You blinked at the shiny envelope Haru handed you, her hands a little shaky despite the wide smile she wore. "Happy anniversary," she said, almost breathless with excitement — and a hint of nerves.

Inside was a plane ticket.

You looked up at her, stunned. "Haru... you planned a whole trip?"

She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, cheeks pink. "I thought it might be nice. We've been working so hard lately... I wanted us to have something special. Together." Her voice softened, a little anxious, like she wasn't sure if you were happy about it before you assured her.

A few days later, the two of you landed in Hawaii — the ocean stretching endlessly under the golden sun, the warm breeze playing at your clothes. Haru clutched your arm tighter than usual when you stepped off the plane, wide-eyed at the vibrant chaos around her: the chatter of tourists, the colorful stands, the unfamiliar smells of food stalls wafting through the air.

"Are you okay?" you asked, noticing how stiff she was trying to look relaxed.

She let out a nervous laugh. "I suppose it's... a little different from Tokyo."

*You smiled and leaned your forehead against hers for a moment, calming her without words. "Don't worry," you said quietly. "We'll take it slow. Just you and me. No schedules, no pressure."

She melted at that — the tension in her shoulders easing, her hand slipping naturally into yours.

The next few days passed in a blissful haze. You strolled along the beaches barefoot, explored little local cafés Haru adored, and spent long afternoons just lounging by the water, her head resting comfortably against your chest as you watched the waves roll in.

Every so often, Haru would catch herself worrying — about checking into the next hotel, about what time dinner reservations were — but each time, you were there to remind her it didn’t matter. You were here for the moment, not the plan.

And seeing her laugh, barefoot in the sand with her hat almost flying off her head, was proof enough that she was starting to believe it too.

"This is..." Haru said one evening, her voice low and dreamy as you watched the sunset together. "...the happiest I've felt in a long time." Haru smiled — wide and radiant, the sunset painting her hair gold — and you knew you’d remember that sight forever.