The next morning Eizan was sitting next to his bed and staring at her sleeping face lost in thought. “I really should wake her up soon. The movers will be here in two hours. I’m sure she will want to get ready.” He reached up and stroked her cheek. “I can’t believe she fell asleep with her glasses on again. I don’t get how she does it.” He smiled softly at her. “I’m happy she actually agreed to be my girlfriend. I don’t think I’ve ever been that nervous. I don’t even know what I would have done if she had said no. I’m happy she said yes.” He was still stroking her cheek. “Wake up sleepy head.” She moaned softly “Just five more minutes.” He smiled and thought “We were up until almost midnight last night. She’s probably exhausted.” He stood up and walked towards the kitchen to make coffee.

She was lying in bed when the smell of coffee woke her. She sat up drowsily and looked around the room. She had a slightly sad expression on her face as she realized this would be the last time, she woke up here. Then her thoughts wondered to last night. ”I can’t believe he actually asked me out. I was so shocked I didn’t even know how to react. I thought I would have to wait until the end of the month for us to become a couple.” Her expression soured a little. “I’m happy he gave me the ability to not get engaged, at the end of the month. But for some reason I wish he didn’t. It slightly bothers me. Honestly, if he had proposed I might have just said yes. Does he still need time to decide?” She sighed. “What am I even worried about. We’re moving in the right direction. I should just be happy we officially together.”

Eizan rounded the corner a few seconds later with two cups of coffee in his hand. “You're awake.” She looked at him and replied “The smell of coffee woke me up.” He walked over and handed her a cup of coffee. Plenty of cream and sugar just the way she liked it. She wrapped her hands around it to feel the warmth and brought it up to her face to smell the good aroma. “I tried to wake you a few minutes ago but you still seemed tired so I thought I would let you rest for a few more minutes.” She looked up at him and smiled as she took a sip of her coffee. “What time is it?”

“It’s 8 am the movers should be here in a couple hours.”

She looked around the room with a slightly sad expression on her face. “It’s going to be sad to leave this apartment. I was just starting to feel at home here.” Eizan looked around the room. “I remember the first day I ever came to this apartment. There was nothing here. I had nothing but a bag of clothes and a futon.” Eizan was lost in thought for a second. His mind wandered back to the day he moved here. He had taken the train from Kyoto by himself. He sat in this very room staring at the blank room around him. He thought of it as a metaphor for restarting his life. He thought back to the last few weeks. This apartment had always felt drab and boring until she arrived in his life. He thought back to all the times the place had been completely trashed. Garbage and clothes strewn all over the floor. He looked over at her still sitting on the bed. “You know. I think I’m going to miss this place too. I restarted my life here. It was hard at first. At times I thought about giving up. But now looking around here I’m happy I restarted my life here.” He paused for a few seconds. “But you know what? I think I’m excited to be moving to a new place. It feels like a new beginning again. But this time I get to restart with you.” She smiled brightly. “Yeah, it’s going to be exciting. I wonder what the new place will be like.” Eizan tilted his head. “Did you not look at the address yet?” Mio shook her head. Eizan laughed “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

Three hours later, Mio is currently looking up at a large modern looking apartment building. She looked over at Eizan who was standing next to her. “Wasn’t this building just finished a few months ago.” Eizan giggled and looked at her with a weird look on his face. “Um, my grandfather started construction on it as soon as I moved here. He’s tried to get me to move here, since it’s completion.” She looked over at him and narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t these supposed to be luxury apartments.” Eizan grabbed her hand. “Oh, just wait.” He walked her through the lobby and towards the elevator. He took a key card out of his pocket and tapped it to a pad outside of the elevator. She gave him a weird look. “What’s that?” He handed her the key card. “This is your key.” The elevator opened and they stepped inside. “Where are the buttons?” He laughed a little “You don’t need them. It’s really a nice design no one can go to a floor without a designated key card. Don’t lose it you won’t be able to get inside.”

“Have you been here before?”

“Like I said, he tried to get me to move here a few months ago. But I refused.”

“Why would you do that?” Eizan laughed “You’ll see.” The elevator slowed and came to a stop. The doors opened and they stepped out. Mio was looking around in shock. She thought they would get off in a hallway but she was mistaken. They stepped directly into the apartment. She was gazing around the giant open floor concept apartment. “W-what floor is this?”

“We have half of the top floor.” Her eyes opened wide. “This is too much.” Eizan started to walk forward. “Why do you think I turned it down.” Directly to her right was a big beautiful open concept kitchen with white cabinets and white quartz counter tops. She could see a large dining table at the end of it with seating for ten people. Directly in front of her was a large living room composed of an oversized sectional couch, large coffee table, loveseat, and giant television hanging on the wall. She was marveling at the giant floor to ceiling windows that composed almost the whole wall at the other end of the apartment. She could see a large balcony through the windows. To her left was a long wall with three doors on it. She assumed that they were the bedrooms and bathroom.

Eizan turned and looked at her. He started laughing. She puffed out her cheeks and scolded him. “Stop laughing at me.”

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“You’re just so cute when you’re surprised.” He smiled at her brightly. “Welcome, to your new home.” She blushed. “Would you like me to show you to your room?” He gave her a tour of their bedrooms and showed her the extremely large bathroom. They looked through the kitchen and then he led her out to the balcony. The view from the balcony was amazing. She looked off into the distance. She was surprised that she could see their school from here. Eizan was standing next to her. He looked over at her and asked “So, what do you think of the apartment?” She looked over at him with a faint smile. “It’s very nice. But I have to say it doesn’t feel as cozy as your old apartment.” He reached out and grabbed her hand. “Don’t worry. Give it some time. All our stuff should be here in a while.” Just then his phone rang. He looked down at it and smiled. “You ready, I have a surprise for you.” She gave him a strange look.” They walked inside and the doorbell rang. Eizan walked up to a screen next to the elevator and said come one up to the person on the other side. “Who was that?”

"It’s your mother and brother.”

“What? Why are they here?”

“Last night while you were sleeping, I asked if they would bring some of your stuff from home. That way you could feel more at home here.” Her eyes widened and she had a big smile on her face. “Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He walked up and stroked her cheek. “I want you to feel at home here. I want you to be happy here. If there is anything that you want just let me know.” She rubbed her cheek against his hand. “I will.”

Benjiro and Kagami arrived a minute later with the elevator packed with boxes. Mio ran up and gave her mom a hug. Benjiro was standing there gazing in awe at the nice-looking apartment. They all four spent the next couple minutes unloading boxes from the elevator. “Mom this Is a lot of boxes.”

Kagami laughed “Well, it is everything beside the furniture from your room.”

Mio was staring at her. “Everything?”

Kagami gave her a small smile. “We wanted you to be comfortable. I packed all of your clothes myself and Benjiro packed all of your knickknacks and books.” Mio had a tear roll down her cheek. She gave her mother a big hug. “Thank you, mom.” Kagami hugged her back even tighter. “Anything for you my wonderful daughter and if you decide to move back at the end of the month. We will come gather all your things.” Mio nodded. Eizan and Benjiro were staring at the pair. Benjiro had his normally blank stare and Eizan had a soft smile on his face. Benjiro looked over at him. “You better treat my sister well.” Eizan turned and looked him right in the eyes. “I would do anything for her. You don’t have to worry.” Benjiro smiled. “That’s good to hear.” Eizan and Benjiro shook hands. “Feel free to come visit any time.” Benjiro nodded.

They all helped her move the boxes into her room and Eizan’s boxes arrived shortly after. He just had them pile everything near the entrance way. He had more than just his bedroom stuff in the boxes. Moving everything to his room would be pointless. Afterwards, Mio gave her mother and Benjiro a short tour of the apartment and took them out on the balcony to see the view. Eizan was staring at them from inside. Smiling happily as he watched Mio and Benjiro point at different things in the city below. After a few minutes everyone left and it was just Mio and him again. She came up and gave him a hug. “Thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome.”

They decided to separate and start unpacking boxes. Mio went to her room while Eizan started to distribute his belongings to their respective locations. After about three hours they had unpacked everything. Mio was sprawled out on the couch staring at the large tv hanging on the wall. Eizan was in the kitchen getting them drinks. Eizan brought her some tea he had made and set it on the table in front of her. “It was really nice of your grandfather to lend us this apartment.” Eizan gave her a strange look. He scratched his cheek. “I think I need to tell you something.” She looked at him curiously. “U-um, he didn’t lend us this apartment. He actually gave it to me months ago.”

“W-what? H-he gave it to you.”

“Yeah, technically this is my apartment. I own it, I guess.”

“W-why would he just give you this nice of an apartment?”

Eizan sighed and leaned back on the couch. He stared at the ceiling as he spoke. “It was kind of like a bribe. I’ve told you he wants me to take over for him eventually. Even though he gave this to me with no strings attached, I refused to move in.”

Mio looked down at the cup of tea with a sad expression on her face. “I’m sorry, I caused you to have to move here.”

Eizan turned and looked at her, noticing the look on her face. “Don’t worry about it. I probably would have used this place eventually. Actually, I’m the reason you ended up in the marriage meeting in the first place.” She gave him a curious look. “You know my grandfather keeps tabs on all his family members?” She nodded. “I guarantee he got into contact with your father after realizing we had started to get close. In a way this whole thing is my fault. He knew if it was for you, I would probably meet his demands.”

“F-for me?”

“Of course. He’s a smart man. I bet he figured out I had fallen for you before I did.” Mio started to blush. “I’ve told you before he and I are similar. I may not be as cold hearted as he is, but I will do pretty much anything for those who are dear to me.” She scooted close to him on the couch. She snuggled up next to him. “You know sometimes, your too nice. It makes my heart race.” She hugged his arm. He smiled and stroked the top of her head. “I’m glad to know I can make your heart race.” She blushed and mumbled “Dummy.” They cuddled on the couch for an hour watching television. She was thinking that she was the only one who’s heart was racing but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Her two large mounds were pressed against his arm as they cuddled. His heart was beating as fast as a marathon runners. “Hey are we still going to your parent’s house next weekend?” Eizan nodded. “We have exams Thursday and get off school early Friday. I thought we would take the train to Kyoto Friday night. Is that ok with you?” She nodded and smiled. “That’s fine with me. I’m a little nervous though.”

“Don’t be. You’ve already met my parents. My sister can be a handful but she’s perfectly nice.”

They lazed around the apartment the rest of the weekend. They got a lot closer over the weekend. The distance between them became almost nonexistent. They were cuddling or sitting on the couch so close they were basically always touching. Eizan at one point looked at the giant sectional couch they were sitting on and wondered if there was even a point to having so much room.