Kiyotaka spent just about the whole of the next day pacing back and forth in his apartment.

He didn't have to go to work that day. He was grateful for that— the fact that he'd have some time to think before rushing back into the hectic office life. At the same time, he worried about what his coworkers would say about the incident and wanted to just get it over with.

He'd done some research on his laptop in his few moments of clearheadedness. He'd googled narcissism and the therapy that Mondo had mentioned, and he felt he had a good enough logical grasp of the concepts. But there was a difference, of course, between knowing something and pushing oneself to act on it.

He decided that if he couldn't make any real progress just yet, he could at least relax. He knew that he had to learn to do that. So he retrieved the book that Chihiro had given him and that he hadn't had time to finish, made himself a cup of warm tea, and settled in to read.

Kiyotaka had gotten through a few chapters when he heard a knock at his door. He almost never got any visitors. He feared that it was one of his parents. He crept carefully to the doorway, where he made sure that the chain was fastened before he opened it just a crack.

"Kiyotaka! Please let me in!"

"S— Sonia! Oh, thank god."

Kiyotaka laughed and breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been worried about her. He closed the door and undid the chain, allowing his former fiancée into the apartment. She gripped him in a bone-crushing hug as soon as the door was closed and locked behind her. Once again, she was talking too fast for him to understand anything she was saying.

He made her a second cup of tea and had her sit at the kitchen table with him. A couple of sips seemed to calm her down. He couldn't quite read her expression, as it was a mixture of so many conflicting things. She set down her cup before speaking.

"I have ruined everything, haven't I? I ruined our engagement!"

Kiyotaka smiled at her and shook his head.

"Technically, Gundham is the one who broke into your home. And I'm the one who admitted it was all a lie. ...Did you hear about that?"

Sonia giggled and politely covered her mouth.

"I certainly did! And I am quite proud. How hard did you hit him?!"

"Hard enough to leave a rather nasty bruise, apparently, but I didn't draw blood or knock any teeth out or anything. I only got in one punch."

"Oh. ...How disappointing."

"I know."

Sonia smiled down at her teacup for a moment.

"Still, I... cannot believe that it was all for nothing. Perhaps if I had been more firm with Gundham, he never would have come to get me, and we could have continued the charade long enough to break it off in a far less explosive and confrontational manner—"

"No," Kiyotaka interrupted. "I-It should never have..."

He paused to clear his throat. He couldn't help but feel ashamed when he thought about it now— the fact that he had allowed his fear of his parents to nearly ruin both of their lives. It now seemed completely insane. It had been easier to see that when he was looking up at it from rock bottom.

"It never should have gotten so far," he continued. "It was absurd from day one. I-I mean, how far would we have carried it? What if we had just kept getting dragged further and further into it? Were we supposed to fake an entire marriage? A home? Children? If we'd gotten married, our families would have just changed the end goal. They would have started pressuring us to have kids next. And even if we had gone through with the plan and gotten the divorce, who's to say that they wouldn't have gone right back to their old routines and demanded we find new spouses?"

Sonia frowned.

"You are... probably correct in that guess. My mother had already started talking about what I should name my firstborn son. My people tend to rush childbirth in the same way that they rush courtships."

"I can't say I'm surprised to hear that."

There was silence for a lengthy minute. Sonia finished her tea. Kiyotaka's had gotten cold. He didn't feel like drinking it, anyway.

"Listen, Sonia... I can't promise when it will happen, but I'm planning to stand up to my parents sometime soon. And I wanted to encourage you to do the same. I know that it must be frightening, seeing as yours are so rich and powerful, and I know that you feel you owe them a great deal, but—"

"That is exactly what I came here to tell you."

"...Huh?"

Sonia smiled proudly. Something mildly devious flashed through her eyes.

"I left the mansion. And I managed to withdraw all of my own savings. It is all in cash for now, but I plan to put it into an account that my family cannot touch. Then I took about a third of my possessions— everything that I could fit into my bags— and I fled under the cover of night."

"You did what?!"

Kiyotaka's shout was misleading. He wasn't angry. He was just shocked. He didn't know how she'd managed all of that so fast. But, perhaps, she'd been entertaining the fantasy of running away for so long that she'd already had a plan in place. Thankfully, Sonia seemed to understand what he'd meant and laughed it off.

"I know, I know. I decided as soon as I got the word of your tirade in the bar. I figured that if the ruse had been exposed anyway, there was no point in lying any longer.  My parents were so busy arguing with yours about whose fault it was that they hardly paid me any mind. That is why I did not call you sooner... I have just barely gotten settled into my new home! I came as soon as I could. I wanted to tell you in person."

"I-I just... can't believe you beat me to the chase. All I did was punch my dad. ...You, uh, remember Mondo, right? He finally convinced me to rebel."

Sonia's smile, upon hearing that, was so wide and so warm that her eyes crinkled at the corners and her cheeks flushed.

"And you should listen to him. Your happiness is worth fighting for, even if it is frightening and seems impossible."

"You're right." Kiyotaka smiled sadly. Certain people that he knew had had to fight tooth and nail for their own happiness. It just didn't come easily to some people. "A-Anyway, you said that you left your home, so... where did you go?"

Sonia perked up, looking positively gleeful.

"The cabin in the woods, of course!"

"Gundham's?"

"Yes!"

"Is it big enough for the both of you?"

Her smile vanished for a barely-detectable second.

"I-It will take some getting used to on my part... most of my clothing is still in bags in the back of his van. There is no room for my purse collection, either, but..." She took a deep breath to resolve herself. "It is no matter! If I must, I shall gladly sell my clothing and my collection and add the funds to our animal rescue operations! We hope to turn the land that Gundham tends to into a full-service animal sanctuary. He already has pens for deer and rabbits and things, and a lovely series of fruit and vegetable gardens... With my money, we could construct barns and sturdy fences, and hire more veterinary staff and even install a sprinkler system!"

"You'd do all of that for him?"

She chuckled.

"That much should be obvious. I would not have left everything behind if I did not love him enough to sacrifice my shoes."

"And it's for a good cause, huh? ...You know, Mondo likes animals, too. He has four rescue dogs that he treats like babies. I'm sure he'd love to visit the sanctuary."

"He is more than welcome at any time! As are you, of course." She moved to put her teacup in the sink. She'd been to the apartment once before and knew how paranoid Kiyotaka was about keeping his place clean. "Oh— that is not the only thing I wanted to come here for... I realized, in the unpacking of my room, that I still have some of the gifts and things that you gave me. I would like you to have them. You may be able to get some of your money back. I also have a few of your jackets and sweaters."

Kiyotaka nodded. Normally, he would insist that she keep the presents, but they had been strange ceremonial gifts that neither of them had actually wanted to begin with and that he'd been forced to pay for anyway. What is a makango, anyway? He still had no idea.

The jackets and sweaters were part of their romantic ruse— he had allowed her to wear them into her own home a few times to make it look like he was a doting and affectionate boyfriend. And she had held onto them to make it seem like she enjoyed having a piece of her beloved nearby. The only problem was that one of them was his favorite jacket. He had completely forgotten what he'd done with it.

"I let it slip my mind and left them in the van... I shall retrieve your things immediately and be back with great haste!" Sonia threw the apartment door open. She almost shrieked when she did. "What are you— darling, I told you to wait in the car!"

"I was growing impatient and found myself curious about this place and the man within."

"I am terribly sorry to have worried you. We were discussing things. I forgot his things in the car..."

"I can get them. Spare yourself the effort."

"No, no. You will never be able to tell what is what."

Kiyotaka furrowed his brow as he eavesdropped on the conversation. It seemed that he had two unexpected visitors, and in one day. Whoever Sonia was talking to had a deep and rumbling voice, the kind that sounded like it hurt the throat. And he'd thought that Mondo's was low.

"Who's out there?" Kiyotaka called.

He stood and approached the doorway. He could easily see a tall figure looming over Sonia. One with a familiar purple scarf. The other man's eyes widened ever so slightly at the sight of him. Sonia looked between the two men, wordless, and then stepped aside and bowed. The man gave her a grateful nod before taking a couple of steps into the apartment while Sonia quietly closed the door.

"...Kiyotaka Ishimaru, I presume?"

"Yes. ...And you're Gundham Tanaka."

He grinned ferociously and bowed, gesturing at himself.

"That I am! Consider it a blessing that I shall allow you, a mere mortal, to address me as such."

Kiyotaka chuckled. Gundham was even more strange and dramatic in person than Sonia had led him to believe with her pictures and stories. But that was okay. He already knew that, beneath that exterior, he was a complete and total softie. The kind of person that nursed injured baby squirrels back to health while carrying them around in his scarf and bottle-fed milk to stray kittens.

He extended a hand. Gundham narrowed his eyes at it. Kiyotaka awkwardly put the hand back down.

"I've heard a lot about you," Kiyotaka said. "Congratulations on your escape together."

"...Yes. I... That is... Which is to say..."

Gundham's face reddened. Sonia patted his shoulder.

"You can do it, darling! Just be honest!"

Gundham sighed.

"I-I... owe you my highest gratitude," he blurted out.

"...Me?!" Kiyotaka pointed at himself. Gundham nodded.

"Indeed. Though the purpose of your ruse did escape my comprehension for quite some time, I... admire the lengths to which you were willing to go to protect my beloved. You did everything in your power to aid her, and for that, you have my utmost respect. If you are ever in need of anything, feel free to contact me."

Gundham extended his own heavily-bandaged hand, which trembled slightly. Kiyotaka smiled and clasped it firmly in his own. Sonia squealed.

"Thanks, Gundham. I appreciate it. ...Sonia is a very dear friend of mine, so take good care of her, okay?"

"You have my word."

The handshake lasted a little longer than it was probably supposed to. Kiyotaka didn't say anything about it. Gundham didn't seem like he was used to touching other people. He probably spent most of his time in the company of animals rather than human beings.

"Oh, how wonderful! I do so love to see my two favorite people getting along." Both Kiyotaka and Gundham laughed sheepishly at that. "Now, you two can get better acquainted while you wait— I shall go and retrieve Kiyotaka's things."

Sonia let herself out of the apartment and skipped down the hallway. Kiyotaka could hear her heels clicking against the floor. Gundham could, too, and waited until the sound was distant before he turned back to Kiyotaka.

"...How much stuff does she have in that van, anyway? She said you wouldn't be able to tell what's mine and what's not..."

Gundham shrugged.

"There is admittedly quite a bit. But that is largely because we successfully completed our heist."

"...Heist?" Sonia hadn't said anything about a heist. Gundham nodded, looking awfully proud of himself. He pounded his own chest with one fist.

"She made no mention of it? How surprising. ...I happened to have some extra luggage bags in my cabin. We returned to the Nevermind mansion, and she waited in the van, prepared to aid us in a hasty getaway, while I retrieved the rest of her possessions from her bedroom."

"You got all of her stuff?! How the hell did you get in?! You've got quite a proficiency for breaking and entering!"

Gundham chuckled darkly and tapped his forehead with one finger.

"I would not expect a mortal to comprehend the dark arts."

Kiyotaka shuddered and decided not to press the subject any further. He also figured that it wasn't technically stealing to take back something that had belonged to Sonia in the first place.

"...I do have one regret about the way in which this occurred," Gundham said once he'd looked to the door and confirmed that Sonia was still outside. Kiyotaka's interest was immediately piqued.

"And what would that be?"

"Sonia threw her engagement ring into a lake near her home. I am certain that the action was cathartic for her, and that she would not have done so if she did not feel that it was necessary, but... I do not exactly have the funds to acquire a ring of the same quality for her."

"You wanted to use it to propose?"

It was a very quick engagement, technically, but Kiyotaka couldn't bring himself to label it unreasonable. Sonia had known Gundham, in some form, for a number of years, even if they'd only just begun formally dating, and Gundham plainly prioritized her happiness above all else.

Gundham only grunted his confirmation and cast his embarrassed gaze at the windows. The sun was setting in the sky, coloring everything with soft shades of orange and pink. Kiyotaka fiddled with his fingers as he thought on what to say, and it occurred to him just then that there was still something on his own finger.

"...O-Oh! I still have mine!"

Gundham frowned.

"Your what?"

"My engagement ring." Kiyotaka quickly removed the piece of jewelry and held it out to show it to the other man. "I guess I've gotten so used to wearing it that it slipped my mind in all of the chaos. It might be too masculine for her—"

"Not so, I'm afraid! I think it a bit too feminine for you." Gundham snickered. Kiyotaka glared at him.

"Hey! ...Sonia picked it out, and I picked hers. That's just how it works in her country." He shook his head, trying to stay focused on the subject at hand. "B-But, anyway... the ring doesn't actually matter all that much, does it? Sonia's leaving a mansion behind to live in a cabin with you. I think she can accept a small downgrade on her engagement ring."

Gundham hid his mouth and nose in his scarf, but continued to stare at the glittering piece of jewelry in Kiyotaka's hand. He was lost deep in thought and didn't speak for several seconds.

"...You would allow it?"

"Of course I would!" Kiyotaka moved forward and forcefully placed the ring in Gundham's unwrapped hand. He closed the man's fingers around it. "It... It's perfect, I think. We can turn a mistake into a good thing. She'll appreciate the symbolism."

Gundham nodded, very slowly, in understanding. Just then, he caught onto a sound that Kiyotaka couldn't hear. He gestured wildly at something.

"Act natural," he hissed.

Only seconds later, the doorknob twisted and Sonia re-entered the apartment. She was carrying a small duffel bag.

"I apologize for the delay! Sorting through the luggage took more time than I had anticipated, but I did find everything. I hope that the two of you behaved yourselves while I was gone."

"O-Oh, we did! We were just getting to know each other." Kiyotaka took the bag from her and wasted no time unpacking the things into his room. He ran back and returned the bag to a bewildered-looking Sonia.

"That was... very quick—"

"Gundham wants to ask you something."

Gundham opened his mouth to protest. Kiyotaka shook his head. It's now or never, he said with his eyes. He happened to think that doing it now would be very romantic. And as selfish as it sounded, he wanted to watch. He wanted to be there for Sonia in what could very well be the most significant moment of her life. So he and the other man had a wordless argument for only a minute before Gundham swallowed thickly and dropped, rather unceremoniously, to one knee.

"Oh my god!"

Sonia, unsurprisingly, burst into tears almost immediately and covered her mouth with her hands. It hadn't taken her long to catch on. Gundham somewhat shyly offered her the ring, and when he opened his mouth, no sound came out. He was, apparently, a bit shy.

"...Sonia Nevermind."

"Yes?!"

"...Will you..." Gundham choked halfway through the question and took a moment to clear his throat, starting over. Kiyotaka quietly assured him from the sidelines that this was okay. "...Will you marry me?"

Sonia didn't technically say "yes". It was some kind of ear-shattering, indecipherable shriek. Kiyotaka nearly covered his ears out of nothing more than basic human reflex. Her answer was apparent enough, though, and she dropped to the floor and wrapped her arms around her new fiancée so tightly that he seemed to struggle for breath. Kiyotaka laughed.

It took several minutes for the emotion to pass and for everyone to reach a point where they could form actual words.

"Why are you crying?!" Gundham asked accusingly as soon as he was able to speak, jabbing Kiyotaka in the chest with a sharp finger.

"People keep asking me that," Kiyotaka croaked. He didn't offer any other answer, but did wipe his eyes.

Sonia, meanwhile, admired the newly-placed ring on her finger. The small diamond sparkled as it reflected the last remaining rays of sunlight.

"I suppose that I am getting married after all," she laughed. "You, of course, are invited. ...Oh, oh! Will you be my maid of honor?!"

Her eyes watered, and she squeezed the life out of Kiyotaka's hands as she awaited a response. Kiyotaka and Gundham exchanged a somewhat confused glance— wasn't the maid of honor supposed to be a woman?— but Kiyotaka gave her a thankful nod anyway. She seemed happy with the response.

Sonia danced about the room and rattled off ideas about what kind of dress she wanted to wear while Gundham tried to get his cheeks to return to a normal color. Kiyotaka stared at the floor as he imagined the wedding, and then he piped up with a burning question that he had.

"Th-This might be awfully presumptuous of me, and I know that I'm getting pretty far ahead of myself, but... if I'm coming to the wedding, can I have a plus one?"

Sonia blinked at him until she understood what he was saying, and then she giggled and waved a dismissive hand.

"You may bring whoever you wish to, Kiyotaka! ...We have no need of silly things like paper invitations and reserved seating anyhow. Our wedding..." Her gaze became distant, and then her eyes gleamed and and she assumed a proud, authoritative stance. "Our wedding shall be small, inexpensive, and nontraditional! Invitation shall be by word of mouth alone, there shall be no reserved seating, and there shall be no dress code or gift registry!"

"A splendid idea," Gundham replied, sounding more serious and impressed than boastful. "If we aim not to spend absurd amounts of money and have no need of a formal venue, perhaps we... can have it at the sanctuary? Near that waterfall that you love so much."

Sonia loved that idea. She and Gundham see both on a roll now. Sonia suggested that, instead of hiring a caterer, Gundham could just hold a cookout and make his vegetarian barbecue for everyone. Kiyotaka didn't comment on the fact that "vegetarian barbecue" was an oxymoron. Synthetic meat, maybe? It wasn't surprising to him that the man didn't eat meat, though. Kiyotaka added his own idea— that the two of them ask for donations for the animals instead of gifts— and was well-received.

Another hour was spent like that— celebrating, just the three of them, and exchanging ideas. It was dark outside by the time that the happy couple left. Sonia promised that she'd call him with more details soon. It seemed that she really did intend for him to be her maid of honor.

Kiyotaka smiled at the door as his apartment was enveloped in the familiar sound of silence. He was glad that Sonia was moving forward with her life, and he was delighted for her and for Gundham in regards to their future wedding.

But more importantly than that, their open affection for one another had made something very clear to him:

He really, really wanted to hear Mondo's voice right now. And he was learning, very slowly, not to worry about what that meant.