Final chapter – A Birthday, A Promise, and A Candle

When I woke up, my first thought was: Did that really happen last night?
The snowstorm, the collapse, Hina dragging me like a sack of rice… and Usagi. Her smile, her words. 
It all felt like a dream someone scribbled on wet paper. blurry and unreal. 

But my cheek still remembered the warmth of her tears, and my chest still carried the weight of her voice.So maybe it wasn’t a dream after all.

“…Tch.” I pulled the blanket tighter around myself. My throat was still sore, and my body ached like I had wrestled three bears in the snow. (Spoiler: I hadn’t. Unless Hina counted as one, which... honestly she might.)The door slid open.

“Ah, you’re awake,” Airi said, Her Airi voice. Not Usagi’s. Not smug or teasing. just soft, calm, almost shy.
She was carrying a tray. On it sat a bowl of steaming porridge, some vegetables I very clearly hated, and a cup of tea so hot the steam almost blinded me.

“Eat,” she said, setting the tray down next to me. “Before you faint again.”

“…Do I get a choice?” I croaked.

“No."

Of course not.
I sat up slowly, legs wobbling like jelly. Airi instantly reached out, steadying me with one hand on my shoulder. Her touch was warm, steady. Nothing like the girl who used to bully me. Nothing like Usagi either. Just… Airi.

“…Thanks,” I muttered.She looked away, lips twitching like she was trying not to smile. “Don’t make me repeat myself. Eat.”

So I did. The porridge was bland, the vegetables were disgusting, and the tea was so hot I nearly boiled my tongue off.

But every time I coughed, she pushed the cup closer. Every time I frowned at a vegetable, she nudged the bowl toward me. Every time I slowed down, she picked up the spoon and hovered it threateningly, like she’d feed me herself.
…It was annoying. It was embarrassing.And it was the most cared for I had ever felt.

For a moment, I thought of Usagi again—her last smile, her words.And then I looked at Airi, sitting there with her messy short hair sticking out at odd angles, watching me eat.

Yeah, Usagi was right.Even if she disappeared, the part of Airi that loved me never would.

Then suddenly—

“Yuuji-kun,” a voice called.
I blinked and Looked up.

I wasn’t staring at porridge anymore.I was staring at a diary. My diary, The one I had been writing since high school. The one I had been reading for the past hour. 
The pages were worn, the handwriting messy. Every word was mine, every stupid “Mental Diary” entry, every rant about Airi being crazy, every confession I never said out loud.

“…Huh.” I laughed softly. “Guess I really was hopeless back then.”
A hand reached out, closing the diary gently.

“Hopeless? More like stubborn.”
I looked up.Airi.
But not the short-haired, sharp-tongued Airi from back then.

This Airi had long, flowing hair tied loosely behind her shoulders. She wore a soft cardigan over her clothes, and her violet eyes had lost their sharp edge. Now they just looked warm and gentle. 
And she was smiling, At me.

“You’re still reading that old thing?” she teased, sliding the diary away. “Honestly… who keeps a record of every fight, every snack, even cuddle minute?”

“…A genius,” I deadpanned.
She rolled her eyes, but her smile didn’t fade. “It’s been, what, six? Seven years since then? And you’re still the same.”
“Hey... I did matured.”

“Mmhm. Sure.” She poked my cheek. “Mature people pout when they eat vegetables.”
I swatted her hand away, trying not to grin. “…So what? We’re married now. You’re stuck with me forever.”
Her cheeks turned faintly pink. She looked away, mumbling, “…I know.”

Yeah, That’s right. Married.We were living in her old house now. Our house.And for some reason, life didn’t feel so scary anymore.

Later that day, we decided to take a walk.

The snow had melted into soft slush, Airi wore her scarf, long hair swaying behind her, and I walked beside her with my hands stuffed in my pockets.
For a while, we just strolled in silence.

Then she said quietly, “Do you remember when you carried me to the nurse’s office? First year.”

“…Yeah. You called me a donkey.”She laughed, covering her mouth. “Well, you were moving slower than one.”

“And you nearly broke my back.” 
She smirked. “And yet, here you are. Alive. Stronger thanks to me. You’re welcome.” 
“Do you remember the festival? The Christmas Café?”
“…Don’t remind me.” I groaned. “That romance card system was evil.”
She giggled. “You were so red I thought you’d faint.”

“You weren’t any better.”
She didn’t deny it. Just smiled softly, her eyes distant. “We were so awkward back then…”

I glanced at her. The way her hair glowing in the winter sun, the way her lips curved so gently. it felt like the Airi from back then, and Usagi, and this Airi now… they were all here. In one person.
“…We made it, huh?” I said quietly.
She looked at me, surprised. Then she smiled. “Yeah. We did.”
When we got home, we noticed something strange.
A group of people was standing outside our house, shivering in the cold.

“…Uh. Did we just get robbed?” I whispered.
The group turned.

“FINALLY!” Daiki shouted. “Do you know how long we’ve been waiting out here?!”

Behind him, Mika waved both hands frantically, her braids bouncing. “We wanted to surprise you, Yuuji-kun!”

Hina was standing calmly with her arms crossed, while Kenta was trying... and failing to juggle three party poppers at once.

“…What’s going on?” I asked.

Daiki groaned. “We were supposed to set up inside! But SOMEONE—” he jabbed a thumb at Airi “—forgot to unlock the door.”

Airi blinked. “Oh...”

Hina sighed. “Honestly. Some things never change.”

So yeah. Surprise ruined.Apparently, it was supposed to be a birthday party.For me.

The moment we got inside, chaos broke loose.Daiki and Mika wouldn’t stop clinging to each other like some rom-com couple. (Apparently, they’d been dating for years now. Who knew?)

Hina and Kenta, meanwhile, were… well. “Together” was the only word I could think of. Though watching Hina calmly sip tea while Kenta loudly declared himself her “forever partner in crime” was… unsettling.

And then, of course, the interrogation started.

“So when are we getting nieces and nephews?” Daiki grinned, elbowing me.

“Yeah!” Mika added, face red but determined. “I wanna be an aunt!”

Kenta jumped in. “Uncle Kenta has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?!”

Even Hina, sipping her tea, said in her flat tone, “Children would suit you two.”

Airi nearly dropped the plate she was holding, but instead of denying it, she cleared her throat and muttered, “…I wouldn’t mind.”

The whole room froze.I nearly spat out my tea. “Wh-what do you mean you wouldn’t mind?!”

Her cheeks were bright red now, but she crossed her arms stubbornly. “I mean what I said. Don’t make me repeat it.”

The gang erupted. Daiki was howling. Mika was squealing. Kenta fell over laughing. Even Hina raised an eyebrow, which was basically her version of screaming.

“SEE?!” Daiki shouted. “Even AIRI wants it! What’s your excuse, Yuuji?!”
“Y-you can’t just—! That’s not—! This isn’t fair!” I flailed.

Airi smirked at me from across the room, clearly enjoying the chaos.
Eventually, someone turned off the lights.
A cake appeared, candles lights up.
Everyone started singing off-key, loud, terrible. But Perfect.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and blew out the candles.

In that moment, I thought of everything-The boy I was. The girl who bullied me. The girl who saved me. The girl who loved me.

And the woman standing beside me now, smiling brighter than any candle could.

Life was messy, loud, ridiculous.But it was mine.

And for once, that felt like enough.

Final Entry – Yuuji’s Mental Diary
Airi Status: Still bossy, now with long hair. Married to me. (Unbelievable.)

Usagi Status: Gone… but not really. She always lives in Airi, and in me.

Best Friend Status: Daiki is still loud. Somehow got Mika.

Chaos Goblin Status: Kenta is dating Hina. Yes, seriously. Still don’t get it.

Health: Survived running through a snowstorm. Miracles happen.

Cuddle Minutes: Lost count. (Probably 9999+.)

Food Rating: Airi’s porridge = 4/10. Cake = 12/10. 

Vegetables = -999/10.

Future Outlook: Loud, Chaotic, Full of love, Wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Final thought?
I used to think surviving high school with Airi was the hardest thing in the world. Turns out, the real challenge is easier. just holding her hand, every day, from now on. And maybe making sure she never sneaks any vegetables onto my cake.