Proposal - Volume 2

A/N: This chapter contains spoilers from the main story.

A slender girl sat on a hospital bed wearing an oversized gown with half her head shaved. Her gaze was focused on the window and she seemed mesmerized by the snowflakes that seemed to be dancing in the air, her mind and spirit lost in thought.

Natsuo sat down next to her and grabbed her cold wrist. A caring look crossed his face as he gently rubbed her arm and tried to warm her.

"We will transfer your treatment to Nagoya so that we can visit you more often and if you feel better, you can live with us," he said with confidence.

Glioblastoma. Patients survive an average of only eight months after diagnosis. The oncologist explained the situation to the two of them and Kyoko that morning in a sensitive but difficult way, as they were her emergency contacts.

She had been still being treated in the psychiatric ward because she was seen as irresponsible for murdering her twin brother. Her state of mind was a major factor in determining her sentence. The court ruled that while she should be held accountable for her actions, her mental health issues played a role in her actions and she was not fully able to understand the gravity of her actions.

Natsuo's phone started vibrating inside his bomber jacket's pocket. He pulled the phone out and recognized the number as his attorney's.

"Hmph."

He didn't bother to answer it. Lately, his attorneys had been contacting him too much when they were working on the case against Yuki Yamasaki, who had been released on bail months ago. He was weary of the whole situation, as he had been bombarded with calls and emails from his legal team since the wheels of justice began to spin.

"Answer. Right now," the attorney texted when Natsuo let the call go to voicemail.

Jiro was also stuck with making phone calls when he tried to arrange for Kyoko to be taken to terminal care or receive home care so that she could stay with them. He had been coordinating with doctors to create a plan for Kyoko's treatment and they had to make sure that all of her needs were met.

While Saika managed to arrange a more humane end for her with the aid of her husband, she emphasized that she was no longer able to do such favors for them.

The same attorney tried to call again. Natsuo glanced at Kyoko who was still staring at the window with a cloudy look in her brown eyes.

"What?" He grunted on the phone.

"Huge news. You're currently in Tokyo, right?" The female attorney asked and Natsuo could tell from the tone of her voice that she was in a hurry.

"I can't talk right now," he said gritting his teeth as he tightened his grip on Kyoko's hand.

"Yamasaki is prepared to settle if the charges are dropped. You need to come to the office and we need to talk about this," she urged.

"I said I can't - "

Jiro stepped inside the patient room and Natsuo ended the call, stuffing his phone back into his jacket.

"Okay, she will stay with us first. Nurses come three times a day and - why are you looking like that?" Jiro asked when seeing the strange expression on Natsuo's face.

He could feel his phone buzzing again. Natsuo sighed and explained what the attorney had told him - until now, Yuki's team had done everything they could to cover up her crime and try to pin the blame on Natsuo. The trial would be in a few weeks and it could be long and complicated - and they would not want that now because of Kyoko's circumstances.

"They will keep her here for one more night so we have time to talk with the attorneys," Jiro assured and crouched in front of Kyoko, looking at her with a wide smile.

"Tomorrow we can get you home. I'll drive you in my car so we'll take a road trip together," he continued, bringing a glimmer of warmth to Kyoko's pale face.

(Later that day)

White walls around the conference were silent and stark, and the mood was tense as everyone waited for one person's arrival.

Attorneys and their assistants wore formal suits and managed to keep their expressions neutral without glancing at the counterparty. The simply dressed plaintiff was the only one in the room who was visibly agitated, his legs trembling as they awaited the defendant. A soft touch from his partner's hand washed him with comfort, allowing him to maintain his composure.

Suddenly, all eyes turned toward the entrance as a figure appeared in the doorway, entering the room. The revealing dress and pampered appearance made her stand out, emphasizing the disparity between the two.

The last time they met, the defendant fired three bullets at the plaintiff before walking away.

"What is he doing here?" Yuki questioned with a suspicious glare on her face as Jiro was sitting next to Natsuo in his long coat.

"Miss Yamasaki. We have been waiting for you," her male attorney said offering a chair at their table.

After she sat down, the same middle-aged man started their meeting with the message that their client was willing to pay the compensation that the other side was asking for, if they dropped their case immediately.

"Why do we have to pay them?! He just tried to kill himself!" Yuki squealed in her high-pitched voice, pointing at Natsuo at the opposite table.

Natsuo stood up from his seat and slammed his hands on the table, frustration and anger filling him completely.

"I was about to kill myself if you hadn't interfered!"

He glared at her with burning intensity as his voice echoed around the room.

"If someone wants to kill themselves with a gun, they would shoot themselves in the head, you fucking idiot!"

Yuki bit her lip in repugnance as Natsuo remained fixed in his furious stance. His lawyer gently advised him to calm down.

"Do you have a price or do we see each other in court?" Yuki's male attorney repeated.

Natsuo's eyes narrowed as he considered the offer and a tense moment of silence followed. They had talked about this with his legal team and considered all the options. It was possible for him to win the case and receive the justice he wanted, but there was also a chance that the trial would not end in his favor and Yuki would not be punished.

Kyoko's pale, fragile features returned to his mind. He wanted revenge, but she needed them more.

"Five billion yen, a restraining order, and no public comments from her," Natsuo emphasized.

"Excellent. Shall we get the paperwork done?" Her lawyer asked, his voice ringing with satisfaction.

"Can you deal with that?" Natsuo muttered to his team, taking Jiro's hand and wanting to get out of there. The air had started to feel a bit lighter as Natsuo's team nodded in agreement, relieved to finally resolve the case.

Yuki jumped up, her make-up-covered eyes glistening with tears.

"I was ready to kill for you. What does he have that I d-don't?" She asked in a cracking voice, her fists tight at her sides as she awaited a response.

"I never meant to cause you pain, and I'm truly sorry. I hope you can find peace," Jiro said sincerely and added with a smile:

"But he is the love of my life."

(Later that night)

"Mister Yamasaki is thrilled that this case was resolved peacefully without burdening our legal system. We can put this all behind us and focus on a brighter future."

Yuki's lawyer gave a statement immediately after their meeting to the media. Their attention had recently been drawn to a story concerning the criminal record of the socialite daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Asia.

The lawyer's comment was meant to clear up the confusion and minimize the damage to the family's reputation. He sought to present the facts accurately while also painting a sympathetic portrait of Yuki, in order to show that her actions were not intentional, but instead a tragic mistake.

"And may I still emphasize that no one was seriously injured - "

Natsuo was watching the interview wrapped up in a thick blanket when Jiro turned off the hotel's television. It was already late at night when he returned to the room with a bag of snacks and a bouquet of red roses.

"I tried to take everything you like. And these are for you as well," Jiro explained as he sorted through the goodies and offered the flowers to him.

On the way back to the hotel, Natsuo was distant and didn't want to discuss anything. He had buried himself under the sheets and lost himself in his own inner world without responding to Jiro's comments.

"Can we talk about us?" Jiro asked in a rather serious tone, forcing Natsuo to poke his head out of under the covers. He gulped, knowing that there was no way he could get out of this conversation now.

"Let's get married."

His words sent a shockwave of emotion through Natsuo - he threw the blanket away thinking he was playing with him. But what Natsuo saw in his eyes was anything but a joke: it was a sincere, heartfelt plea.

"What...?!"

"Well, we cannot get married in this country, so we should get a partnership certificate first. And maybe things will change in the future, or we can just move away and get married there."

Jiro kneeled in front of the bed, leaning on his hands as he gazed into Natsuo's puzzled eyes. His expression seemed genuine, conveying both the passion of his words and his strong desire to be taken seriously.

"I'm not asking you to do this right away, because we will take care of Kyoko and I know you want to finish school, but..."

That kind of speech stirred up a flurry of feelings inside Natsuo, and his heart fluttered as he stared into his hopeful, adoring gaze.

"I think it's the right move for us going forward. I want you to become my husband."

He didn't know whether to be terrified or thrilled by the idea, but somehow, he could feel himself warming to the thought. There was a strange feeling of aliveness in him when adrenaline ran through his veins like electricity.

"I know this came out of nowhere, and I really wanted to propose to you properly. But what happened with Kyoko... and what we've been through... you never know what will happen tomorrow. And so - "

Natsuo's hands suddenly covered his mouth. A sense of reassurance passed over him as he looked into those comforting eyes and smelled his familiar cologne.

"We can get the certificate... and someday... we can do that as you said..."

He was not sure if he was ready to take on the role of husband, but the excitement of the unknown made him want to try.

They shared a moment as they both leaned into the kiss, savoring each other's presence and the promise of a future together. Natsuo felt a flood of different emotions he had never experienced before, but the idea of spending the rest of his life with Jiro gave him an overwhelming sense of joy...