When Akira and Taiki stepped out of the vehicle, they found an unusual scene. In front of the house, there was a strange sign on the edges of the yard with an arrow pointing towards the woods. The arrow was in the shape of a katana.

The direction to which the arrow was pointing showed a path disappearing into the woods. The path was lined with sparkling fairy lights, but Akira could not see much because of the tall trees. Moreover, the evening was getting dark.

Akira looked at Taiki in question, but the man shrugged without emotion. He also did not know the reason behind the setup. The housekeeper, an older lady, stepped from the house and handed Akira a warm cloak.

"Master Kaito said that you should follow the signs." The housekeeper said with a smile.

"Thank you, Auntie," Akira replied before putting on the cloak.

She turned from the house and looked at the arrow. Her smile was a little sweet as she started walking to the woods. Even though Kaito could be a little stubborn and annoying, he would always do things that reminded Akira of his adoration.

In the last few days, she knew that she was being unreasonable. Her temper had become a little weird because she did not feel secure about their relationship. All things considered, their relationship was more than a little rushed.

When she first met Kaito, she felt excited. His sudden appearance was like a little colour in her otherwise bland life. The excitement was enhanced by the fact that she knew he was probably after her with some motive.

When she found out he was the great assassin, her feelings were not extinguished. She thought it was even more interesting. She did not turn away from him. She sunk even deeper into his seduction, uncaring about his or her identity.

Little by little, she discovered small things about Kaito that made him someone special to her. She threw caution in the wind and decided to plunge headfirst into the relationship. She did not want to waste time second-guessing herself.

Once she found someone she liked, she had always sworn that she would not hesitate.

If Kaito had not left, things would have been perfect. The trajectory of their relationship would have been stable. She would have felt a little more reassured about her position in Kaito's heart.

Unfortunately, they had been together for a short period before he left. At the time, their relationship was new and perfect. They were still discovering things about each other, and it seemed like nothing could break them apart.

But a few months of separation was a major concern for new couples. Once an unexpected pregnancy was added, it was a recipe for disaster.

Therefore, since they returned to Mountain Ridge, she felt like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. She was afraid that at any point, Kaito would discover that their relationship was not what he wanted.

She had never been the kind of person who was filled with insecurities and fears. But she had never cared for someone as much as she did Kaito. She felt on edge because she was afraid that he would leave, and this time, it would be voluntary.

As she followed the fairy lights, her heartbeat became a little faster in anticipation.

She believed in Kaito when it seemed like there was no hope for his return. How could she doubt him when he was next to her?

The beautiful lights led her to a clearing in the middle of the woods. She realised that this area was the location of the small lake, even before she saw it. She had not come to the place because Kaito said it was dangerous.

But once she saw the scene before her, she understood the reason Kaito stopped her from coming to the place. He was preparing a surprise for her.

The lake was not frozen yet since it was only the beginning of winter. The focal point of the feature was the newly built gazebo on the lake. The wooden structure had a traditional look that was enhanced by soft yellow lighting.

Also, countless fairy lights were strung around the clearing, making the entire lake scene look magical. Additionally, water lanterns were floating on the surface of the lake, and the noises from the small forest were like music.

Akira's eyes became misty as she looked at the scene. She started walking to the gazebo, even though she did not see Kaito. Even as tears built up in her eyes and her throat became choked up, there was a smile on her face.

She stepped into the gazebo with an expectant look. She found that petals from cherry blossom trees were scattered on the wooden floor. She wondered where Kaito had gotten the flowers in the cold season when all sakura trees would be bare.

As she was wondering what she was going to do next, she heard the sound of a flute in the air. The music that flowed from the instrument was unfamiliar to her, but she could hear the depth of tones and feelings imbued in it.

It was at this moment she noticed a rowboat coming from the centre of the lake. Kaito was standing in the front part of the vessel with a bamboo flute in hand, playing it with the grace of an expert. He wearing a traditional robe as if he had just stepped out of a wuxia novel.

Akira stepped forward and waited for the boat with tears in her eyes. The entire scene was out of her expectations. Everything about the night was impossibly perfect because it showed her how much Kaito cared for her.

She swore that she would love him without reserve for all her life.

The music faded as the boat came to a stop at the end of the dock that extended into the lake. Kaito hopped out of the boat and walked towards Akira with measured and sure steps. His face was serious, but there was that twinkle of wickedness in his eyes.

He stopped before Akira and smiled as he had countless times before. His handsome face was all that Akira could see. She wanted to hug him, but he did not give her a chance. He held her hand in his own before getting down on one knee.

"Yamazaki Akira, will you marry me?"