He had been knocked out of the game, he knew. He knew, and yet, he couldn't stop himself as he forced himself up five flights of stairs just because the elevators were too slow to open for him. He was huffing by the time he burst into her office where he was greeted by a pair of wide doe-eyes.
"You were right." He said in painful breaths, much to Sakuno's distress, as he fell on his knees beside her chair.
"Kami-sama, Sunagawa-san." The brunette gasped, too shocked to move. It was then that Suna, in his most uncool moment, pulled out a velvet box from his white doctor's coat. "What is-"
"Will you marry me?"
"Wha-what?" Sakuno choked, flushing and in total confusion.
Then, finding the serious expression on her friend's face, said.
"Wha-what are you saying?" Close to crying and losing her swirling mind, the brunette laughed, finding the room painfully brighter than a few seconds ago.
"You once said love was supposed to be grand, filled with great sacrifices you'd never even think of for someone else." Suna started. His eyes started to swell but he didn't care a single bit. Because, because he had to say what has been killing him for over a decade. "I don't. I don't even know what the word means. But I know that I want to be with you. I know that every single time you were with Echizen, every time you weren't with me, I felt like the world was conspiring against me, laughing at me. All my life, I've told you love is illogical. And I-" He swore, his chest finally lifting with a small smile. "And I'm a fool."
"You made fun of your sister."
Suna laughed.
"I did."
"You said she was crazy for falling in love. You said I was crazy."
"I did." Suna smiled at her.
"And now, you-"
"You were right, Sakuno. I did fall in love. And I've been in love for a long time now."
"But," Sakuno tenderly took his hand in hers. "We've never dated." She smiled. "You can't just ask me to marry you." Then, with a tinge of bitterness, added. "I'm divorced."
Suna breathed out, smiled, and only said, "That's why I'm proposing."
"You're ridiculous, do you know that?" Sakuno laughed lightly, leaning closer.
"Besides, what do couples do on dates? Go out during national holidays?" He continued. "We've been doing that for ten years now."
"You're crazy." Sakuno laughed, throwing her head back at the seriousness of his expression. And, before Suna could continue to pile on, she returned her gaze to his and with the beautiful smile that raptured his heart completely, said. "Alright." And again, repeated. "Yes." To which the young doctor, eyes widening at the woman in front of him, couldn't help but capture Sakuno and pull her into a deep and chest-tightening, stomach-fluttering, toe-curling kiss.