That Time When I Fell Down the Stairs and Became a Jujutsu Sorcerer

Chapter 28 - Plans

The next morning as we packed up our things, I felt a sense of incredible calm. It had been so, so long since I felt like things were actually going to be okay. I held up the rope and looked it over again, it was hard to believe that I finally had what I needed. Years of searching and chasing finally had paid off.

Picking up my bag to sling over my shoulder, Satoru reached in between my arm and the strap and took it away, pulling it over his own shoulder. He smiled down at me, through his sunglasses, a gentle sweet smile. Turning for the hotel room door, he waited for me to catch up and walk beside him.

He sighed a low content sigh in the morning chill. Kyoto was calm still, the city hadn't quite woken up yet and it felt almost like it was only the two of us as we headed to the train station.

Satoru looked up at the clouds, “I'm feeling so goddamn good right now.” he said, his eyes flicking to me before back up to the sky.

“It's nice outside.” I agreed, pulling my arms into the pocket of my hoodie, “Just a little chilly, but like not cold? The best.”

“Well, that too.” He chuckled, “I meant about y'know, everything.”

I smiled a little, “Oh, well yeah that.” I felt my heart flutter when I caught him glancing at me again. It felt like being a shy teenager all over.

He took a step closer, our arms touching together as we walked, his hand in his pocket. I heard him chuckle, then grin, before he looked over at me again.

“I don't even know what to talk about.” He said softly, “I want to, but where to even start? There's so much!”

Somehow we'd ended up silent anyway. The street was becoming busy with people, but despite that it felt so relaxing together. I sighed, resting my head against him and he wrapped an arm around my shoulder. Looking in through the windows of the shops, I saw us together in the reflection. It felt so surreal.

Satoru was looking straight ahead, but I could see he was thinking hard. His lips parted but he didn't say a word at first. After a long hesitation he moved us both to the side, out of the way on the busy sidewalk.

"Sarah..." he looked at me for a few seconds. He seemed to be trying to think of the exact words he wanted to use.

"I don't... know how to put this eloquently, and I know that... you said you weren't interested but..." he looked at me, hoping to make his meaning clear, "But I also don't want to pretend this isn't happening... not that it needs to be rushed. I just don't want to keep this from you anymore. I've wanted to say this for a while…"

"...Sarah..." he says, his voice getting low. He swallowed hard as he tried saying what he needed without his voice quavering. He looked like he needed to get it out.

"I..."

He looked at me.

"I want to marry you."

He relaxed like those words were like some kind of weight lifted off of his chest. Quickly he held up his hand, “I know! I know I can only imagine how it sounds from your perspective. It's kind of sudden and it's right after we found out you're pregnant so it sounds like it's just for the baby but… but this is something that I've felt for a while, and it's time that you knew.”

“You really want that?” I asked quietly.

He nodded frantically, "I've wanted to ask you for a while now, but I was afraid it would scare you or change things between us. But... I can't not say it anymore. I don't care how silly it sounds or if it sounds too early. But Sarah, I want to marry you."