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It was just another normal day. It wasn’t unusual for Shiu to take you out on a date, he was the sort of guy who was determined to romance you and make sure you lived the lavish lifestyle that you deserved. It was one of the things that had drawn you to him to begin with, his dedication to truly treating you right. The thing that had made him stay was certainly the way he fucked you, but hey - you can love more than one thing about him.
So, when he told you to dress nice, to make sure you were picture ready, you didn’t even question it. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d done it, asked you to clean up well just to make sure you looked perfect, because he knew you liked to take pictures when you went on a date somewhere particularly nice. It wasn’t foreign when flowers turned up at your door an hour before the date, your favourite kind, because even after years of being together Shiu was determined to treat you like it was still month one. There was not even a single bell ringing in your mind that said - hey, this might be odd.
Not until you arrived, and even then, you truly didn’t question it that much. He’d planned odd dates before, dates that made you confused or laugh or smack him playfully upside the head.
That was why you didn’t even think to question it when you arrived at the meeting place, and found your best friend instead of your boyfriend. They refused to answer any questions, just handed you a sheet of paper with Shiu’s scratchy handwriting on it.
Do you remember the first place we met? Come find me there
Simple and to the point, if a little odd. But again, it wasn’t even all that out of character. So you headed there - the street corner where he’d bumped into a streetlight stepping out of your way, and had told you a permanent brain injury would be worth it, just for the privilege of laying eyes on you. It was such a stupid line, and you’d told him that back then too, but you’d loved it anyway. There, taped to that very streetlight was another note with his handwriting.
You must’ve just missed me. Try the place I asked you to go steady
A scavenger hunt? He was so ridiculous, and that was one of the things you held dearest to your heart. He was so serious in his day to day, his work so heavy, but when he came home to you he was able to shed all of that and be the silly man who held your heart, joking and laughing with you as if there was nothing wrong in the world. So, despite how far it was, you began to walk. You understood now why he’d told you to wear shoes that were comfortable for walking in.
You got to the cafe where you’d had that date where he’d asked you to be his partner officially, and upon spotting you, the cashier flagged you down and handed you yet another note.
Sorry doll, just one more I promise. Head down to the place where I told you I loved you for the first time
You couldn’t help laughing. Just one more, huh? Alright then. You thanked the cashier, but before you could leave, she swapped the note in your hand for a dessert. “Already paid for.” She told you with a warm smile, and you just nodded. Alright Shiu, well played.
As you walked towards the next location, the Tokyo national museum, you considered what was happening here. A tour of all the places that were most important in your relationship, locations with the most significance to the two of you. It was sweet, exactly the sort of thing that Shiu did. This was just.. so him. You’d never been so glad that this was the man you’d fallen in love with.
When you arrived, another friend was there to greet you.
“He lied!” They called with a laugh, and you could only join the laughter. Of course he did, of course there was something else up his sleeve, because there always was. “What’s next?” You asked your friend once you were at their side. “We’re taking a drive.” They told you, wrapping an arm around your shoulders to guide you. “Do I get to know where we’re going?” “You do not.”
Figures.
It was a short walk to your friend’s car, and once you were in there you were promptly blindfolded to entirely obscure where you were headed. You ate your dessert in the passenger seat, humming along to the music that played over the stereo, joining on the singing once you were done eating.
It took just short of an hour to get to the location. Your best friend, who had greeted you earlier, was now beside you and helping you out of the car. It was this moment that you began to be suspicious of what he was planning. Yet, even then, you couldn’t have anticipated what it truly was.
“Hey, doll.” Shiu’s voice finally greeted you, and you felt his familiar hands grab your hips, guiding you the rest of the way towards him. “Hey, you. I’ve had quite the afternoon.” You said, making Shiu chuckle. “I’m sure you have. Ready to get that blindfold off?” He asked in return, and when you nodded, you felt as the knot at the back of your head was loosened until the soft fabric fell away.
It was gorgeous. You were at Orihara Orchard, the place where you’d gone for your first year anniversary as a couple. You looked around and realised that the trees were decorated with fairy lights and paper decor in your favourite colour. What was happening?
You spun back to look at your boyfriend, but he was shorter than usual.
He.
He was on one knee.
There in his hand was a ring box, and he was looking up at you with eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Promise you I’ll keep doing stupid shit like this for the rest of our lives, if you say yes.” He said, rather than making some grand speech, and it was so easy to nod, falling to your knees to meet him, wrapping him in your arms as he did the same. He slipped the ring onto your finger - and of course it was the type you loved even though he’d never even asked about that sort of thing, and the right size first try. Somewhere behind you, you heard the shutter of a camera, and you figured he’d hired a photographer.
“I love you so much.” You whispered against his lips, tears brimming in your eyes. “I love you too. More than I’ll ever be able to explain.”