Innumerable
In which we learn why Satoshi loves Risa.

"Why do you love Risa-chan?"

If Satoshi found it strange that Daisuke, who had been about to leave the art room and had stopped to watch him paint for a few moments, would ask him that—he didn't show it. Instead he lowered his brush and regarded the question carefully, staring at his unfinished work pensively.

They both gazed at the painting. It was of Risa: standing by a window, arms held out, mouth open in laughter as the wind played with her hair and the sunlight danced on her features, illuminating her. Satoshi had hoped to finish it by this afternoon; Risa was going to arrive any moment now as they had made plans to meet there so he could finally show it to her, and he wanted it done by then.

"Because she brings light into your life?" Daisuke guessed, when Satoshi continued to remain silent.

The blue-haired young man raised an eyebrow, but the corners of his mouth lifted in amusement.

"She brought a wind of change into your life?" Daisuke hazarded.

Satoshi smirked. "Really, Daisuke, who would have known being with Riku would make you poetic?"

"Hey!" the redhead exclaimed, "I'm poetic enough before Riku, you know. When I want to be," he hurriedly amended, grinning. "So? Why do you love her?"

Satoshi raised his brush to the painting and added a few strokes. "There are many reasons why I love Risa," he said slowly, working carefully as he spoke. "I could state one, or a few, but it would be insufficient. To even say them out loud would make them seem meaningless, and even worthless." He lowered his brush again and faced Daisuke. "On the whole, when I think about it, I don't really even know why."

He paused, before saying quietly, "I just...do."

Daisuke was struck dumb for a few moments at the other boy's serious admission. Eventually he recovered, chuckling. "Wow. It's amazing. I guess you really do love her after all."

"I love her and I'm in love with her," Satoshi said, a solemn look on his face. "I know the difference, and I know I'm both." Then he smiled. "Now you can go and tell Riku that, so she can stop worrying about me and her sister."

"Hey, how did you know she asked—"

"I didn't; what you just said confirmed it," the bespectacled boy said smugly.

Daisuke laughed. "Yeah, well." He watched his friend continue working on his painting for a few seconds before he spoke again. "You know, I painted Risa-chan once."

"Is that so?" Satoshi's ears perked up slightly at the declaration, but he continued painting.

"Yeah. I was able to capture her likeness perfectly, but this—" Daisuke gestured to the canvas, "is Harada Risa. It's her, through and through."

"Thank you," Satoshi said, and he truly meant it.

"Hey, make me the best man in your wedding, alright?" Daisuke said, poking his shoulder playfully.

"Who else would it be, idiot," Satoshi grumbled under his breath. The spiky-haired lad laughed again as he finally walked away.

"Oh, hello Risa-chan!" he heard Daisuke call out from outside the room. He suppressed a laugh—so she was there. And she was probably there the whole time, listening as he and Daisuke were talking. And he didn't mind.

He didn't turn to greet her, thinking she would be approaching him by now; instead he concentrated on finishing his work, now adding the finishing touches to the painting. It was only when he was done did he realize that she was still standing by the door, just looking at him, her eyes bright.

Satoshi placed his brush and palette on a nearby table and stood next to his painting, gazing at her. Risa walked forward slowly, almost solemnly, her hands clasped in front of her tightly, her eyes never wavering from his.

And he felt a sudden, dizzying sensation that he seemed to be seeing the future: her walking down the aisle while he stood waiting by the altar.

Risa stopped halfway, sucking in a sharp breath as she saw the painting. Satoshi could see her eyes take in the details: the window, the sunlight, the wind. Herself. She met his gaze again and she smiled brilliantly, her eyes brimming with tears. She walked forward once more, closing the distance between them until they were close enough to touch.

He held his arms open and she stepped into them, her hands clutching the fabric of his polo shirt tightly at the back as she burrowed her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent contentedly.

She felt like a child who had been left behind in school while the others around her had someone to pick them up; until he came to collect her. She wasn't alone anymore, she knew she will never be alone.

"Tadaima," Risa whispered.

Satoshi pulled back slightly and smiled. He leaned down and kissed one eyelid, then the other, almost reverently, his lips tracing her eyebrow to stop at her ear and whisper.

"Okaeri."

Fin.

Translation (a reviewer asked what these meant so here you go...And sorry for assuming that everyone already knew what these words meant XD)
Tadaima - I'm home, I'm back, I came back
Okaeri - Welcome home, welcome back

Reen's ramblings: Oh my god, my muses have gone all mushy on me. I started off writing this oneshot with a random fangirl asking Satoshi that question, but she annoyed me so much that I killed her. Er, from the story, that is XD
And I've run out of song lyrics by now XD Well, advanced Merry Christmas to all then :D
But! Fear not, for my smut-muses will soon make a comeback!
And Anal!Reen strikes again, with her obsessive-compulsiveness in editing and rewriting! XD Thanks for bearing with me, you all :)