Chapter 70: It Feels Good To See The Traces Of Us

"Well, it seemed like I didn't say anything about the cake," Shouko eyed her husband with suspicions. Her lips pouted slightly.

Kyoya chuckled, he extended his hand and lightly poked her forehead. "You told me when I asked you again. That was when I knew about how Old Daizo cheered you up with the raspberry cheesecake."

To her, it was the slice of raspberry cheesecake.

To him, it was her desserts and hot chocolate.

"Hehe, well, I was really touched at that time," Shouko quietly laughed.

She turned her eyes to look at the counter. Old Daizo was speaking to a barista there as the young man was making coffee.

It turned out, she had a story like that. Shouko understood that it was at that time her husband really realized that it would need both of their cooperation to make their marriage successful. Instead of just letting her alone worked on it, he took a step forward to see if they could succeed.

In the end, they were happy together.

"Here's your order," Old Daizo arrived with a tray of food. "Eat all of them! Call me again if they are not enough. I'm sure you've actually missed this taste."

"Thank you, Old Daizo," Shouko excitedly looked at the tea and sweets served in front of her. Just by looking at them, she knew they were delicious!

Kyoya poured her a cup of tea once the old man left. He smiled seeing her so happy eyeing at the sweets.

"Eat," He pushed the raspberry cheesecake to her, like how he did during their first time together here five years ago. "We'll go for a stroll after this."

"Alright~" Shouko replied in a sing-song voice.

She quickly took a bite of the cake. Her eyes dilated with stars sparkled in them, earning a laugh from Kyoya.

They didn't talk much except the few times they shared opinions regarding the desserts yet the ambiance around them was in harmony. Shouko felt so stuffy after eating all the desserts. Kyoya shook his head helplessly seeing her satisfied face.

"En? What's that?"

When Shouko turned to look at her back, her eyes landed on a board covering half of the wall behind her. Earlier, she was too focused on her desserts. Only now did she properly take her time to observe the interior of the cafe.

Kyoya let his gaze went passed her shoulders. His lips bent into a small arc. He stood up from the chair and took her hand, signaling her to follow him.

"Old Daizo added the photo board," He replied softly. "We have our photos hung on it too."

"Oh?" Shouko was intrigued. She quickly pulled Kyoya to the area.

It was true as he had said. Countless photos were pinned on the board, looking like the polaroid ones Akari gave to them. Unfamiliar people were smiling as they waved or striking a pose to the camera lenses. Shouko looked at them one by one until her eyes went to Kyoya's finger that was pointing on a photo.

"This one has us," Kyoya pulled her closer to him, his arm held onto her shoulders. "This was taken last year in spring."

Shouko was in awe. It was a candid shot.

She saw herself talking happily to him with one of her hands propped her chin while he played with the end of her dark curl. A lazy yet indulging smile spread on his chiseled face as he quietly listened to her chatterings.

They sat on a table near the windows. Plates of half-eaten desserts and cups of tea were set out on the table between them.

She wore a pastel blue floral chiffon dress while he was in a light blue shirt with his sleeves folded up reaching his arms. Her hair was shorter than right now, only hanging above her waist.

There was a kind of intimacy that was indescribable between them.

"Kyoya," Shouko softly called him, the light in her eyes softened at the sight of the beautiful photo.

"En?" Kyoya looked down to see her face. The same indulgence that was on the photo could be discerned in his gaze to her.

Shouko lifted up her lips into a smile. "It feels good to see the traces of us."

This place was not their home yet she could still see the remnant of their love for each other.

Last year, when the spring flowers were blooming beautifully and spreading their fragrance to the air, the two of them shared a happy time here.

"Yes, it feels good," Kyoya replied with a smile yet faint sorrow briefly flashed in his dark eyes. They lingered on a corner of the photo where a tiny mass of black hair got captured together with them two.

To someone who didn't know about it, they would just assume it was dirt staining the camera lens while taking the photo. But, it was not.

Kyoya tightened his hold on her shoulders, his body trembling slightly as he leaned his head on a side of her head. Shouko titled her head up, noticing his mood turned slightly downcast. She smiled bitterly when she reasoned he was like this because of her lost memory.

Her hand went to pat his head. Kyoya snuggled closer to her, disregarding the fact that they were in public.

As the husband and wife lost in their own world, Old Daizo watched them from far with a weary smile as grief glinted in his old eyes. He had lost the track of time as he tried to remember the last time they looked as happy as today.

It was good if they really could set themselves free from their past.

Shouko and Kyoya left the cafe after promising Old Daizo that they would visit again. The old man sent them off with a box of apple pie.

The sun was hanging above the horizon, dyeing the sky red. Shouko watched how the river sparkled as the sunlight hitting on its surface. The end of her dark curls tousled behind her as the wind blew past.

"Wife?" Kyoya paused his step as he noticed Shouko had slowed down beside him.

Shouko glanced at him for a second before she returned her gaze toward the waterfront. "This sunset looks different than the one at the lake house."

Not only the place, but the entire ambiance was also different.

Here, they were accompanied by gray skyscrapers and the hustle and bustle of the city while there, only nature be their companion. She suddenly missed the days they spent in the villa, away from these noise and dull-looking buildings.

Kyoya gave her a small nod. "Yes, but, both of us are here."

Shouko laughed, her soft voice was drifted off by the wind. "You're really a sweet-talker."

"Thank you for your compliment," Kyoya raised his brows in amusement. His cheeky reply made her laughed again.

While they were watching the sunset, a chime rang from Shouko's bag. She unlatched the bag and took out her phone. A familiar username was displayed on the screen as well as the unread message.

"Akari?"

Shouko tapped on the message. The entire message was revealed in front of her eyes.

EastLightAkari: Just checkin' on you! Don't forget our date tomorrow~

Shouko smiled. Her fingers quickly typed a reply.

A Scribbler in Autumn: Alright~ Don't bother me right now, I'm on a date with my husband~

EastLightAkari: ... Masaaki has been busy after our camping trip... I'm so jealous of you!

Shouko couldn't help but laugh. She glanced at Kyoya's questioning gaze, shook her head a little and returned a response to Akari.

A Scribbler in Autumn: I can't sympathize with that~ Gotta go!

Shouko had tossed her phone back inside her bag before waiting for Akari's reply.

"What's so funny?" Kyoya couldn't help but ask. She had been laughing all by herself since she got the first message.

Shouko shook her head. "It was Akari. She reminded me to meet her tomorrow."

"Oh..." Kyoya felt sour suddenly. Why must other people bother his wife? Can they not disturb them?

But, when their new acquaintances' name being mentioned by his wife, Kyoya suddenly thought back of their plan to decorate their room with the polaroid photos.

"Wife, let's take a photo?" Kyoya asked while his hand had been taking out the phone from his coat.

"A photo? Why so sudden?" Shouko was confused even though she accepted the sudden suggestion.

Kyoya's smiling eyes elicited pampering to the little lady beside him. He quietly pulled her closer to him as he tapped on the selfie mode. His voice was so low as he whispered next to her, his dark eyes remained on her face.

"So that even when I'm old and my memory is failing, I could still remember how happy I am with you."

Shouko was stunned, a layer of moisture quickly formed in her eyes. She lightly punched his chest as she grumbled, "You really know how to sweet-talk to me."

Kyoya laughed softly, his chest vibrated as happiness spread in his heart. He pressed a kiss on her forehead before he positioning the camera lens toward them.

"One... two..."

Click!

In the photo, a young lady was smiling softly toward the lens. Her rosy cheeks were tinged by the afterglow of the setting sun. Beside her, a young man stood close to her with one of his hands wrapped around her shoulders. His lips curved into a smile too but his eyes were focused on her.

It was as if he couldn't see anything else but her.

In an instant, the photo was uploaded on the messaging chat, alerting their small circle of friends. Everyone couldn't help but feel resentful for this sudden show of lovey-doveyness. Ryota, Ono and Grandpa were the quickest ones who replied and spite to Kyoya's post while Shou and Aunt Masako remained in silence.

RyooOhRyoo: You dumped all your work on me and you have the guts to show off here? Wait till I settle accounts with you!

OnoNezuko: Well, Shouko... it's good to see you happy but can't you guys be more discreet?

The Old Grandpa: Aiya... youngsters. I suddenly miss my dear Ume *sulk* This old man is so lonely... But, you brat! Don't think I approve you showing off everywhere like this!

Kyoya smirked while Shouko laughed reading their comments under the post. Her husband swiftly shut all of them up with a single comment. He had even changed his username before posting the comment.

Man with a Wife: I think my username is enough to answer all of you.

Ryota, Ono and Grandpa: "..."

How hateful!

"Hahaha~"

Shouko covered her mouth, trying to suppress her laughter yet it was to no avail. She looked at her husband's smug face and continued laughing.

"Are you amused?" He asked while poking her cheeks.

Shouko nodded. "I didn't expect you could be so cute."

Kyoya paused, thinking for a moment before he suddenly leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. His voice was full of teasing as he said, "I could be even cuter for you."

Shouko was astounded before her shoulders jolted as she laughed again.

This man... she really couldn't outwit him with his cheeky reply.

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The author has something to say:

During spring last year, a certain someone sneakily came from behind and startled his wife. Instead of seeing her become happy with his surprise, he was reprimanded instead because he had deliberately ditching work just so he could come to have a date with his wife.

His wife was finally appeased by a few hugs and kisses~