They went inside. It was warm, thanks to the wood burning in the fireplace. The smell of a freshly baked cake was in the air. Hikoboshi and the girl took off their jackets and left them on a sofa. The girl took off the gloves and scarf the boy gave her and put them on the top of the jackets. The grandmother entered the room.

“I’ll take those to the wardrobe,” said the woman, pointing at the clothes. “Oh?” she sighed in a surprise. “Dear, I would have never thought you would still have the scarf I made for your sixth birthday! At that time we were living in that valley, didn’t we? Anyway, I’ll go and make some hot tea for you.”

And she left the room. The gaze the girl gave the boy conveyed more than thousand words. “Since when did you know?” she asked, tears falling down her cheeks.

“Since the very first moment I saw your earrings. Those are the birds I gave you, right? Though you are unable to walk, they should remind always remind you that you can live with your wings unfolded.”

She burst into tears. Hikoboshi took Orihime in his arms. Their heads pressing against each other, he gently stroke her hair with his hand.

“I am sorry… I’m so sorry…” she cried.

“It’s okay now. I will take a good care of you. As you saved me back before, now I will save you. I don’t care if you are on a wheelchair or not. What you give is ten times more important than what you receive. This is the meaning of love.”

“But how did you find me?”

“We made a promise, didn’t we? A man doesn’t go back on his words. I didn’t give you those birds for free, did I?” he laughed.

“The tea’s ready!” Grandma’s voice could be heard from the kitchen.

***

The river of their childhood was quietly flowing down the valley.

Tightly holding Orihime in his arms, he sighed. Everything he had longed for was now in his hands. There was nothing more left to desire. Suddenly, he felt at peace. It was just the same as looking at the sky the night they meet for the first time. With every breath, Hikoboshi was taking in peace beyond comprehension. The happiness stilled his mind so that there wasn’t a place for anything but this present moment. There was no separation, Hikoboshi and Orihime were almost like one star. He hugged her even tighter as to never lose her, and in fact he never did.

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