In the peaceful village of Hana-no-Sato, where the cherry blossoms bloom endlessly in the spring, lived a young maiden named Yōko. From the time she was a small child, her heart had been set on Takeshi, her childhood friend. He was kind, handsome, and always knew how to make her laugh. Yōko had been saving her confession for the perfect moment, convinced that one day, Takeshi would return her feelings.

On a warm, golden afternoon, Yōko finally gathered the courage to confess. She waited for Takeshi under the old sakura tree where they used to play, clutching a small flower in her hands.

“Takeshi,” she began, her voice shaking, “I have loved you since we were children. I’ve always hoped that you... might feel the same way.”

But Takeshi, ever gentle, sighed deeply and looked at her with sad eyes. “Yōko, you are like a sister to me, someone I cherish greatly. But my heart... my heart belongs to someone else.”

Yōko felt as though the ground had crumbled beneath her feet. She tried to hide her tears, feeling utterly heartbroken. But what she didn’t realize was that someone else had been watching the entire scene unfold.

A young noble named Ieyasu, who had recently arrived in the village, stood nearby, arms crossed and a bemused expression on his face. He had come to Hana-no-Sato at the insistence of his family to find a strong-willed wife. They wanted him to settle down and start a family, something he found to be an irritatingly persistent request. But here he was, in a quiet village, witnessing a rather dramatic confession gone wrong.

“Well, that was... tragic,” Ieyasu said with a chuckle, stepping forward.

Yōko spun around, startled. “Who—who are you?!” she demanded, trying to wipe away her tears as quickly as possible.

“Ieyasu,” he said casually, bowing slightly. “And you must be Yōko, the heartbroken maiden.” He gave her a teasing smile.

“Were you spying on me?” she snapped, feeling her face grow hot with embarrassment.

Ieyasu shrugged. “It wasn’t exactly a secret performance. Besides, I’m here on my own mission. My family sent me to find a wife, and they insist she be strong-willed. So far, I haven’t found anyone interesting… until now.”

Yōko raised an eyebrow, unsure whether to be insulted or flattered. “What does that have to do with me?”

“I can help you win Takeshi’s heart,” Ieyasu declared. “On one condition: if we succeed, you’ll repay me with a favor.”

“A favor?” Yōko repeated, suspicious.

Ieyasu smirked. “Yes. If Takeshi falls in love with you, you’ll owe me a debt. I’ll decide what it is later.”

Yōko, still heartbroken but desperate to win Takeshi back, reluctantly agreed. “Fine,” she said. “But don’t think I’ll just sit around while you meddle in my love life.”

The Plan Begins

Ieyasu threw himself into the role of matchmaker with a mix of amusement and seriousness. He coached Yōko on how to express her feelings better, how to create moments that would catch Takeshi’s attention. Together, they wrote poems, made small gifts, and even prepared food for Takeshi. One day, Yōko made his favorite onigiri, but her nerves got the best of her, and the rice balls turned out too salty.

“You’re not trying to kill him, are you?” Ieyasu teased, laughing as he took a bite and winced.

Yōko threw a half-hearted glare at him. “It’s not funny! I want everything to be perfect.”

Ieyasu grinned, shaking his head. “You care too much about perfection. Sometimes, the mistakes are what make things memorable.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Despite their efforts, it soon became clear that Takeshi wasn’t interested. He had fallen deeply for Akemi, a new girl who had recently moved to the village. She was graceful, gentle, and seemed to have captured Takeshi’s heart without even trying.

“No matter what we do, it’s not working,” Ieyasu said one evening as they watched from afar, seeing Takeshi and Akemi laughing together. “He’s clearly in love with her.”

Yōko’s heart sank as she realized the truth. Her entire plan was falling apart, and she was losing hope. She wanted to deny it, to keep trying, but deep down, she knew that Takeshi’s heart belonged to Akemi.

“Why are you giving up?” Yōko demanded. “We haven’t tried everything yet!”

“Because it’s pointless,” Ieyasu replied, his tone more serious than she had ever heard before. “You can’t break apart two people who are truly in love. It’s cruel to them, and it’s unfair to you.”

Yōko’s frustration boiled over, and she broke down, tears streaming down her face. “I’ve loved him for so long,” she sobbed. “Ever since we were children. I thought... I thought we were meant to be.”

Ieyasu stood there, unsure of what to say. He had started this as a game, but somewhere along the way, he found himself caring deeply for Yōko. He admired her spirit, her determination, even her stubbornness. But seeing her heartbroken like this—over someone who couldn’t see her worth—stirred something inside him.

“Ieyasu,” Yōko sniffled, “what am I supposed to do now?”

“Find someone who truly loves you,” Ieyasu said softly. “Someone who sees how amazing you are, without you having to try so hard.”

Yōko let out a small, bitter laugh. “Someone who loves me? Who? Maybe I’ll become a princess and find a prince to sweep me off my feet.”

Takeshi, who overheard this, smiled sadly at her. “You deserve to be a princess, Yōko. And I know you’ll find someone who truly loves you.”

Yōko smiled weakly at his words, though her heart still ached. Takeshi and Akemi were in love, and she knew she couldn’t stand in their way.

As Yōko's heart began to heal, Takeshi and Akemi, seeing her loneliness, invited her to join them on their dates. They wanted her to feel included and supported. At first, Yōko felt awkward and out of place, but with their encouragement, she began to open up and enjoy their company.

Akemi, with her gentle nature and understanding heart, became Yōko's confidante. She helped Yōko with grooming, teaching her about fashion and beauty. She also offered advice on how to talk to men, express her feelings, and build confidence. With Akemi's guidance, Yōko began to blossom.

Takeshi, though he had feelings for Akemi, treated Yōko like a sister. He was always there to lend a listening ear, offer a comforting hug, or simply be a friend. His unwavering support helped Yōko see that she was loved and valued, even if not romantically.

As time passed, Yōko slowly began to move on. She realized that while she would always cherish her memories with Ieyasu, it was time to embrace a new chapter in her life. She found joy in her friendships with Takeshi and Akemi, and she began to appreciate the beauty of her village and the people around her.

Every night, Yōko would look up at the stars, praying for Ieyasu's safe return. She believed that one day, they would meet again, under a different sky, and perhaps, their paths would cross once more.

After some time, Ieyasu left the village, leaving Yōko to heal on her own. He couldn’t bear to stay and watch her pine for someone who would never be hers. But as he traveled, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. The image of her tear-streaked face haunted him, and he realized that, somewhere along the way, he had fallen for her.

He returned to the village one evening, determined to win her heart.

Yōko, surprised by his return, asked, “Why did you come back?”

“I came back for you,” Ieyasu said plainly.

“For me?” Yōko blinked, confused. “But… I still haven’t repaid my debt.”

Ieyasu chuckled. “That’s exactly why I’m here. You owe me a favor, remember?”

Yōko frowned. “What is it you want?”

Ieyasu took her hands, looking into her eyes with sincerity she had never seen from him before. “I want you to be my wife.”

Yōko gasped, completely taken aback. “Your wife?”

“Yes,” Ieyasu said with a soft smile. “You’re the strong-willed woman I’ve been searching for, the one who refuses to give up on what she wants. And the truth is… I’ve fallen in love with you.”

Tears welled up in Yōko’s eyes once more, but this time, they were tears of joy and disbelief. “Ieyasu... I—”

Before she could finish, Ieyasu pulled her into his arms. “You don’t have to say anything. Just know that I’m here, and I love you.”

In the end, Yōko’s heart healed, not because she had won Takeshi’s love, but because she had found someone who truly loved her for who she was. Ieyasu, the once-distant noble, had captured her heart in ways she had never expected.

And so, Yōko repaid her debt—not with gold or favors—but by becoming Ieyasu’s wife. Together, they laughed, bickered, and loved fiercely, creating their own happy ending under the cherry blossoms of Hana-no-Sato.