Cashback System From The Heart

The morning light filtered softly through the shoji panels, dappling the tatami floor in gentle gold. Phuby stretched out with a yawn, the memory of yesterday's awkward excuse lingering like a bad aftertaste. Hana had bought it—or so he hoped. The small lie of having an upset stomach felt clumsy and risky, but necessary. He couldn't risk her finding out what he was truly up to.

He slipped out of bed early and left a simple note: "Going out for air."

No one was awake yet. Or at least, no one stopped him.

The streets of Kyoto were cool and hushed in the early hours. He hailed a taxi and rode in silence to the small custom jeweler tucked between a flower shop and a café near Gion. When he arrived, the elderly artisan greeted him with a polite bow and handed over a modest black box—its contents gleaming with a promise far brighter than any sunrise.

Inside were two rings. One was delicate and slender, set with a small sapphire in the middle—Hana's birthstone. The inside bore the inscription: "To Hana, the moon of my sky."

The other ring, slightly thicker and darker, bore the same message in reverse: "To Phuby, the light of my dawn." Both their names were engraved on the outside, looping elegantly in kanji and Latin script.

"Perfect," Phuby whispered.

He had paid extra—quite a bit extra—to have it rushed for today. With the price rounding up to Rp15 million, the system chimed softly in his mind:

> [System Notification]

Purchase qualifies for cashback.

+Rp30.000.000 credited to system balance.

Current balance: Rp7.275.000.000

He smiled faintly at the sound, but his thoughts were already moving ahead.

On his way back, he stopped by a konbini—curious as ever. The shelves were colorful and chaotic, packed with options. He grabbed three of every onigiri flavor, carefully skipping the pork ones, stuffing his basket full with salmon, mentaiko, kombu, tuna mayo, egg, and more. The total rang up to nearly Rp10.5 million after he added several premium snacks, bento boxes, a bottle of yuzu soda, and rare imported tea.

> [System Notification]

Purchase qualifies for cashback.

+Rp21.000.000 credited to system balance.

Current balance: Rp7.296.000.000

When he finally arrived at the house, arms full of konbini bags and a suspiciously guarded look on his face, Hana was waiting at the doorway, her arms folded.

"Where were you?" Her voice was sharp—more worry than anger—but clearly both.

"I—uh, I needed some air. So I walked. Then I found a konbini," he said, lifting the bags like a peace offering. "Snacks?"

Hana squinted. "You went out alone in a foreign country… with a stomachache?"

He opened his mouth, ready to deny it—then stopped. Before he could say anything stupid like "I'm fine now", Hana's mother emerged from behind with a calm voice.

"Yes, sweetie. He told me his stomach was feeling off again, poor thing. Probably just needed something warm."

Phuby blinked. Her tone was casual, but the subtle way she emphasized his alibi hit him like a lifeline. He coughed awkwardly and nodded. "Yeah… that."

Hana huffed, turned around, and stomped back inside. "You're still not forgiven."

He spent the rest of the day groveling with sincerity—making her tea, organizing her souvenirs, even massaging her shoulders while she shopped online for more Cirebon gifts. But nothing seemed to crack her cold exterior—until the moment he whispered gently near dinnertime.

"Hey… tonight, just you and me. Let's go somewhere."

She blinked. "Where?"

"Arashiyama. The bamboo grove. I want to see it at night."

Hana blinked again, caught off-guard by the request. Her irritation dissolved a little as she nodded. "Fine. But no more weird disappearances."

Phuby smiled sheepishly. "Deal."

---

They slipped out after dinner, walking hand-in-hand along the path under a dark indigo sky. The moon hung overhead like a soft lantern, lighting their way as they wandered into the bamboo grove.

The tall stalks creaked gently in the wind, and the whole place had an otherworldly feel to it. Cool. Peaceful. Hidden.

Phuby led Hana to a quiet clearing, where the stone path widened. A light breeze stirred her hair as she looked around in awe. "It's so quiet…"

"Yeah," Phuby said softly. His voice trembled, just slightly. "Hana."

She turned.

He pulled out the box.

Her eyes widened instantly. Her hands flew to her mouth.

"I love you," he said, stepping closer. "You changed my life. And if… if you'll have me, I want to walk this life with you. Forever."

The moonlight glinted off the rings in the box.

"I know I'm just a guy with dreams and odd jobs, and a weird little system in my head. But I swear—my heart is yours. Will you marry me?"

Hana's breath caught. Her eyes shimmered.

Then she lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him.

"Yes!" she whispered against his chest. "Yes!"

He held her tight, tears he didn't know he had welling in his eyes. Relief. Joy. Love.

Behind them, silent as shadows, two figures peered from behind the bamboo with smartphones raised.

Mrs. Wulan nudged Hana's mother. "You got the audio?"

"Crystal clear," she whispered. "And I got the hug. Ohhh, this is going in the wedding montage."

They giggled quietly, their motherly joy overwhelming their guilt for spying.

Back in the clearing, Phuby finally slipped the ring onto Hana's finger. She returned the favor, placing the thicker band onto his hand, whispering the engraved words with a smile.

Then something flickered in his mind.

Wait.

Why did he feel like someone was watching?

He turned—slowly.

And saw two familiar silhouettes duck behind the trees a second too late.

His heart dropped.

"No…" he muttered.

Then he heard a stifled giggle.

Hana raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"…Nothing," Phuby said slowly, wide-eyed.

But inside, he was dying.

They saw everything. They heard everything. They recorded everything.

Worst of all… I'm never living this down.

---