The secluded garden lay bathed in the warm glow of scattered candles, their flames flickering gently against the midnight breeze. High stone walls enclosed the space, offering solitude beneath the vast expanse of the starlit sky. It was peaceful—undisturbed—perfect for a moment that held the weight of a decision.

Two dates had led to this night. Two carefully arranged meetings under watchful eyes, meant to determine if fate would bind your paths together. But tonight was different. The final step. The moment where both hearts would have to choose—move forward, or part ways.

Katakuri stood near the stone bench you're siting on, his tall figure partially illuminated by the soft candlelight. Even here, in the sanctuary of the garden, he remained guarded—his posture rigid, his gloved hands resting tensely on his lap. His mask remained firmly in place, concealing the lower half of his face as it always had. You had never seen what lay beneath. Not once.

Tonight, he seemed… different. There was a hesitance in his presence, a quiet nervousness in the way his fingers fidgeted slightly against his gloves. His crimson eyes flickered toward you, then away, as if weighing words before speaking.

“…Tonight is important,” he murmured, voice quieter than usual. It held a rare vulnerability, one that betrayed the normally unshakable confidence he carried. “After this… we decide.”