"Megumi, I'm sorry for hurting you. Although I can explain why I lied to you at noon, even if I can explain it, it doesn't change the fact that what I did made you sad. So before I explain anything, I want to apologize first. I'm sorry."
Kotomi Izumi said gently.
"You lied to me at noon, and you lied to Yui and Yukino too. What exactly were you trying to do?"
Megumi Kato asked, her voice thick with tears. After being with Kotomi for so long, she had more or less sensed that Kotomi must have had something she wanted to do alone, which was why she lied to the three girls at noon.
Kotomi Izumi fell silent for a moment, then sat down so their eyes were level and said,
"Actually, after arriving in Kyoto, one time when I was out shopping, I saw a little girl standing by the street with a small basket in her hands. She was probably selling accessories. Out of curiosity, I went over to take a look and found out that what she was selling were toy rings. Even though you could tell at a glance from the texture that they were just toys, quite a few of them were genuinely beautiful.
"Especially one of the rings. I can swear on my conscience that the very first person who appeared in my mind when I saw it... was you.
"Because you're my lover.
"At that time, I wanted to buy that toy ring. Then tonight, I planned to secretly slip away from Kyoto and come back alone to give it to you. I wanted to create a little surprise for you. But since Yukino and Yui were by my side at the time, I couldn't think of any explanation that would allow me to openly buy a ring for you in front of them.
"So I could only quietly remember the spot where the little girl was selling the rings. That night, I even dreamed about putting the ring on your finger with my own hands.
"Even in my sleep, all I could think about was that I had to buy that ring and personally put it on you.
Because I didn't know what time the little girl set up her stall each day, after thinking it over, I chose "a rather foolish method—waiting and hoping for luck.
"So at noon today, I told Yui and Yukino a small lie and said I was going to visit my third uncle and aunt.
"After leaving Harugamo Inn alone, I hurried to the place where the little girl had been selling rings that day. Fortunately, it was a relatively bustling commercial street, with many shops lining both sides. Passing the time wasn't difficult at all.
"I bought something at one shop and sat there for a few hours, then went to another shop, bought something else, and sat there for a few more hours. And so on, slowly passing the entire day like that.
"Finally, in the evening, I waited until the little girl selling the rings showed up!"
When Kotomi Izumi reached this point, she chuckled softly.
"It's a bit embarrassing to say, but when I rushed over, I was in such a hurry that I almost scared the poor girl. I hope she didn't think I was some mentally unstable big sister."
As Megumi Kato listened to Kotomi Izumi's explanation, she felt dazed. She didn't know how to describe what she was feeling at that moment. It was as if her heart had been dug out, still dripping with blood, then strapped into a roller coaster. One second it was at the highest peak, and the next it plunged downward without warning. Before she could even regain her senses, there was already a 360-degree loop ahead.
Megumi sniffed. Looking at Kotomi, she suddenly didn't know whether she should laugh or cry.
Before Megumi could say anything, Kotomi Izumi took out the toy ring she had prepared long ago. She gently lifted Megumi's left hand and, gazing at her slender, fair fingers, smiled tenderly as she said,
"Megumi, to be honest, I still haven't fully prepared myself for marriage. Maybe it's because marriage means building a family. It means carrying responsibility on your shoulders from then on. Whenever I think about that, I always feel like I'm not completely ready yet. I don't know when I'll finally feel ready.
"But before that day comes, I want to tell you how I truly feel."
At this point, Kotomi Izumi took a deep breath. Her lips and eyes were filled with love.
"I... really love you! Whenever it comes to moments like this, my language skills completely fall apart. For example, right now I can't even think of a single sincere idiom to describe how I feel. But I truly, truly, truly love you!
"I love you so much that because I can't think of the right words to express that sincerity, I'm actually starting to sweat from anxiety. I'm afraid I won't be able to convey my feelings to you completely.
"Even though I'm expressing my love for you in such a clumsy way, all I want to say is this—maybe I still don't know when I'll have the courage to take on the responsibility called family, but Megumi, I want to walk into the wedding hall with you. I want to become your wife... That is my sincere truth."
"Kotomi, from the very moment I fell in love with you, I had already made my decision. I want to marry you and become your wife. If you haven't gathered the courage yet, that's okay. I'm willing to wait. No matter how long it takes, I'm willing. As long as you don't leave my side, even if I have to wait until the very last moment of my life, I will have no regrets.
"Because—this is how deeply I love you!
"Maybe from the very first time we met, when my white beret was blown by the wind onto you, it was already destined that I would fall hopelessly and madly in love with you."
Megumi Kato said with a smile. Crystal tears slid down her cheeks. After she finished speaking, she pulled Kotomi into her arms and kissed her lips.
This kiss was inseparable and lingering.
Megumi Kato was unwilling to let Kotomi Izumi go so easily, and Kotomi Izumi also didn't want to let Megumi Kato go so simply.
Only after a long, long time—when Kotomi Izumi accidentally bit her own lip in her emotional excitement—did the kiss finally come to an end.
Once again, the two of them clearly felt that kissing was such an exhausting thing...
With little strength left, they leaned against each other, slowly easing their fatigue.
After a long while, Megumi Kato spoke again.
"So you lied to me—and to Yukino and Yui—just to buy this ring for me..."
Every few words, Megumi had to pause and wipe her tears with the back of her hand. Unable to stop crying, her speech came out in broken fragments.
"Yes. Originally, I only planned to lie to Yukino and Yui. Because I know you don't like me lying, I've never told you a single lie before. The one at noon was the first time I ever lied to you. I didn't think it through properly. At the time, I only wanted to give you a surprise, so I deliberately didn't tell you the truth."
Kotomi Izumi spoke softly, her voice filled with boundless affection.
"Silly. As long as you could come back from Kyoto earlier, that would already be the greatest gift to me. Surprises and things like that aren't important. For me, ordinary happiness is enough. Just like in a person's lifetime, the things that leave the deepest impression are always the tiny bits of joy and warmth hidden in everyday life.
"When I found out you lied, I was heartbroken. But after understanding your feelings, I'm happy... Still, don't lie to me again in the future, okay? I feel like I cried all my tears dry tonight."
Megumi looked at Kotomi, her eyes shimmering with tears. But unlike before, the tears she shed now were tears of joy. It was easy to see from her expression that the Megumi who had just been teetering on the edge of darkness was now completely immersed in Kotomi's boundless tenderness and love.
Kotomi gently stroked Megumi's left hand. Because of their earlier kiss, she hadn't had the chance to put the toy ring on her finger. With a soft laugh, she asked,
"I heard that wearing a ring on different hands and different fingers carries different meanings. Megumi, which hand do you want me to put this ring on? And which finger?"
"The ring finger of my left hand."
As if she had long since decided on this answer, Megumi replied without hesitation.
"I've heard that wearing a ring on the ring finger of the left hand is the standard way to wear a wedding ring. The reason is that there's a vein in the left ring finger that connects directly to the heart. Putting the ring there means placing each other's love in the spot closest to the heart."
Kotomi thought for a moment, looking slightly uncertain.
"Maybe we should put it on the ring finger of your right hand instead. If I remember correctly, wearing a ring on the right ring finger means you're in the passionate stage of love. The ring I bought for you is just a toy ring. It can't really count as a wedding ring. How could it be worn on the left ring finger? When I buy a real diamond ring in the future, then I'll put it on your left ring finger as your wedding ring."
At the end, Kotomi made her promise to Megumi.
"I think either is fine."
Megumi shook her head with a smile, clearly not bothered that it was only a toy ring.
"I think what's important isn't how precious the ring on the left ring finger is. What's important is the love you hold for me when you personally put the ring on that finger. That love is the most precious treasure in the world—there is nothing more valuable.
The reason a ring can be called a symbol of love is because of the feelings between two people. All the romance that a ring represents is given to it by people. It isn't something the ring itself possesses."
After hearing that, Kotomi recalled what the little girl who sold her the ring had said and couldn't help but smile.
"Hearing you say that reminds me of something the little girl told me."
"What did she say?" Megumi asked curiously.
"I jokingly asked her whether the rings in her basket were real. She said they were all real—200 yen each. Then she even gave me a discount, saying 100 yen per ring.
So I told her, 'Little sister, real rings are very, very expensive.' She looked at me in shock, like she was saying, 'Isn't 200 yen already expensive enough?' She was absolutely adorable.
When I asked her whether she wanted to change the price, she shook her head and said, 'A ring is like a promise between lovers. As long as you convey your feelings to each other, whether there's a ring or not, whether it's expensive or not, doesn't matter.' Even though she was so young, what she said really makes you think."
"I think she was absolutely right," Megumi said with a smile. "In my opinion, the reason a ring can be called a symbol of love is because of the feelings between two people. All the romance attached to a ring is something people give it. It doesn't come from the ring itself."
"So I was the one who got a lesson from that little girl," Kotomi chuckled. "If it weren't so late, I was actually planning to modify this toy ring—like replacing the toy crystal on top with a real diamond."
Megumi quickly shook her head.
"We're still students. Don't spend money recklessly on diamonds. I don't even know how much a diamond costs, but it sounds expensive."
After hearing that, the smile on Kotomi's lips deepened. She pressed her cheek against Megumi's.
"You tell me not to spend money recklessly, but when you buy me clothes, shoes, delicious food, and gifts, why are you always so willing to spend money on me?"
Megumi looked at Kotomi with her beautiful eyes, as if stating something completely natural.
"You're my wife. Of course I'm willing to spend money on you. But I'm still a student and don't have any income yet. The money I use comes from the allowance my parents give me every month, so I should be more restrained. Once I graduate from university and find a good job, you can stay at home every day playing games and watching anime. I'll be responsible for earning money and supporting the family. You just need to be happy."
"Silly Megumi~"
Kotomi smiled sweetly and kissed her on the cheek.
There was actually one more thing Kotomi wanted to say—that as long as she was willing, after they graduated from university, the two of them could both stay at home leisurely without ever needing to find jobs.
After all, with the financial power of the Izumi family, if Kotomi truly wanted to do nothing but enjoy a life of luxury, it would be more than affordable.
"Ever since I fell in love with you, I've become silly too," Megumi said with a giggle.
The atmosphere between them gradually grew warm and hazy. Just as Megumi was about to kiss Kotomi's lips again, Kotomi suddenly remembered something and gently pushed her.
"Megumi, have you not eaten a single bite since noon?"
"Huh? I guess not... I kept thinking about how you lied to me and didn't have any appetite. But my stomach doesn't really feel that hungry. Maybe it's because I had a bowl of egg porridge this morning."
"That's not because you're not hungry. It's because you're so hungry your body has stopped reacting."
Kotomi hurriedly said. Then she took out the wontons she had set aside earlier. The owner had packed them well—they were still hot to the touch.
"On my way back, I passed by the wonton shop we used to go to together. I figured you might not have eaten yet, so I bought you a bowl of your favorite pure fresh pork wontons with sesame sauce. The other plastic container has the wonton soup—though neither of us really likes drinking wonton soup anyway~ Hurry and eat while it's still hot."
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