Chapter 40

Exhausted, I stood in front of the apartment, reflecting on my conversation with Haruka. For a brief moment, I had thought that Diamond would be standing right in front of me.

Shaking off my thoughts, I unlocked the apartment door. I was looking forward to my bed, but before I could reach it, Seiya stumbled into the hallway with a basket full of blankets.

"Darling, you're already back," he said, surprised.

Why did he sound so caught off guard? Was he hiding something from me?

"Yes, it's already late. Should I leave again?" I asked, feeling slightly unsettled.

"No, I'm just not finished yet."

"Finished with what?" I inquired.

"Go ahead to the bathroom, I'll fetch you when I'm ready."

The blankets were piled so high that he could barely see over them, and he hurried out of the apartment. Shaking my head, I entered the bathroom. There, I could hardly believe my eyes. The large bathtub was filled to the brim with a bubble bath, soft relaxation music played in the background, and candles were lit in every available space. Relaxing music and a soak in the tub, just what I needed after a day like this. But what did he need the blankets for?

I undid my dress and let it fall carelessly to the floor, then slid into the warm water, still mindful of keeping my annoying casted arm out of the water. It felt so good. Exhausted, I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, only the gentle sounds of the music filling the room. Just as I had fully relaxed, with the warm water enveloping my tired muscles, the bathroom door slowly opened.

I looked up and saw Seiya entering the bathroom with a wide grin on his face.

"Thank you, that's exactly what I needed after a day like this," I said, reaching my hand out to him. He approached, squatting down beside the tub and giving me a kiss.

"I figured as much. That's why I prepared something else," he said, that mischievous grin still adorning his face.

"And what is it?"

"You'll see when you're done," he replied, then stood up, leaning down to give me another kiss. But I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled gently.

In an instant, he lost his balance and ended up in the tub with me, fully clothed. The expression on his face was priceless as he emerged from the foam.

We looked at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter. There it was again, our lightness, his ability to always make me laugh. With my already wrinkled fingers, I wiped the foam off his face and kissed him. "I love you, Seiya."

"Well, that works out nicely, because I love you too, my darling," he said, pulling me into his arms. He didn't mind being fully clothed in the water; he acted as if it were the most normal thing in the world. We stayed like that for a while, lying side by side, arm in arm, surrounded by the warm water and the sea of candles he had set up, listening to the relaxing music. It felt right and good to be here with him, to be in his arms. It was no longer just an apartment, it was our home.

As the bathwater gradually began to cool, we ended our peculiar bath. I still couldn't help but smile as he removed his wet clothes.

While he dried his hair with a towel, he said, "Please put on something warm, like the thick jogging suit, and preferably a hat." I stared at him in shock. What was he planning?

"Why? The fireplace is on, it must be around 25 degrees in the apartment," I replied, confused. Then I remembered the blankets. They must be connected to all this.

"Darling, I told you that I had something else prepared for you."

I decided not to ask further, because first, he wouldn't tell me, and second, I would find out faster if I stopped arguing. It didn't take long for me to slip into my dark green fluffy jogging suit and put on the requested hat. Seiya was similarly dressed in thick, comfortable clothing and handed me my jacket.

"Alright, follow me," he said, intertwining his fingers with mine as he gently led me outside. We left the apartment, went up the stairs, and kept going higher and higher until we finally stood in front of the door leading to the roof. He took his time opening the door, and my curiosity grew with each passing second.

My mouth dropped open in astonishment. The sight before me was beautiful. Somehow, Seiya had managed to bring an outdoor sofa onto the roof and spread the pile of blankets on top of it. In front of it was a small table with two glasses and a bottle of wine. To create a subtle illumination, he had set up several lanterns that cast a gentle glow. "Well, come on, darling," he laughed, urging me forward by gently pulling my hand.

"How did you do all of this? How did you get it up here?" I asked, still amazed, as I slowly sat down. Seiya beamed at me and handed me one of the glasses. "There's a meteor shower tonight. I thought it would be nice for us to watch it together from up here." I was simply enchanted by the unique atmosphere he had created for us. Seiya sat down next to me on the sofa and draped one of the blankets over my shoulders. "This is truly a wonderful idea," I whispered softly, my face beaming with joy. His ideas were always so unique.

With a tender smile, he raised his glass, and I followed suit. The clinking of our glasses echoed in the silence. We leaned back, and I relished in the warmth of his embrace. Above us stretched a sparkling carpet of stars, and we began to search for shooting stars. It took a while, but soon the first ones sparkled across the night sky.

"There, did you see that? Those were two right next to each other," I exclaimed, excited like a child. "Have you made any wishes yet?" "No, because I already have everything I need," I said, wrapping my arm around him and resting my head on his chest.

Each shooting star that streaked across the night sky felt like a magical moment we shared together. Eventually, I silently whispered my wishes to the universe, but they weren't for myself.

I wished for Mamoru to find solace and move forward after his losses. He truly deserved it after everything he had endured. For Motoki, I wished that he would finally muster the courage to propose to Makoto, something he had been putting off for a while now. He had been carrying the ring around for almost half a year. It was about time.

I wished for Diamond to learn the art of listening and to become more sensitive to the feelings of others. This would not only make his own life easier but also the lives of those around him. In a way, Kaori's humorous label of "World Ruler" suited him perfectly, as he sometimes seemed to want to rule the world.

Lastly, I wished for Saphir to find inner peace and closure regarding the whole situation with Rina. It would be of great significance for him to let go of this emotional burden and free himself from the shadows of the past. I must admit, though, that this wish wasn't entirely selfless, as it would likely mean he would leave me alone. However, I formulated it in a nice and selfless way as the shooting star passed by.

Time seemed to stand still as we let ourselves be enchanted by the beauty of the moment. In Seiya's arms, I felt safe and secure. The world around us blurred as we lost ourselves in the infinite expanse of the starry sky. As the meteor shower gradually subsided, we remained on the rooftop for a while longer, repeatedly gazing up at the night sky.

Maybe I should ask Seiya to give Motoki some tips. Perhaps with his support, Motoki could make progress with his plans more quickly.

"How do you always come up with such ideas?" I asked Seiya. "I don't know. You just inspire me. After a day like this, I thought you could use some relaxation. Those traditional funerals always seem to last forever."

He emphasized the word "traditional" in a strange way. I sat up a bit. "Don't you like the traditions?"

Seiya propped himself up on his forearms. "Oh, I do like some of them, like weddings, for example. But I wouldn't want my farewell to be drawn out like that. I see myself more in the European or American style, a short speech, a few great songs, and that's it. Besides, I won't be aware of it anyway. But let's change the topic. It would spoil the beautiful mood otherwise. We can talk about that when we're old and gray."

Then he wrapped his arms around me, leaned his head gently against my ear, and softly sang the chorus of "Endless Love," just for me.