Just then, the path opened up. Yuna and Makoto arrived at the scenic overlook. It was a small wooden deck jutting out from the mountainside, offering a wide, panoramic view of the valley and the distant lake.
And, as if on cue, the only other couple there, a young pair whispering to each other, stood up to give a final look at the view. Then they started walking back down the trail, leaving the entire spot empty for them.
Yuna's head popped up from Makoto's shoulder. "Good, they're leaving," she said, her voice instantly regaining its imperious command. "Okay, take me to that spot. Right in the middle, against the railing. That's the best view."
But she made no move to get off his back. She stayed right where she was, her chin on his shoulder, content to be carried to her throne, high above everything else.
"Not too bad, we're lucky not too many people know about this view." Makoto sat in the middle of the deck. "Come on, you can't view it from back there." He let her down next to him. "Better?"
Yuna's feet touched the wooden deck, but she didn't stand on her own. She immediately leaned her full weight against Makoto, her head finding its home on his shoulder again. She let out a long sigh of contentment.
"It's okay," she murmured, her voice quiet as she gazed out at the sprawling view. The sky was vast, the valley a deep green, and the distant lake glittered like a fallen piece of sky. "I've seen better on National Geographic."
She was quiet for a long moment, just watching the clouds drift by. "But," she added softly, her thumb stroking the back of his neck where her hand was resting, "it's better from here, with you, Makoto." She said the last part so quietly he almost missed it.
Her other hand came up to rest on her stomach, and a thoughtful expression crossed her face. "Do you think she'll be able to see all this someday?" she whispered. "The baby, I mean. Do you think she'll like this view?"
She looked up at him, her violet eyes wide and serious, the usual tsundere fire gone for once. "Or he. Do you think they'll be happy with us?"
"Of course, he or she will be happy with us." Makoto ran his hand through her hair. "We can come back here on our anniversary trips, so the kid can view it too."
He grasped Yuna's hand. "I didn't manage to get a ring yet, but... as I already said on the train. Will you be my bride, Yuna?"
The world seemed to stop. Yuna tensed, every muscle in her body going rigid. She slowly lifted her head from his shoulder to look at Makoto, her violet eyes wide with shock and rapidly escalating panic.
"You… you absolute… MORON!" she shrieked and shoved him. It was a hard, angry push that barely made him budge. "You already asked that in front of everyone on the stupid train! Are you an idiot?! Do you have amnesia?! Why are you asking again?!"
Tears, hot and furious, welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them. "I hated it. I hated him for making me cry so easily."
"Are you trying to humiliate me again?! Is that it?!" she sobbed, punching him weakly in the chest. "You're the worst! The most insensitive, clumsy, fat, pervert, stupid pid!" She cut herself off with a choked sob.
Then she grabbed the front of his shirt, balled the fabric in her fists, and shook him. "Of course I'll be your bride, you idiot!" Yuna screamed. "Who else would marry you?! Who else would put up with your perverted cosplay fetish and your other stupid harem?! Of course it's me! It's always been me!"
She pulled him down and crushed her lips against his. It was desperate, possessive, and almost painful, tasting of salt from her tears, anger, and years of pent-up longing. It was a kiss that said, "You are mine, and I will never let you go."
When Yuna finally pulled back, she was gasping for air, her face a mess of tears and fury and overwhelming joy. She kept her fists clenched on his shirt.
Makoto smiled, pecking at her eyes to lick off her tears. "Well, let's slowly go back, we have half an hour to get to the soba stall."
Yuna huffed and squirmed as he lifted her again, but it was a fake protest. She settled in immediately, her arms and legs locking around him as if she belonged there. "Don't think you can just carry me and ask me whatever you want, pervert brother," she grumbled, but her voice was soft. "I'm still mad at you for making me cry."
She was quiet for a long moment as they started walking back down the trail. The rhythmic crunch of their footsteps and the dappled sunlight seemed to lull her into a more contemplative state.
As they made their way down the hill, Makoto whispered, "So… any plans for our future baby's name?"
"Idiot," she finally said, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "Of course I've thought about it. I'm not an airhead like Mafuyu-nee or a dumb cow like Ayane. I plan for our future."
She took a deep breath, puffing out her chest. "If it's a girl, her name has to be Yumi," she declared, as if it were an unchangeable law of physics. "It means 'beautiful' and 'bow' (弓), which is perfect. And it sounds like Yuna, so everyone will know she's my daughter. It's the best name."
She paused, a smug smile playing on her lips. Makoto couldn't see it, but he could hear it in her voice. "And if it's a useless boy who takes after you…" she continued, her tone dismissive. "I guess we can call him Masaki. It has 'Ma' from your stupid name, so he knows who his father is. But 'saki' means 'first' or 'pride,' so he'll also know who's really in charge in this family."
Yuna tightened her grip on Makoto's neck. "So don't you dare go suggesting any stupid weeb names like Sasuke or Muzan! These have already been decided. I'm their mother; my decisions are final. Got it?"
"Fine, fine, you decide," Makoto shrugged as they walked down the hike. "Let's hope little Yumi or Masaki won't keep calling me 'baka papa' under your education then."
Yuna let out another indignant "HEY!" and smacked the back of his head, a bit harder this time. "Of course they'll call you a 'baka papa'! Because you ARE a 'baka papa'! That's just stating a fact!" she retorted, her voice full of its usual fiery energy.
"It's not my fault you're a clumsy, perverted idiot who needs to be constantly managed. I'm just teaching our child to be observant and honest. It's a valuable life skill!"
She rested her chin on his shoulder, her tone softening slightly. "Besides," she murmured, her voice a smug whisper, "They'll call me 'Okaa-sama' or 'Mama Yuna' with respect. Because I'll be the cool and respected parent. You can be the big, soft, dumb teddy bear they cry on when I'm being too strict."
She was quiet for a moment as the path widened, the sounds of the main road beginning to filter back in. "It's called a balanced parenting style, idiot."
As they neared the end of the trail and the small soba restaurant came into sight, she spotted a familiar figure sitting on a bench outside. It was Mika, sipping a bottle of cold tea and reading a book, looking completely composed.
"Ugh, she's here already," Yuna grumbled, tightening her grip on him. "Probably waiting to log our date and deduct points for tardiness."
She leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear. "Hurry up and put me down before she sees us, big bro. Let's act cool. Like we weren't being all disgusting and romantic earlier."