Chapter 273 - 273: Let's Get Married!

When Tsushima Kagami opened his eyes, he felt something pressing down on his arm.

He turned his head and saw Nayotake sound asleep, using his right arm as a pillow.

Her face was turned toward him, her long black hair spread across the pillow, her lashes trembling faintly, her lips slightly parted.

Her breathing was soft and even.

The blanket had slipped down past her shoulders, baring a stretch of pale collarbone.

Tsushima Kagami didn't move.

He simply lay there and watched her — watched the faint furrow that appeared in her brow as she dreamed, watched her lips press together every so often, watched her curl up slightly as though caught in some dream.

His arm went numb, and still he didn't move.

Not until Nayotake's eyelids fluttered, and slowly, she opened her eyes.

Those eyes blinked in confusion at first, then gradually focused, settling on Tsushima Kagami's face.

For a few seconds, time seemed to stop.

Nayotake's face flushed red at a visible speed, the color spreading from her cheeks all the way to her ears.

She wanted to say something, her lips moving, but in the end nothing came out. Then she yanked the blanket up and buried her entire face in it.

Tsushima Kagami looked at the lump the blanket made beside him and couldn't stop himself laughing.

"Morning," he said.

From under the blanket came a muffled sound that could have been "morning" or could have been a strangled noise of distress.

Tsushima Kagami flexed his thoroughly numb right arm and hissed through his teeth, which set off a flurry of nervous movement beneath the blanket.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Nayotake poked half her head out from under the blanket, looking flustered.

"Nothing — my arm's just numb, that's all."

Tsushima Kagami shook his arm out, exaggerating a wince for effect.

A hand emerged from beneath the blanket, hesitated, then lightly touched his arm.

"I'm sorry…"

"You've already said sorry. It doesn't help."

Tsushima Kagami caught the hand as it tried to withdraw and pulled it out from under the blanket.

Nayotake's face came out along with it, red as a boiled shrimp.

Her gaze darted away, unable to meet his, but she didn't pull her hand back.

"Last night…" Nayotake started, then stopped, biting her lip.

"What about last night?" Tsushima Kagami asked, deliberately provoking her, the corner of his mouth curling into a smile.

Her voice trailed off smaller and smaller, until the last word was almost inaudible.

"The strange things I said?" Tsushima Kagami tilted his head.

"Do you mean the part where you said 'please kiss me as much as you like,' or the part where you said 'please do whatever you want with me'?"

"Stop it!"

Nayotake shot her other hand up to clamp over Tsushima Kagami's mouth, her whole face so red it looked ready to smoke.

His mouth was covered by her palm.

He stuck out his tongue and gave it a light lick.

Nayotake yanked her hand back as if she'd been shocked, jerking half a meter away and nearly toppling off the bed.

Tsushima Kagami's reflexes caught her wrist in time, pulling her back.

"Careful," he said.

Pulled back toward him, her chest collided with his, drawing a small gasp from her.

The two of them were close enough now to see the reflection of each other in their own pupils.

There was panic in Nayotake's eyes, and shyness, but more than either, there was a sense of ease.

"Kagami…" she said his name softly.

"Mm."

"Last night… it wasn't a dream, was it?"

Tsushima Kagami reached out and pinched her cheek.

"Does that hurt?"

"Mm…"

"Then it wasn't a dream."

Nayotake lowered her head, but the corner of her mouth couldn't help curving upward.

Watching that expression on her face, something inside Tsushima Kagami gave a gentle jolt.

He reached out and tucked the loose strands of hair from her forehead behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheek for a moment.

"Nayotake."

"Mm?"

"You promised me — once you've recovered from the surgery, you'll spend the rest of your life paying me back. Right?"

She nodded firmly.

"Mm."

"Good."

Only then did Tsushima Kagami reluctantly sit up, rubbing his still-aching eyes.

Nayotake sat up too, and as the blanket slid off her, she realized she wasn't wearing anything at all.

The blush spread across her face again, and she scrambled to grab the blanket and wrap it back around herself.

Tsushima Kagami watched her flustered scramble and laughed, then pulled one of his own T-shirts from the closet and tossed it to her.

"Put this on first."

Nayotake took the T-shirt, neatly folded, still carrying the faint scent of laundry detergent.

By the time Tsushima Kagami had finished getting dressed and turned back around, Nayotake had already put on his T-shirt.

It hung on her several sizes too large, the hem nearly reaching mid-thigh, the collar slipping sideways off one shoulder.

Her hair spilled out from the collar, a few strands sticking to her collarbone.

Looking at her, Tsushima Kagami suddenly understood what the old saying "a lotus rising from clear water" really meant.

"What is it?" she asked, feeling uneasy under his gaze, tugging at the collar.

"Nothing."

"I'll go wash up first. You get dressed and come out for breakfast."

"Mm."

When Tsushima Kagami walked into the bathroom, he saw traces left over from the night before.

A damp towel hung over the edge of the tub, a few water stains still on the tile, and two toothbrushes leaning together on the sink.

He stood there a moment, then reached out and turned on the tap.

Once he'd finished washing up, he walked into the kitchen and took eggs, milk, and bread from the fridge.

He cracked the eggs, fried them, warmed the milk, toasted the bread.

By the time he'd set breakfast out on the table, Nayotake had just walked out of the room.

"Come eat."

Nayotake walked over to the table, and looking at the breakfast laid out before her, something complicated flickered across her eyes.

"What's wrong? Don't you like it?"

"No, it's not that…" Nayotake shook her head and sat down.

She picked up her fork and poked at the sunny-side-up egg on her plate, its golden yolk trembling slightly, like a bead of amber about to burst.

"It's just… I keep thinking." "Is it really all right for me to have this?"

"You're asking me whether it's all right — so let me ask you instead. Are you happy?"

Nayotake froze for a moment.

"Happy? Right now?"

"Mm."

She lowered her head, looking at the breakfast on her plate, then looked back up at Tsushima Kagami across from her.

"Happy." "I'm very happy."

"Then that's enough."

Tsushima Kagami forked up a piece of the fried egg and put it in his mouth.

"Everything else, we'll deal with one thing at a time."

Nayotake looked at him, her eyes rimmed faintly red, but she nodded firmly anyway.

After breakfast, as Tsushima Kagami cleared the dishes, Nayotake came over wanting to help.

"I'll wash the dishes."

"No need. Go rest."

"But…"

"You used up a lot of energy last night."

Nayotake's face flushed crimson all over again, and she stood frozen in the kitchen doorway, not knowing what to do with herself.

"I… I'll go tidy the room."

She turned and ran off, nearly slamming into the doorframe.

Listening to the sound of her flustered footsteps, Tsushima Kagami couldn't help laughing again.

By the time he'd finished cleaning the kitchen and walked to the bedroom door, he found Nayotake folding the blanket.

She had already changed the sheets and smoothed them flat, arranged the pillows, and folded the blanket into a neat square.

Once she'd finished folding it, she stood by the bed as if checking something, then reached out and tugged the corner of the blanket once more.

"Do you have OCD?" Tsushima Kagami asked, leaning against the doorframe.

Startled by his voice, Nayotake spun around, her face reddening again.

"No… no, I just felt like it should be folded properly."

She lowered her head, her hands hanging at her sides, fingers unconsciously twisting together.

"Um… Kagami."

"Mm?"

"About last night — Yukinoshita Shizuku…"

Tsushima Kagami was silent for a few seconds.

"I'll tell her."

"But…"

"No buts."

Tsushima Kagami walked over and stood in front of her.

"This is a responsibility I have to bear. Not yours."

Nayotake looked up at him, her lips moving.

"But… I'm responsible too. I was a willing accomplice."

After saying that, the corner of her mouth curved up slightly. There was still a trace of unease in her eyes, but her tone was steadier than before.

Tsushima Kagami reached out and ruffled her hair.

"Right, you're an accomplice."

"So when Yukinoshita Shizuku kicks me out, remember to take me in."

"Yukinoshita Shizuku wouldn't do that."

Around ten in the morning, Tsushima Kagami's phone rang.

The screen showed Yukinoshita Shizuku's number.

The instant Nayotake saw the name, her whole body visibly tensed.

Tsushima Kagami glanced at her, then answered the call.

"Yukinoshita Shizuku."

"Kagami, did you sleep well last night?" Yukinoshita Shizuku's voice came through the receiver, giving nothing away about her mood.

Just as Tsushima Kagami was trying to figure out how to answer —

"Is Nayotake with you?" Yukinoshita Shizuku asked, seemingly skipping the previous question on purpose and getting straight to the point.

Tsushima Kagami paused. "She is."

"Good." Yukinoshita Shizuku's voice showed no fluctuation at all. "Put her on."

She cut him off before he could respond.

Tsushima Kagami glanced at Nayotake, then handed her the phone.

Nayotake's hand trembled slightly as she took it, pressing the receiver to her ear.

"Yukinoshita Shizuku…" Her voice came out hoarse.

There were a few seconds of silence on the other end, then Yukinoshita Shizuku's voice came through.

"Nayotake."

"Mm…"

"What you said that night — does it still stand?"

Nayotake froze for a moment.

"I'm sorry… Yukinoshita Shizuku, I'm sor—"

"I didn't ask whether you're sorry." Yukinoshita Shizuku's voice remained calm, but she was speaking a little faster than before. "I'm asking you — is it true, that you're in love with Kagami?"

Nayotake bit down hard on her lip and nodded, then realized Yukinoshita Shizuku couldn't see her.

"It's true."

Silence again on the other end.

Nayotake's hand shook around the phone. Tears fell one after another, dropping onto the screen and blurring the call display.

Then she heard Yukinoshita Shizuku let out a soft sigh.

"Then there's nothing to be done about it."

"…"

"I said it before — we're good friends. Right?"

Nayotake's breath caught.

"But… I—"

"If you dare say anything like 'I don't deserve to be your friend,' I'll come over right now and hit you."

Yukinoshita Shizuku's tone suddenly turned fierce, but beneath the fierceness was a tremor.

Nayotake was struck speechless, tears still clinging to her face, her lips parting slightly with no words to fill them.

"Nayotake, listen to me."

"Yukinoshita Shizuku…"

"Once your surgery's over, I'll settle the score with you then."

Yukinoshita Shizuku paused.

"For now, just focus on taking care of yourself."

"You're admitted tomorrow. I'll come see you."

With that, without giving Nayotake any chance to respond, she hung up.

Nayotake stood frozen in place, phone still in hand, tears streaming down without end.

Tsushima Kagami walked over and gently took the phone from her hand.

Nayotake threw herself into his arms, burying her face against his chest, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

Tsushima Kagami held her, one hand gently patting her back.

At five in the afternoon, Tsushima Kagami stood at the door of the Ijichi household.

He had taken Nayotake home around noon.

And told her to get everything ready for tomorrow's hospital admission.

Then he'd come here, to the Ijichi house, because Yukinoshita Shizuku was still there.

Sayuri and the others had already gone their separate ways that morning.

But Seika had called to say Yukinoshita Shizuku wanted to stay one more night.

He knew he couldn't just leave her be like this.

He took a deep breath, then rang the doorbell.

The door opened.

"Oh, you made it?"

"Kagami!"

Seika propped a hand on the doorknob, wearing a look somewhere between a smile and a smirk.

Little Nijika clung to Seika's leg, beaming up at Tsushima Kagami.

"Heard you did something naughty?"

At the look on her face, something dropped in Tsushima Kagami's stomach.

"Yukinoshita Shizuku told you?"

"No." Seika stepped aside to let him in. "But you might want to wipe that lipstick mark off your face."

Tsushima Kagami froze, then reached up frantically to feel his cheek.

There was nothing there.

He looked at Seika, who was grinning triumphantly.

"Gotcha."

Tsushima Kagami took a deep breath.

"Seika, your personality's been getting worse and worse lately."

"I blame all that rock and roll you're into!"

"Same to you."

Seika turned and walked back inside.

"Come on in. Dinner's almost ready."

Tsushima Kagami changed into slippers and walked into the living room, where Yukinoshita Shizuku sat at the table, setting out the bowls and chopsticks.

"You're here?" Her tone was calm too.

"Mm."

"Sit down."

Tsushima Kagami sat across from her.

Mrs. Ijichi poked her head out from the kitchen and smiled at him.

"Kagami's here? I made your favorite curry today."

"Thank you, Auntie Ijichi."

"No need to thank me. Sit, it'll be ready soon."

Mrs. Ijichi ducked back into the kitchen.

The living room fell quiet, nothing but the faint clink of bowls and chopsticks.

Even Little Nijika seemed to sense the mood in the room, sitting unusually well-behaved, glancing between Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku.

In the end, Tsushima Kagami couldn't sit still.

He gave Seika an apologetic smile.

"Could I borrow your room for a bit?"

Seika Ijichi and Nijika both made a sweeping "go ahead" gesture together.

Only then did Tsushima Kagami stand, take the hand of Yukinoshita Shizuku — who was still fussing over the bowls and chopsticks without ever finishing — and pull her into Seika's room, closing the door behind them.

Only then did Mrs. Ijichi poke her head out of the kitchen toward Seika and Nijika in the living room, lowering her voice.

"Fighting?"

Seika Ijichi made a "shh" gesture at Mrs. Ijichi.

Little Nijika clapped one hand over her mouth and the other over her eyes.

Then, after thinking it over, she stretched a foot up to cover one ear too.

Which made both Seika and Mrs. Ijichi burst out laughing.

Inside the room.

The moment Tsushima Kagami let go of her hand, Yukinoshita Shizuku sat down on the edge of Seika's bed.

She turned her head to look out the window.

The gentle drizzle of last night had turned into a heavier rain now.

"Yukinoshita Shizuku."

"Mm."

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

"I…" Yukinoshita Shizuku let out a soft sigh, cutting him off.

"Last night… did you really fall for her, or was it just pity?"

Tsushima Kagami didn't hesitate.

"I care for Nayotake. It's not pity."

Yukinoshita Shizuku kept staring at the raindrops beyond the window for a long while, then lowered her head, fingers winding around the corner of Seika's bedsheet.

"You know, Kagami."

"Sometimes I really want to hate you."

"Because you're always like this — so good to everyone."

"So good that no one can tell anymore whether you're kind to her because you love her, or whether you only think you love her because you're kind to her."

Tsushima Kagami's throat moved.

"Yukinoshita Shizuku…"

"But what I hate more is myself."

Yukinoshita Shizuku raised her head, tears shimmering in her eyes, though she didn't let them fall.

"Because even knowing exactly what kind of person you are, I still fell in love with you."

"Even knowing Nayotake loves you, I still let her stay by your side."

"Mother told me people like you are destined to be surrounded by admirers."

"Destined never to belong to just one person."

"But I still can't bring myself to give you up. Not even a little."

She sniffed.

"So in the end, I'm the most selfish one of all."

Tsushima Kagami walked over to stand in front of her.

He crouched down so his eyes were level with hers.

"Yukinoshita Shizuku."

"What…"

"Listen to me."

Tsushima Kagami reached out and took her trembling hands in his.

"I'm the selfish one. I'm the fickle one. I'm the one who's wronged you."

"You have no right to take that blame from me."

"I have every right." Tsushima Kagami cut in.

"Because you're my girlfriend. Because I made you a promise. Because last night, behind your back, I was with Nayotake."

"I told you, I don't need Kagami's promises."

"Nayotake agreed to it on her own too."

"So Kagami hasn't done anything wrong."

"You haven't wronged anyone."

"That's not true!" Tsushima Kagami said, looking into Yukinoshita Shizuku's eyes, gripping her hands tightly.

"You're different, Yukinoshita Shizuku."

"You're the one who's special."

Yukinoshita Shizuku's tears finally spilled over.

"Good, as long as you know that…"

She pulled her hand free, then landed a light blow against his chest with her fist.

"As long as you know that…"

She hit him again.

Tsushima Kagami didn't flinch, letting her strike him blow after blow.

Until she wore herself out and leaned against his shoulder, sobbing softly.

"I'm sorry."

Tsushima Kagami held her, his voice low.

"You don't need to apologize."

Yukinoshita Shizuku's voice was muffled against his shoulder.

"Just… be better to me. Better and better and better and better."

"Okay."

"Better than Nayotake."

"Okay."

"Better than anyone."

"Okay."

Yukinoshita Shizuku lifted her head, looking at him through tear-blurred eyes.

"You're agreeing awfully fast. Are you lying to me again?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"You're lying to me right now…"

"I'm not."

"You are."

"Fine, I am!"

"You…" Yukinoshita Shizuku was thrown off by that.

Tsushima Kagami finally smiled.

"Yukinoshita Shizuku, close your eyes for a second."

"What are you planning?" Yukinoshita Shizuku eyed him with suspicion.

"Come on, just close them, just for a moment, please?" Tsushima Kagami wheedled.

"There's no dealing with you." With that, Yukinoshita Shizuku closed her eyes.

"Hurry up — Seika and the others are waiting for us to go eat."

"Coming, coming."

As he spoke, Tsushima Kagami pulled a small jewelry box out from his waistband.

The box had been made in the shape of a small cheesecake, the kind they usually ate.

He held the box steady, then dropped to one knee in front of Yukinoshita Shizuku, opened the box, and turned the inside toward her.

"You can open your eyes now."

Hearing that, Yukinoshita Shizuku nodded.

Only then did she slowly open her eyes.

And what filled her vision was…

A slightly comical, golden-yellow object shaped just like the cheesecake she, Kagami, and Yukino always loved to eat.

Inside the box, it looked as though the cheesecake had been split down the middle into two halves.

But nestled in the center was a diamond ring.

The diamond sat lifted high on a six-prong setting, as if an invisible hand had gently roused it from sleep and raised it into the air.

Yukinoshita Shizuku stared at the ring in disbelief, then clapped a hand over her mouth.

Tsushima Kagami could see her pupils widening with shock.

Yukinoshita Shizuku glanced again at Tsushima Kagami, still kneeling. He smiled and nudged the box gently toward her.

After a moment's hesitation, Yukinoshita Shizuku finally reached out and slowly took the box.

Before she could admire it or say anything, Tsushima Kagami produced a sheet of paper from somewhere.

Written across the top, in large characters, was "Marriage Registration Form."

And in the fields below, the names "Tsushima Kagami" and "Yukinoshita Shizuku" were already filled in, along with all the other required information.

"Let's get married!" "Yukinoshita Shizuku!"

Yukinoshita Shizuku fought hard to hold back the tears welling in her eyes.

Through her blurred vision, she kept looking — at the ring, at Tsushima Kagami still kneeling before her, at the marriage form in his hand.

If the marriage form was something Tsushima Kagami had thrown together on the spur of the moment, a quick trip to the ward office to humor her —

then the ring nestled inside that jewelry box, custom-made to hold such meaning for the two of them — the classic Tiffany Setting six-prong diamond ring from Tiffany & Co. —

was, without a doubt, something planned long in advance.

"I'm sorry — this should have been on a more meaningful day, somewhere more romantic…"

"Put it on me."

Yukinoshita Shizuku didn't bother dwelling on the significance of the time or place; she simply cut him off, handing the box back to him.

Then she slowly extended her pale left hand toward him.

He cradled her hand in his.

He'd held this hand countless times — on winter streets in Tokyo, on summer shores in Kamakura, through countless ordinary and extraordinary days and nights.

But right now, that hand felt strangely light in his palm, light as a dandelion that might drift away on the slightest breeze.

He wanted to hold it tight. He wanted to keep it in his hand forever.

He drew the box closer, and with the thumb and forefinger of his other hand, gently lifted the ring free.

"May I?" he asked.

She nodded, biting her lower lip.

Slowly, he slid the ring onto the tip of her ring finger.

Past the first knuckle, then the second.

The platinum band slid over her skin, reflecting both their figures.

The ring finally came to rest at the base of her finger, a perfect fit.

The diamond — that Tiffany & Co. classic Tiffany Setting ring worth six million yen — sat firmly on her hand.

The six-prong setting seemed made for her finger alone.

Light poured in from every direction and refracted back out from every facet, dazzling enough that it was almost hard to look at.

She lowered her head, gazing at the ring, and finally the tears fell.

One drop, then another, landing on the back of his hand.

"Is it pretty?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

He didn't answer. He simply turned her hand over.

Lowering his head, he pressed a light kiss to the back of her hand.

Then he looked up at her.

"It's pretty."

"But not as pretty as you."

Yukinoshita Shizuku wiped away her tears.

"Get up."

Tsushima Kagami stood, straightening his rumpled clothes.

Yukinoshita Shizuku held the marriage form in her right hand, staring at the ring on her left.

She stayed lost in thought for a good while, and Tsushima Kagami stood quietly beside her without interrupting.

At last —

Yukinoshita Shizuku, still gazing at the ring on her hand, slowly parted her lips.

"So what happens to them?"

Tsushima Kagami froze, not expecting her to ask something like that at a moment like this.

Just as he was about to say something, Yukinoshita Shizuku cut him off again.

"Never mind."

"I'm the special one, right?"

"Right." Tsushima Kagami nodded.

"I never asked Kagami to promise me anything — it was Kagami who chose to promise me. Right?"

"Right." Tsushima Kagami kept nodding.

Only then did Yukinoshita Shizuku finally look away from the ring, up at Tsushima Kagami.

She held her left hand, with the ring on her ring finger, out toward him.

"I'm the lady of the Tsushima household, right?"

"Right." Tsushima Kagami said it with the utmost reverence.

"Then let me tell you something, Tsushima Kagami."

When she used his full name, it usually meant something important was coming.

Yukinoshita Shizuku looked at the ring on her hand again and smiled sweetly.

Then her eyes narrowed as she looked over at Tsushima Kagami, standing off to the side.

"Everything before this — all those messy accounts of yours — I'm letting it go. I won't hold it against you."

"But starting today, any woman you meet from now on — forget about her ever setting foot in the Tsushima household!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Tsushima Kagami snapped into a ninety-degree bow immediately.

"Your generosity knows no bounds, my lady!"

Yukinoshita Shizuku stood up and walked over to him.

Tsushima Kagami watched her study him for a long moment.

Finally, he forced out a smile.

"So, um, Yukinoshita Shizuku…"

"Mm?"

"Are there any other house rules my lady would like to lay down?"

"Pfft." Yukinoshita Shizuku suddenly burst out laughing.

"Am I really that scary?"

"Why is there sweat on your forehead?"

She reached up and wiped his brow for him.

"Ahaha." "Not at all!"

"Yukinoshita Shizuku, you're gorgeous even when you're angry."

"So is that why you keep finding ways to make me angry, to upset me?"

"What— no—"

"I… I…"

"Fine, I admit it — you were a little scary just now."

In the end, Tsushima Kagami told the truth.

"Then remember how you feel right now."

"Next time you're about to slip up, think back to this version of me."

With that, Yukinoshita Shizuku leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

Just as Tsushima Kagami tried to deepen it a little further —

Yukinoshita Shizuku suddenly pulled away.

Then, as if showing off, she waved her left hand in front of him, the ring catching the light.

"You don't want me turning into a wicked wife later, do you?"

"Anata~" she teased.

"Ahaha."

"I'll protect the gentlest Yukinoshita Shizuku in the whole world!"

"Loyalty!" Tsushima Kagami snapped to attention and saluted.

Yukinoshita Shizuku smiled with satisfaction, but the whole time, her eyes never left the diamond ring on her left ring finger.

As if she couldn't get enough of it, no longer even glancing at Kagami's face.

"All right, time to go eat."

"We've kept Seika and the others waiting long enough."

Yukinoshita Shizuku looped her arm through his and walked toward the door.

Outside the window, the rain had stopped, sunlight breaking through the clouds.

Tokyo's summer was still just as stifling and endless as ever.

____

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