"This-"
"Yes, I'm proposing to you."
"You're not lying are you?"
"Why would I lie," he replied casually "Come here, wipe your tears. Don't be sad!"
I wiped away these tears and walked slowly to him "B-but I'm... ugly."
"Hahaha, you were ugly from the start!" Fuyuki's wide laugh insulted me.
"Hmph!" I put on an annoyed face and grabbed a hospital pillow and threw it in his face. "Wicked!"
"Ha ha ha ha"
Then we smiled faintly ending this joke.
....
"Fuyuki, get some rest," I asked while hoping that he would get well soon.
"Ayami..." He looked at me with a bashful face, "W-what about my invitation just now?" Fuyuki confirmed it.
"O-oh," I stuttered as I was about to answer him "O-of course I'm willing to marry you."
We both smiled in relief.
****
When I got out of the Nishinnaka hospital in Matsumushi Street, Akane-san picked me up. He was really worried about me when I wasn't coming to work.
I told all this to Akane-san.
Akane-san was very happy to hear that.
I don't know if it's for sure or not, we haven't set a wedding date yet.
I waited for that happy day until Fuyuki was discharged from the hospital.
****
The next day, I went to the hospital accompanied by Akane-san to visit Fuyuki.
"Eh!? Nothing?"
I asked the hospital receptionist, he said the patient in the room had been taken home. To confirm it, one of the doctors has given special treatment and is currently being treated as an outpatient.
Then I asked for his exact address, but for the sake of the company, his home address could not be published.
"Okay thank you."
In the end, I couldn't meet with Fuyuki.
Maybe yesterday's invitation was just a dream.
Akane-san cheered me on... "Ayami, don't think so. If he loves you, he will come to you."
"Y-yes."
In the end, I looked down glumly when I got home.
For a moment I feel this house feels lonely without his presence.
I'm so devastated by this feeling, I hate to admit it.
I just want him to always be by my side.
****
I've been waiting for Fuyuki for several days, this house has become quiet. He left his cell phone and tab at my house. "Hehehe maybe he forgot...?"
Suddenly there was the sound of someone knocking on the door ... it could be!
I immediately opened it.
"Oh, Akane-san!"
....
Since coming home from the hospital, I was told to take a break from my job. After I fully recovered, I could work again. Since then, Akane-san has been regularly feeding me food in the basket.
I deliberately didn't contact my family for fear of making them worry.
But I always get the message "I'm fine here."
....
My days off in winter are back to normal, prepare a kotatsu and turn on the tv and then sit back and play games.
My hunch was right about the username 'Asagohan67316', it turned out to be my online game friend. He was on an hour ago, did I ask him where is Fuyuki right now? I'm confused about him.
My eyes were looking straight at the food that was on the kotatsu table that Akane-san brought, I had no appetite.
Why the hell?
....
I looked over at the curtain-covered balcony window to my right.
That night was a night I will never forget.
'CTEK, CTEK, CTEK' came the sound of chatter crashing against my balcony window. Never mind that...
I quickly opened the window blinds and- "Meow~" it was just a cat that came down from the attic.
This afternoon, the snow fell more heavily, and the air was so cold that the temperature of Osaka city became 3 degrees Celsius.
I opened the balcony window slightly and looked up at the attic, suddenly a soft voice from a distance called out to me ... "Ayami."
I stepped onto the balcony through the window, then there was a pair of feet-wearing shoes landing on the railing of my balcony. I looked from the bottom up, and a man who was wearing pants and a winter coat ... wearing a sweater, and a red scarf around his neck slowly approached me.
"Fuyuki," I said softly as I raised my gaze to his face.
His face was a little pale for a normal person. "Are you okay?" what kind of stupid question is this!? I'm like that again.
He just smiled faintly at me.
I took him into the house, and he quickly packed his coat and brushed off the snow that had stuck to his clothes.
Then I closed my balcony window, I closed the curtains as before.
I immediately turned on the light and invited him to sit down.
However..., suddenly he hugged me.
I felt the warmth radiate within him. Then he let go of this hug for a moment.
"Sorry, I couldn't give anything proper back then."
"...." I looked down uncomfortably because I didn't understand what he meant, "You were the one who left me."
"Wait a minute ...." he asked while looking for something in his coat pocket.
"Oh yes, your phone and tab-" Before I could continue my words, he handed me a red box.
"This." Then he opened it.
(Ring!) "Will you marry me?"
My answer... "Yes, I would."
****