Chapter 126. The First Dance of Their Forever

Yuki stepped into the clearing—and the world stilled.

The fireflies from the woods had followed her, scattering like soft stars around her feet.

Her footsteps faltered, and she stared at the scene before her: the golden lights, the flower petals, the candles, the gentle sway of lanterns over the lake.

It was beautiful—achingly so.

"What is this...?" she whispered.

From behind her, Keiko gently nudged her forward, a proud grin breaking across her face.

Haruto gave a short, silent nod.

The trail behind them grew quiet.

Then came footsteps from the lake's edge.

Kaito emerged from the shadows, dressed simply in white and beige linen, soft and serene, like the calm after a summer storm. In his hands, he held a small bouquet of wildflowers—ones she always said were her favorite, the kind she once pointed at absentmindedly during a walk years ago.

He'd remembered.

Yuki's eyes widened as he walked toward her, eyes never leaving hers.

Her lips parted, a tremor running through her entire frame. "Kaito...?"

He said nothing at first.

He just stood in front of her, the entire clearing breathing around them, and slowly got down on one knee.

Yuki gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.

Kaito looked up at her, eyes shining—not just with tears, but with memories.

With promises.

With years of silent adoration blooming all at once.

Then, softly—only for her—he began to speak.

"You once told me love wasn't fireworks or fairy tales. That it was quiet. That it was in the little things... like remembering how you take your tea, or walking on the outer side of the sidewalk."

He paused, voice steady, but deep with feeling.

"I used to think I wasn't brave enough to love you. I'd stand at the edge of my feelings and convince myself I was just your best friend. That I could live with being your 'almost.' But I couldn't."

"Because somewhere along the line, I fell in love with the way you look at the sky. The way you pretend to hate rainy days but always end up humming when it pours. The way you remember everyone's birthdays, even the people who forgot yours."

"I fell in love with your strength, even when you didn't feel strong. I fell in love with your fire. Your sarcasm. Your soul."

Yuki's eyes were full of tears now.

She trembled, a soft sob escaping her lips.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out the small velvet box—and opened it.

Inside sat a ring that glimmered like stardust.

A pear-shaped diamond hugged by a delicate gold band, its shimmer catching every flicker of the fairy lights around them.

But it wasn't just the ring—it was what it stood for.

Every inch of it had been chosen with her in mind.

Kaito's voice cracked slightly as he continued.

"You were the girl who sat behind me in class and called me 'sleepyhead.' The girl who lent me her umbrella without asking for it back. The girl who cried during that animated movie and said you didn't. I've loved you in every version of you. Loud. Quiet. Heartbroken. Healing. And I'll love every version that comes after this too."

He took a breath, as if pulling strength from the very earth beneath him.

"I know life won't always be perfect. I know we'll have bad days. But if I get to face them with you... then bring them on."

"So—Yuki—I ask you not just to be my bride, but to be the woman I build every tomorrow with."

His voice dropped to a whisper, thick with emotion.

"Will you marry me?"

For a long, shivering second, silence reigned.

Yuki didn't speak.

She couldn't.

Her knees threatened to buckle as tears rolled freely down her cheeks.

Then, breathless, trembling, she dropped to her knees in front of him—hands cupping his cheeks, eyes searching his like they were looking for the past, the present, and the future all at once.

She didn't need a grand speech. Just one word.

"Yes." she whispered. "Yes, yes, yes—Kaito, yes!"

The moment shattered in golden brilliance as behind the trees, confetti cannons fired softly, sending pale pink and white petals raining into the clearing.

Everyone burst into cheers—Ayaka clapping with tears in her eyes, Makoto laughing with disbelief, Kazumi and Takeshi hooting like lunatics from behind their hiding spots.

Kaito laughed through his tears, slipping the ring onto her shaking finger.

It fits perfectly.

Yuki threw her arms around him, burying her face in his neck. "You idiot!" she sobbed. "You are an absolute, beautiful idiot. You made me put on mascara."

He smiled, his voice muffled against her hair.

"I've waited my whole life to hear you say 'yes.'"

The lake shimmered behind them, reflecting the fairy lights.

The sky above—wide and star-filled—felt like it opened just for them.

A new chapter had begun.

And in that moment, in that clearing carved out of time, surrounded by love, laughter, and the people who mattered most—Yuki and Kaito didn't just get engaged.

They became a story worth telling forever.

The confetti still floated in the air like blessings from the stars, catching the golden lantern light as it drifted gently to the earth.

The silence that had wrapped the clearing after Yuki's whispered "yes" broke in a burst of joyful noise.

Ayaka was the first to rush forward, throwing her arms around Yuki from behind with a happy squeal.

"You're engaged! You're actually engaged!"

Yuki laughed through her tears, barely able to speak as she held Ayaka's hand and reached out for Keiko next.

"I had no idea! You all—! You planned this?"

Keiko gave her a wink, her smile radiant. "It was a mission from HQ. Very top secret. Operation: Get Yuki a Ring."

Haruto laughed and patted Kaito on the back hard enough to make him stumble forward. "You romantic bastard. I didn't know you had it in you."

Kaito just grinned, dazed, as if the moment hadn't quite sunk in yet.

He was still kneeling slightly, brushing confetti out of Yuki's hair with reverence.

From behind the trees, Kazumi and Takeshi burst out, whooping like they'd just won the lottery.

"I swear I almost ruined it!" Kazumi shouted. "I stepped on a twig, I was sweating—Takeshi had to slap me."

Takeshi deadpanned, "Worth it. Look at her face. That's the face of a woman who just got proposed to and didn't punch the guy."

"I almost did!" Yuki said dryly, laughing through her tears. "When he started talking about my rainy day humming, I knew I was done for."

Everyone laughed, the sound echoing gently in the open night.

Makoto gave Kaito a dramatic bow. "Prince of the Night, you've set a high bar. I now have anxiety."

"That's your problem." Akihiko muttered beside him, arms crossed, but the faintest smile tugged at his lips.

Soon, someone cued music from the Bluetooth speaker hidden behind the trees.

A soft melody filled the clearing—an instrumental version of a love song Yuki once said was her favorite, years ago, while watching the stars.

Kaito stood, holding out his hand.

"Dance with me." he said.

Yuki blinked. "Now?"

"Why not now?" he murmured. "This is the first night of forever."

Her heart caught in her chest.

Slowly, she placed her hand in his.

The others instinctively gave them space.

The lights dimmed slightly, the world quieting again.

Fireflies returned, dancing around them like nature itself had chosen them for a fairytale.

Kaito guided her into the center of the clearing, one hand on her waist, the other cradling her hand.

Their bodies fit effortlessly, swaying in a rhythm that only they knew.

The music was soft, the breeze gentle, the warmth of candlelight wrapping around them like an embrace.

They danced in silence at first—just holding each other.

Then Yuki spoke, her voice tender. "Did you always know? That the one you want to spend your life with would be me?"

Kaito rested his forehead against hers, breathing her in.

"I didn't just know." he whispered. "I never even considered it could be anyone else."

Tears threatened again, but this time she welcomed them.

Around them, the others began lighting sparklers.

Ayaka handed one to Keiko, then passed some to Kazumi and Takeshi.

Soon, the clearing was glowing again, this time with streaks of gold and silver light spiraling through the night.

Laughter echoed, someone popped a small bottle of sparkling cider, and Kazumi attempted a toast that was mostly shouting and waving his sparkler like a sword.

Across the clearing, Akihiko stood in the shadows, watching quietly.

The faint flicker of a sparkler caught the edge of his silver hair, but his gaze never left Yuki and Kaito.

His arms were still crossed, his expression unreadable—but his eyes were thoughtful. Almost… distant.

The music shifted to a more upbeat song, and Kazumi dramatically spun Takeshi into an impromptu waltz.

Laughter broke out again as more people joined the clearing-turned-dance floor. Keiko and Haruto pulled Ayaka in.

But at the center, Kaito and Yuki stayed in their bubble.

Their dance was slow.

Reverent.

Like time no longer matters.

Kaito kissed her forehead as the last notes of the song faded.

"You're my once-in-a-lifetime." he murmured.

Yuki smiled against his chest.

"You always have been."