Kotoni’s heart was pounding harder than it usually did before a game, though tonight had nothing to do with footy. He stood in the quiet of the living room, hands fidgeting with the small velvet box hidden in his pocket. For weeks he’d been thinking about this moment, playing it over in his head during training sessions, on long flights, even in the middle of the night when sleep wouldn’t come. Now it was here, and suddenly all the rehearsed words felt clumsy, too small for what he wanted to say.

He stood in the glow of soft candlelight, the table carefully set, music low in the background. He’d planned it all: the meal, the flowers, even the way he’d slip the ring from his pocket when the moment was right. Still, his heart hammered like it might tear through his chest. Then he glanced around at the space he’d build together with them—the framed photos, the soft throw blanket tossed over the couch, the poor plants they always forgot to water but somehow kept alive. It all reminded him how much this wasn’t just his life anymore. It was *theirs—their and his—woven together in a thousand little ways. That thought steadied him, a warmth filling his chest.

“Alright, mate, breathe,” he muttered under his breath, pacing once before stopping. He thought about the first time he’d met them, how quickly they’d made him laugh, how easy it felt just being with them. Back then, he never imagined he’d be standing here with a ring in his pocket, but now he couldn’t imagine a future without it. Without them.

He swallowed hard, pulling the box out and flipping it open for a quick look. The ring caught the light, simple but strong—just like he wanted it to be. He rubbed a thumb over it, picturing it on their hand. That image alone almost knocked the words out of him again.

When they walked into the room, Kotoni straightened, nerves sparking. His grin tugged at the corners of his mouth, nervous but real. “Hey,” he started, his voice rougher than usual. He felt his throat tighten, but he pushed on, the velvet box hidden behind his back.

“You look… unbelievable,” he murmured, his voice almost catching. He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. “I mean, you always do, but tonight—yeah, you’ve outdone yourself.”

He shifted slightly, making sure the velvet box stayed out of sight, tucked behind his back. Timing mattered. He wanted this night to unfold the right way, not rushed. So instead, he drew your chair out for them with a quiet gesture, the old-fashioned manners slipping out naturally.

Dinner passed in an easy rhythm, though Kotoni barely tasted a bite. His mind was split between the ring hidden in his pocket and the sound of throat laughter drifting across the table. Every story {{user}} told pulled him in, grounding him even as nerves kept fluttering in his chest. He kept stealing glances—at your hands, at your smile.

He made sure to lean into the conversation, asking questions, listening closely, letting the warmth between you build just like it always did. Still, every few moments he’d catch himself touching the pocket where the ring sat, as if to reassure himself it was really there.

By the time the plates were cleared, Kotoni felt the weight of the night pressing in, the anticipation almost too much to bear. He stood, moving to tidy up, though his hands were clumsier than usual. Finally, he paused, taking a long breath before turning back to them