"So… what should we do about Hachikuma's ring?"
Yata-chan asked me that so casually while pulling out a neatly organized box of accessories from the safe. I blinked. This was supposed to be simple, right?
"She's strong," Yata said, rifling through the box. "If the ring's made of stone, she'd probably crack it with a single punch. If it's metal, she might bend it. So, maybe… not this one."
She tossed a jade bracelet toward me like she was flicking a pen across the table. I caught it awkwardly. I mean, who hands over something like jade so carelessly?
"She might break it with a bit of force," Yata mumbled, tilting her head. I mirrored her, unconsciously doing the same. "Maybe not the best idea, considering her line of work."
Next came a simple jade ring.
"Okay, this might be better," she said, picking up a delicate silver chain. "Look — we run the chain through the ring like this, and voilà — necklace."
I nodded. It made sense. Wearing a ring constantly would be a hassle for Hachikuma, but as a pendant? That felt right. She'd wear it close to her heart. Symbolic and practical.
"If you're serious about not letting go of her, there's another option," Yata added, voice turning sly. She handed me a small box.
Inside… earrings. Thin, small, with a translucent jade gem. Beautiful. Intimate. Painful.
"She doesn't have her ears pierced yet," Yata said with a mischievous smile. "So she'll need to get that done first."
I cringed. Just imagining the pain made my ear tingle.
"You know," she said, leaning in slightly, "when someone you love asks you to wear something like this… for a woman, that's actually kinda romantic."
Her grin widened. She was enjoying this way too much.
"Yeah, no," I said quickly. "I'm not really into pain. Ring and chain it is."
"Probably enough for Hachikuma," Yata smirked.
Then she pointed at the earrings again.
"And this one's mine, right?"
I stared at her. She was still smiling, but her eyes… weren't joking.
"It's not just anyone. It's you, so if it feels heavy, that's a good thing."
Suddenly I couldn't breathe. My throat went dry. I swallowed hard.
"As long as you remain who you are now, it's a good shackle, right?"
Seems like there was no escape. I swallowed dryly.
"Well, not right now. Later's fine," she said sweetly. But she didn't take it back. This was a promise.
...
Later, with my hands shaking slightly, I held Hachikuma's hand and slipped the ring onto her left ring finger. She closed her eyes like she was bracing for something heavier. I looped the chain around her neck, careful and slow. With the height difference, it probably looked like a kid clinging to her face — a clumsy facehugger moment — but the people around us smiled and clapped.
She opened her eyes, tears just barely gathering in the corners.
"Thank you," she said softly. "I'll wear it forever."
That hit me harder than I thought it would.
Then Misago leaned in with a smug look. "Hey, I didn't get a chain. I'm making a request."
Of course she did.
Later-later, I was sitting with Yata, holding a piercing tool in both our hands. Together, we clicked it through her ear. It must've hurt like hell, but her face… looked weirdly blissful. Like she felt proud of it.
Even later, Misago burst in like, "What?! Not fair! Pierce me too!"
Before I could respond, everyone around us — our whole chaotic little found-family — started nodding in agreement. The pressure was insane.
This novel has been lovingly translated by https://www.patreon.com/Jenuinez_translation