I haven't written in this thing in almost a month and a half. Of course, there's not really any need to, seeing how my probation ended back in March. But I don't think my account of the last year would be complete without one last entry detailing today's events.

Sadayo asked to spend some time with me after school today. She's still my homeroom teacher in third year and she's pretty adamant about preparing for entrance exams, especially with me. My parents were pretty pissed at my decision to stay in Tokyo, but Sojiro and Sae-san managed to serve as mediators to keep them from getting the cops involved. Basically, I can stay here to finish my mandatory education at Shujin, but I'm expected to return home after that, unless I attend college here starting next year.

Honestly, Sadayo can be a little overbearing at times, but I know it's because she doesn't want us to be separated. My main issue is that I don't need her and Makoto both being on my case about college this early into the schoolyear. After all, I aced all my exams last year. Admittedly, thanks to the two of them, to varying degrees, but still.

Anyway, we met up in Shibuya, both in a fresh change of clothes Futaba brought for us on her way to pick up some stuff in Akiba. The two of us then headed to the aquarium in Shinagawa, then on to Odaiba Seaside Park. I'd asked her why we didn't go out yesterday, Sunday, but she'd claimed she too was busy with schoolwork then, so I let it slide, even if I could tell she wasn't being completely honest. There was a reason she wanted it to be today.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Mm-hm."

As we rode the Ferris wheel and were treated to an ever more beautiful view of the darkening Tokyo skyline, the sight serenely still aside from a few passing river barges, I broached the subject again.

"We could've seen it yesterday, you know. After a much longer day of fun activities. Why did you want it to be after school today?"

"W-Well, I had my reasons."

"And I suppose it's my job to figure out what those reasons are?"

"Th-That's right."

"Well, I thought long and hard about it when I realised that was your intent."

"You kne- Oh, who am I kidding? Of course you figured that out."

"And I do believe I have the answer."

"Oh? Go ahead then. And bear in mind, this will count toward your final grade."

"I'm pretty confident I can ace this one."

"Okay, Mr. Confident. Go right ahead. Impress me."

"Well, given yesterday was a day off but you still insisted it be today, a school day, there's clearly some significance to this particular date, May 1st. Reasonable so far?"

"So far."

"Right, so I thought back and contemplated what could be so significant about this date. Kamoshida's confession was on the 2nd last year, so this isn't to celebrate the anniversary of the Phantom Thieves' first victory."

"It's not, no."

"And the two of us didn't have any interactions on the first either, it being a Sunday last year."

"Correct."

"So this isn't about us - not directly, anyway."

"Nope."

"So I thought, maybe it's about something I don't know about, rather than something I do. And then, it hit me. I've known you for over a year now. This is something that could have happened at any time last year, and it would definitely have come up if it had taken place since we started dating - from July 19th to April 30th, leaving any date between May 1st and July 18th remaining. And given how adamant about us spending time together to0day, and further insistence that I be the one to plan it, the only rational conclusion is... of course... that today..."

"You're dragging this out on purpose, aren't you?" She was definitely annoyed as she made this accusation, but the anticipatory grin that had been building as I led her through my sound reasoning was impossible for her to hide.

And, of course, the answer was, "Yep. And isn't that just gonna make the final answer all the sweeter?"

"Only if your confidence is well-earned."

"Oh, you know it is. Today, May 1st, is, of course, your birthday."

Her grin grew wider. "You got it."

"Told you I'd ace it."

"Oh, fine. You were right." She sounded a little put out, but I know her well enough to know she was just playing along.

"It's KawakaMayDay."

"No puns! It's my birthday, and my wish is for no puns."

"Then your wish shall be granted," I replied with a deep butler-like bow.

She chuckled at my over-the-top display. "Yes, today is my birthday. And I wanted it to be special, so I decided to conduct a little experiment to see if you could figure it out. I probably should've eased off a bit to be less obvious, though. I'm sure you would've still pieced it together anyway."

"Maybe. But that's not important right now. I'll tell you what is important, though." I leaned in conspiratorially and she did the same to listen. She was caught completely by surprise as I started belting out the entire Happy Birthday song. She shot back in her seat in shock, then embarrassedly tried to make me stop so no one in the other cars would hear as I practically danced around in ours, then she was laughing beautifully by the time I was done.

"You really are too much sometimes, you know that?" she asked, wiping away a tear as I returned to my seat across from her.

"And you love it," I replied confidently.

"I do." She sighed lovingly. "Oh, I do."

"Quite a surprise, hm?"

"You saw how high I jumped when you started. I almost leapt out of my skin."

"Well, if you think that was surprising, might I divert your attention to your left?"

"Hm?" She looked out the window, out toward Tokyo. I used this distraction to press the button on the app I'd loaded up to send the signal to my co-conspirator. On cue, right as she started to turn back to me, fireworks shot up from a barge in the bay and lit up the night sky far better than the city lights ever could. The display was filled with all sorts of colours, but mostly yellow and blue - Sadayo's colours. It went on long enough for us to go from the apex of the wheel to near the bottom, Sadayo sitting in silence, staring transfixed at the sight that, while unbearably expensive, was so worth it that I'm gonna have to get a tip ready for the architect some time soon.

When the show finally ended, she slowly turned her head back to face me, tears streaming down her cheeks. She leapt into my arms and we embraced for what remained of the ride's duration.

We'd managed to dry her cheeks before we got off, but her makeup was unsalvageable. We made our way over to a nearby bench and sat in silence, Sadayo's head resting on my shoulder, as we looked across the river back to the city. Eventually, Sadayo collected herself enough to speak up.

"I love you. More than words could ever express. You always go so far to make my life so wonderful. It's like all of my misery up until you and your friends saved me was all to balance out how amazing my life would end up after we started dating."

"And I have no intention of letting it stop," I told her, taking her hand in mine. "I'm going to study hard this year and get into a good college here in Tokyo. Then, you're gonna move out of your apartment and I'm gonna move out of Leblanc, and we're gonna buy a house, where we'll spend the rest of our lives together."

"W-Wait," she stuttered as she lifted her head from my shoulder and stared with wide eyes into mine. "I-Is this a... N-No, you wouldn't-"

"I don't have the money for the ring you deserve yet, but I'm gonna work for it and give you everything you've ever wanted and more." I brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face before I leaned in and kissed her. When I pulled away, I told her, "I love you too, Sadayo Kawakami. And I promise you, your Phantom Thief will do everything in his power to keep you happy for the rest of your days."

"Our days," she said, her lips intruding on her deep red cheeks. "Mine and yours."

#KawakaMay 2022 begins on the 16th, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate #KawakaMayDay right now. And what better way than to make a nice little epilogue for this story?