Standard disclaimers apply
As Miyuki and Izumiko cuddled on one of the park bench on campus, Mayura, Manatsu, Takayanagi, Honoka and Wamiya watched from a respectful distance so they couldn't eavesdrop. Despite their consideration, nothing could have hidden the glow of contentment radiating from the couple.
"They're so sweet." Mayura sighed, obviously swept away in the romanticism of the moment.
"Yeah;" agreed Honoka; "it's no wonder everyone on campus called them 'the most likely to become a couple' at Hojo."
"Please;" Takayanagi inputted; "None of you except Wamiya saw what the guy said to Suzahara in the alternate plane at last year's school festival. The guy was practically begging her to say she needed him." Wamiya nodded before adding his impressions.
"And what none of you know is that Izumiko didn't want to come to Hojo at first." Startled looks captured his audiences' faces as he explained; "She wanted to go to a local high school near her home at first . . . but she changed her mind because of him. He . . . changed her; she wanted to come to Hojo if it meant being with him."
"You know;" Manatsu said, finally speaking up; "You're all just saying the same thing."
"We are?" Mayura asked one of her brothers.
"Yeah; you're all saying that they've finally come to terms with what was obvious to everyone but them." Honoka shrugged as she added one final comment.
"In my limited experience, that's usually what happens when someone's in love."
Meanwhile – with Miyuki and Izumiko
"Miyuki?" The aforementioned boy hummed, indicating he was listening; "Are . . . are we dating now?"
"That depends." Izumiko felt disappointment stab her heart at Miyuki's response.
"Depends on what?" Miyuki grinned softly before gently shifting Izumiko to face him.
"Depends on if you agree to be my girlfriend." Joy, pure and radiant, cast its' spell on Izumiko's gaze as she responded to Miyuki's question.
"Yes! Yes!" Izumiko, without thinking, wrapped her arms around Miyuki's neck and placed a kiss on his lips. Miyuki, being a teenage boy after all, instantly responded; wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her flush against him in a slightly possessive way.
As the couple separated Izumiko blushed, embarrassed at her boldness. Miyuki, seeing her embarrassment, softly chuckled at how cute she was.
"Don't tease me." Miyuki stopped before explaining his reasoning.
"I wasn't teasing you Izumiko." Miyuki smiled lovingly as he gazed upon his girl; Wow; I never thought I'd be this happy about having Izumiko as my girlfriend.
"I was just amazed at how cute you look when you're embarrassed. Though you have nothing to be embarrassed about." Izumiko looked up in awe at the man who'd captured her heart; I never thought I'd ever get to this point with a boy; Miyuki . . . makes me feel like a normal person.
"Izumiko;" continued Miyuki; "I . . . I love you just the way you are." A blush now adorned Miyuki's face as he awkwardly expressed himself; "You have the habit of surprising me every day. I could spend the next century with you and still not fully understand you." Contentment spread across their faces as Miyuki ended his explanation; "And that's why you shouldn't ever be embarrassed of who you are. Because I know that no one could ever be as perfect as you; at least . . . that's my opinion on the matter." Miyuki, flustered at what he'd just said, calmed down when Izumiko cuddled into his chest and sighed, obviously content to stay with Miyuki the rest of the afternoon.
Meanwhile – With Yukimasa, Daisei and Yukariko
"Do you think we should let Izumiko and Miyuki know?" Daisei's innocent question brought chuckles from Yukimasa and his wife.
"As much fun as it would be to see the looks on their faces . . . I think it's best to wait till they're more comfortable with being a couple." Yukariko smirked in agreement with Yukimasa's snide comment about the new 'official' couple.
"Yes;" agreed Yukariko; "if we tell them about their conditional betrothal now, they'll assume we tricked them into being a couple." Daisei sighed, knowing his wife, as always, had a good point.
"But . . . they'll have to know someday. Right?" Yukimasa nodded at Daisei's attempt to direct the conversation toward the issue at hand.
"They will dear;" agreed Yukariko; "But for now, let them be teenagers in love for a little longer. They don't need to grow up that soon." Both fathers nodded in agreement with Yukariko. Let them be children for a little longer . . .