Naea eventually pulled back from the hug, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, it's officially dinner time. Any ideas on what we should make?"
Akira hummed thoughtfully, her arms still lingering near Naea's waist. "Hmm, let's see what we can come up with."
Naea raised an eyebrow, shaking her head. "What do you mean we, Akira? You handled breakfast this morning, so dinner is strictly my territory. You're off duty."
Akira smirked, leaning against the counter to tease her. "There's no rule that says I can't help. Tell you what—how about I let you 'help' me with breakfast tomorrow, but in exchange, I get to be your sous-chef tonight?"
Naea laughed, finally giving in to Akira's persistence. After a quick trip to wash her face, she tied her hair back and began prepping the ingredients in the kitchen. She reached for the knife to start chopping vegetables, her focus shifting to the meal.
Suddenly, a hand appeared beside her face, holding a small piece of rich, dark chocolate. It was from the box Akira had bought earlier that morning. Naea was about to politely decline, her hands busy with the vegetables, when Akira whispered from right behind her.
"It's dark chocolate. I know it's your favorite."
Naea froze for a second, a warm blush creeping up her neck. She hadn't told Akira she liked this specific brand; Akira must have noticed her liking it in a reel or a post she'd seen recently. The fact that Akira remembered such a tiny detail made Naea's heart do a little flip.
With a soft smile and her hands still occupied with the knife, Naea leaned in and took the chocolate directly from Akira's fingers. The bitter-sweet taste melted on her tongue, but the gesture felt much sweeter than the treat itself.
Akira leaned in closer, resting her head gently on Naea's shoulder. Naea felt the weight of her presence and opened her mouth to speak, but Akira's voice, soft and tired, stopped her. "Just for a little while... let me stay like this."
Naea went silent, continuing her work at the stove, allowing Akira this rare moment of stillness.
"You mentioned this morning that you wanted to work," Akira began, her voice muffled against Naea's shoulder. "And... I'm sorry I didn't tell you this sooner."
Naea turned the flame down, her attention split between the cooking and Akira's confession. "What is it, Akira? Is everything okay?"
"It's fine," Akira replied, her hands sliding around Naea's waist to pull her closer, anchoring her head firmly on her shoulder. "But you won't know until I tell you. Naea... we aren't going to Taiwan just for a wedding. We are going there to live. To build an entirely new life together."
Naea paused, her heart skipping a beat. "But Kyoto is so beautiful, Akira..."
"It is," Akira agreed softly. "But it isn't a place for us to stay together. People here can be close-minded about a relationship like ours. You've endured so much in Japan already, and I just want to take you far away from all of it. A place where no one can say a word to you."
Naea listened as Akira continued. "I know you've fallen in love with this environment over the last few days, but trust me, we can build this same peace in Taiwan. If we keep this understanding between us, we can walk openly there. We will be an official couple after the wedding. And since you told me before that you know Chinese, I chose Taiwan so you wouldn't face any struggle with the language."
Naea's voice was a mere whisper, filled with shock. "Planning all of this in one week is impossible... Akira, when did you actually do all this?"
"In Tokyo," Akira admitted. "Back when we were first together. I didn't plan the wedding then because I didn't think you'd ever be ready for that... but I decided right then that if you were going to be in my life, it was my responsibility to ensure every one of your days was spent in happiness. To fulfill every wish you never even dared to ask for."
Naea's eyes blurred with tears. "You're crazy," she breathed.
"Only to see you happy," Akira replied simply.
Slowly, Naea turned around in her arms to face her.
Naea didn't say a word. She couldn't. Instead, she reached out and wrapped her arms tightly around Akira's neck, pulling her into a warm, desperate hug. Tears blurred her vision, spilling over as she hid her face against Akira's shoulder.
"I want to refuse... my heart wants to tell you to stay," Naea whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "But the fact that you've thought this much about me... that you've planned our entire future just to keep me happy and free ... it makes it impossible for me to say no."
Akira exhaled a soft sigh of relief, resting her hand on the back of Naea's head and gently stroking her hair. "Believe me, Naea," she murmured, her voice steady and reassuring. "You will love Taiwan. It's beautiful, it's vibrant... and it's where we can finally be free."
Naea pulled back slowly, wiping her eyes as she looked deep into Akira's gaze. She took a steadying breath, a small, hopeful glint returning to her eyes. "Then, before we leave... I have one request. I want to see Mount Fuji one last time."
A beautiful, genuine smile broke across Akira's face. She looked at Naea with such warmth that the kitchen seemed to glow. "Of course. Anything else, Miss?"
Naea laughed softly, the tension finally breaking. "No, just that for now."
With a lighter heart, Naea turned back to the stove to finish the cooking, her movements more fluid now that the weight of the secret was gone. Akira, matching her mood, began setting the plates with a quiet efficiency. They worked in a comfortable, domestic rhythm—two souls preparing for a meal, a journey, and a lifetime.
They sat together on the floor at their favorite low dinner table, the atmosphere warm and intimate. As they ate, Akira looked up, her expression thoughtful. "So... shall we leave tomorrow?"
Naea paused, her chopsticks mid-air, and gave Akira a knowing look. "Was this part of the plan all along, too?"
Akira let out a rare, genuine laugh. "No," she admitted, her eyes twinkling. "Consider this part 'out of the syllabus.'"
Naea reacted with a soft, beautiful smile, charmed by Akira's wit.
"Well," Akira continued, "the children at the orphanage have been asking me for a trip for a long time. I promised them I'd take them on a proper outing. Since we're heading out anyway, I thought we could take them with us. We can book a tourist bus—it'll be a fun, lively journey with all of them."
Naea's smile widened, but then she hesitated. "What about the Old Age Home...?"
Before she could finish, Akira cut in gently. "Naea, I don't think we can take everyone from there. It would be too difficult to manage."
Naea laughed softly, shaking her head. "Akira, I wasn't suggesting everyone. I was just thinking of Granny Kiwi. She deserves a moment like this too, don't you think?"
Akira looked into Naea's eyes and saw a hopeful spark she couldn't possibly extinguish. Her gaze softened, and she spoke in a low, tender voice. "Alright. Whatever makes you happy... we'll bring her along."
The joy on Naea's face was the only reward Akira needed. They shared one final, sweet smile before returning to their meal, finishing their dinner in a comfortable, peaceful silence—the calm before their grand, final Japanese adventure.
After finishing dinner, Akira and Naea made their way to the veranda. In the silence of the night, only the distant chirping of crickets could be heard. Both held their favorite ice cream, simply soaking in the moment without a word.
Akira leaned her head back against a pillar and took a breath of relief. "Kyoto nights really are different," she said softly.
Naea smiled, taking a scoop of her ice cream. "Yes, it feels as though time has stood still."
They were submerged in this peace when Naea's phone began to vibrate on the table. The screen lit up with the name: 'Yumi 🌸'.
"A video call from Yumi?" Naea said, slightly surprised, as she picked it up.
The moment the call connected, the sound of children's commotion and laughter drowned out Yumi's voice. Yumi caught sight of Naea on the screen and teased her in her usual fashion. "Well, well... where did this 'pretty lady' come from? Who is this beauty?"
Naea replied with a sweet smile, "Yumi, don't tease me."
"Oh, darling, a little teasing is mandatory! Tell me, what's going on?" Yumi asked.
"Nothing much, just sitting on the veranda having some ice cream," Naea replied.
Yumi sighed, her face on the screen looking a bit exhausted. "Naea, please, handle these little rascals! They've been hounding me forever to let them talk to their favorite aunt... they're driving me crazy!"
With that, Yumi turned the camera toward the children. The moment Naea saw Sui and Shuzo, her face lit up. But as soon as she waved and said "Hi," Sui's eyes filled with tears. She began to cry, clutching Yumi's hand stubbornly. "I want to go to Auntie... I want to go right now!"
Seeing Sui cry like that made Naea's heart ache. Her own eyes grew misty; she realized just how much she missed the children. Noticing Naea getting emotional, Akira immediately moved to her side and took the phone into her own hands.
Akira looked at the screen and spoke in a tone that was firm yet playful. "Well, Sui... I really thought you were strong and never cried. But I guess I was wrong. You turned out to be a 'weak girl' after all!"
Shuzo, finding this hilarious, began to mock her. "Oh ho! Weak girl! Sui is weak!"
The moment Sui heard that, she stopped crying instantly. She wiped her eyes and spoke up indignantly, "I am strong! Not weak!" And with those words, she began chasing Shuzo around the room to prove it.
Yumi watched their antics and let out a sigh of relief before ending the call. "Alright darling, I'll talk to you later. Good night! I have to manage these rascals now. You two enjoy yourselves!
Once the call ended, Naea leaned her head on Akira's shoulder and closed her eyes, letting the quiet of the night wrap around her. After a moment, Akira spoke softly, "Now I understand why the children adore you so much."
Naea didn't open her eyes. "Children are so innocent," she murmured. "They believe whatever they are told as the absolute truth. Even if a killer—the very person who took their parents away—went to them and said, 'Someone murdered your family,' those children would believe it. They wouldn't know that the person they are listening to is the actual monster."
Akira shifted slightly, surprised by the sudden depth of the thought. "What thriller story have you been watching lately?" she asked, half-joking but curious.
Naea simply laughed, a soft, weary sound. "I don't know... it just came to my mind, so I said it."
"You really love children, don't you?" Akira asked, her voice turning serious.
"Hmm..." Naea whispered in agreement.
Akira took a breath, looking out at the moonlit garden. "Well, if you want... after the wedding, we could adopt a child of our own."
Naea's eyes snapped open. she pulled back slightly to look at Akira, stunned by the weight of the suggestion. "Just how far ahead have you planned all of this?"
Akira looked back at her, a calm and steady warmth in her gaze. "As far as your imagination can go... that's where my plans begin."
Naea stood up, smoothing out her clothes, and extended her hand toward Akira with a warm smile. "Come on, it's time for bed. We have a big day tomorrow—we have to surprise the children and Granny Kiwi, after all."
Akira looked up at her, a tender smile on her face as she took Naea's hand. She stood up, ready to head inside, but as she took her first step, she lost her balance. Her ankle twisted sharply, and she hissed in pain, coming to a sudden halt.
Naea froze, confused for a second by Akira's sudden stop. "Akira? What happened?"
Akira closed her eyes, leaning slightly against the pillar. "I think... I think I just twisted my ankle."
Without a second thought, Naea moved to her side, wrapping Akira's arm around her shoulder to provide support. She carefully guided her back to the bedroom, making sure every step was slow and steady. Once they reached the bed, Naea sat her down and immediately knelt on the floor to examine the injury.
Akira felt a wave of guilt. She hated seeing Naea—the woman she vowed to protect—kneeling at her feet to tend to a clumsy mistake. "Naea, stop... you don't have to do this. I'm fine, really."
Naea didn't listen. She looked up, sensing Akira's discomfort, and leaned in to press a soft, lingering kiss to her lips. The gesture was so full of love that Akira's protests died in her throat. She fell silent, her heart softening as she watched Naea return to her work with professional focus and gentle hands.Naea looked up at Akira, a small, knowing smirk playing on her lips. Before Akira could protest again, Naea took hold of her ankle and, with a swift, expert maneuver, adjusted the joint.
A sharp gasp of pain escaped Akira's lips, her eyes widening for a split second. But as the initial sting faded, the dull ache was replaced by a sense of relief. The tension in her tendons had vanished.
Naea stood up, smoothing her hair back as she walked to the side of the bed. "See? It was a simple fix," she said, her voice filled with a surgeon's quiet pride.
She pulled the covers up, tucking Akira in with a gentle but firm touch. "Now, get some rest. By morning, the pain will be completely gone, and you'll wake up feeling refreshed. We have a long journey ahead of us, after all."
Akira looked up at her, still a little stunned by how quickly Naea had handled the situation. She let out a soft breath, her heart full of admiration. For the first time in a long time, she didn't feel like she had to be the strong one. She closed her eyes, letting Naea's healing presence guide her into a deep, peaceful sleep.