Stay With Me (Onodera x Takano)

Chapter 8

After Masamune and I visited my parents, that night he pulled me into his apartment for what he liked to call "celebratory sex".

After that day, everything seemed to be going fine. Life seemed great, like nothing in the world could interfere with our happiness. It felt like there was no way I could be happier. That was, until he asked me a very important question that changed things.

It was one night on one of our days off. He was watching the news. It had to do with something about a family who's house burnt down. That was probably what sparked his question.

"Hey Ritsu..." He started slowly. "Hm?" I asked, and turned my head towards him questioningly.

"Do you want to... move in with me?"

All movement in the room seemed to have stopped and even he seemed surprised at what he just said. "I-I mean only if you want..." He said, unsure.

"I..." I took his hand in mine and held it to my mouth. "Of course I will." I breathed into the back of his hand. Then he pulled me into a strong embrace. "Thank you so much Ritsu... I'm so happy."

"What? Did you actually think I was going to say no?..."

He let out a small laugh. And then... He started crying. "M-Masamune?" I said in a rushed tone." "What's wrong? Are you starting to feel sick?"

"No." He smiled at me, tears still spilling from his eyes. "I'm just... Really happy." He said, then kissed the top of my head. "I love you."

"How is it so easy for you to say things like that?" I questioned.

"I'm just telling the truth."

"Well then... I love you." I mumbled.

"What was that? I didn't hear you." He teased me.

"I said I love you, idiot!"

He laughed again. "I know."

I didn't say "I love you too." I said "I love you." Because adding the "too" at the end is just returning back what he said. Stating that I love him is much more powerful to me. Because I'm saying "I love you." Instead of adding the "too" which would just be saying "same."

"I love you." is the most powerful phrase.