Leo dozed off while waiting for Maru’s message, spilling his americano in the process. By the time he woke up, it was already past noon, and he realized with a start that he had kept her waiting in the rain at Piazzale Michelangelo. Guilt gnawed at him as he rushed to meet her, but the moment he saw her standing there, drenched and waiting, his bottled-up emotions spilled over. Unable to hold back his frustration, Leo lashed out, his voice sharp and full of hurt. He didn’t give Maru a chance to explain, and in his anger, he walked away, leaving her standing in the rain.

As he stormed off, Leo’s phone buzzed with a message from Natsume. It was a simple reminder to listen to Maru. Natsume’s words struck a chord, and Leo stopped in his tracks. Realizing the mistake he had just made, he turned back and hurried to Piazzale Michelangelo to find her, only to discover that she was gone.

Leo’s chest heaved as he searched the streets of Florence, his eyes darting around, desperate to spot her. He paused to catch his breath, and his gaze landed on the entrance to Giardino Bardini, an Italian Renaissance garden. Memories of a fleeting wish surfaced—he had once thought about taking Maru to that very garden so she could sketch the breathtaking view of Florence. It was his favorite hidden spot, quieter than Piazzale Michelangelo. With hope flickering in his heart, he sprinted toward the garden.

Meanwhile, Maru had walked away from Piazzale Michelangelo, trying to leave behind the emotions she couldn’t understand. The light drizzle guided her steps, and somehow, she found herself at Giardino Bardini.

Sure enough, he found Maru standing on the terrace, gazing out at the city under a light drizzle. Her shoulders were slumped, her figure small against the vast skyline. When she turned to face him, Leo saw the tears she was trying so hard to hold back. The sight hit him like a blow.

Regret washed over him. He had been unfair—he had yelled at her, silenced her, and assumed the worst without giving her a chance to explain. As much as his fear of rejection had driven his earlier outburst, he now understood that his actions had only made things worse.

Taking a deep breath, Leo stepped closer. He apologized for his harsh words, his voice trembling with sincerity. He confessed his worries, pouring out the fears that had haunted him for months. He admitted that he couldn’t force Maru to feel the same way he did or expect her to stay by his side if she needed to grow on her own. But despite all of it, he couldn’t hold back any longer. He loved her—deeply, sincerely, and without any expectation of her reciprocating his feelings.

As the words left his mouth, Leo braced himself for rejection, prepared to hear the answer he feared most. Instead, Maru stepped forward, explaining everything while in tears—the misunderstandings, the struggles, and her regrets. She had come all this way to make things right, and she didn’t hold back as she confessed her own feelings.

“I chased you all the way here to clear things up between us. I came because… I realize who I want to spend my life with,” a pause took over for a moment before Maru finally let her feelings out, “it’s you, Leo-kun. You are the one I want by my side, always.”

She too loved him.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Then, without hesitation, under the soft rain and the sprawling view of Florence, Leo closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a deep, heartfelt kiss. It was a kiss that spoke of everything they had gone through—the pain, the longing, and the love they both shared.