The streets of Asakusa bustled with life. Lanterns swayed gently in the cold February breeze, and stalls lined Nakamise-dōri with colorful sweets and steaming hot food. Couples in kimonos strolled hand in hand, laughter and chatter filling the air.
Ayla and Haruki walked side by side, drawing attention wherever they went.
"Wow, that girl's gorgeous!" someone whispered.
"Look at the guy—so handsome! Are they models?" another added.
The stares made Ayla shrink a little, cheeks pink, while Haruki felt both proud and embarrassed at the same time.
"…Ayla," Haruki leaned closer and whispered, "aren't you cold right now?"
Ayla smiled gently, her breath forming a small cloud in the air. "No, I'm fine. Actually… I like cold weather."
Haruki looked down, muttering under his breath. "…Oh, was that so? Tch. Thought it was my chance to hug you."
Ayla blinked. "Hmm? What was that?"
"Nothing." Haruki quickly forced a smile, but his ears were burning red.
Before Ayla could tease him further, two shady men swaggered toward them.
"Ey yo, beautiful, how you doin'?" one of them grinned, eyes scanning Ayla.
Haruki immediately stepped forward. "She's with me."
But the man shoved some bills into Haruki's hand. "Here. Go buy us some food. Treat yourself too, while we take care of this beauty."
The second man leaned in. "Yeah, what're you waiting for? Get lost."
Ayla quickly grabbed Haruki's hand. "Let's go."
But as they tried to leave, one of the men blocked their path. "Wait, where you going? I was only asking *him* to buy. You can stay with us, girl."
"Come on, girl, notice me," the other one jeered.
"Yeah, talk to us!"
Haruki clenched his jaw, his patience snapping thread by thread. "…Stop it."
The men froze for a second, then burst out laughing.
"What did you say? You wanna get hurt, pretty boy?"
Haruki's voice dropped, deadly serious. "I said—stop harassing my girl."
Their laughter grew louder. "This loser's yapping like he owns the place."
Haruki ignored them and tugged Ayla's hand. "Come on. Let's get some takoyaki."
But the man who had shoved money at him suddenly grabbed his arm. "Where the hell are you taking *my* girl?"
Haruki's eyes narrowed, a cold spark flashing within them.
From a distance, Yumi's expression darkened. Her hand twitched toward the concealed weapons in her sleeve. *How dare you…*
But before she could step forward, a broad arm slid in front of her.
"Stop." Kenta's voice was firm.
Yumi shot him a glare. "Move. I'll eliminate them."
Kenta shook his head, eyes never leaving Haruki. "Don't embarrass my bro like that. Let him handle it."
"…Handle it?" Yumi muttered, skeptical.
Kenta grinned confidently. "Don't worry. Haruki… will crush them. Trust your master's man."
For just a heartbeat, Yumi felt something stir in her chest. Her face didn't show it, but heat brushed her cheeks.
Back to Haruki.
He inhaled slowly, controlling his anger. "…I don't want trouble. Just leave us alone."
The man smirked, reaching out toward Ayla. "Wow… you look real good in that kimono. Bet you'd look even better without it."
That was it.
Haruki's body tensed. His fists clenched. He could take insults aimed at himself, but this—disrespecting Ayla—was unforgivable.
He turned to her, his expression softening. "Ayla… please close your eyes."
Ayla's chest tightened. Memories of past harassment flashed like jagged glass in her mind. She trembled. But Haruki's voice, steady and warm, anchored her.
"…It'll be quick," he promised, smiling reassuringly.
Ayla nodded, shutting her eyes, bracing herself.
Then—
*THWACK! BOOM! THUD!*
The crowd gasped as fists met flesh, bodies hitting the ground. The sound of quick, decisive blows echoed through the street.
Moments later, Haruki's calm voice spoke. "…It's okay now. They're gone. You can open your eyes."
Ayla slowly blinked her eyes open. The first thing she saw was Haruki's face—sweaty, his knuckles red and raw, but wearing the gentlest, most comforting smile.
"…Where… where did they go?" she asked quietly.
Haruki shrugged, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Said they had to run to the bathroom. Maybe diarrhea got 'em."
Ayla let out a shaky laugh, tears pricking her eyes. She noticed his reddened fists. "Haruki… thank you. I really… didn't know what to do. I'm sorry, I was so scar—"
"Shh." Haruki pressed a finger lightly to her lips. "It's fine. You don't have to apologize. I'm here."
She looked at him, heart pounding, and nodded.
"Now," Haruki said with a boyish grin, "let's get some ningyō-yaki."
Ayla blinked. "…Ningyō-yaki?"
"Yeah. Little doll-shaped sponge cakes with red bean filling. Famous around here."
She smiled softly. "…Sure. Let's go."
Hand in hand, the two walked off toward the food stalls.
From afar, behind a skewered dango stand, Kenta and Yumi peeked out.
"…He's got moves," Yumi admitted reluctantly.
Kenta smirked smugly, arms crossed. "Told ya. That's my bro."
The rest of the day passed with laughter and shy exchanges. Haruki and Ayla drifted from stall to stall, sampling sweets, snapping a few awkward photos together, and sharing bites of dango while pretending not to notice how their fingers brushed each time they passed the stick. All the while, Kenta and Yumi trailed behind, hiding clumsily among the crowd.
By evening, paper lanterns began glowing across Asakusa, painting the streets in warm light. Haruki noticed Ayla slowing down, her steps uneven. When he glanced down, he caught a glimpse of her reddened ankles and swollen feet peeking beneath her kimono hem as she tried to hide her limp.
"Ayla," Haruki frowned, "are you okay?"
She quickly straightened, forcing a confident smile. "Yes, I am! It's nothing, I was just—"
Before she could finish, Haruki bent down and scooped her into his arms.
"W–wha—Haruki!" Ayla's face turned red as she lightly hit his chest. "Put me down!"
"Don't wanna," he said calmly, carrying her through the lantern-lit street.
"E–everyone's staring! This isn't funny! Drop me already!" Ayla raised her voice, flustered and a little angry.
Haruki froze at her tone. Slowly, he set her down. His expression dimmed, his smile fading. "…Sorry. I just didn't want to see you having a hard time."
"I told you, I can manage," Ayla said firmly, crossing her arms.
"But I can't," Haruki muttered, frustration slipping into his voice. "I can't manage seeing you struggle."
Ayla puffed her cheeks, almost sulking. "You're exaggerating. I'm fine. You're making it hard for yourself."
"It's not hard for me," Haruki said, looking her straight in the eyes now. "What's hard is watching you force yourself. That's what I don't like about you—you keep saying you can even when you clearly can't! Why won't you let me… be a man? Your man? Maybe that's why those guys earlier kept hitting on you. They probably think I'm just some loser. And maybe… maybe I am."
His voice cracked at the last words, his eyes lowering.
Ayla froze. His honesty pierced her chest. For a moment, she wanted to argue—but the sadness in his tone made her soften.
"…I wasn't really struggling with my heels," she admitted softly.
Haruki's face dimmed further, until Ayla added with a shy smile:
"But… you can carry me on your back. We still have a long way to walk, right? Better to save my strength."
Haruki's head snapped up, his mood instantly lifted. "Seriously?!"
He crouched down, and Ayla gently climbed onto his back. Her soft breath tickled his ear as she whispered, "Thank you… and sorry. I didn't want to bother you. I just wanted to keep wearing these heels because… I wanted to look good for you."
Haruki chuckled, tightening his grip around her legs while holding her heels in one hand. "You don't have to force yourself for me. You're always beautiful, Ayla. No matter what."
Her face flushed scarlet. She smacked his back lightly. "Idiot…"
"Ow—what was that for?" Haruki asked, grinning.
Ayla leaned her head against his shoulder, her lips brushing close to his ear. She whispered something so soft it made Haruki's entire face burn red, his ears glowing.
Meanwhile, not too far away, Kenta crouched behind a food stall, his phone camera clicking rapidly.
"Perfect! Documentary purposes!" he snickered proudly.
Yumi, peeking beside him, frowned. "What are you doing?"
"Collecting evidence of true love," Kenta said, puffing his chest. "For history's sake."
"…Idiot," Yumi muttered, though her cheeks felt strangely warm as she glanced at Haruki carrying Ayla in the glow of the lanterns.
---
Haruki carried Ayla on his back until they finally sat down on a quiet bench beneath the lanterns. Ayla stretched her arms lightly and asked, almost shyly,
"Am I… heavy?"
Haruki blinked at her. "No, not at all."
"Hmmm… where did you learn how to answer like that?" she teased, narrowing her eyes.
He chuckled and tilted his head. "Should I say… from my heart? Haha. Well, when I'm carrying you… it feels like I'm above the clouds. Soft, warm, like all my exhaustion just disappears. It's like resting on a comfortable bed of clouds."
His smile was so genuine that Ayla's whole face turned red. She quickly covered her cheeks with both palms. "S-stop ittttt…"
Haruki stopped speaking and just stared at her. The silence caught Ayla's attention, so she peeked through her fingers.
"Why did you stop? Huh? …Wait—why are *you* red!?" she exclaimed.
Haruki stammered, scratching his cheek. "W-well… you're too cute. You can't blame me."
Ayla's heart skipped. She turned away, covering her face again. "I told you, stop itttt!"
From a distance, Kenta and Yumi were still spying.
"Man, my bro is smooth," Kenta muttered proudly.
"Don't underestimate Master Ayla," Yumi countered. "She's smooth too."
They both glared at each other, finally making a bet: whoever made the first move to kiss would be declared the "smoothest."
Meanwhile, Haruki and Ayla were stuck in an awkward silence again—faces flushed, hearts racing. Haruki cleared his throat, desperate to break the tension.
"Ayla… let's go to the shrine."
"Sure," she said softly.
As Ayla bent down to put her heels back on, Haruki stopped her. "Wait. Don't wear those yet. I'll be right back."
Before she could ask, he jogged off toward a nearby stall. From the bench, Ayla watched him speak with the owner, hand over some money, and then return with a small package.
"Here," Haruki said, kneeling down. "Try these."
Ayla blinked. "What are those?"
He opened the package to reveal a pair of soft, fluffy bunny slippers.
Her eyes sparkled as she slipped them on. "They're so comfortable…!" She looked up at him, smiling. "Thank you, Haruki. For always thinking about me. When you do things like this, you… you look so manly and cool."
Haruki froze, blushing furiously.
Ayla smirked mischievously. "Ohhh, someone's blushing\~ I bet he's shy."
"Stop it, Ayla…" he muttered, turning even redder.
"Awww, my little boy is shy. Come here to mommy—"
"Stop it, Ayla!" he yelped, covering his face.
She giggled, softening. "Sorry, sorry… you're just too cute when you're embarrassed."
Before Haruki could retort, the sound of a child crying reached them. Without hesitation, he rushed toward it, with Ayla following behind.
A little boy stood near the path, rubbing his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Haruki crouched down gently.
The child sniffled. "I… I can't find my mommy…"
Ayla knelt beside him, her voice warm and soothing. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm sure she's looking for you right now. So let's stop crying, okay? We'll help you find her."
The boy sniffled again, then managed a small smile. "O-okay!"
The two of them held his tiny hands and guided him toward the shrine's announcement booth, where lost children were reunited with their parents. As they walked together, people along the path glanced at them, smiling.
"They look like such a lovely young couple."
"They'd make wonderful parents one day."
Hearing that, both Haruki and Ayla flushed crimson, but neither let go of the child's hand.
At the booth, they reported the lost boy, and within moments, a frantic mother rushed over. She swept the child into her arms, tears of relief streaming down her face.
"Thank you so much!" she said, bowing deeply.
The little boy peeked out from his mother's shoulder and gave Haruki and Ayla a big smile. "Thank you!"
Haruki and Ayla exchanged a glance—hearts warm, cheeks still red—before the mother led her son away.
---
The mother led the child away, leaving Haruki and Ayla standing close together, hearts still warmed by the boy's smile.
"…That was sweet," Ayla murmured softly.
Haruki rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly shy. "Well… I just didn't like seeing a kid cry."
Ayla giggled, brushing her hair behind her ear. "You looked like a dad, you know. A reliable one."
Haruki froze. "…Eh? A-are you trying to embarrass me again?"
Ayla just laughed and tugged at his sleeve. "Come on. Let's go to the shrine before it gets too crowded."
---
They walked together beneath the glow of lanterns until they reached the shrine grounds. The festive air was filled with clattering bells, wooden ema plaques, and the smell of incense. Couples lined up to draw fortunes from the omikuji stall.
Haruki's eyes gleamed. "Let's try it!"
"Do you believe in that?" Ayla asked curiously.
"Yeah," Haruki admitted with a grin. "That's why I'm trying one! What about you?"
She shook her head, smiling faintly. "Not really. But you can try if you want."
Haruki eagerly bought one, unfolded the strip—
"Misfortune…"
His smile faltered, but he laughed it off. "It's fine, I'll try again."
He bought another. And another.
"Misfortune… Misfortune… Misfortune again?!"
By the fourth one, Haruki stood there holding slips of paper, his expression dim. "…I kept getting the same result."
Ayla's eyes softened as she saw his downcast face. She gently reached for the paper in his hand.
"Then… let that misfortune come."
Haruki blinked. "…Huh?"
She smiled at him, warm and assuring, the kind of smile that chased away every shadow. "I'll be with you through it. No matter how many misfortunes fall on you, we'll face them together."
Something in Haruki's chest tightened. He was so touched he couldn't even speak.
At that moment, fireworks cracked open the night sky above them.
The colors illuminated Ayla's face—her eyes sparkling like twin stars, her lips parted slightly as she looked up in wonder. Haruki's breath caught. Without realizing, he leaned closer, his face inching toward hers.
Ayla turned to him, equally startled—but she didn't move away.
Unbeknownst to them Kenta and Yumi are still spying. Kenta pulled Yumi close, "look my boy is about to-"
Then
*BUMP!*
Someone stumbled into them, spilling hot tea onto Haruki's bruised knuckles.
" F*CK YOU Mikesh8! what kind of plot is that?!" Kenta Shouted in disappointment.
"Ah! Sorry, kid! Are you alright?" the man apologized hurriedly.
Haruki winced, then quickly shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. I am," Haruki replied with a small smile. The man bowed and rushed off.
Ayla's brows knitted with concern. She gently took Haruki's hand, inspecting the redness. "…That's why I love you."
Haruki blinked, stunned. "W-what…?"
She looked up at him, her voice soft yet firm. "You're honest…"
*BOOM!* Fireworks burst again.
"…You're kind…"
*BOOM!* Another explosion of light above them.
"…And you're tough."
*BOOM!* A final brilliant firework bloomed across the sky, bathing her in dazzling colors. She smiled so brightly it made Haruki's chest ache. "I'm so lucky I got you."
Haruki's throat tightened. His voice trembled but came out clear. "…Yeah. And I'm lucky you're mine. Because I can't imagine anyone else holding you. I want you, and only you."
---
Not far away, Kenta and Yumi sat behind a food stall, munching skewers.
"Still no kiss…" Kenta sighed in disappointment.
"Tch. So much for your 'smooth bro' talk," Yumi muttered, equally dissatisfied.
The loud fireworks overhead drowned out the couple's voices, so the two bodyguards missed what came next.
Because just as Kenta and Yumi turned away, Ayla leaned down and pressed her lips gently to Haruki's bruised knuckles.
"…That's for you," she whispered, "so it will heal faster."
Haruki's breath hitched. He couldn't hold back anymore. He cupped Ayla's face in both hands and pulled her into a kiss.
The fireworks erupted above them, casting brilliant colors across the sky. Ayla's eyes widened in shock—but she didn't resist. Slowly, she closed her eyes, melting into the warmth of his lips.
When Haruki finally pulled away, panting lightly, his face burned scarlet. "S-sorry, Ayla… I was just carried away—"
But before he could finish, Ayla grabbed his collar and kissed him back—fierce, desperate, like the world might end tomorrow.
The brightest firework exploded above them, showering light over the shrine as the two of them clung to each other, lost in the moment.
Chapter 10 ending.
Together Through Misfortune 🎇🎇🎇