𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚃𝚘 𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚗!

"Are you leaving?" Akito asks from the bedroom door as I grab my coat.

"Did I wake you up?"

Well, I probably did, given the fact I drop a million things when trying to be silent...

Still, he shakes his head, walking up to me.

"Do you have any plans after today?" He puts his arms around my waist, looking up at me.

I immediately shake my head, flustered. Even if I did, I'd cancel everything!

He knows I can never refuse him when he acts like this...

"Good. It's going to be just the two of us." He grins, ruffling my hair and letting me go.

"No third wheels, got it?" He sighs, and I nod. Everyone that comes along with us just invites themselves..!

He says goodbye as I leave. Before walking out of the door, I pause, looking back at him. He tilts his head in confusion, and I inhale deeply.

".. I'll be back." I give him a quick kiss before closing the door behind me and dash down the stairs. I'm so embarrassed!

As I open the door to my car, I hear the window open and look up.

"I love you! Be safe, darling!" He yells, drawing attention on me. I almost slam the door on my leg and nod, quickly driving away.

What's wrong with him..?! He's so--!

Huffing, I put my palm over my face, trying to calm myself down. I'm going to have an accident if I continue to be jittery like this.

-*-*-

"How was your birthday?" Azusawa asks as the three of us walk around a bunch of shops, waiting for An to catch her breath. She offered to carry all of our bags...

I offered to help, yet she rejected me. What's wrong with me carrying them?

"I liked the gifts you all gave me. I also liked staying home..." I say. An grins, tugging at my collar.

"Looks like you two enjoyed it a bit too much~" She cackles as Azusawa smacks her hand away, my cheeks turning red as I pull it up. How the hell did she see that..?!

"Well, um... I'm glad you- or, the both of you.. had.. fun..!" Azusawa awkwardly says, avoiding looking.

"Oh my gosh." She covers her face in humiliation, and I nod, looking away.

"Y-Yes."

An looks at the both of us and decides to open her mouth again.

"So how many times-- Ouch!!"

-*-*-

"Okay, Toya! If you're going to propose, you gotta start with getting the perfect ring!" An says, dragging me over to a jewelery store after buying her an ice pack.

I didn't know Azusawa could hit that hard... I'm afraid.

I came to them again not only because of the fact they're already engaged as well, but they've helped a lot of our friends with relationship conflicts, or so I've heard. They're amazing...

"Take a look around, Aoyagi-kun! Let us know which one you're thinking about." Azusawa smiles, following An around to make sure she doesn't break anything.

Still, I find it ironic that An knows so much about this stuff, yet Azusawa was the one to propose.

That reminds me of that Valentine's Day...

"Hello! Do you need help with anything?" A lady says, randomly appearing next to me. Yes--

I quickly shake my head and watch her leave. Dang it...

As I'm looking around, I start to get overwhelmed. What if Akito doesn't like any of these? Would he prefer an expensive one or scold me for spending that much?

I mean, it's not like I can't get an expensive one.

He just doesn't like it when I don't know how to limit myself...

Speaking of him, on the day of my birthday, he looked like he was on the verge of passing out.

Akito still works part-time, and he must be popular with the people at his work. I thought he would want to change jobs. Plus, how exhausting is that one job..?

He can't overwork himself this much...

That said, am I rushing things? Am I just being selfish? Could he be unprepared for commitment?

"Oh. My. Gosh." An says next to me, peeking over my shoulder. I snap out of it, realizing I've been staring at a ring this whole time.

"This one is so beautiful!" She squeals, looking down at it.

"Citrine? You have a good eye, young man!" The same lady comes up to me, winking. I do..?

"Have you been looking for an engagement ring?" She asks, leaning over the glass window as well.

"Yes." I reply, looking down at it again. It is really pretty... I think Akito would like it.

"We've got him covered for the size!" An steps up, talking to the lady. I tilt my head in confusion, and Azusawa sighs.

"She's been sneaking around Akito at his job and measuring his finger size." She rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

Oh.

"I didn't know he stopped working at the retail store, though." She adds, and I pause.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"Got it~!" An comes back with a small bag and shows the inside to us. That's the box.

My heart is already beating fast at the sight of it. I would like to spend the rest of my life with Akito... But I don't know if he wants to do the same. I always thought to myself, 'I want to make him happy.'

Will marrying me make him happy..?

"Are you wearing a dress?" An asks bluntly, and I shake my head. What-?!

What kind of question is that?!

Akiyama's photoshoot years ago has nothing to do with my current situation!!

"So, next on the list is getting the proposal ready. Let's go back to our place for that stuff." Azusawa says, and we all agree.

Hold on, is this perfect enough?

-*-*-

"Okay, starting with the basics, the engagement length is typically a year." An says, and I nod. Wait, then how long has Tobia been hiding his engagement?

"We can only support you and give you.. suggestions, since we do want you to do your own thing." Azusawa adds.

Gosh, this is overwhelming.

"Well, let's let that sit for a while. How have you two been? You've been coming to our house almost every day, so I'm guessing not much has changed..?" She asks, sighing and sitting back. I nod in defeat.

"The nerve of that guy to be making you sulk like this!!" An hisses, crossing her arms. I'm sure it's not intentional.

"It.. got better..? I don't know. He didn't really tell me anything that day." I sigh, looking at the ground.

So what did Azusawa say before? Akito wasn't working at the same store? But I went to visit him on his break a week ago...

But honestly, there's no way he could be working that much. He can't be scheduled every day of the week!

Does he.. have another job?

Could it be that he's already tired of spending every day in the same house as me..?

Holy crap, I really need to grow independent.

"I need a job." I mumble, and they both just stare at me.

"You already paid for the ring, though... Plus, like, weren't you born with a silver spoon in your mouth..?" An scoffs.

That is true, but... it still feels like I'm getting everything taken care of me. I want to be able to do stuff on my own. I should ask about that.

"I'm sure he has his reasons. But it isn't the best thing to do right now, given your situation. It would just push you two further apart." Azusawa awkwardly laughs, patting my shoulder. I nod.

I just said that out of the blue. Or, because I let it slip out.

"We've all been busy these days, so I wouldn't blame you if you just started snapping at people." An sits back, hiding her graded assignments.

"Getting married while attending college is enough of a problem. Akito just endures it." She continues. This is the smartest she's even sound in her life.

"I think you should take it easy, so getting a job right now would make you overwhelmed, knowing you." Azusawa advised. She's right. Both my mother and Akito can do way more than I can.

"Relationships can be tough. It takes over your mind a lot of the time, and still, you two are so obsessed with each other." An laughs, pinching at my cheek. Is that true..? Well, she's one to talk.

"My dad was worried about me moving in with An right after we got engaged. But they really enjoyed the yui-no*!" She giggles, placing her head on An's shoulder.

Well then, what about Akito and I? We moved in together also because it was convenient, making the travel time smaller to get to school.

My father is another issue... Is a ceremony impossible for us then?

Besides Akito, I'm surprised I was given a license. I almost crashed us into a pole, but the lady passed me anyway. I wonder why she didn't look at the road the whole time, though. That was a little irresponsible...

Hold on, was the only reason for Akito asking me to move in with him because of that..?

That can't be right. What's wrong with me..? I shouldn't be thinking badly about him right now...

If I'm doing that, do I really deserve to have his hand for the rest of our lives..?

"Are you okay? Do you need to go home?" Azusawa waves her hand in front of my face, then feeling my forehead. I actually should call it a day right now. I won't even have time to see my mother.

"Yes. I'll be going home now. Thank you for today." I reply, taking her hand away and getting up from my seat.

"Alright. Come over whenever you need to! You're always welcome." Azusawa gives me a final hug before pushing An away, leading me to the door.

They're so welcoming. Well, An is in a creepy way.

Even if they didn't do a lot, it was relieving enough for me to get my thoughts heard.

But I don't think I'm going to need much help from here.

-*-*-

"I'm home..." Akito mumbles. I barely heard that. I get up from the couch to see his eyes half open and losing his balance while taking his shoes off.

"What's wrong?" I ask, worry probably written all over my face. I rush over to give him a hand, and he immediately leans into me.

"Toya, Tomorrow.. ugh."

"Do you feel unwell..?" I ask, holding him tightly. I'm afraid I'm going to drop him.

Crap, why is he so heavy?

Why isn't he answering..? I lift his bangs up to see his eyes closed. How did he fall asleep like this?

".. Huh?"

Whenever I'd notice something wrong in Akito's behavior, he'd always deny it or say I'm just too worried about him, and he's fine.

.. Sometimes, he flirts to avoid the subject. Whenever that happened, he always had a fever the next day.

We promised each other that we'd be there for each other. Does he think I can't help him at all..? I'm sure he wouldn't think that, right?

So why can't he accept my help..?

I manage to drag him over to the bed, wondering if I should help him change. I blush, looking down at his sleeping face.

That's rude, isn't it? I can't do that...

But he'd be sleeping uncomfortably. I'll just close my eyes.

-*-*-

I managed to do it, but it took me ages because I almost put a shirt as his pants. At least he's taken care of now.

I also got myself ready while doing that, so I climb into the bed next to him, just looking at him.

I move his hair out of his eyes, smiling to myself. He mentioned something about tomorrow. Does that mean he won't feel good? I can take care of him.

Oh, I almost forgot.

"Goodnight, Akito." I sit up to give him a kiss on his forehead, hugging him. He's warm.

I look forward to proposing to him, even if I still tend to overthink things, because he still decided to stay with me, even after all of that.

"Sleep well."

'𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚃𝚘 𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚗!': 𝚎𝚗𝚍.

-*-*-

Creator's note: IM NTO DEAD⁉️⁉️ IMSORRY THIS IS TAKING SO LINY. I just wanttoget this doen with😿

*a yui-no is basically an engagement ceremony where th family exchanges gifts.. sighds