Vow to each other
The night sky stretched above the quiet city, scattered with countless stars. The air was cool, carrying the faint smell of pine trees from the nearby hills. Ren and Hana stood on the stone steps of the old shrine, where the lanterns flickered gently in the breeze.
It was late, too late for anyone else to be here. Only the sound of distant crickets filled the silence. Yet, for the two of them, the world felt alive—because they were not alone anymore.
Hana looked up at the sky, her eyes soft, her fingers brushing the wooden railing beside her. "Ren," she whispered, "it feels strange, doesn't it? Just yesterday, I thought I might never know your heart. And now… it feels like it's always been with me."
Ren stood beside her, his hands inside his pockets, his eyes on the ground. The weight of her words pressed deeply into him. He had spent so long hiding, afraid of hurting or being hurt. But tonight, he couldn't remain silent.
"Hana," he said, his voice low but steady. "I've never been good with promises. I've seen too many break, too many fade. But… with you, I don't want to let fear decide anymore."
Hana turned, her gaze meeting his. The lantern light danced in her eyes, making them glimmer like water beneath the moon. She waited, her heart beating quickly, each second stretching longer.
Ren stepped closer. His hands trembled slightly, but he lifted them, holding hers gently. His grip was warm, steadying.
"From now on," he whispered, "I vow… not to run away. Not from my feelings. Not from you. Even if I stumble, even if I fail, I'll keep coming back to you. Always."
Hana's breath caught. The quiet power in his words made her heart overflow. Tears filled her eyes, but they were not of sadness—they were of joy, of relief.
She tightened her hold on his hands, her own voice trembling. "Then let me make the same vow. I promise… I'll stay by your side. Not just in easy moments, but in the difficult ones too. I'll share your silence, your fears, your dreams. Whatever happens, Ren… I won't let go."
The shrine bell above them swayed gently with the wind, ringing a soft, clear note—as if blessing their vow.
Ren's chest tightened. For the first time, he felt something stronger than fear: certainty. He leaned closer, pressing his forehead gently against hers. His eyes closed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Hana… this is my oath. To love you, to protect you, to never turn away."
Her lips curved into a trembling smile, her forehead resting against his. "And mine… to love you, to trust you, and to walk beside you—no matter where this path takes us."
The night held them close, the lantern light flickering softly around their joined hands. It was not a grand ceremony, not witnessed by crowds, not written in paper or stone. Yet it was more sacred than anything else.
For their oaths were carved not into the world, but into their hearts.
And in that moment, under the stars and shrine bells, Ren Nakamura and Hana Takahashi sealed their bond—the eternal vow of love.