Reeling from these discoveries and still unsure about how to perceive the situation, Akira decided to change the topic. In a grave voice Akira stated, “Jiro-sama believes that you are responsible for the disappearance of the three villagers who got trapped in the blizzard. Is this true?” Without hesitation, Yuri nodded her head in response. “Are they alive or dead?”
“They’re alive. I’ve been keeping them in the hut that you saw me use before.”
“Oh?” questioned Akira with a renewed sense of hope blossoming in his chest. By allowing Yuri to explain herself further, he learned that the reason why the traveling villagers survived was due to them miraculously finding the hut in the storm. He also learned that the reason why it was taking so long for them to return was due to one of them becoming sick with the same ailment Akira had when he was rescued.
“He seems to be doing better now, so we should see him and his companions return to the village by tomorrow morning. Actually,” she started suddenly, “they should be on their way right now.” At first, Akira was confused with her sense of time for he believed it still to be the dead of night. However, one golden ray shot itself from the peak of the mountains to reveal that it was indeed dawn already.
Absorbing the sight and recalling his purpose for being there, Akira decided to confess to Yuri of his transgression against her. “You know just yesterday Yuri-chan, I broke the promise I made to you.”
“Is that right?” spoke Yuri indifferently.
“Yes. Although I didn’t tell him all of the details, I basically told Jiro-sama that you saved me and that we promised to meet again around this time. I also told him that I was going to propose to a local maiden…instead of you.”
“Oh my,” she started with disappointment in her tone. “This does not bode well at all.”
With that, Akira became convinced that she was not joking around. Downhearted, he nodded and said apologetically, “I don’t blame you for feeling disappointed. I wish I could take back what happened yesterday, but ultimately I broke the vow I made to you and—”
She interrupted his train of thought when she started to chuckle at his confession. Shaking her head she told him, “Akira-kun, your transgression against me isn’t as serious as you believe.” Looking directly at her, Akira waited for Yuri to explain what she meant by that. “While it is true that you did break your promise to me, you actually did so past the time you were supposed to meet me again.”
“But it’s been three years!” he protested.
“Has it?” she smiled playfully. Akira wracked his brains to discover the loophole that she plainly saw. After some careful consideration, he realized that there was not a loophole at all; what had happened was that he misinterpreted the exactness of the timeframes associated with the promise and, as Yuri hinted, he followed everything accordingly. As a matter of fact, he overdid his promise of secrecy by an entire week, thanks to the blizzard that caused the commotion. In addition, his promise to see her again was—all interruptions aside—right on schedule.
Finally returning a heart-felt smile to her, Akira teased, “You certainly are a troublesome woman, Yuri-chan.”
“Does this mean you’ll not marry me?”
