"Nozomi!"
"Rin-chan? Karen-san?"
"We've been looking all over for you," Karen says.
"Jeez! Why are you eating cakes so freely?" Rin asks, taking her childhood friend's hand, then she starts running towards the palace.
"Eh? What is this? I haven't finished eating!" Nozomi yells.
"Just follow us! It's very important! You can continue eating later!" Karen replies, opening the door to Nozomi's room where Urara, Komachi, and Kurumi are waiting.
"Eh? Why is everyone here?" Nozomi asks as Rin gets her to sit on the small chair by the mirror. Suddenly, someone out of her three friends covers her eyes. "What are you guys doing?"
"Nozomi-san, calm down!" Komachi tells her.
"Trust us!" Urara adds.
"Hey, Nozomi! Stop moving around so much!" Kurumi yells. "Sit tight! It will be over faster if you do!"
"Ah… I don't understand any of this!" Nozomi grunts, but she follows their orders anyway, hoping that they'd spill the details later for her. She can't see what they're doing, but someone gets her to her feet and helps her change out of her jersey. She tries to feel it… what is this, a dress? A moment after, they're sitting her up again and now they're doing something with her hair. She can also feel that someone is applying some make up to her face. What is this?
***
"Can't I open the blindfold now?" Nozomi asks. "It's scary to walk in the dark like this! Where are you guys taking me?"
"Ssshh, Nozomi!" she hears Kurumi's harsh remark just behind her.
"It's okay, Nozomi-san! Komachi-san and I will keep you from falling," Urara replies reassuringly. Nozomi can't see anything, but she knows it's Urara and Komachi who are holding her hands, assisting her to walk.
"Where's Karen-san and Rin-chan?" Nozomi asks, changing the topic.
"They're going ahead," Komachi replies.
"Hmmm…" Nozomi murmurs. Then suddenly, the hands holding hers are gone. She starts calling her friends' name, searching frantically for them in the dark. "Komachi-san! Urara! Kurumi! Where are you?"
Nozomi tries to stay calm. She moves her hands to the blindfold, trying hard to unveil it. But possibly because she's still panic, it becomes the hardest task ever. As Nozomi struggles with the blindfold, she can feel someone's sudden touch on her hand, as if calming her down. "Urara? Komachi-san? Or… Kurumi? Is that you?"
Whoever that is, that person unveils her blindfold, freeing her sight. Slowly, Nozomi opens her eyelids.
"Coco?"
Coco smiles. He offers one of his hands. "May I have this dance?"
"Eh? I-I mean—of course!" Nozomi replies nervously, her cheeks red as he pulls her closer. Somewhere from the room, a gentle music is playing and they start dancing. Nozomi glances around, noticing that the room is dark, with only spotlights on her and Coco to be their guide.
"Nozomi? What's wrong?"
"No—nothing, I guess I was still shocked. Ahahaha!" she says, laughing nervously. Her eyes glance down to her steps, hoping that she wouldn't mess this dance up with her clumsy behavior.
Using one of his fingers, Coco gets Nozomi's chin up, so that they're facing each other. "It's okay," he reassures her with a smile. "I will lead you well so you won't mess up!"
"Mmm," Nozomi replies simply, her voice shaking with nerve. If this keeps up, she will end up hurting herself again with wrong expectations. She knows she can't show such a sad face to Coco who's been doing so much for her, but still….
"Nozomi," he calls her name, so gently it sounds like a melody. Coco helps her turn once, then suddenly he's kneeling, his hand still in hers.
"Eh?"
From his pocket, Coco produces a small, velvet box. He lets Nozomi's hand go so that he can open it. Nozomi stares in awe, unable to utter any words as the box slowly opens, revealing a heart-shaped diamond ring inside it.
"I… I know I might end up leaving you alone when I'm busy, worrying you, and making you sad just like I did yesterday. But still, this feeling of wanting to always stay by your side, to always protect you won't change. I promise that I will always be by your side to protect you forever," Coco says with a gentle, but serious tone. "Nozomi, I love you."
"Will you marry me?" Coco asks, his eyes locked on Nozomi's.
Nozomi feels some tears flowing in her eyes. "Yes!" she says, letting Coco slides the ring into her ring finger. "I love you too, Coco!"
She notices that Coco's eyes are a little wet too and she giggles, jumping to him for a hug. Suddenly, the whole room lights up and Nozomi can finally see that they're in some kind of dome that must be somewhere in the big palace. The whole people of Palmier Kingdom are there, cheering both Coco's and Nozomi's name.
"Jeez, Nozomi! Don't cry and ruin the perfect make up I did for you!" Kurumi yells as she walks closer to the couple with Rin, Urara, Karen, Komachi, Syrup, and Nuts.
"Congratulations, both of you!" Karen says with a smile. "I did a very good job with your hair, didn't I, Nozomi?"
"She's shining with all the jewelries that I made," Rin adds, smiling.
"Jeez! Why is everyone bragging about themselves?" says Urara, then she puts on a full body-sized mirror in front of Nozomi. "I don't think Nozomi-san has seen how beautiful she is yet! Nozomi-san, I'm the one who picked that dress!"
Nozomi stares at the mirror in awe. Her hair is nicely curled, with a sparkling tiara on top of her head which must've been made by Rin. She rarely wears make up and somehow it makes her look like a totally different person. The pink mini dress is very beautiful with a long tail that extends behind her feet. They're right… she's sparkling!
"Thanks, everyone!" she says cheerfully, admiring the beautiful ring on her ring finger. "Thank you so much!"