AN; When I first began this ff, my plan was for it to be around 20 000 words. Well, it blew that out of proportions, and it landed on around 100 000. Not in my wildest imagination did I ever presume this baby would grow so much.
I always planned to finish it in 2017, but since the start of December my computer have given me a hard time, and I thought I might not make it. I have never thought to imagine how much power the enter button has on my keyboard before it stopped working.

A reviewer even wrote to me that they would send me a new keyboard when I told them of my troubles finishing this chapter. For just thinking about ordering me a keyboard I am forever grateful, but it is not something I could ever accept. Because of this person I managed to push myself (with a few cuss words directed at the enter button more than a few times) in order to finish this last chapter this year.

Therefor I would like to dedicate my first ever dedication and last chapter of this ff to Naoko Mint. Thank you for all the review and personal messages during this year. They gave me smiles, and pushed me to complete this ff in the time I promised you.

Our future

I had recently graduated from college and was now an official teacher, like my goddess.

After moving out from my parents house I had opted to rent a flat close to the Oedo family residence. Coincidence? Not really, but Yamaguchi never questioned my choice. I never volunteered passed on any information on my living quarters, except for telling her my new flat was nice comparison to what I had to pay for it in this area.

Before graduation I had secured myself a place to work as a teacher. Unfortunate it was not in the same school as Yamaguchi, but close by, so we could walk together to and from work when our schedules allowed it.

For me those walks was a small piece of heaven. Daily I imagined that we were a married couple walking to and back from work together. Sometimes I had trouble holding back a "see you at home honey" when our paths separated us.

How I wished that was the truth.

Those last few hundred meters without her from where our paths was divided in the evening, where she walked home to her house, and I in the direction of my flat felt like the Atlantic ocean. Trying hard not to let it bother me to much, I pushed myself instead to focus on those minutes we had together almost every day. The only thing I knew for certain was that the flat would never be addressed as a home. Yamaguchi was my home, and no place I lived, except for my childhood home, would ever be defined as home until she was living there with me under the same roof.

In order to lure her to meet me in some evenings I acted as if I had troubles with my students. Asked her for expert advice. Not that the students I had could be compared to her difficult classes.

I knew if there is one thing Yamaguchi loved in life, and that is to assist her students. Helping former students reach their full potential was a close second life goal for her. Concerning myself, it meant she would help me become the best teacher I could ever become for my students. For me this meant a opening for daily discussions between the two of us. Giving me a few precious minutes together with her in order to still my hunger.

Slowly I began offering to buy her a coffee as a thank you for her advice. When I could see she did not refuse my offer I began telling her about the progress I made with my students. After a while I took it one step further and asked her if she wanted to join me in order to celebrate my success over dinners or drinks.

I felt a little strange lying to Yamaguchi, but she never questioned how often I had something to celebrate. She always said yes.

There was never a dull moment together with her.

Luckily she knew me enough not to expect me to talk for hours about myself. In the beginning I told her about my situations, talking in order for us to keep on meeting. As time went by I loosened up a little. No longer afraid she would leave the minute I stopped talking. Hearing her voice telling me about her day almost made me daydream about a time where we could discuss those subjects sitting around our future kitchen table.

For now, I was content with sitting in a restaurant while answering when she directed questions at me. Luckily she understands me well enough to know I prefer to listen instead to talking. Considering she was exactly the opposite, she fitted perfectly together with my character.

Making me love her a little more every day.

As our evenings together got longer and longer we began discussing more personal subjects as well. She asked me about my friends and in return I asked about her family members and sometimes tried to gather information related to her and other male figures in her life.

So far so good.

oOoOo

One time she came for our pre planned dinner a few minutes late with a split lip and blood on her shirt. Her hair was no longer in her two pigtails, and her glasses was nowhere to be seen.

I almost lost it.

Despite the fact I have always thought she looked beautiful with her hair down and without her glasses, this time it sent my blood boiling for a completely different reason.

It was the first time I yelled at her after graduating. First time as a man yelling at a woman. Hiding my concerns for her safety behind my harsh words.

Seeing her broken and bleeding my heart could almost not take it. Already picturing in my head how she had gotten hurt in order to protect some of her precious students, yet again. How next time, someone might have a gun in which she could not protect herself against.

Yamaguchi tried to calm me down. Gently informing me, with a small smile, that I should seen how the other guys looked like after the fight. Trying to laugh it off. Despite knowing deep in my heart she was a brilliant fighter, her words did not calm me down. Her hurt and bloody figure in front of me was not a laughing matter.

Before we left the restaurant that particular evening she had reluctantly promised me to contact me if anything like this ever happens again. I argued that if her students needed help, it was better to be two than one person in order to protect her new cubs.

oOoOo

Less than one week later I got a call from her.

I managed to hastily grab my jacket and lock my apartment door before she could even inform me of where she was running off to, having known the second I could hear her shortness of breath on the other line as to why she had called me.
Following her instructions I met her outside a shabby warehouse. Seeing the dirty building in front of me brought back fond memories. As I walked next to her into the warehouse I felt a shiver go down my spine in excitement. A paradigmatic shift in our relationship had just occurred.

I was no longer the one lying hurt on a cold concrete floor in an unknown warehouse dressed in my high school uniform waiting for my goddess. Finally, after years of waiting and growing up I was walking next to her as an equal. Facing danger together with her. She had even been waiting outside for me before entering.

The second we entered the darkly lit warehouse, her loud voice yelled out for the attackers to stop. Yamaguchi had not changed at all. Seeing her students hurt on the floor she first tried to reason with the attackers. Requesting for them to leave her students alone. When this did not work, as usual, we did not waste precious minutes before attacking the gang related men inside the cold room. Once again protecting her students.

After the first episode where we fought together, Yamaguchi steadily contacted me when trouble arose. Shockingly, she usually even waited for me outside before entering the fights herself.

Slowly, her students even began recognizing me. A few of them was even brave enough to ask me of my connections concerning their female homeroom teacher.

Since I could not tell them what I wanted to be the truth, I just told them she was my goddess and let them argue between themselves what I meant by that.

oOoOo

The months flew by and I finally felt like it was time for me to step up a little. To show her the extend in which she meant to me.

I called her late in the afternoon on a Friday while fretfully walking back and forth on my bedroom floor. After what felt like forever I could finally hear her voice in the other end. Not wasting a second longer than human possible I nervously asked her if she could meet me in the park the following day at noon. This time I did not hide behind a white lie like I always did in the past. This time I would not use my students as an excuse.
Without asking for a reason Yamaguchi agreed to meet me.

After saying our goodbyes on the phone I had to sit down on my bed for a moment. Trying in vain to calm down my nervous heart. It is not as if I was going to ask the woman I have loved for more than three years if she finally could picture us as something more than a former student and teacher. More than a colleague in the teaching profession. Nothing to worry about at all...

To be perfectly honest with myself. I was actually ready to ask her to marry me. Unfortunate I knew it was too soon for her to consider the aspect of marrying me. She has not been in love with me for three years after all.
Relationship first then marriage. Hopefully.

Just thinking about it made me have a small panic attack. In order to calm myself a little I let my body fall down on my bed. Looking up into nothing while counting downwards from one hundred slowly while making my heart follow the beat of my words.

After a while I finally calmed myself down a little, but not enough.

In the end I called Hayato, desperate for his help.

"What, it is not like you have waited for this moment for years." I gripped the phone harder "Not helping Hayato" I yelled back. The only thing I got in reply was his laughter. Losing my temper I broke the connection between our phones. Throwing down my phone next to me on the bed while grabbing my pillow with the other hand. I held it over my face as I yelled out in frustration.

Sometimes I wonder why I consider Hayato my closest friend.

Despite the fact I had a pillow over my head I could hear a small ping from my mobile phone. Throwing the pillow away I grabbed my phone, noticing a unread text from Hayato. Holding it over my head I opened the message, reading out loudly "Sorry man, I know this is a important meeting for you, but considering how much time our teacher is already spending together with you I think you have a great chance tomorrow."

My anger slowly left me as I read his words, knowing he meant well. I quickly sent a message back "She is not my teacher anymore," before turning the sound off as I left it on my nightstand.

Standing up from bed I did my nightly ritual in the bathroom, and changed my clothing before dragging my body into my warm bed again.

During the night my dreams was filled with different versions of how my meeting with Yamaguchi the next day could end. Some made me almost cry, others made me smile. A few even made me blush.

oOoOo

Today was the day, today I would officially ask her to consider entering a relationship with me.

I felt sick just thinking about it.

It almost felt like I needed to puke. Was it too late to cancel?

After all I have only loved her for a few years. I can wait longer I argued to myself as I stood in front of my mirror, trying to fix my hair for the hundred time. In the end the choice was take from me when I began imagining what would happen if I never manned up today. The pictures in my head showed her with a stranger standing next to her, in a place I so desperate wanted to fill. Those dreadful thoughts was enough to make myself walk out the front door and into the sunlight with my head held high.

Step by step walking closer to fulfill my dream. Or ruin it forever.

Nonetheless, there's something to be said about getting it over with. Ripping the band aid off, so to speak. Hoping that the wound won't bleed to much. My fragile heart could only take so much more stress in my young life.

As I entered the park a few minutes too early I quickly found a bench where I had a nice view in every directions. Giving me a opportunity to see her the moment she entered the gateway leading into the park. Despite the fact I could feel my body wishing to walk in every direction except for where I was suppose to be, I sat down on the metal bench. Trying in vain to calm down my irregular heartbeat. In a way I could almost hear my heart ringing in my ears, signaling the fact I was close to a heart attack.

After what felt like forever I could finally breathe normally again. My heart calming down a little, giving my brain enough oxygen so it would function again.

Sitting there I felt a immensely relief.

Considering my call with Hayato last night I was really glad he did not know where this planned meeting would take place. As I sat on a bench in the park I could picture my four friends hovering under a bush close by. Spying on me as I made a fool of myself.

Just the thought of how Yamaguchi would react if she found out a group of her former students spying on her getting confessed to, make a small smile break out in my face. She would run after them in embarrassment, trying to land a few hits on their heads. Notwithstanding the fact that even Take was now over one head higher than her. Imagining her trying to hit Tsucchi head despite his tall figure made me laugh.

My thoughts was interrupted by a voice whispering into my ear "What are you laughing at?"

As I turned my attention to the figure standing close to where I was sitting my calming demeanor dissipated at once.

Without having realized it I had jumped up from the bench in shock and was standing right next to Yamaguchi.

Before I could come up with a legit excuse my eyes took in her figure. A new shock flow through my body, making it impossible for me to talk. It was even hard to think.

In my wildest imaginations I have never thought I would ever see anything so perfect. Standing less than a meter from me was a small feminine figure.

Yamaguchi, with a small smile on her face and dressed in a yellow summer dress which reached her knees. Her long black hair was hanging straight down, and her eyes was no longer hidden behind her round spectacles.

As I stood there like a fool with my mouth open in shock, she began showing obviously signs of being nervous. Her eyes drifting in the direction of the exit, as her feet began to move around a little.

"I see that I misunderstood today's meeting. If you excuse me I need to go." She turned around and began walking away.

Instinctively I reached forward, grabbing her hand in order to stop her from leaving. Just the thought of her leaving made my heart freeze.

My former homeroom teacher, the love of my life, was walking away because she thought she had misunderstood something.

Luckily she did not drag her hand away from my desperate grip. Letting me hold her as my brain finally managed to put the pieces together. My heart unfroze and like a revelation I realized she had dressed up because she thought this was a date. A date with me!

Nervously I turned her so that we were face to face again. In these last few years I had gotten a little taller and had to look downwards in order to meet her questioning eyes. Taking a few deep breaths in order to gather the last of my courage I finally asked her what I had wanted to do for over three years. "Kumiko, do you want to go out on real date with me?"

My heart was hammering in my chest. This was it, the moment of truth.

Her eyes did not leave my face as she took a small step backwards. Away from me.

She let her eyes look me up and down, not exactly judging me, but studying, noticing my shaking body. Usually her eyes were filled with emotions, but this time they were mostly blank, not letting me read them as I often could.

I knew it, she had no interest in me I argued inside. In response to her lack of reply I ordered myself to hold back my sad reaction, hindering it from showing on my face. Not wanting hurt her when she realized the depth in which she had broken me.

This time it was my time to run away before I broke completely down. Maybe she had dressed up because she was meeting someone else after this. A man. Maybe I had misunderstood her misunderstanding.
Before I could run away, both from her and my depressing thoughts, she opened her mouth and in an uncertain voice asked "Does that mean we are not already dating? I mean, is that not what we have been doing these last couple of months? I thought you just wanted us to take it slow considering how young you were. Was I wrong to presume we were in a relationship?" Her own nevervusity was easy to read in her eyes this time, before they left mine again in favor of the ground.

My brain short circuit hearing her words. My eyes widening in shock. For a second I could not react, trying to process what she had just said.

Was it wrong of me to always assume the woman in front of me had troubles understanding the romantic feelings of those around her? She had always surprised me in the past, so why should this subject be anything different I argued to myself.

Without voicing it loudly that I have always considered our meetings to be small dates. Maybe she did as well. She had probably picked up my wish without me noticing it. Finally all the pieces fell in place. Despite knowing my feelings she agreed to meet me again and again, even inviting me to join her in fights. She had known about my feeling, maybe even for years, and still allowed me to stay close to her.

If I think about it we had been dating for months without me realizing it.

I had been to focused on my main goal for us to be together. To concerned and terrified she would leave me if she knew the depths of my feelings. She had wanted to stay with me as well. The impact of what was happening made my knees weaken.

Quietly I began analyzing the shocking situation in which her few words had relieved. I could see how she thought we were already in a relationship. Considering her family background and upbringing, from her perspective our outings might seen like traditional courting. In her world my approach might even be the correct way to enter a relationship of someone of her status.

Considering she was still agreeing to meet me during all of these months, does that mean she has already agreed to date me official? Actually, we were already dating, and I was the one not knowing it.

The full impact of her words hit me hard.

Was she really mine?

Looking down at the woman next to me I saw an uncertain look on her face. My shock had been so great I had not said a word for a long time. Luckily she was still standing there, obviously having notices my brains problems to understand the depth of what had just happened. Today I was sorely lacking as a conversationalist, worse than normal even.

Not managing to find my words I did the next best thing in order to reassure her. Moving my feet closer to where she was standing. Not wanting to waste a second longer I took a hold of her and dragged her into my arms. I let my hands circle around her small hips drawing her body in closer to mine. Embracing her small figure strongly against mine.

Smelling her hair and breathing freely for what felt like the first time in years.

The bubbling, happy feelings inside made me almost pass out in joy.

Slowly I felt her arms move upwards my sides, connecting them behind my back as she was returning my hug. She was even leaning against my body.

Holding the woman I had been in love with for over three years made my eyes glassy. As I held her I did not realize I was crying until I noticed the wet spots on her shoulder. Embarrassed I tried to hide my tears, using one of my hands to dry my face behind her head before taking a small step back. Not far enough to let her go, just enough to look into her sharp calculating dark eyes. Finally I managed to find my voice, pressing out a weak confirmation "Yes, yes we are."

Seeing her face lit up in a bright smile I could no longer contain myself. Slowly I turned my head a little downwards towards hers. My body shaking a little because of all the emotions flowing through my body at this moment. Comprehending what I was finally about to do.

Just before our lips met for the first time I whispered her name against her lip. Not Yamaguchi, which I have used for years, or even Yankumi. She was, and forever would be Kumiko to me from this moment onward.

Feeling her lips slowly accepting mine I pressed her body even closer with my left hand, while the right one followed her body upwards, stopping at her left cheek. Holding it gently as I deepened the kiss even more. Desperately trying to transfer all my feelings as my mouth moved against hers. Tasting her for the first time. Her lips met mine in a similar desperation.

As we stood there, under the warm sun, my head could only form a singular thought as I held my goddess.

"Mine, finally mine."

oOoOo

Finished!

An, I hope the ending was not to much of an disappointment, but this was the way I always felt this fiction should end. Parts of this chapter was even written before I had written the first chapter of this fiction. Now, without promising anything I might write something small extra, but do not expect anything since it might never happen.