Disclaimer: Don't own Kimi ni Todoke, nor any of it's characters.

Rating: T

A series of one-shots, regarding the steps taken by Sawako and Shouta in their relationship.

"Where are we going, Shouta-kun?"

Shouta just smiled, trying not to look nervous (like he felt inside); inside his pocket, his hand stayed closed as he repeatedly went over what Ayane and Chizu had told him. Part of him still felt that those two were pushing him into this, but... even if they were, it didn't change the fact that he wanted to do this, and now he could after years of dating.

They kept walking for a minute, before he stopped.

"Umm..."

He turned toward her then, lingering on her face for a little; even though it's been years, she still looked much the same, if a little taller and more beautiful in his eyes. "Don't you remember this place?" he asked, gentle. "It's where we first talked to each other. Where you told me where our school was."

Sawako nearly gasped, looking around for awhile, before she held her hands up. "It is!" she breathed in wonder, before it turned more happy. "This is where... I first wanted to be more like you, something that I... I still wish to be, even now."

To that, Shouta just sheepishly rubbed his head, before he touched her shoulder.

She slowly turned toward him, still wondering but curious now-

-and Sawako looked r-really cute while doing so.

"Well, if you're closer to being like me, it's all because of what you've done, Sawako" he assured. "You never stopped trying to change yourself for the better."

"Ah! But I- I was only able to start, because of you, Shouta-kun... you've done so much for me, and I never dreamed that you would be my-"

"Boyfriend?" Shouta finished for her; her cheeks reddened, but she slowly nodded. "Honestly, despite how long we've been together now, I still feel so happy about that. That we're... lovers."

Sawako just held her hands together, not saying a word, but she didn't protest his word choice (or even jolt this time).

"But anyway" he breathed, softer as he looked around. "This isn't just the place where everything began for you. It's where it all began for me too... when I talked to you, and looked back, I saw you smile in pure happiness because I'd talked with you. And from that moment, I- I fell in love with you! There, I said it!"

To say she was shocked was an understatement; it was written all over her face, though he didn't notice for awhile, as he'd covered his own face. For awhile, they both just stood there without saying a word, or moving... he wasn't sure how long that was, but at least it- it gave him a chance to say it out loud...

"You... you were in love with me... all this time?" Sawako breathed, as if she were dreaming. "So then... all those times you were nice to me..."

"Don't misunderstand" Shouta breathed, quickly. "Yes, I- I was in love with you, Sawako. But even if I wasn't- I still would've been nice to you, because that's... that's the kind of guy I wanted people to know me as."

"I-!"

Uh? Shouta slowly looked at her, and she looked like she were about to cry, much to his jolt.

"Y-You were in love with me... and I completely misunderstood your feelings!"

He stared at her for a bit, then his mouth set as he moved forward- Sawako squeaked when he suddenly kissed her, and was left staring at him when he (somewhat) pulled away, his hands lingering on her arms.

"So did I" Shouta breathed, sincere- she blinked, shocked. "That day when I asked if I could... see you over the summer, after you cleared up your first misunderstanding in class. I- I was trying to ask you out, to be my girlfriend-"

"Huh!?"

"-and when you answered that your feelings of respect for me had grown, I- I thought you weren't interested in me! I thought that I'd made a wrong assumption, that you only liked me in a friendly way, not as someone you 'liked'... or loved, as I thought you meant when you said were attracted to me, that day in class!"

Both their faces were red, her expression full of wondering shock even as he just looked at her- she didn't even appear to be nervous that they're really close. In fact, as he held her, her hands slowly moved onto his arms even as she looked at him... eventually the shock disappeared, and though she looked teary-eyed, she was still full of wonder...

"We... both misunderstood each other?" she whispered.

Shouta slowly smiled. "Yeah, we did, Sawako" he breathed back, sincere. "A lot of times, we both misunderstood the situation. But the important thing is that we overcame them, and we will overcome all other misunderstandings. Right?"

The tears fell then, and at first he worried, until she suddenly pressed herself against his chest-

-"Yes! That's right!"

He just felt warm, even as she shook, and his smile returned as he held her back.

...

"I... I'm sorry I got your collar wet, Shouta-kun..."

He smiled, both of them still standing in the same spot as earlier, even as Sawako dabbed at his collar with a handkerchief. "It's fine, really" he assured, gentle. "Those were happy tears, right?"

"...mmh-hmm!"

"Then it's okay. If you're that happy, you should let them fall."

Her cheeks reddened, but he saw her lip curve, slightly. "You're so kind, Shouta-kun... I've never stopped loving that... o-or you."

Now it was his turn to feel his cheeks heat up, but it made him more determined. "Well, you won't have to, Sawako" Shouta breathed, more intent- she slowly lifted her head upon hearing that. "I- I brought you here so I could... make something clear."

"Make something clear?" she wondered, curious. "What is it?"

Heart beating fast, he pulled away from her somewhat - to her surprise - before with some effort, he bent down on the ground in front of her, on both knees. Sawako jolted as she followed this, but the way she blinked and her confused expression told him that- that she didn't realize what he's doing.

Just like Ayane had told him: "She knows what marriage is, trust me. She just might not know that men kneel when proposing, and thus not make the connection until you actually pop the question."

After a moment: "What are you doing, Shouta-kun?" Sawako asked, curious.

Shouta closed his eyes for a moment, thinking that even now, she was always so cute- then he opened them, looking up at her.

"I- I just told you that I've loved you for a long time, Sawako. I also want to continue loving you, Sawako" he spoke, though his mouth trembled. "And unless I'm misunderstanding, the things I just said... are true for you as well. Am I right?"

Her face turned redder as she fidgeted, but Sawako held her hands in front of her chest, closing her eyes for a bit.

"...yes. You're right" she breathed, embarrassed but sincere.

He smiled for a little, relieved. "Then have you ever wondered about us?" Shouta asked, hearing her make a sound. "Our relationship?"

"Ah...! I... o-only that I want it to continue, if that's okay..."

"It is. I want to make sure of it. But to do so, I have to ask you a big question."

Sawako tilted her head, curious again. "A 'big' question?" she wondered.

Shouta lifted his head then, and his intensity jolted her, particularly after his first words: "Kuronuma Sawako" he spoke, shaking. "Will- will- will you marry me!?"

Instead of flat-out shock, Sawako just blinked, staring at him without a change in her expression... seconds passed like this...

"...what did you say?"

She isn't sure she heard him right; his face was already heating up, just from asking that once, and now she's gonna make him ask again. But if he must do it to make things clear to her, to let her know how much he loved her, he will!

"I- I meant what I said!" Shouta spoke, even quicker; his heart was hammering. "I asked you if you would marry me, Sawako!"

Then came the shock: Sawako's entire face turned red as she (loudly) squeaked, her body shaking and breathing becoming heavy, staring between him, anything nearby, and into empty space.

"M-M-Marriage!? B-But this is so sudden, a-and my heart feels like it'll explode, and I-I don't know what to do-!"

He stood up in an instant- the suddenness of this action stopped her words, but little else changed.

Shouta felt his mouth twitch, heart hammering, but he fought to remember the girls had said to him:

"When you ask her, she'll likely react with shock, say a lot of things that might derail you... don't let her say too much of that. Don't worry about interrupting her either, as she won't be offended. Just tell her straight out that she is that important to you, in every detail, and that you want to be important to her in every other detail too; that should answer all her unasked questions, and the rest should come naturally. Plus she'll still in shock for at least the next several days, no matter what, so better that she expresses it in more positive ways... rather than drag her feet along with yours on 'But I'm not good enough' and other baseless what-if's. Which is also likely, by the way."

"Yeah! Just tell her that you- that you love her, dude! Be bold, e-even if it's embarrassing! And- and if she's still curious about a lot of stuff later, we'll tell her everything to help out! But you gotta tell her first!"

After all, despite... despite not liking how they sometimes embarrassed him in front of Sawako - like how Ayane tricked them into their first kiss - he had to admit they (especially Ayane) knew how to handle this stuff better. If left to himself, he just said whatever came to mind, yet when he got nervous his brain became hazy... even now, he can't always think straight when Sawako's happy, and especially when she smiles. And, he held onto the hope that Sawako's instinctive reaction was just from shock, rather than something that she didn't want. He remembered how he'd pulled her away from Ryu way back then, asking her what she thought of him, and then later asking what she thought of if people were boyfriend and girlfriend - she'd said it was mature, but he thought she'd never imagined herself as a girlfriend.

This must be something like that too... it must be...

"...S-Sawako."

The slightest sound from her.

"You've always- you've always talked of wanting to be closer to me these past years, to let your feelings keep reaching me. I always wanted those things too" he spoke, lower in volume. "That's why despite thinking you didn't know how to be a good girlfriend, you kept trying your best with me, no matter what. Even now, when we don't know exactly what the future will be like yet, you still want things to continue between us, and so do I."

By the end, a little of her shock disappeared - still staring at him, mouth open/eyes wide, Sawako remained absolutely fixated upon his words/expression.

Shouta lifted his head then, speaking by instinct now. "Well, that's not good enough for me anymore!" he stated intently, jolting Sawako. "I- I want us to grow even closer than that, as close as two people can get! I want to be the only one you can kiss, the only one you can hold hands with, and the only one to do everything else with! And I want to be the only one you wish to do these things with too! I don't care if it's selfish: I'm not gonna let anyone else have you as their girlfriend, or even think that they could have you, that they could show affection to you! I... I want to do the things that only married couples do with you, and I want you to do those things with me as well!"

He didn't register it, but she seemed absolutely frozen with wonder and shock, her face red and her eyes tearing up...

"I... I want to experience everything with you, Sawako..."

Something changed, and Sawako stirred at his change-in-tone, breath heavy as she listened.

"I'm so nervous, I feel like I'm about to explode... and I don't know how to do all those things, that I want us to do. Not yet" Shouta breathed, hands trembling. "But I don't care about that. It- it has to be you... you're the only one I would ever ask to try those things with... to be at my side forever... to care this much for..."

After that, there were absolutely no words on his tongue... if he were aware of himself, he might have exploded with embarrassment at what just slipped out. He never would've lived today down if that happened, especially not if word of his speech reached Ayane and Chizu- he could only imagine how he'd look any of them in the eyes again.

A long time passed, the wind blowing at their hair...

"I-"

He stirred, slowly looking up, heart still hammering in his chest... when he did so, he saw that Sawako had thick tears streaming down her cheeks. More than that though, her mouth was curled, and she was shaking with her hands held together - unconsciously, his gut instinct said she wasn't sad, especially with how dark-red her face still was.

"I... I-I didn't know you felt that strongly..."

He registered her words, but Shouta couldn't say anything, not right now.

Sawako gulped. "I never imagined... you would would say such things" she breathed, shaking- fresh tears aplenty kept streaming down her face. "T-That you care for me so much... I'm- I'm really happy to know these things! And I... I... I-I want to feel those ways too!"

Deep down, he felt a growing sense of warmth...

She squirmed, but didn't move from her spot. "I- I always wanted to grow closer to you too, but I didn't know how" Sawako whispered, eyes closing (with tears still streaking down). "I didn't think about becoming more than a girlfriend... it felt so far away for me..."

Breathing faster, he unconsciously set his mouth, and dug one hand into his pocket.

"Sawako."

Jolted, Sawako opened her eyes again, before slowly registering that his arm was held out, and then her gaze moved down. She gasped a little at the sight of the silver ring in his open palm, at which point her eyes went wide(r) again, mouth open more...

Despite his heart hammering in his ribs, he smiled, and his tone was gentle. "I- I know there's probably a lot more you haven't been able to say, not yet. How you don't know what to do, questions you might want answered, wanting to think about plans... and that's okay. I feel the same, even with what I've said" he breathed, sincere yet still speaking by instinct. "I'll be there for you, and you'll be there for me, when- when we're both ready to talk about things. We'll get through it all together, no matter how long it takes. I want to hear how you feel, but don't ever force yourself. And if- if you were to ask if I'm sure, that I really want to do this... I am. I've wanted to for a long time, and it's only grown stronger since then! That will never, ever change!"

For the longest time, she kept (slowly) looking between his hand and his face, seeming in a trance... all-throughout, she kept making little sounds...

Shouta could barely keep himself still, as the waiting was unbearable, but he still did it...

Her hand twitched, and slowly - shakily - began to reach toward his hand; he quickly noticed, breathless as he watched.

She got close, before something changed; despite her efforts, her shaking hand couldn't seem to move any closer. Sawako's gasp was of shock, maybe even distress, and her other hand (shakily) tried to grasp her own wrist, as if to move it toward his hand... it wasn't exactly working, but she was clearly trying.

It almost made him laugh, as it was so cute, but instead his lip curved.

She squeaked when his other hand grasped her wrist, leaving her to look at him-

-and he held the ring near her finger, wanting so much to cross those last inches, but he restrained himself; not just yet.

Shouta looked at Sawako, at the way she's staring at him in return - he smiled, trying to show everything he felt.

"M-May I put it on, Sawako?" he whispered.

A breath escaped her mouth, and she began to shake even worse... despite this, it didn't stop her from trying to speak...

"...y- y-yes!"

If there was a moment where he could've felt happier, it hadn't happened yet: all his nervousness and anxiety melted into relief. A smile practically threatened to split his face, and it was only an effort of will that he didn't run straight at Sawako and hold her close- as much as he wanted that, he didn't want to shock her, and so he restrained himself. At the same time, they both looked down, seeing his fingers delicately slip the ring onto her finger, lingering there before he slowly pulled back. Shouta couldn't help but stare at the sight of it on her finger, something he'd been imaging long before today... Sawako was doing the same, her other hand slowly brushing against the ring as she lifted it, as if to make sure she weren't dreaming.

Another little breathed escaped her mouth-

-and then, she smiled.

With her eyes half-open, the fresh tear streaks, her open-mouthed smile and wind blowing through her hair, she looked radiant... he couldn't tear his eyes away from the sight, feeling his heart physically thump. He cherished every memory he had of her smiles, but even he had to admit that this one topped them all; none of her previous smiles came anywhere close.

He felt lucky to be witnessing it, but he soon smiled as well-

-he'd done it: he reached her with his true feelings.

It took awhile to figure out how to make this work as well- with any luck, this is pretty close to how it might happen for real, even if it did kinda skip a few 'steps' in how things would normally go for this series :)

Still yeah, this would definitely be quite awhile after the last oneshot, since they finally made the switch from last to first names XD