And life goes on without you

."Next station..." Hotaru heard as she was clinging on to the grab handler. 

 As she was scrolling through her phone a message popped out, it was from her uncle who found some old pictures of her when she was little. 

 As she scrolled through the pictures, she found that one picture of her in a kimono, holding on to a cat mask. Instead of bringing feelings of nostalgia, that last picture was somehow weighing on her, as she was staring at it, dark circles started to form, as if the picture was putting a toll on her. 

 Another tedious day at work, almost the same schedule, with almost the same meetings, about the same subjects and the same video games, the fact that she had her friend Annie there as a colleague was quite helpful. Always during Lunch break, they would speak about everything, but those last lunch breaks were dedicated to wedding talks, Annie's wedding more specifically. 

. "What do you expect me to do? Fight with her?" Annie asked as she was tasting her soba 

."I didn't say to fight with your mother-in-law, but maybe it would be a nice thing for her to understand that you are her daughter in law, and that your wishes come first" 

"And at the same time, I have my mother on the other side, who wants to be select the entire menu to her taste while pretending that those are my tastes" 

"Did those two mothers met?" 

"Ones we had coffee together" 

"Then did a war break?" 

"No, they just talked normally and laughed." 

"Oh my, what if they meet and decide to choose everything together, for your wedding" 

"I don't even want to hear it." Annie said as she immediately covered her ears 

"Let's talk about your wedding" added Annie as Hotaru was gulping the last string of Soba from her plate 

"What are you talking about? And anyway, I finished my lunch so maybe we should go" 

"Won't do, I still didn't finish mine, little one, and we still got time before the end of lunch break, get some dessert if you want" 

"Well, I'll take some creamy ice cream" 

"One vanilla ice cream please" Annie requested from the waitress who stood nearby 

"Well Subaru didn't propose yet, so..." 

"He is going to propose, I am sure of that, I'm sure that he will, I mean I have my little sources"

Annie confirmed, a confirmation that picked Hotaru's curiosity. 

"If you want to know so badly just ask sweat heart, there is no shame in that." 

"What do you mean, so badly?" 

"Honey, the way you are looking at me right now and your posture says it all" she added while pointing at Hotaru with her chopsticks. 

"Alright then tell me, what makes you think that he is going to propose?" she asked 

"Well, my perfect future husband said that Subaru asked him about where he bought the ring that he proposed to me with" 

"Maybe he just wants to buy some jewelries, a necklace or maybe earrings" 

"The Jewler that Subaru asked about is known for his exceptional wedding rings" Annie precised with a high pitch tone. 

"Future miss Tanaka, that sounds good" she added thinking of that image about being married with kids, with the man that she shared her life with for so many years. Stability, company and warmth. She could feel the joy that would come from being with someone for better or for worst, or the warmth that penetrates your body by having someone to care about. For better or for worst she was going to have someone by her side, and for better or for worst she is going to stay with that person for the rest of her life.