Part 19: Proposal planning
"So she gave you an answer after the party," Kuri said as he along with Kazuya and Kibe were walking around college. Kibe had just told them he and Sumi were planning to move in together during the summer.
"Yeah she told me her and Chizuru talked about it during the party and helped her feel better about it," he said smiling, "Though I gotta admit now that she's actually said yes I'm a little nervous about it," he said.
"Well luckily we have someone who has experience with living with their girlfriend," Kuri said smiling over at Kazuya who was looking up and seemed to be thinking about something.
"Hey Kazuya," Kibe said getting his attention and that seemed to stop him thinking.
"Oh sorry what?" He asked looking confused.
"I was just asking what its like living with your girlfriend," Kuri said calmly.
"Oh right, honestly I was little nervous but I was kind of use to it since besides the café we mostly hanged out at my place," Kazuya said before looking back up.
"You alright man, you look like your thinking about something?" Kibe asked looking serious.
"No its just," Kazuya said before sighing, "Alright ill tell you but you cant tell anyone about this and that goes for Sumi too," he said looking serious at Kibe who looked surprised by the way his friend was sounding.
"I wonder whats going on," he thought before Kazuya took a deep breath.
"I'm planning to propose to Chizuru soon," he said making his two friends look surprised while Kuri looked surprised the most.
"Wait is this for real," he said stepping forward.
"Yeah, honestly I was thinking about it since after the party," Kazuya said smiling.
"Why don't we go find a place to sit down and you can tell us more about it," Kibe said calmly before the three of them headed to the food court. Kibe got the drinks before Kazuya started explaining about how Chizuru didn't want to take on some of the roles because they would be filmed far away.
"Well its like I told you, you had nothing worry about," Kibe said smiling.
"You two are lucky," Kuri said looking down.
"Hey don't look so down, I thought you were happy to be hanging around Ruka again," Kibe said patting his friend on the shoulder while Kuri looked embarrassed.
"Well were not dating, honestly for the moment I'm just glad were talking again," Kuri said. Ever since the Karaoke at Christmas Kuri and Ruka had started hanging out and even went back to rock climbing.
"Chizuru looked happy when she told me this, so I felt like I wanted to show how determined I am for the two of us to stick together," Kazuya said.
"Have you told your grandma about this," Kibe said.
"No but she might know I'm planning something since shes the one who gave me the engagement ring for Chizuru," Kazuya said smiling.
"Well you have my support, I wont tell Sumi about any of this," Kibe said.
"Yeah you really have fallen for her so go for it," Kuri said smiling.
"Thanks guys," Kazuya said smiling before taking a drink when Kibe spoke up.
"Have you thought about where you're going to propose to her?" He asked.
"Yeah there was this real fancy place not far from the restaurant I took her to after she auditioned for the play," Kazuya said, "This seems like the perfect time to take her there," he said.
"You haven't gone yet," Kuri said looking confused.
"Probably because of how much reservations cost," Kibe said looking serious and Kazuya nodded.
"Guess this is the perfect occasion to go," Kazuya said before taking out his phone and began to look up the restaurant.
Over with Chizuru who was standing in a large room. There was desk in front of her where three people were sitting, "No matter what happens, no matter challenges we face will face them together," she said saying the lines from the script she had been given earlier.
"Impressive, you said this is your first time audition for a tv show correct," the writer said from behind the desk.
"Yes," Chizuru said calmly.
"I was in the crowd for the play you performed in, did you have any struggles when preparing for it?" The director asked calmly.
"No I made sure to make notes and my boyfriend helped me rehearse my lines even after rehearsals," Chizuru said smiling.
"Was this you first performance," the writer asked sitting up.
"Yes but I also have a job at a video game company to do some voice acting," Chizuru said calmly.
"Well then will have to keep an eye out for it, thanks for coming in miss Ichinose," the writer said smiling.
"Will make sure to give you an answer within the next week," the writer said taking notes.
"Thank you every much for letting me audition," Chizuru said before walking back out into the hallway where there were only a few other women waiting to audition next. Once she got outside she took a breath.
"Hey Chizuru its been a while," a familiar male voice said and she looked to see it was Umi who was walking with a young woman with long hair. She was holding his hand as they walked over to her.
"That must be his girlfriend," Chizuru thought before they reached her, "Hey Umi, thanks for the comment about the play," she said remembering when Kazuya had told her how he had come to see her.
"Sorry I couldn't make it to your party, I had plans to take someone out," Umi said looking at his girlfriend who smiled at him.
"You were really great up there, sorry I didnt meet you sooner," she said.
"No its alright, I'm glad you enjoyed the play," said Chizuru before they started walking forward.
"I read the reviews for the play, sounds like they were really impressed," Umi said, "I hope Kazuya was okay with the moments between you and the male lead," he said.
"No he was fine," Chizuru said, "Besides he knows that I only love him," she said.
"Have you two been together long?" Umis girlfriend asked.
"Almost a year now and we moved into a new apartment last month," Chizuru said smiling of the memory when the two of them were unpacking.
"Did you meet any of the other directors after the play ended?" Umi asked.
"Yes, I was actually just at an audition before I met the two of you," Chizuru said, "Its part in a tv show and I don't have another one for a while," she said.
"How many auditions were you offered?" Umi asked.
"A few but I have turn some of them down, some of them are filming a good bit away from here and I would like to finish college," Chizuru said.
"But you also don't want to be to far from home either," Umis girlfriend said and Chizuru nodded.
"That too, but I don't want to be away from my boyfriend," she said before looking up smiling, "When I told him my dream he said I could do it and I couldn't have gotten this far without his support," she said.
"Sounds like you really care about him," Umis girlfriend said before Chizuru took out her phone and then she noticed she was smiling.
"Who is it?" Umi asked.
"Kazuya, he just texted me if I was free to go out for dinner tomorrow," she said smiling before quickly texting back with a yes.
As Kazuya got home after finishing with college for the day he smiled when he got Chizurus text saying yes, "Now comes the next part," he thought looking nervous before sitting down on the couch. He then dialed a number and only had to wait a few seconds before the person answered.
"Hello Kazuya, how are you and Chizuru doing," Sayuri, Chizurus grandmother said.
"Yes hello, listen I have something planned for Chizuru and I need to talk to you about it," Kazuya said trying to not sound nervous.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with the engagement ring your grandmother gave you, would it," she said happily while Kazuya looked surprised, "The two of us were so happy when we talked about the two of you getting married," she said.
"Yeah that's why I'm calling, I'm planning to propose to her tomorrow night at this restaurant," Kazuya said.
"You wanted to ask if I was okay with this, well you don't need to ask because you have my full support," she said happily as Kazuya smiled.
"Thank you, ill definitely make Chizuru happy," he said.
"I'm sure you will, Chizuru has always acted strong but Im glad you were there to support her as she worked hard," said Sayuri, "I hope you will continue to support her," she said.
"I will, I wont let you down," Kazuya said.
The next evening as Kazuya changed into his suit in the bedroom he got a notification on his phone, "Is that yours or mine?" Chizuru asked from the bathroom while getting ready.
"It's mine," Kazuya said before turning on his phone, "Hey it looks like the trailer for the game your in was uploaded," he said looking towards the bathroom before looking surprised.
Chizuru had her hair down and was wearing the dress he had gotten her for Christmas. "You like it," she said smiling from his reaction.
"Yeah your beautiful," Kazuya said standing up still looking surprised while Chizuru laughed before walking over to him and kissing him on the cheek.
"Lets look at the comments tomorrow, for now lets just go enjoy our time out," she said sitting down on the bed and putting on her shoes.
"Yeah," Kazuya said while making sure the small box was secure in his pocket. After getting ready the two of them headed towards the restaurant. Chizuru was a little surprised of how fancy the place looked and then they were lead to their table.
"Are you sure you want to pay for this," Chizuru said nervously while looking at the menu.
"Yeah I just felt like trying this place out," Kazuya said putting the menu down.
"Well it is almost our one year anniversary," Chizuru said and Kazuya smiled.
"Well in that case happy almost one year anniversary," he said before the two of them laughed a little before the waiter came over to take their order.
As they got close to finishing off their food Chizuru noticed Kazuya looking a little nervous, "Hey is your food okay?" She asked looking a little worried.
"Yeah Its great, but I think I may need to use the bathroom real quick," Kazuya said getting up from his chair.
"Okay," Chizuru said looking a little confused while Kazuya went to the bathroom. After washing his hands he took out the box and let out a breath.
"Proposing," an older man said walking out of one of the stalls.
"Oh sorry," Kazuya said as the man began washing his own hands.
"No worries, you should have seen me when I proposed to my wife, at least your not sweating," said the man before laughing.
"Yeah," Kazuya said.
"Well good luck, hopefully things turn out well," the man said waving before walking out.
But back at Kazuyas table, Chizuru was sitting on her chair when a familiar female voice spoke up, "Wow its been a while hasn't it," she said.
Chizuru looked a little surprised to see Kazuyas ex girlfriend Mami, she was also dressed up and was wearing a jacket. "I was out for a bit and I saw you in the window, is Kazuya with you," she said before looking around.
"No he went to the bathroom," said Chizuru before getting a drink. She wasn't interested in talking to her since they hadn't spoken since that time at the bar. She also was a little mad when Kibe told her Mami tried to go on the beach trip after everything she said.
"Come on lets talk, Chizuru," Mami said before smiling, "Or should I say Chizuru Mizuhara," she said making Chizuru look surprised as she looked down surprised.
"What," she thought before looking up at Mami who was still smiling.