As Ryotaro climbed into the car, Shizuka started the engine quietly.
Ryotaro expected her to say something, perhaps an explanation, and waited for her words.
But contrary to his expectations, Shizuka didn't seem upset. Still, she didn't strike up a conversation either.
(Talking and laughing with Shizuka is always fun, of course, but just watching her like this is plenty enjoyable too. Maybe moments like these are necessary.)
With that thought, Ryotaro savored the comfortable silence, feeling the rhythm of Shizuka's breathing. Shizuka was a skilled driver, which also meant she knew cars inside and out. She had once been inspired by a certain manga and trained herself to drive without spilling a single drop from a full cup of water. Even now, as she drove with complete ease, that training showed—her movements were so smooth that the car glided effortlessly. Before long, lulled by the gentle motion, Ryotaro slipped into a deep sleep.
How much time had passed? Ryotaro stirred, a faint sensation on his lips pulling him from his slumber. The car seemed to have stopped. He forced his heavy eyelids open and found Shizuka's face inches from his, peering at him. Her cheeks, he noticed, were slightly flushed.
"Uh… sorry, did I fall asleep?" he mumbled.
"S-s-s-sorry! I just… got carried away for a second!" Shizuka stammered.
"Huh?"
Ryotaro tilted his head, bewildered. Shizuka, flustered, blurted, "It's nothing!" before quickly opening the car door and stepping outside. Ryotaro followed suit, opening his door and stepping into the cool night air. In the distance, the lights of the new city center twinkled, and the salty scent of the sea hung around them. Curious, Ryotaro scanned their surroundings more closely.
"Is this… a bridge?"
It seemed they were on a bridge spanning the mouth of Tokyo Bay. The railings were covered in graffiti from countless couples. Ryotaro smirked, reminded of his old friend Hachiman, but then chuckled to himself—Wait, aren't we a couple now too? He turned to look for Shizuka, but she wasn't there. She was at a vending machine a short distance away, buying something. When she returned, she called out to him and tossed him a can of coffee. Ryotaro caught it effortlessly with one hand and walked over to her.
Shizuka leaned against the railing, gazing out at the sea. Ryotaro joined her, leaning beside her, and said, "Thanks, Shizuka. Is this where you wanted to come?"
"Yes, Ryotaro," she replied, her voice soft, her eyes distant.
Ryotaro studied her, wondering if this place held some memory for her. Hoping it wasn't a painful one, he waited quietly for her to speak.
"…It's nostalgic," she murmured.
"Nostalgic?" he echoed.
"It's been a while since I've come here. This used to be my favorite place."
"Really? Mind if I ask why you stopped coming?"
Shizuka turned to face him. "This is… where Hikitani and I talked, just before that incident happened."
Ryotaro listened intently as she continued.
"Hikitani was asked by the student council president, Isshiki, to help with a joint Christmas event with another school. He was struggling to make it a success, all on his own. Back then, his relationships with Yukino and Yui were strained, and to me, he looked like glass about to shatter. So I brought him here, and we talked. It must have helped, because he managed to patch things up with them and pull off the event. But right after that… Hikitani disappeared."
"I see…" Ryotaro said, his chest tightening as he imagined how Shizuka must have felt.
"Ever since then, coming here has made me feel both sadness and… anger," she said.
"Anger?" Ryotaro asked, a little surprised.
"Yes," she said, her voice steady. "I was angry at whatever gods or fate would interfere with Hikitani just as he was finding happiness. What had he done to deserve that? For once, I found myself furious at something as abstract as destiny."
Ryotaro nodded quietly, taking in her words.
"I tried coming back here a few times on my own," she continued, "but I couldn't handle it. This used to be the place where I felt most at peace, but every time I came, I'd see Hikitani's face in my mind—looking up at the sky as we left, with that strange mix of confusion and clarity. I couldn't stop the anger and sadness from welling up."
She paused, then looked directly into Ryotaro's eyes. "In the end, I might have been running away from this place. Even the marriage hunting I was so passionate about—I just lost all motivation for it."
"Shizuka, that's…" Ryotaro started, but she shook her head.
"Then Hikitani came back to us, on his own strength. Even after everything he'd been through, he'd grown into someone remarkable. Seeing that today, confirming it with my own eyes, I started wondering what I'd feel if I came back here. But I was still a little scared. That's why I asked you to come with me—it gave me the courage."
"I get it," Ryotaro said. "So… how do you feel now?"
Shizuka's serious expression softened into a smile. "I still want to complain to the gods. Even if it all worked out, wasn't that ordeal just a bit too harsh?"
Ryotaro laughed. "Yeah, it was a hell of a trial for us, wasn't it?"
"And, well, I feel a little bad for Hikitani and you, but… I also want to say thank you," she added.
"Thank you?" Ryotaro grinned. "Funny, I was thinking the same thing."
Then, in unison, they said:
"Because I got to meet you, Shizuka!"
"Because I got to meet you, Ryotaro!"
They locked eyes, then burst into shy smiles.
Ryotaro felt a surge of resolve. If I don't say this now, I'm not a man. He took a deep breath and turned to her.
"Shizuka, you said you were running away earlier."
"Y-Yes," she replied, startled.
"Personally, I think it's okay to have moments like that. But if you can't forgive yourself for it, then I'll be there to keep you from running next time. Things that feel unbearable alone—we can face them together. Though, honestly, I'd rather we never have to deal with anything that tough again. Sorry, I'm getting off track."
Shizuka seemed to sense what he was building up to. Her face flushed bright red, and she stared at him, too nervous to speak.
"I'm still just a grunt at work, and I might make things hard for you," Ryotaro continued. "But I promise I'll always have your back. Spending today with you, seeing the real you, my feelings haven't changed. I need you, Shizuka. Only you. I love you. Will you go out with me, with marriage in mind?"
The phrase "have your back" felt slightly out of place, but for Ryotaro, a survivor of SAO, it carried deep meaning. Shizuka understood. Overwhelmed with joy, she couldn't speak at first. Then, tears began to stream down her cheeks, startling Ryotaro.
"Sh-Shizuka, I'm sorry! Did I say something wrong?"
"No, I'm sorry, Ryotaro," she said, wiping her tears and smiling. "I just… I didn't know being needed by someone could feel this good. It caught me off guard, that's all."
"So… you mean…?"
With her brightest smile of the day, Shizuka said, "Yes, of course I'll accept. I love you too, Ryotaro."
"Shizuka."
"Ryotaro."
They embraced tightly, then gazed into each other's eyes and shared a gentle kiss. As they pulled apart, they basked in the warmth of their happiness. Ryotaro, however, couldn't help but notice a familiar sensation on his lips. With a teasing grin, he said, "That's our second kiss, isn't it?"
"Ah… y-you noticed?" Shizuka stammered.
"When we got here, I felt something on my lips. I wasn't sure then, but after that kiss, I knew."
"Ugh… you're so mean, Ryotaro," she pouted.
The moonlight shone brightly, as if blessing their playful banter. And so, Ryotaro's days of being single came to an end, and Shizuka finally closed the chapter on her marriage-hunting journey.
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The battle isn't over... and the truth has yet to be revealed. Read the next chapter now on Patreon! [patreon.com/Greyhounds]