Bits of Love, Lines of Code

Chapter 36 - 32: Our Future Begins With Soil and Sky

The day after Ren's confession, the rain finally stopped.

The city, still damp and shining under the soft morning sun, seemed to take a breath along with them. The silence between Ren and Aoi had turned into something sweet — filled with unspoken warmth and deeper connection. There was no more hiding.

Now it was time to show her everything.

The Drive

Ren tightened his grip on the steering wheel of his BMW M5, sneaking glances at Aoi in the passenger seat. She had tied her hair back into a ponytail and was wearing a lightweight hoodie and sneakers. Casual. Excited. Still pretending not to be, but her constant foot-tapping betrayed her mood.

"So... this is really your secret land of dreams, huh?" she asked, lips curling into a teasing smirk.

"More like our future kingdom," he replied, chuckling.

She leaned her head on his shoulder briefly, eyes closed. "I'm still mad you didn't tell me sooner."

"I deserved that."

"But also..." Her voice softened. "Thank you. For thinking of me in every part of this."

Arrival at the Countryside Plot

It was like stepping into another world.

The paved roads faded into gravel, then into a narrow dirt path bordered by wildflowers and tall grass. And then it appeared — the wide, open plot nestled between rolling green hills and a backdrop of dense forest. A few distant farmhouses could be seen dotting the landscape.

And in the middle of it all... the beginnings of a dream.

Markers outlined the foundation. Excavation had begun for the basement and garage. A huge cornfield stretched across one side of the land, silent and golden in the sun.

Aoi stepped out of the car, stunned into silence.

She walked ahead slowly, her shoes crunching against the dirt and gravel. Her hand reached out as if touching an invisible memory already forming.

"This is..." she whispered. "It's beautiful, Ren. I can see it. I can see our life here."

Ren stood beside her, gazing at the open land. "That's the front. The porch will face the morning sun. The workshop will be behind the house, separate. Over there," he pointed, "is the garage. Big enough for two cars and storage space."

Aoi turned to him, teary-eyed again. "You really planned everything."

"I told you I changed," Ren said. "It's no longer about working myself to death in some tech empire. It's about building a life we'll love. Together."

She threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. "I love you so much. Stupid, romantic, secretive man."

Walking the Land

They spent the afternoon walking the entire plot. Aoi kicked off her shoes and wandered barefoot through the grass, humming softly. She pointed at spots and threw out sudden ideas:

"That tree? We hang a swing from it."

"We need a little herb garden here."

"I want a huge open kitchen with a window facing the hills."

"Let's build a hammock near the cornfield!"

Ren took it all in, jotting notes down on his tablet as they went. Every suggestion, every excited gesture — this was the real blueprint of their future.

Then, near the end of the walk, Aoi suddenly paused.

"Ren... Do you think we're rushing?"

He blinked. "What do you mean?"

She looked out at the horizon, a slight breeze playing with her hair. "Marriage, the house, the countryside life... aren't we moving too fast for people our age?"

He took a deep breath and stepped beside her.

"Maybe we are. But I'd rather race toward a future with you than waste years pretending I don't want it." He gently took her hand. "I know what I want, Aoi. And if you ever feel unsure, we can slow down. But for me — I've never felt more certain."

Aoi was quiet for a moment, then gave a small nod.

"...Then let's do it. No more second-guessing."

Evening Return

As they drove back, the setting sun turned the sky gold and pink. Aoi sat with her knees pulled up on the passenger seat, gazing out the window, lost in thoughts of what their home would become.

Ren reached over and gently laced his fingers with hers.

"We're really doing this, huh?" she murmured.

"We are," he whispered.

And somewhere in the distance, the future they were building together waited — silent, vast, and filled with the kind of love that never needed words to feel real.