March 24, 2030 4:50 PM

"Thanks for the ride," Kadoc said to the cab driver as he paid his fare and got off in the small university town. He still couldn't shake off the habit of being dropped off by one street from where he actually lived, but that was fine. He hummed his favorite song as he walked towards home, light-hearted and eager to get back to Ritsuka after three weeks apart due to work.

It was slightly disconcerting to see the bakery called Fujimaru's not have its homely yellow lights on, but the lights on the first floor of the building where they lived were visible, so Kadoc decided he would only worry if there was something obviously wrong when he got inside. The door had a visible "Sorry, we're closed!" sign hanging from its interior side and when Kadoc peered inside the dim bakery windows, he saw there was nothing on the shelves. Ritsuka must have decided to close up shop with some kind of Clock Tower exam looming on the horizon for him. Putting a hand on the door that went directly to their living space, Kadoc was satisfied to see their Bounded Field was still intact. He headed inside, placed his shoes in the shoe rack right before the stairway, and trudged upstairs with his luggage.

"Kadoc, is that you?" Ritsuka shouted distantly from their dining room. Damn, so much for Kadoc's surprise hug and kiss to reveal he came back.

"Yep, it's me," Kadoc replied as he opened the door to see the person he loved sitting as usual at their dining table. "I'm back."

"Welcome home," Ritsuka said as he turned around to greet Kadoc, holding a calculator and a few papers in his hands. He was wearing black-rimmed glasses, a thing he had not been using when Kadoc left England three weeks ago.

"Wait, when did you start wearing glasses?" Kadoc asked, befuddled that he had missed such a major development in the short time he was gone.

"I had to make a trip to the optometrist while you were away. Turns out I absolutely need glasses for reading and computers now. Seems like there's an actual consequence to doing academia for several years straight on top of other stuff," Ritsuka lightly shrugged. "I'm pretty sure I texted you, and I know your phone was off during your trip, so I guess you didn't check when your plane landed. I got new piercings too because I thought white would look better with my new glasses. How does the Fujimaru Ritsuka for the 2030s look?"

Kadoc hadn't noticed that Ritsuka's red piercings, a fixture on his right ear since their second year of dating when Ritsuka insisted he had to get one of his ears pierced to match Kadoc's left ear, had been replaced with white ones until it was pointed out to him.

"You look different, but in a good way," Kadoc decided. No matter what Ritsuka had on him, Kadoc was sure he could find a way to like it eventually.

"Thanks, that's great to hear! How was Mexico?"

"Pretty exhausting," Kadoc answered. "Way too much mountaineering for my liking. But I did bring back some souvenirs for us." He unzipped his suitcase and pulled out two scarves as well as a packet of bright orange sugared skulls. "This candy's my late White Day gift for you."

"Aww, you remembered," Ritsuka said as he took the bag of candy to examine it.

"I'd never break my streak of giving you sweets for White Day," Kadoc said with utter seriousness.

"And there's one more gift I have in mind," Kadoc continued. Taking a deep breath, Kadoc got down on one knee and pulled out a tiny velvet box out of his jacket to present to Ritsuka. He flicked it open to reveal a golden ring engraved with a simple diamond pattern inside. Staring directly into the blue eyes of the man he adored for over ten years, he said,

"Ritsuka Fujimaru, may I have the honour of marrying you?"

Kadoc's proposal immediately caused Ritsuka to burn furiously red in shock. Between his new glasses and the way his white piercings stood out in stark contrast to the scarlet skin of his right ear, he looked like the cutest, dorkiest man alive. Kadoc couldn't think of a more perfect reaction to capture why he was still in love with this charmingly goofy yet straightforward man after all this time.

"B-b-b-but what about your need for an heir to your family magecraft? I-i-i-isn't that a problem with marrying me?" Ritsuka asked.

That was the last reaction Kadoc had expected from him. God, over ten years of dating and Ritsuka was still an utter spacehead.

"Ritsuka, you and I can both adopt in terms of passing on our Crests. The alternative is I guess some weirdo tries to dig up our corpses, extract them from us and then it's their problem after that."

"I, I don't really want that to happen to us after we die, that sounds gross," Ritsuka grimaced.

"Ugh, we're getting off topic. Marriage with me. Is that okay. Yes or no."

"T-there's no way I would say no. It's gotta be yes, a million times yes!!" Ritsuka exclaimed as his face slowly returned to normal and he got up from his seat to take the ring. Kadoc knew that would probably be the answer, but he was still terribly excited Ritsuka actually said yes out loud. They were no longer just boyfriends, but now fiancés…!

"Do you have your own ring?" Ritsuka asked as he examined the gold ring now on his right ring finger.

"Of course," Kadoc replied as he took his gloves off to reveal the two rings he was going to wear from now on, his usual silver ring he had since he was a teenager on his index finger and the other silver ring that would join it on his ring finger. Barring the material, it was an otherwise identical ring to the one Ritsuka wore, engraved with a horizontal diamond pattern.

"Why is my engagement ring gold and yours silver? Kadoc, are you underselling yourself again…?" Ritsuka asked with a tone of annoyance at the implication Kadoc was putting Ritsuka ahead of himself again.

"Look, all my jewellery is silver, I'm not going to change that just because I'm getting married!" That was genuinely the sole reason Kadoc had bought the two rings that caught his eye when he hatched the engagement plan and found the perfect rings to go with them in Mexico City. He hadn't thought of it like how his fiancé saw it until it was said out loud by Ritsuka.

"Okay, Mr. Silver, come here and give me a kiss to make our engagement official," Ritsuka beckoningly said as he walked forward and Kadoc eagerly joined him, holding each other in an ever familiar manner as they locked their lips together for the billionth time. God, Kadoc had missed Ritsuka's warm touch, three weeks was such a long time without him.

"Uh, Ritsuka, what were you doing before I got back?" Kadoc asked when their mouths finally parted.

"Huh? Oh, right. I was just doing our bills and taxes. You probably need to look at this stuff too when you're ready," Ritsuka said as he picked up his calculator and sat back down at the dining table. He jabbed away at the calculator buttons a few times, looked at his laptop, scribbled some numbers in his notebook, and frowned. "I hope the Association pay comes in for you soon…"

"Is the bakery not doing well?"

"It's not looking great, we're only barely above the red," Ritsuka sighed. "Getting hired for that massive birthday blowout Miss Archelot's throwing for her father will keep us afloat for at least one more month, but after that… I'm not sure. We probably can't spend too much money on our wedding whenever you want to hold it."

"I just wanted to propose and then go down to the registry office to make it official. Do we really need a full-blown wedding?"

Ritsuka gave him a look as if Kadoc was missing the obvious here. It was probably meant to be forceful, but honestly with the new glasses magnifying his eyes, Kadoc could only think he looked adorable. "I can't bake our wedding cake just for signing papers. We're having an actual wedding and that's final."

Kadoc hadn't taken into consideration the day job of the person he was marrying. Had he accidentally unleashed a groomzilla unto the world if Ritsuka was already planning out his wedding cake and recalculating their monthly budget for a wedding next month?

"Don't tell me, we need new clothes tailored just for the wedding?" Kadoc asked as he pulled out a chair to join Ritsuka who was frantically scribbling away on a new page in his notebook with his usual monstrous hybrid of English and Japanese shorthand that was only interpretable by him.

"Oh, I didn't even think of that! Yeah, that's also going on the list of things we need to figure out." Oh no. Ritsuka continued, oblivious to Kadoc's rising fear at this engagement rapidly becoming a runaway train he had no control over. "Let's see, what else, venue, decorations, flowers, catering, guests… Should we invite our old bandmates for a reunion to do music?"

"Those guys? We haven't even talked to any of them about the band since… what, seven years ago?" The prospect of ringing them up to do music for their wedding after they decisively broke up the band formed during Ritsuka's graduate studies because of their summons to Antarctica sounded mortifying to Kadoc.

"I think Rokka is still good friends with us and doesn't have a grudge about the whole deal, maybe she could persuade the others?"

"I'll leave that to you. All I know is I wanted to get married before my birthday next month."

"Oh no, I completely forgot that," Ritsuka groaned as he began to tap his calculator again. "…Speaking of birthday, is there anyone from Poland you'd invite to our wedding?"

Kadoc shook his head. "I'd have to make some massive stretches for that. Only acquaintances from the Clock Tower at most. What about you, do you think your family will actually show? I mean, your sister's a 50-50 but are you going to actually send an invite to your parents?"

"I call my mom all the ti-"

"When was the last time you talked to her in person?" Kadoc interrupted to rephrase his question. They both knew the answer but it needed saying anyway.

Ritsuka sighed. "Still two years ago, right after we left Antarctica. I get your point. I'll send invitations to some of my family and hope they at least respond."

The memory of them coming out with their relationship to Ritsuka's family was still an awkward topic to dwell on. Right after the massive incident that resulted in Rayshifting becoming completely taboo, all related people being sworn to never involve themselves with such a project again, and the multiple near death experiences the two had gone through while trying to help resolve it, Ritsuka managed to convince Kadoc that he should tell someone about their relationship before they had another encounter with the possibility of dying. The reception they received from doing it during an extended Fujimaru family gathering for Obon was one of the chilliest things Kadoc had ever felt and the two had both camped in actual multiple blizzards by that point. A massive row broke out between Ritsuka and several of his older family members on being queer.

Ritsuka's father shipping all his son's things to Kadoc and Ritsuka's home served to underscore the rift that had grown between the disappointing son and the rest of his family.

Suffice it to say, all subsequent trips to Japan only had them staying at cheap hotels and experiencing much of those by themselves. There were far too many nights where Kadoc had to console a sobbing Ritsuka in his lap.

Kadoc got up to break the awkward silence. "I think I'll go draw a bath for now and then see what I can do later."

"No, no, let me set up the bath. You just got back from Mexico, you should unpack first. I need a break from these stupid bills anyway," Ritsuka insisted as he also got up to head to the washroom. Kadoc didn't really see any way to argue against his logic, so he went back to his luggage, sorting through dirty clothes and used toiletries, his magecraft equipment, and everything else.

Ten minutes later, Ritsuka announced the tub was ready. Kadoc quickly took off his work clothes, which stank after such a long time out, and deposited them in the laundry basket before he stepped into the tub. After scrubbing himself with soap and washing his hair, Kadoc reclined to enjoy the pleasant soak after three weeks away from home, his mind allowed to shut down for some time.

"Hmm?" Kadoc lazily opened an eye when he heard a splish disturbing the calm waters of his bathtub. He looked up to see a nude Ritsuka entering the tub to enjoy the bath as well, an event he had sorely missed.

"I was wondering if you dozed off as usual from jet lag," Ritsuka murmured as he nestled himself into Kadoc's lap.

"Nah, I slept in both the plane and the cab on my way back, so I'm actually more refreshed than usual. Should I wash your back?"

"Yes, please," Ritsuka said as he straightened his posture. Kadoc began his usual slow and methodical scrub of his partner's back with the nearby washcloth and soap. "Ahh, you're the best at this. I missed you so much."

"Me too," Kadoc murmured. Even his colleagues could tell that Kadoc was constantly thinking of someone else during his longest work trip to date, which would be annoying, if he wasn't so subsumed about feeling forlorn without his partner.

"There's a time limit for how long I can be in here, by the way. I have night classes at seven as usual," Ritsuka informed Kadoc when his partner's washing was finished and they could simply fondle each other in the bath.

"Ah right, do you have an exam or something coming up? I saw the bakery was closed today."

"Actually, no, it's just you're way too vital to our bakery's operations. I kinda need you as my middle manager again because the rate at which we're getting orders is getting pretty high of late. I had to shut down a few days ago simply to clear those out, I can't do day-to-day operations and personalized orders at the same time without someone I trust to help. Part-timers aren't cutting it anymore either, I need to train more employees or figure out how to get more professionals working for me. In fact, can you believe this, last Sunday one of the new hires said we open way too early? Excuse me, what kind of person doesn't see 8 AM as a perfectly reasonable time to open and 6 PM to close? And then there's the people making cake orders that want me to write something offensive on them, what the hell…."

Kadoc sympathetically listened to Ritsuka vent about his experiences running their little bakery of late. His partner's work ethic was both admirable and honestly kind of terrifying. Kadoc thought he was a hard worker, but he was utterly blown away by Ritsuka who made the insane decision to not only run a bakery as he had dreamed for so long and commit to his magecraft studies at the same time when they settled in one of the small towns specifically made to support the Clock Tower to finally make due on Kadoc's promise to enroll his student as a formal mage two years ago. He hoped that Ritsuka wouldn't burn himself out by committing to their apparently locked in wedding as a third responsibility.

"…Anyway, I know you probably wanted to spend tomorrow as your first day off with me, but unfortunately I think I'm going to be busy all day and night restocking to open for business in a few days. Maybe next Sunday if we're lucky?"

"As long as we get to be in the same bed every night, I'm happy. I'll be your loving manager, teacher, and house husband until then."

Ritsuka raised a finger. "We aren't married yet so you're not my house husband yet. You're like my… house boyfriend? House fiancé?"

Kadoc rolled his eyes and splashed water at Ritsuka's hand. "You know what I mean."

"Hehe, but really, though, I can't wait until we're officially husbands! Ahh, I can't believe you decided to propose so suddenly!! What made you want to do it now of all times?"

"When a hundred reanimated bird skeletons were staring at me, I decided I'd rather at least get hitched before I was going to die to those of all things." It was a very abridged explanation, but that would do for now.

"That makes me feel like we could've gotten married two years ago then."

"Nah, I like life as it is now. If we married then, I'm not sure we'd have gotten those initial loans for the bakery…"

When it was nearing six, Ritsuka decided he should get out to give himself an hour to prepare before going to his nightly classes at the Clock Tower. Kadoc joined him because his soak had gone on long enough… and he'd rather spend the remaining time today at home as much as possible with him rather than without.

"What's for dinner?" Kadoc asked as he went over himself with a hair dryer.

Ritsuka had an apologetic look on his face as he ran a towel over himself. Kadoc realized his partner had to squint his eyes to focus on him without the new glasses. Damn, they were getting old. "Sorry, it's only leftover curry today. I thought you'd eat out and come home later, so I didn't really prepare anything…"

"It's okay, even leftover curry is good when it's your home cooking," Kadoc smiled. It was cheesy, but there was just something different about Ritsuka's curry and other dishes that Kadoc missed whenever both of them or only he ate out at Japanese restaurants.

"Oh, Ritsuka, about your glasses, are you farsighted or nearsighted?" Kadoc asked when his partner affixed his glasses onto himself, a sight he still wasn't used to.

"Farsighted. It means I can no longer personally appreciate the majesty of your moles up close in the bath or in bed," Ritsuka sighed, which was probably only partially a joke. Kadoc still didn't understand his partner's mole fetish after all this time, but he supposed it was still nice to have a trait Ritsuka considered mindblowingly sexy.

Ritsuka changed into a smart casual outfit for his classes tonight while Kadoc wore his usual nightclothes. The sight of their engagement rings nestled in the box with all the other jewellery they took off before bathing was another novel sight that reminded Kadoc of their future together and gave his heart a little sense of exhilaration that they really were committed to each other.

After Ritsuka popped two plates of beef curry and rice into the microwave, he returned to going over their finances. "Help me double check these numbers, I want to get these done by tonight."

The light mealtime talk that Kadoc had been looking forward to all day was unfortunately replaced by quiet poring over numbers in-between bites of curry. Not that Kadoc particularly minded because even the most mind-numbing activity like watching paint dry was more special if it was with Ritsuka, but it was a little dispiriting to have a stark reminder of how they were doing merely okay. But then again, looking at Ritsuka's furrowed brows as he went over his bakery invoices and worker fees, there was no way they could throw in the towel on his partner's dream after it barely even started. It was a long term commitment for him and therefore Kadoc would have to be there every step of the way.

"Do you need me to drive the car?" Kadoc asked after dinner and washing dishes. Ritsuka stood at the stairs, ready to descend downwards for magecraft classes.

"No, I'll take the bike today. You should rest, since you just got back. I'll text when I get there and when I'm done, as usual." Ritsuka hoisted his backpack and looked back at Kadoc. "I'll see you later then."

"Yep, see you later. Stay safe," Kadoc said as he closed the door and went over to the window. When he saw the bright glare of the lamp on Ritsuka's bike speed away in the dark suburban street, he went back to finish up his input on this month's bills and his own taxes, then organized everything into a folder. He would make the payments tomorrow while Ritsuka was busy baking.

Fifteen minutes later, Kadoc received the text from Ritsuka informing him of his arrival at the Clock Tower classroom. At this point, Kadoc had enough trust in his partner to keep himself safe and wouldn't have necessarily worried even without the text, but it was always a nice sign things were going okay. Since he knew Ritsuka was safe and had nothing much to do for the next two hours, Kadoc settled into the well worn sofa and found a nature documentary to watch on the tv.

"-doc, Kadoc, wake up." Kadoc woke up to see the gently concerned face of Ritsuka looming above him. His partner had already changed into his usual blue Arts t-shirt and some shorts. The documentary had long since ended and the tv had fallen into sleep mode.

"Oh, I dozed off… When did you get back?" Kadoc asked as he sat up to stretch his arms with a yawn.

"About five minutes ago. I thought this might have happened when you didn't read my texts. Are you ready for bed now?"

"I feel too tired to get up," Kadoc yawned. His head fell back onto the sofa. "Maybe I could just sleep here tonight."

"You always try that and then complain the next day that your back hurts after sleeping there. It's going to be the bed for you, Kadoc, no ifs or buts."

Ritsuka took Kadoc's arm and slowly brought him upwards, before he hoisted the same arm around his shoulder to support him as the two walked towards bed. Normally Kadoc would lightly prod at him for this, but his legs felt like lead and dragged on their smooth wooden floor so he might as well embrace the free lift to their bed. Ritsuka opened the door to their bedroom, the innermost sanctuary in this current home. Kadoc frowned when his partner flicked the light on. Dammit, Ritsuka still left piles of stuff everywhere as was his wont, but Kadoc was really hoping his partner had shaken off the habit for once.

"Ritsuka, didn't I leave a note on my PC very specifically telling you to clean up while I was gone?" Kadoc tiredly reminded him. He looked around for his desk. Yep, the sticky note he left three weeks ago on the computer's screen that read, "Ritsuka: Remember to pick up your stuff!", in which 'pick up' was actually underlined three times, was still there. Amusingly, Ritsuka seemed to have later added a note under it that said, "I WILL, Kadoc!!"

"I, I did! I actually cleaned up my model kit boxes and did some organizing of my personal stuff…" Ritsuka pouted at being nitpicked.

"Stacking your boxes into a tower and shoving it in the corner isn't really cleaning up. And you've left all our chargers with their cables all over the floor, come on. One of us could trip on that if we're not careful."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll get to that tomorrow morning," Ritsuka grumbled. It would be more likely than not that Kadoc would be the one to clean up after getting Ritsuka's express approval on where to store these items, but it was too minor of an issue to truly dent Kadoc's overflowing love for his partner.

After Ritsuka gently laid Kadoc in bed, he went out to check the locks and Bounded Field. He then returned to turn off the lights and shut the door. Ritsuka moved into the bed, quietly sliding his arms around Kadoc's chest to tightly hold him. The physical intimacy of spooning never got old for Kadoc, regardless of who was holding whom. Even without looking, Kadoc was sure Ritsuka had just as much of a smile as he did that they were finally back in their familiar cuddle after three weeks apart.

"Good night, Kadoc," Ritsuka whispered behind him.

"Good night, Ritsuka," Kadoc sleepily murmured. The financial issues of running the bakery, their wedding celebration, or even his other commitments in life were too distant for him to worry about in his dreamy haze. He was a fiancé now, a new stage in his life. He was home in Ritsuka's arms, safe and happy. What more could he ask for right now?

Kadoc had a truly good night's sleep for the first time in three weeks.