Winter returned quietly.
The white flowers in the garden had grown taller since the last season. The house that once felt heavy with silence now carried warmth again—soft laughter, the smell of cooking, and the quiet comfort of two souls learning how to breathe together.
It was Sun's nineteenth birthday.
He had almost forgotten.
Yuki, of course, had not.
He woke up to the smell of something sweet.
For a moment, he simply stared at the ceiling, listening. There were faint sounds from the kitchen—clattering, a small "ah!" followed by hurried footsteps, and then something that sounded like a cupboard closing a little too loudly.
He blinked.
"…Yuki."
Before he could sit up fully, the door burst open.
"Good morning, birthday boy!"
She stood there proudly, flour dusted on her cheek, holding a slightly crooked cake with nineteen small candles.
The cake leaned a little to one side.
One edge was slightly darker than the others.
But her smile?
Perfect.
Sun stared at her for a long second.
"You… made that?"
She gasped dramatically. "Excuse me. That is not just a cake. That is a masterpiece born from three hours of suffering and two minor kitchen disasters."
He sat up slowly.
"Minor?"
She coughed. "We don't talk about the first attempt."
She walked carefully toward him and placed the cake on the small table beside the bed.
"Make a wish," she said softly.
Sun looked at the candles. The flickering light reflected in his eyes.
Two years.
Two years since he had promised that he would decide, when the time was right, what his heart truly wanted.
He looked up at Yuki.
She was smiling.
But there was nervousness hidden in her eyes.
He closed his eyes.
He didn't wish for power.
He didn't wish for strength.
He wished for this moment to last.
He blew out the candles.
Yuki clapped enthusiastically.
"Yay! You're officially old now!"
"I'm nineteen."
"Exactly. Ancient."
He gave her a small smile.
They moved to the table in the living room. She had decorated it with small paper stars and flowers from the garden.
She poured tea.
She cut the cake carefully.
It collapsed slightly.
They both stared at it.
"…It tastes good," she said quickly.
He took a bite.
It was slightly too sweet.
A little uneven in texture.
And somehow—
It was the best thing he had tasted in months.
"It's good," he said honestly.
She narrowed her eyes. "You're not lying, are you?"
"No."
She leaned forward suspiciously. "Swear."
"I swear."
She finally relaxed, smiling brightly.
For a while, they talked casually. About the flowers.About nothing important.
But something was different in the air.
After lunch, they stepped outside into the garden.
The sun was warm.
The wind gentle.
Yuki stretched her arms upward. "Perfect weather."
Sun watched her quietly.
She had grown thinner over the past two years.
Not weak.
Just… worn from carrying more than she showed.
She always smiled.
Always joked.
But he had seen her cry at night when she thought he was asleep.
He had seen her neglect her own rest just to make sure he ate.
He had seen her hide her exhaustion behind cheerfulness.
He stood up suddenly.
"Yuki."
She turned. "Hm?"
He walked toward her.
Closer.
Until there was only a small breath of distance between them.
She blinked.
"What's wrong? Did the cake poison you?"
He shook his head faintly.
"No."
His voice was calm—but firm.
"I love you."
The words landed softly in the air.
Yuki froze.
Her smile disappeared—not in sadness—but in shock.
"I love you," he repeated.
"You stayed when I pushed everyone away."
"You talked when I refused to speak."
"You fed me when I couldn't even lift a spoon."
He swallowed slightly.
"You didn't care about yourself. You only cared about me."
Her eyes began to tremble.
"You healed me."
His hand slowly reached for hers.
"And I don't want to walk forward without you."
Her breath became uneven.
"Yuki," he said softly, "will you marry me?"
The world felt quiet.
Only the wind moved.
She stared at him, stunned.
"You…" her voice shook slightly, "…you never break your promises sun, it's been exactly two years."
He nodded.
"Two years ago, I said I would decide. Today is exactly two years."
Her lips trembled into a soft smile.
"And you decided?"
"Yes."
She let out a small laugh that was half tears.
"I would be the luckiest girl in the world if I marry you."
His heart felt lighter than it had in years.
She stepped forward suddenly and buried her face in his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her tightly.
Not fragile.
Not hesitant.
But certain.
She mumbled into his shirt, "You're unfair."
"How?"
"How can someone confess so seriously and still look calm?"
He gave a faint chuckle.
"You're shaking."
She pulled back slightly and wiped her eyes. "Because someone suddenly attacked my heart."
He looked at her gently.
"How can someone have this level of cuteness?" he said quietly.
Her face turned red instantly.
"Don't say that with such a serious face!"
He leaned closer.
She froze.
Their foreheads touched lightly.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"For staying."
Her hands tightened on his shirt.
"I'm not going anywhere."
And then—
He kissed her.
Soft.
Slow.
Not rushed.
Not desperate.
Just warm.
She hesitated for half a second before responding, her fingers curling slightly against his shoulders.
The kiss was not long.
But it was full of everything they had survived.
When they pulled apart, both were blushing.
She hid her face again.
"…Idiot."
He smiled.
"Probably."
That evening, they sat under the stars together.
Their fingers intertwined.
No more words were needed.
---
The next morning, Sun walked into the kitchen while Yuki was making breakfast.
"I was thinking," he said casually.
She raised an eyebrow. "That sounds dangerous."
He ignored that. "We should decide a wedding date."
She nearly dropped the spoon.
"W-What?! Already?!"
He blinked. "Why not?"
She turned toward him fully.
"You just proposed yesterday!"
"And you said yes."
"Yes, but—"
He crossed his arms slightly. "Is there a problem?"
She walked up to him and poked his chest.
"Yes. The problem is that you're too serious."
He looked confused.
She softened.
"I want to marry you."
He relaxed slightly.
"But," she continued, "I don't want to rush it."
He tilted his head.
"I want to travel," she said quietly.
"Across the world."
She smiled dreamily.
"I want to see mountains. Oceans. Snowfields. Desert sunsets."
She looked at him with sparkling eyes.
"I want to visit every beautiful place with you before we settle down."
He stared at her.
She continued excitedly, "We'll get lost. We'll argue about directions. You'll pretend you know the map but actually don't."
"I do know how to read maps."
She ignored that. "We'll eat weird food from small towns. We'll sleep under the stars sometimes."
Her voice softened.
"I want memories with you."
He stepped closer.
"And then," she finished gently, "when we finally marry… we'll have a world full of stories behind us."
He was quiet for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Okay."
She blinked. "That's it?"
"You're right."
Her smile widened slowly.
"You agree?"
"Yes."
She jumped slightly in excitement.
"Good!"
The next morning—
She woke up to the sound of hooves outside.
She stepped out of the house and froze.
Two horses stood near the gate.
Strong. Healthy. Saddled.
Sun stood beside them, arms crossed.
She blinked.
"…Why are there horses?"
He looked at her calmly.
"You said you want to travel the world."
"Yes."
"We can't do that on foot."
She stared at him.
Then burst into laughter.
"You're unbelievable."
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"You decided everything overnight?"
"Yes."
She walked toward one of the horses and gently touched its mane.
"You're serious."
"I am."
She turned to him slowly.
There was affection in her eyes that went beyond words.
"You really are amazing sometimes."
He shrugged lightly. "Sometimes?"
She stuck her tongue out playfully.
They carried their bags outside.
Simple clothes. Some food. Basic supplies.
Nothing fancy.
Just two young people and an open world.
Before mounting, Yuki paused.
She looked at the house.
The place where they healed.
Where he cried.
Where she waited.
She took his hand.
"Ready?"
He looked at the road ahead.
The sky was clear.
The horizon endless.
He squeezed her hand gently.
"Together."
"Always," she replied.
They mounted the horses.
As they began riding away, Yuki shouted back toward the house:
"Don't burn down while we're gone!"
Sun chuckled softly.
"You're talking to a house."
"You never know!"
Their laughter echoed down the road.
Two silhouettes against the morning light.
Not running from darkness anymore.
Not hiding from pain.
But choosing—
To move forward.
Side by side.
And for the first time in a long while—
The future did not feel heavy.
It felt wide open.