After waking up in the morning, Akira finished his ablutions and changed into new clothes before heading out. He thought about the things he needed to do while looking at the leaves on the plane trees along the roadside, feeling that they weren't as vibrant as they were right after the rain.
Akira, who had originally planned to slowly advance his romantic relationship, suddenly found that they had reached a new stage. Although this stage left him a little bewildered, it wasn't disheartening; instead, he felt a sense of fulfillment.
Akira walked along the street, swiped his card to enter the station, boarded the train, exited the station, and finally arrived at his destination.
The Cartier boutique.
Akira tidied his clothes and walked in. A sales assistant immediately came over.
"How may I help you?"
"Yes, I'd like to buy a pair of engagement rings."
Akira answered decisively.
He had only truly made this decision yesterday afternoon. Although he hadn't known Sajuna for very long, he had already decided in his heart that she was his wife.
Getting married directly was indeed too absurd, as they were both still students, but getting engaged was certainly possible.
"Alright, please follow me."
The sales assistant nodded and led Akira to the ring display counter, picking up a brochure from nearby.
"These are the engagement rings we sell here. All the styles are listed, and the specific prices are also marked."
"If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me."
"Thank you."
Akira nodded, opened the brochure, looked at the rings, and then selected a ring from the Love collection.
The ring's design featured screws, symbolizing a vow of unwavering love.
Akira looked at the other rings and decided on this one. He then said to the sales assistant beside him, "Could I see this ring?"
Akira pointed to the Love collection ring in the brochure.
"Certainly, please wait a moment."
The sales assistant replied with a smile and quickly retrieved the style Akira had chosen.
"Would you like to try it on?"
"No, thank you."
Akira declined the sales assistant's suggestion. He didn't put the ring on his finger but instead caressed its texture a few times. The diamond setting didn't feel prominent.
The sales assistant, seeing Akira's earnest expression, proactively explained, "Sir, the style you're looking at is our most popular one. Although recent sales haven't been great, a set was just sold a few days ago."
Recent sales haven't been great?
Akira was puzzled for a moment, then realized. He had once read a survey that stated the desire for psychological needs like romance was seasonal. Using library book rentals as an example, during springtime, readers were more interested in romance novels and borrowed more of them.
His editor had also mentioned that it would have been better if his book had been released in the spring; the sales would definitely have been better.
However, a set had just been sold a few days ago. Akira couldn't help but hesitate. While rings don't typically lead to 'outfit clashes,' he still felt a bit awkward buying the same one as someone else.
But the city is so big, it's unlikely they would ever meet, and rings don't really 'clash' anyway.
Akira suddenly felt his thoughts were unnecessary, smiled and shook his head, then handed the ring to the sales assistant.
"I'll take this one."
"Please provide your and your girlfriend's sizes. If professional measurement is needed, our store can also assist."
『The sales assistant brought over a chart, and Akira filled in the measured sizes.』
『The sales assistant took the chart, looked at it, and nodded, "I'll help you select the appropriate rings right away."』
Soon after, the sales assistant returned with the selected rings. "Please try them on to see how they feel."
Akira reached out and took the rings, slipping one onto his middle finger. The ring, chosen according to his size, fit perfectly—not so loose that it would fall off, nor so tight that it would pinch.
Especially with the smooth and flat style Akira chose, his finger felt no discomfort.
"This one is fine. Please wrap it up for me."
"Certainly."
"You have selected two rings in total. The women's ring is 124,200 yen, and the men's ring is 234,900 yen. What is your preferred method of payment?"
"Card."
"Thank you for your patronage."
The sales assistant held her hands together in front of her abdomen, a professional smile on her face, and handed the bag containing the ring boxes to Akira.
After leaving the boutique, Akira first returned home, placed the ring packaging inside, then put the ring boxes into his backpack, and headed towards Sajuna's house.
Sajuna's Mom had mentioned wanting to have dinner with him recently, and he couldn't delay that.
After arriving at Sajuna's house, Sajuna's Mom was in the middle of cooking. Hearing Akira ring the doorbell, she called for Sajuna and Shinju to open the door.
"Sajuna, Shinju, who's going to open the door for Akira-kun?"
Shinju was closest to the door, so she stood up and walked to it.
"Akira -kun, good afternoon."
"Shinju, good afternoon."
After exchanging greetings, Akira entered the genkan, changed into slippers, and then walked into the living room. Sajuna had just come out of her room and smiled sweetly at Akira.
"Oh, right, Akira-kun, you're going on a date with Sajuna this afternoon, aren't you?"
"Let Sajuna give you a key. That way, you won't always have to ring the doorbell..."
"Is that convenient?"
"What's inconvenient about it?"
Sajuna's Mom said firmly, "It's decided then."
After dinner, Sajuna went back to her bedroom to change for her date. Akira stood in the living room waiting for Sajuna. Sajuna's Mom came over, grabbed Akira's shoulders, and pushed him towards the sofa.
"Akira-kun is really tall."
"Mhm."
Akira gave an awkward laugh.
"Sit down, Akira-kun."
Akira obediently sat on the sofa, and then Sajuna's Mom sat directly beside him, taking his right hand.
"Akira-kun, I have something to ask."
"Please, Auntie..."
"Recently, Sajuna has been spending time with Akira-kun quite late. So, how far have you and Sajuna gone?"
"..."
Akira lowered his head for a moment, unsure how to answer.
Actually, they were only at the stage of kissing, hugging, and holding hands, but not long ago, they had broken through to a new 'front.'
If he didn't mention it, he'd feel guilty.
But if he did, he'd probably be assumed to have done something much more serious, and he was afraid of being blamed if he said it wasn't that serious.
"When I ask Sajuna, she always blushes and won't tell me, so I can only ask Akira-kun."
Sajuna's Mom sighed, "Although I know you two have your own ideas and pace, I can't help but worry about you both, always afraid that something might go wrong between you."
"After all, I also have my own little thoughts."
"So, tell me, you haven't crossed that line yet, have you?"
"No, no, how could we!"
Akira quickly shook his head. How could it be possible?
"Oh, I see. Then, stepping back, you haven't seen each other's bodies yet, have you?"
Sajuna's Mom tilted her head in thought. "After all, it's normal for you kids to be curious about the opposite sex's body, right?"
"That's even more impossible!"
Akira was a bit shocked by Sajuna's Mom's words. To avoid hearing more such things, he had no choice but to confess.
"Actually, not long ago, I just touched Sajuna's chest..."
"Oh, I see, Akira-kun! You should have said so sooner!"
Sajuna's Mom patted Akira's shoulder, "How was it, soft?"
"I definitely can't say..." Akira mumbled, then reassured Sajuna's Mom: "But, I really like it, and I like Sajuna even more."
"I will make Sajuna happy..."
The more Akira spoke, the more he felt like a child who had done something wrong.
"There's no need to be so guilty. But your progress seems pretty good."
Sajuna's Mom comforted him, "However, I actually wanted to talk to you about something else this time."
She then pulled out two red boxes from her clothes and handed them to Akira.
Akira looked at the two boxes Sajuna's Mom handed him and couldn't help but feel stunned.
It couldn't be what he was thinking, could it?
And why did these boxes look so familiar?
Could it really be a coincidence?
Akira chuckled twice, swallowed, and looked at Sajuna's Mom.
"Why are you just standing there? This is what I meant by my 'little thoughts.' I really hope you two can get together soon."
"These are the engagement rings I picked out for you two. Since Akira-kun's parents passed away, I took the liberty of deciding."
"Pretty, aren't they?"
Sajuna's Mom lifted the lid of one of them and, seeing Akira's stunned expression, couldn't help but look puzzled.
"Akira-kun, you're not unwilling, are you?"
"How could I be? I want to marry Sajuna!"
Akira argued, his words stumbling. He was usually calm, but now he was a bit flustered.
He opened his mouth, found he couldn't explain clearly, then opened his backpack and pulled out two identical red boxes.
"Huh, no way?"
Sajuna's Mom was also stunned.
Akira smiled wryly and nodded, opening the lid of the red box in his hand. Identical rings were immediately displayed before them.
So, the customer who bought the same style was Sajuna's Mom.
Sajuna's Mom looked at the rings that shouldn't have been in Akira's hand, and tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. She slowly wiped them away, her voice slightly choked with emotion.
"I, Auntie, originally thought Akira-kun might not be happy to see the rings."
"Because it might seem a bit like being pressured into marriage by the girlfriend's parents... I was even wondering if it would affect Akira-kun and Sajuna's relationship..."
"But seeing Akira-kun like this now, I'm truly so happy!"
"Sajuna has really found her happiness."
"It seems there's no need to urge Akira-kun to make a further commitment to Sajuna..."
"Akira-kun."
Sajuna's Mom looked at Akira through tear-filled eyes.
"I'm here."
"You will make Sajuna happy, right?"
"I will make Sajuna happy, I swear!"
Akira answered firmly.
"Ha."
"Even I'm starting to envy Sajuna now."
Sajuna's Mom began to chuckle, but tears couldn't help but stream from her eyes.