Three simple words. That is all it took to change the lives of Ryuuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka.

I love you.

It had been nearly a year since the two had graduated. He had taken up work at a small cafe on a street corner in Hakone.

The old man who owned the cafe saw the devotion and care that Ryuuji put into his food, and knew that Ryuuji would take the cafe farther than even he could.

"Takasu, son. I have a gift for you."

The old mans eyes crinkled as he smiled. He jingled the keys to the cafe, then tossed them at the 19 year old. A shocked expression came across Ryuuji's face.

"Sir… are you sure? This is much too much to give m-"

He trailed off as the old man patted his back and smiled.

"Take care of your girlfriend. I hear the way you talk about her. You must really love her."

Ryuuji blushed and hurriedly bowed as the old man laughed.

"You remind me of when I was young! It's such an exciting time of life. But don't worry my dear boy, I'll still come and check up on you!"

He began to hobble away, but stopped short.

"Oh, before I forget. Since you own the shop now, the apartment above it is yours now. No ones lived in it for a long time, though. It needs some serious cleaning."

A spark of joy ignited in Ryuuji's eyes.

He loved cleaning.


It was done. It had taken nearly a full day, but the apartment had been thoroughly deep cleaned. Ryuuji sighed as he leaned against the window sill, letting the cool summer breeze hit his face. He pulled out his phone and flipped it open, scrolling to a picture of Taiga.

He hovered his finger over the call button. The weight of the situation was not lost on him. They finally had a home. A place that they could finally call their own.

A place where they could start their own family.

He pressed the button.

It rang once.

Twice.

The distinct click of the receiver picking up the call sounded like a gunshot.

"Taiga. I found a place. We can move in today."


When Ryuuji returned home to the small apartment, Taiga was crying. He quickly rushed to her side and she buried her head in his chest.

"I cant hic believe we hic we can finally-"

She was cut off when Ryuuji squeezed her to his chest. He began to stroke her hair and whisper in her ear.

"Its ours now. Sato-san gave me the keys today, and the deed is in the store. He's giving us the store. We can finally… Finally start our life."

He stopped talking as tears began to form in his eyes. They were finally here, their dream had come true. No running away, nothing holding them back from living their lives together, just as they had yearned for.

It was Ryuuji's turn to cry, the tears running silently down his face. He continued to run his fingers through her hair, comforting not only her, but himself as well. Ryuuji wiped his tears and opened his mouth, but Taiga beat him to it.

"We should go tonight."

Ryuuji nodded as he stood up, and began grabbing what few possessions he had. He quickly scrawled a note to his mother, putting down their new address. He said good bye to Inko, and gave him some bird seed. He stood in the doorway, and looked back into the apartment that had been so instrumental in his life. Where he had met Taiga, and where he had made all of her favorite foods. When they were going to run away, and his mother gave him the watch. He closed his eyes to hold back the tears, and took the first step into the rest of his life.


It didn't take long for them to move what little the young couple had into the small apartment. Clothes, two futons, and kitchen supplies.

It was approaching midnight as Ryuuji drug the last suitcase up the stairs. As he cracked the door open he saw Taiga curled in a ball on the floor, her body rising and falling softly. Ryuuji kneeled down, and scooped her into his arms. Taiga stirred slightly, her eyes open just a slit. She smiled and snuggled her head into the crook of Ryuujis arm. He set her down on the futon layed on the floor in their new room, and laid down beside her.

Taiga was uncharacteristically cuddly, worming her way into being the little spoon. She rolled so that she was facing Ryuuji, and looked him in the eyes.

"I love you."

She was flushed.

"I love you, too."

Ryuuji's face went red, and Taiga gave him a small peck on the lips before hiding her face in the fabric of his shirt.

It was the best sleep of their lives.