The quiet park behind the old library was bathed in the gentle golden light of the late afternoon. The air smelled faintly of blossoms carried from somewhere nearby, though the trees around them were still bare from winter. Jousuke walked slowly along the path, his heart thudding in a way that made each step feel heavier and lighter at the same time.
He spotted her instantly. Kaede stood near the small stone bench where they had met before, feeding a few sparrows that had gathered around her. Her long silver-white hair caught the sunlight, shimmering softly as it fell over her shoulders. The purple cardigan over her white blouse complemented the long white skirt perfectly, and her glasses reflected the warm glow of the sun.
She turned her head and caught sight of him.
"Jousuke… you're here."
Her voice was soft, but it sent a shiver through him.
"I… I wanted to come," he said, keeping his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest.
Kaede smiled faintly, tilting her head. "I'm glad. I've been waiting for this."
Jousuke stopped a few steps away, unsure whether to sit or just stand there. He watched the way her fingers gently scattered seeds for the sparrows, admired the curve of her movements, the way her eyes softened when the birds approached. He realized he had been thinking about her almost constantly since the day he met her in the park, since Valentine's Day, since the moment she had become his… something special in his life, even if they hadn't yet defined it.
He finally stepped closer. "Kaede… can I sit here?"
She gestured at the bench. "Of course."
They sat together. The quiet between them wasn't awkward—it was comforting, like the gentle hum of a world they were the only ones inhabiting.
Jousuke took a deep breath. "Kaede… I've been thinking a lot. About… everything."
Kaede's eyes met his, wide and attentive. "Yes?"
"I… I want to be with you," he said, his voice low but steady. "From now on. I want to be with you, if you'll let me."
Kaede's lips parted slightly, and her hands trembled as she continued feeding the birds. "Jousuke… you… you mean that?"
"I do," he whispered. "I've thought about this for so long… I realized it's not about who's closest or who shows the most—it's… you."
Kaede's heart skipped a beat, and a soft blush spread across her cheeks. "Me…?" she whispered, almost unsure if she heard him right.
He nodded, shyly but earnestly. "Kaede. It's you. Always has been. I… I just didn't know how to say it."
A quiet laugh escaped her lips, light and airy. "I… I can't believe you finally said that."
"I've been… scared," he admitted. "Scared that I'd hurt someone else, scared I'd make the wrong choice. But I realized… I don't want to make the wrong choice. I want to be with you. Only you."
Kaede's eyes glistened with unshed tears. She reached out and held his hand, their fingers entwining naturally. "Jousuke… I've waited for this moment too."
He looked down at their joined hands, heart pounding. "Kaede…"
"You don't have to say anything more," she whispered. "Just… stay with me."
He leaned forward, careful and hesitant, yet full of intention, and she tilted her head slightly, letting their foreheads touch. The birds around them chirped, as if celebrating quietly. The sun dipped lower, painting the sky in soft oranges and pinks, as if the world itself was blessing this quiet confession.
"I promise," Jousuke whispered, "I'll stay with you, Kaede."
"And I with you, Jousuke," she replied, voice soft and sincere.
For the first time since the confusion and tension of the past weeks—the rejections, the heartbreak, the uncertainty—they felt at peace. Sitting there, surrounded by the gentle hush of the park, they simply existed together, hands intertwined, hearts aligned, and souls quietly acknowledging that this was the beginning of something beautiful.
The world around them faded for a moment, leaving only the two of them and the soft cooing of the birds, the warmth of the sun, and the unspoken promise that they would face everything together.