They woke slowly, still half-curled in the grass, sunlight warm against their backs. The wind had quieted. Above them, clouds drifted lazily in a pale blue sky—soft and slow, like the weight that had finally begun to lift from their chests.
Raku sat up first, brushing a few leaves from his shoulder. Onodera followed, blinking away the faint puffiness in her eyes, her hair messy from the ground, strands falling across her face.
She looked at him. Her voice came soft, almost hesitant:
"…Are you okay with that? No, I mean—are you both… and Chitoge… okay with that?"
Raku glanced away briefly, his fingers curling into the grass. But then, with a quiet breath, he turned back to her.
"…We should tell her everything," he said quietly. "Chitoge deserves to know."
Then, more gently—his voice lowering as his eyes searched hers:
"But before that… can you give me what we promised? Ten years ago?"
Onodera's eyes widened slightly. Then she reached into her bag—careful, delicate.
She held out the small key.He took it without a word.Their fingers brushed.
A quiet smile passed between them—shy, but certain.
"It's finally time to open it," he said, voice steady, eyes calm—ready.
The old locket clicked open.
Inside:A folded piece of paper, aged just slightly at the corners.And a small necklace, the charm glinting faintly in the sun.
They unfolded the note together.
Two names, written in uneven childhood script:"Raku … Kosaki"
Raku huffed a soft laugh. "Wow… this handwriting's criminal."
Onodera nudged him with her shoulder, lips curling into a small smile.
Then he read:
"When we grow up we will get a lot of animals to breed…"
He blinked. "I said that…?"
"…And I will get you a real ring."
His voice softened. His gaze lingered on her.
She smirked through her tears, voice just a little teasing:
"You will, right?"
He reached out and held her shoulder, smiling with warmth he hadn't let show for years.
"I will. For sure.""You deserve it—for your delicious cooking alone."
She let out a laugh—quiet and cracked.
But it faded as her eyes dropped to the next lines—written in her own childhood hand:
"I want to grow up so fastSo we will meet up so fastI believe we will meet again for sureBut I believe I will always love Raku-kun."
She covered her mouth, a soft sob breaking through as the words finally caught up to her heart.
Raku touched her face gently. Wiped the tears away with his palm.
And when her gaze met his again, he asked:
"Are you ready?""To face her… "
Chitoge