Cashback System From The Heart

The crisp Kyoto morning air gently brushed against their cheeks as Phuby and Hana strolled hand in hand through the quaint alleys lined with wooden machiya houses. Their steps were unhurried, light with the joy of newly-made memories and the anticipation of what was to come. The bamboo forest proposal had taken Hana by surprise, and although she had teased Phuby endlessly afterward, her smile had never faded since. Today was supposed to be a quiet day before diving into wedding preparations again, but Phuby had something else on his mind.

They passed a small teahouse with a low noren fluttering in the breeze. The scent of freshly brewed sencha wafted into the street, and Phuby took a deep breath, glancing at Hana.

"Hana," he said, slowing their walk. "I've been thinking."

"Hmm?" She looked up at him, her fingers still intertwined with his. "Thinking about what?"

"Well… a house."

Hana blinked. "House? You mean in Japan?"

"Yeah." Phuby nodded. "Maybe somewhere near your parents, or even in the city. It'd be nice to have a place of our own here."

She stopped walking, pulling his hand gently so he'd turn to face her. "Phu, don't you think that's a bit… excessive? We already have a home in Cirebon. And it's not like we're going to live here permanently, right?"

Phuby grinned sheepishly. "I know, I know. But it's not just about living. Think of it as an investment… a place to stay when we visit, and maybe later, an apartment or two in different cities. Tokyo, Osaka, maybe even Sapporo. One place in each major city."

Hana crossed her arms. "You're planning a real estate empire now?"

"Well," he chuckled, "kind of. But seriously, it's not about showing off or wasting money. I just think it would be practical, you know? And… part of me wants to feel like I belong here too."

Her eyes softened at his sincerity. He wasn't saying it to impress her. It wasn't a whim. It was the same man who had turned a dying bakery into a thriving business, who proposed not with a grand speech but with genuine love. She sighed with mock exasperation and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"You're lucky you're cute."

"I'll take that as a yes?" he teased.

"You can take it as a 'let's talk about it later, maybe after the wedding'."

"Deal."

They walked on, the conversation shifting to lighter things. Birds chirped from telephone wires, and the distant clanging of a temple bell echoed from a nearby shrine. The city buzzed softly in its usual polite Japanese hum, and for a while, they enjoyed the silence.

Then Hana tugged on his arm.

"By the way," she said, "I want to invite my best friends to the wedding."

"Of course! We have to tell them the good news. Are they still in Tokyo?"

"Yeah. Misaki, Riko, and Yuna. They've all been dying to meet you. Well—Misaki's seen you in some of my photos. She called you 'kakkoii' once and then immediately denied it."

Phuby laughed. "Should I be worried?"

"Not unless you run off with her," Hana smirked. "But seriously… I think they'll be really happy. I want them to see how far I've come, who I've become… with you."

His heart warmed. "Then let's invite them properly. Want to do a video call later?"

"Definitely. I'll set it up tonight."

As they turned the corner, Phuby spotted a modern-looking real estate office and briefly paused in front of the glass window, admiring a sleek-looking apartment listed near Gion. He tilted his head slightly, considering the possibilities.

"One day," he murmured.

Hana rolled her eyes. "Don't start again."

They continued walking, unaware that Mrs. Wulan and Hana's mother—back at their temporary rental home—were already planning parts of the ceremony, plotting matching kimono colors, and discussing traditional sweets for the event.

By the time they returned home, the house was abuzz. Mrs. Wulan had just finished a phone call with a local kimono rental specialist, and Hana's mom was laying out invitation ideas with small cherry blossom motifs. Om Luky, amused but not brave enough to interrupt the motherly forces, quietly munched on some crackers in the corner.

"Where have you two been?" Mrs. Wulan called out. "We thought you got lost."

"We were just walking," Hana replied innocently. "Also, we're inviting my best friends from Tokyo."

"Oh, that's lovely!" Hana's mother clapped her hands. "We'll need to expand the seating list. Do they have any allergies? Are they all single?"

"Mama!" Hana blushed.

Phuby chuckled and ducked into the living room, giving Om Luky a look of shared survival. He caught the older man giving him a quiet thumbs-up.

Later that evening, as the group prepared dinner together, the aroma of miso soup filled the room, and the warm golden lights turned their little rental into something that felt like home. Hana sat by the low table, flipping through her phone contacts while Phuby helped set the bowls.

"I hope they can come," she said softly.

"They will," he assured her. "And when they see you in your wedding dress, they'll know you've made the best choice."

"You better mean me," Hana warned playfully.

"Of course," Phuby winked. "Who else could I possibly mean?"

Outside, snow had begun to fall lightly, a whisper of white on Kyoto's quiet streets. The season of spring was nearing, and with it, new beginnings.