Chapter 4: "Under the Same Stars"

The night had been quiet when Taiga first stood at the apartment door, knocking anxiously. She hadn't expected the silence, and the darkened windows had set her on edge. But then those arms—familiar, strong, and warm—wrapped around her from behind, startling her. She had let out a small gasp of surprise.

"Ryuuji..." she exhaled, her worry melting away as soon as she realized who it was.

"I didn't beat you to the house after all," Ryuuji's voice was soft in her ear, and she could practically feel the grin on his face. Her initial panic had dissolved, leaving her with a blend of relief and annoyance.

"You idiot! You scared me!" Taiga snapped, her words harsher than the actual emotion behind them. She leaned into him a bit, her protest more for show than anything else.

Ryuuji held her tighter for a moment before releasing her, his expression soft. "This place used to be home… but not anymore."

Taiga turned to him, blinking. "Wait, what? What do you mean?"

A smirk played on Ryuuji's lips as he straightened up. "I've got a surprise for you."

Instantly, Taiga recoiled, crossing her arms defensively. "I don't do surprises!" she declared, her tone sharp with mock indignation. She stomped her foot for emphasis, though her eyes sparked with curiosity.

Ryuuji just grinned wider. "Yeah, yeah, I know," he teased, and before she could protest further, he placed his hands over her eyes. "No peeking."

"Ugh! Your hands are sweaty!" Taiga groaned, wriggling beneath his grasp. "Let me go, you dumb dog!"

Ryuuji chuckled and tightened his grip slightly. "Come on, just let me have this moment," he said, his tone light and sing-songy as if trying to calm a hyper child. "No surprises, no peeking, just a little patience."

Taiga squirmed even more, her voice rising. "You're gonna make me trip, you idiot!"

Ryuuji hummed lightly, ignoring her protests and breaking into a playfully stressed tone, almost singing. "Taiga, Taiga, just be cool, okay? Relax. Breathe. It's just a tiny little surpriseee—"

"Your sweaty hands are on my face!" Taiga interrupted, though she sounded more exasperated than angry.

"Patience," Ryuuji sang in response, his tone overly sweet, which only made her squirm more.

"Ryuuji!" Taiga whined, stomping her foot, her arms flailing a bit in resistance. "You know I don't like—!"

Ryuuji let out a soft laugh, still steering her forward despite her complaints. "Taiga, you're killing me here. Just two more minutes. I promise it's worth it!"

Taiga grumbled under her breath, but she didn't resist as much, half-annoyed, half-amused. "This better not be something stupid…"

"Nooo peeking!" Ryuuji repeated, talking over her grumbles with a grin, keeping his hands over her eyes as they continued walking.

Eventually, they stopped. Ryuuji's voice dropped to a soft, almost reverent tone. "Okay… we're here."

He slowly removed his hands, and Taiga blinked as her vision adjusted to the sight before her. A house. A real house. It was moderate in size, but far bigger than the cramped apartment they'd lived in before.

Her eyes widened in surprise. "What… what is this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's ours," Ryuuji said softly, his smile warm and proud as he watched her reaction.

Before Ryuuji could say more, Taiga let out an excited yell and bolted toward the house. "Open the door! Hurry up, Ryuuji!" she demanded, tugging at the locked front door, practically bouncing with excitement.

Ryuuji jogged up behind her, fumbling with the keys as he chuckled. "Slow down, Taiga! You're gonna break the door."

"Hurry! Open it already!" she shot back, her impatience clear.

With a laugh, Ryuuji finally unlocked the door, and before he could fully open it, Taiga had already slipped inside.

"Whoa!" Taiga's eyes darted around, taking in the space. It was so much bigger than their old place. "This is amazing!" she yelled, rushing from room to room like a whirlwind.

And then, from a nearby perch, came a familiar squawk.

"Inko-chan!" Taiga gasped, rushing over to the parrot, who was still just as strange and loud as ever. "You're still here, you ridiculous bird!"

Inko-chan fluffed its feathers and let out an odd, garbled noise that only vaguely resembled a greeting.

Ryuuji couldn't help but laugh, watching Taiga interact with the bird. "I think she missed you," he teased, leaning against the doorway.

Taiga scoffed, though she gave Inko-chan a little scratch on the head anyway. "I didn't miss this ugly thing," she grumbled, but her fondness for the bird was evident in the small smile tugging at her lips.

Inko-chan squawked again, hopping on its perch as if it were trying to show off.

"Still weird, as always," Taiga muttered, shaking her head with a laugh.

As Taiga looked around, her eyes were filled with a sense of longing. She had missed Ryuuji's mom, Yasuko, so much. Taiga walked to the living room, glancing around expectantly. "Where's Yasuko?" she asked, her voice a little softer than usual.

Ryuuji, leaning casually against the doorframe, crossed his arms and smiled. "She's not here right now. She got a new job. It's been keeping her busy."

Taiga's face brightened at the news. "A new job? That's great! How'd she get it?"

At that, Ryuuji's memory suddenly flashed back to the very moment his mother got the job.

---

In his memory, Ryuuji stood nervously outside the manager's office of a high-end restaurant, feeling a little guilty about what he had just done. He had pulled a few strings, exaggerated a bit about his mom's previous work experience, and maybe even convinced one of the restaurant's regulars, who happened to be his classmate's uncle, to give Yasuko a shot. While she was inside the office, Ryuuji paced outside, silently praying to God.

"Please don't let this be a mistake. I didn't lie exactly, just… bent the truth a little. Please, God, don't let me turn into a bad person," Ryuuji muttered under his breath, hands clasped together like a prayer. Meanwhile, in the background, he could hear Yasuko's ecstatic celebration as she exited the office, practically skipping with joy. "Ryuuji! Ryuuji! I got it! I GOT THE JOB!" she screamed, twirling him around in excitement.

Ryuuji, caught between his guilt and his mom's pride, gave a small smile, trying to hide his inner turmoil. "Uh... yeah! Mom. That's great," he said, while in his head he kept repeating to himself, "I'm not a bad person, I'm not a bad person."

---

Snapping back to reality, Ryuuji kept a straight face as he stood in front of Taiga. "Oh, she, uh, got it on her own," he said with a casual shrug, trying to sound nonchalant. "She'll be back tomorrow morning from some training."

Taiga smiled, clearly happy for Yasuko. "Well, I'm glad for her. She deserves it."

Ryuuji grinned, eager to shift the focus. "Anyway, I've got something to show you. Come on, let's check out our room."

They headed down the hallway to the bedroom. Ryuuji swung the door open, excitedly showcasing the space. "Tada! Look at this room! It's way bigger than the one we had before, huh?"

Taiga walked in, her eyes scanning the neatly organized room. Ryuuji practically buzzed with excitement as he pointed out every detail. "Look, this is where you can put your clothes, and over here—this is where you can throw out any trash. I've got everything planned out—super clean, super organized. I even made sure the bed is just the right distance from the window for optimal air circulation at night. And—"

Taiga, half-listening, was already distracted by something on the nightstand. "Huh? What's that?" She pointed to a small, neatly wrapped gift, catching her attention.

"Oh, that?" Ryuuji's face lit up even more. "That's a gift I've been saving for us both. I wanted to wait for this exact moment—when you came back."

Taiga reached out to grab it, but Ryuuji quickly pulled her back. "Not yet!" he said, wagging his finger playfully. "You can only open it after we change into our bedtime clothes!"

Taiga gave him an incredulous look. "Are you serious right now?"

With a grin, Ryuuji pulled out a set of pajamas. For Taiga, he had chosen a soft, cozy set of pajamas in light blue with little white clouds on them, knowing how she liked comfort but wouldn't admit to wanting something cute. For himself, he had his usual casual look—gray shorts and a simple white t-shirt. He held both outfits up with a flourish.

"What do you think? Aren't they perfect?"

Taiga rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed but amused. "Seriously? Bedtime clothes to open a present?"

Ryuuji nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. Trust me, it's all part of the experience."

With a resigned sigh, Taiga crossed her arms. "Fine. But if this present is something dumb, I swear I'm going to throw you out of the window."

Ryuuji chuckled nervously. "Yeah, yeah. Just hurry up and change!"

Taiga emerged from the bathroom, her hair tied up neatly in a bun, her pajamas a cozy light blue. She looked around the room, curious about Ryuuji's whereabouts. As she walked, her eyes scanning the room for him, she tripped over Ryuuji's outstretched foot hidden beneath a pretty blue tent set up in the middle of their room.

With a surprised yelp, Taiga fell onto her knees. "Ow! Ryuuji!" she exclaimed, rubbing her sore knees. She looked up to see Ryuuji stifling a laugh, clearly amused by her reaction.

"Seriously? You think that's funny?" she said, frowning as she tried to get up.

Ryuuji couldn't hold back his laughter anymore and burst into a fit of giggles. Taiga, still upset but unable to resist a grin at his childish behavior, dove into the tent. The moment she entered, Ryuuji found himself under a flurry of playful attacks.

"Gotcha!" Taiga exclaimed, playfully wrestling him as she tackled him to the ground. The tent's colorful hanging lights caught her attention, and she paused, mesmerized by their gentle glow.

"Hey, no distractions!" Ryuuji said, trying to fend off her playful assault. With a quick move, he grabbed her hand, gently pulling her away from the lights and back onto the soft blankets inside the tent.

"Alright, alright! I get it," Taiga said, laughing as she tried to escape, claiming she was too sleepy for this. But Ryuuji was quick, folding his legs around her in a playful but effective trap.

"Not so fast!" he said, grinning. "We've got something special before bed."

Taiga, acting grumpily trapped, rolled her eyes but couldn't hide a smile. "You're impossible."

Ryuuji reached beneath his pillow and pulled out the wrapped present. "Before you start guessing, let me tell you something. It's nothing extravagant, but it's something I've been saving just for you."

Taiga's curiosity piqued, and she watched as he unwrapped the gift. Inside was a photo book, its cover adorned with the words "For Taiga." Her eyes widened with anticipation as Ryuuji opened the book to reveal a collection of photographs.

"Alright, let's take a trip down memory lane," Ryuuji said with a hint of nervousness, turning to the first page.

The first picture showed Ryuuji and his friends at a lively festival. "This was when we all went to that street festival. It was so much fun, but we really missed you."

Taiga's eyes softened as she looked at the picture. "I see you guys had a blast! Look at your face—it's like you're trying to win the prize for 'Most Over-the-Top Festival Outfit.'"

Ryuuji chuckled. "Yeah, we definitely went all out."

The next picture was of Ryuuji and his friends at a beach cleanup event, covered in sand and looking proud of their work. "Here's the beach cleanup we did. We were all elbow-deep in trash, but it felt good to help out."

Taiga laughed, "Oh my gosh, you all look like you had a sandstorm hit you! I bet you were buried under more trash than the beach itself."

"That's pretty much how it went," Ryuuji said, smiling at her reaction.

Another photo showed a karaoke night with Ryuuji and friends singing their hearts out. "This was the karaoke night where we had a blast. You should have heard our rendition of 'Let It Go.'"

Taiga giggled, "I bet it was a show to remember! Were you the one trying to hit those high notes, or was that someone else?"

Ryuuji laughed, "Definitely me, though I'm pretty sure I broke a few eardrums."

As Ryuuji continued flipping through the pages, Taiga saw moments of joy and camaraderie—game nights where everyone was laughing too hard to play, impromptu cooking attempts that ended in chaos, and group outings filled with smiles and laughter. Each photo was a snapshot of a memory they had made while she was away, and it was as if she was there with them in the pictures.

Taiga's smile grew wider with each photo. She pointed to one of Ryuuji with a goofy face and a cake covered in frosting. "Is this you trying to bake a cake, or are you just showing off your frosting skills?"

Ryuuji grinned. "That's me attempting to make a cake, and yes, it ended up being more of a frosting disaster."

Taiga giggled like a child at the funny moments. "This is so sweet, Ryuuji. I'm glad you kept all these. It's like getting a taste of everything I missed out on."

Finally, they reached the last page, which showed Ryuuji standing in front of their old apartment, looking hopeful. "And this one is of me waiting for you to come back. I was worried you might not."

Taiga's smile faded slightly as she took in the photo. She looked up at Ryuuji, noticing the way his cheeks flushed a bit. "You really missed me that much, huh?"

Ryuuji nodded, looking a little shy. "Yeah, I did. I was worried that maybe I wasn't enough for you, that you might not come back."

Taiga's eyes softened. She reached out and gently touched his cheek. "Ryuuji, you're more than enough. I'd never forget you ... no matter what happens."

Ryuuji's heart swelled with emotion. He looked at Taiga, his voice filled with sincerity. "I'm just really happy you're home. You complete us, Taiga. I didn't even get a chance to tell Mom you were coming back."

Taiga playfully scolded him. "Seriously? Now she's going to think I'm a surprise guest! What's next, a surprise party for me?"

Ryuuji laughed softly, laying down next to her, getting under the comfy blankets inside of the tent after fluffing out his pillow. "Well, maybe. Mom's going to be thrilled to see you in the morning."

Taiga rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her face. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Ryuuji chuckled as Taiga settled beside him, their hands finding each other's hand in the soft light of the tent. They lay there quietly, sharing a peaceful moment as they enjoyed each other's company.

As they lay there, hand in hand, Ryuuji broke the silence with a soft, curious tone. "So, Taiga, how did it go with your mother? I mean, after all this time…"

Taiga hesitated, unsure how to respond. The words seemed to catch in her throat, and for a moment, she felt a pang of uncertainty. Ryuuji, sensing the pause, was about to say something else to fill the silence when Taiga finally spoke up.

"It went great," she said, her face lighting up with a genuine smile. "She's really proud of me. She was so excited to see me, and I think it meant a lot to her."

Ryuuji's face brightened with relief and happiness. "That's wonderful to hear, Taiga. I'm so glad everything went well."

Taiga nodded, feeling a warmth in her chest at Ryuuji's words. She looked down at their intertwined hands, feeling comforted by the quiet closeness they shared. Ryuuji, now more relaxed, let out a content sigh and gazed up at the softly glowing tent lights that illuminated their makeshift shelter.

Before Ryuuji closed his eyes, he turned his head toward Taiga with a soft smile. "You know… even when we were apart, it always felt like we were still connected. Like no matter where we were, we were always under the same stars."

Taiga glanced up at the tent ceiling, her breath catching in her throat. The colorful, softly glowing lights hanging above them looked like tiny stars, twinkling just for them. She hadn't noticed it before, but now she saw the shapes—small, glowing stars of blue, pink, and yellow, scattered across the fabric like the night sky itself. A soft, relieved smile spread across her face as she whispered, "And now… we're together."

A wave of sentiment washed over her, the sweet memory of what Ryuuji had said in the past surfacing in her mind. Back then, the stars had symbolized distance and longing, a promise that no matter how far apart they were, they'd always find their way back to each other. And now, here they were, underneath their own little universe—together, just like he'd said.

Taiga blinked, trying to hold back a sudden swell of emotion as her gaze lingered on the softly glowing stars above them. "You're such a sap," she muttered, her voice betraying the tenderness she felt in the moment.

Ryuuji chuckled, his hand tightening gently around hers. "Maybe. But it's true, right?"

She didn't answer right away, but her lips curled into a small, affectionate smile. "Yeah… I guess so."

The two lay in silence for a moment, basking in the warmth of their shared memories and the glowing lights above them. Taiga felt a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time, knowing that Ryuuji was there beside her, just like always. The stars, whether real or tiny lights in a tent, were theirs.