s not that at all. I just… I’m thinking about stuff. Big stuff.”
“What kind of big stuff?” she asked, her voice softer now, but her eyes still full of worry.
He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. “I… can’t tell you yet.”
That was the moment when everything began to spiral. Momo’s heart sank. He can’t tell me? she thought. What could be so big that he can’t tell me? The doubt she’d been trying so hard to suppress came roaring back. She nodded stiffly and changed the subject, but inside, she felt like she was unraveling.
By the time Okarun was ready to propose, both of them were a nervous wreck. He’d finally decided on the perfect setting: the university gardens, a quiet spot where they often went to relax. He’d been practicing his speech all morning, pacing around his dorm room with the ring box in hand.
But when they met up that afternoon, Momo was unusually quiet. Normally, she filled the silences with her quick wit and playful teasing, but today she seemed lost in thought, her fingers twisting the strap of her bag. Okarun noticed, but he chalked it up to the stress of her upcoming exams. He had no idea that she was replaying every interaction they’d had over the past few weeks, convincing herself that he was about to end things.
As they strolled through the gardens, the air was thick with unspoken tension. Momo kept glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, her chest tight with anxiety. Just rip off the bandage already, she thought bitterly. If you’re going to break up with me, just do it.
Okarun, meanwhile, was fighting his own internal battle. His hand hovered over the pocket where the ring box was hidden, his mind racing through all the ways this could go wrong. He had to do it now, before he lost his nerve entirely.
They stopped near a small bench under a blooming cherry tree. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over everything, and the faint scent of flowers hung in the air. It was the perfect moment.
But before Okarun could gather his courage, Momo spoke.
“Okarun,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “We need to talk.”
He froze, his heart skipping a beat. “Uh… okay.”
She turned to face him, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “If you have something to say, just say it. Please. I can’t take this anymore.”
“What?” he said, confused. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been acting so weird lately,” she said, her voice cracking. “You barely talk to me, you can’t look me in the eye, and now you’re dragging me out here like it’s some… final goodbye or something. Just tell me the truth. Do you… do you want to break up?”
Okarun stared at her, his jaw dropping. “Break up?! No! Why would you think that?!”
“Because you’ve been acting like you don’t want to be with me anymore!” she burst out, tears welling in her eyes. “And I don’t know what to do, Okarun. I don’t know how to fix it.”
For a moment, he was too stunned to speak. And then, before he could stop himself, he blurted out, “I’m not breaking up with you! I’m trying to propose! I love you Momo! ”
Momo froze, her eyes wide. “Wait… what?”
Realizing what he’d just said, Okarun groaned and buried his face in his hands. “Great. That’s not how I wanted to do this.”
Momo stared at him, her brain struggling to catch up. “You’re… proposing? Like, marriage?”
“Yes!” he said, his voice muffled. “That’s why I’ve been so weird. I’ve been trying to figure out how to ask you, and I’ve been freaking out because I wanted it to be perfect, and I thought maybe you’d say no, and now I’ve completely screwed it up.”
For a moment, there was silence. And then, to Okarun’s surprise, Momo started laughing.
Okarun peeked at her through his fingers, confused. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because you’re an idiot!” she said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. “You’ve been driving yourself crazy over this, and I’ve been driving myself crazy thinking you wanted to dump me. We’re both complete idiots.”
“Does that mean you’re saying no?” he asked nervously.
Momo smiled and stepped closer, cupping his face in her hands, kissing him softly. “Of course it’s a yes, you dummy,” she said. “I love you. But you really need to work on your communication skills.”
Relief flooded through him, and he finally let out the breath he’d been holding. “Oh, thank god,” he muttered, pulling the ring box from his pocket. “I thought I ruined everything.”
“Let me see it,” Momo said, grinning. When he opened the box, her eyes widened. “Wow. It’s beautiful, Okarun.”
“Really?” he asked, his cheeks flushing.
“Really,” she said, holding out her hand. “Now, put it on me before I change my mind.”
He laughed, his hands shaking slightly as he slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. When he looked up at her, her eyes were shining with happiness.
“You’re stuck with me now,” she teased.
“Good,” he said, his voice soft. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
As they walked back to campus hand in hand, the tension between them finally gone, Momo couldn’t stop glancing at the ring on her finger. “You know,” she said, smirking, “if this is how nervous you get over a proposal, I can’t wait to see what you’re like planning a wedding.”
Okarun groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
But despite his grumbling, he couldn’t stop smiling. Because for all his overthinking and awkwardness, he’d done it. She’d said yes. And that was all that mattered.