I slowly wake up to the sound of my late alarm and stretch my stiffened back out, popping the individual vertebrae to relieve the individual pressure points. I get up and change out my sleep clothes and into my work out clothes. As I leave the bedroom, I notice Emi already stretching out. She notices me while she stretches out her legs and gives me a smirk, "Took you long enough, lazy ass." she remarks. I look back with the same grin and give her my retort, "Bite me." She winks at me and says, "Ah ah, don't tempt me now." We both share a laugh before heading out on our morning jog around town, the same routine we've had for the past two years.
For the past month, she's been badgering me to let her move in with me. I keep refusing, but that only gets me the puppy eyes when I also refuse to explain myself. I've been saving my money for the past few weeks, and after taking out a loan from my dad, I took the ninety-thousand yen I had accumulated and bought her a gold band, accented with several diamonds. One night, I snuck over to Emi's mother's house while Emi was visitng Rin's art gallery, I asked her mother for permission to marry her. In a flurry of tears and laughter, she wraps her arms around me and says in a choked voice, "Oh Hisao! You're going to make her so happy!"
After a long cool down walk back to my flat, we shower and change, and begin walking arm in arm to her mother's house for an "unannounced" lunch invitation. As we approach the residence, Meiko is already outside awaiting our arrival. "Hello, Emi! Hi, Hisao! I hope you're both hungry!" She calls out in her own sing-song voice. Surely enough on the dining room table, there is a spread of a large variety of foods and boxed cake from the local grocer. Emi has a puzzled look while examining the box. "What's the cake for?" She asks quizzically. Her mother smiles and says, "In due time."
After exchanging small talk in between bites of food, I take Emi by the hand and lead her to her feet. With another puzzled look, she asks, "Hisao? What's going on today? Why are you and Mom acting so weird?" I smile and bend down on my knee and fish the golden bauble out of my pocket, and upon seeing the ring her jaw drops. With a deep breath, I look into her emerald eyes and open my mouth. "Emi Ibarazaki... Will you marry me?" My heart is beating like a drum. Her eyes well with tears and she speaks in a choked voice, "Oh yes! Yes I will marry you, Hisao!" She drops to her knees and wraps her arms around me, a sobbing mess. I knew today was going to be a good day, and I have spoken words to last a lifetime.