The plane touched down on the tarmac, and Aiko's heart raced with excitement. As she made her way through the airport, her mind was filled with thoughts of Ryo. She imagined his face, his smile, the warmth of his embrace. She couldn't wait to see him again.
When she emerged into the arrivals hall, her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for him. Suddenly, she spotted him standing near the back, holding a sign that read, "Welcome back, Aiko!" He was grinning from ear to ear, and Aiko felt a rush of emotion as she hurried towards him.
"Aiko!" Ryo called out, dropping the sign and opening his arms wide.
Aiko ran into his embrace, feeling the familiar warmth and comfort of his arms around her. "Ryo! I missed you so much," she said, her voice muffled against his chest.
"I missed you too," Ryo replied, pulling back slightly to look at her. "It feels like it's been forever."
They stood there for a moment, lost in each other's eyes, before Ryo leaned in and kissed her. It was a kiss filled with all the love and longing they had felt during their time apart. When they finally broke apart, both were breathless and smiling.
"Come on, let's get your bags," Ryo said, taking her hand. "I have so much planned for us."
As they walked through the airport, Aiko felt a sense of contentment wash over her. She was finally back with Ryo, and she knew this Christmas would be unforgettable.
The drive back to Ryo's apartment was filled with laughter and catching up. Ryo had decorated his apartment with twinkling lights, a beautifully adorned Christmas tree, and festive decorations. It looked like a scene from a holiday movie, and Aiko was touched by the effort he had put into making everything perfect.
"This is amazing, Ryo," Aiko said, looking around in awe. "You really went all out."
"I wanted our first Christmas together to be special," Ryo replied, pulling her into a hug. "And it's not over yet. I have a surprise for you."
Aiko's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What is it?"
"You'll see," Ryo said with a mischievous grin. "But first, let's have some hot chocolate and relax for a bit."
They settled on the couch with steaming mugs of hot chocolate, cuddled under a cozy blanket. They talked about everything that had happened since they last saw each other, sharing stories and laughing together. It felt like no time had passed at all.
After a while, Ryo stood up and held out his hand. "Come on, it's time for your surprise."
Aiko took his hand, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity. He led her to the bedroom, where she saw a beautifully wrapped gift on the bed. "Open it," Ryo said, his eyes twinkling.
Aiko carefully unwrapped the gift, revealing a photo album. She opened it to find pictures of their time together, from their first meeting to their recent adventures. Each page was filled with memories and little notes from Ryo, capturing their journey together.
"Ryo, this is incredible," Aiko said, her voice filled with emotion. "Thank you so much."
"There's more," Ryo said, pulling out another small box. "I know we've talked about our future, and I want you to know that I'm serious about it. So, I got you this."
Aiko opened the box to find a beautiful necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. Inside the pendant was a tiny picture of the two of them, taken during their trip to the countryside.
"This is perfect," Aiko said, tears of happiness in her eyes. "I love it."
"I love you, Aiko," Ryo said, taking her hand. "And I can't wait to spend every Christmas with you."
They spent the rest of the evening enjoying their time together, making new memories to add to their collection. As they lay in bed that night, wrapped in each other's arms, Aiko knew that their future was bright. They had overcome so much, and now they were ready to face whatever came next, together.