It was just past midnight when Ren heard the gentle knock against the side of his tent—three rhythmic taps and a pause.
He sat up, half-believing he was dreaming. But then he heard it again.
Tap. Tap. Tap. … Pause.
His heart jumped. Only one person in the world had that exact knock, dramatic and ridiculous like a secret agent from a play.
Ren tiptoed to the flap of the tent and opened it just a sliver.
And there he was.
Shinomi stood beneath the soft glow of moonlight, cloaked in black, a ridiculous attempt at stealth ruined by the sheer sparkle in his eyes. A wild bouquet of forest flowers was stuffed under one arm, and he looked so proud of himself, like a bandit of romance.
"Are you going to invite your fiancé in," he whispered, "or leave me here to die from missing you?"
Ren groaned, dragging him in. "Do you know how much trouble you'll be in if someone sees you?"
Shinomi pulled down his hood, revealing wind-tousled hair and a grin too wide for the night. "Then don't let anyone see me."
Their eyes met. The silence was thick, charged with laughter and something sweeter.
Ren leaned closer, whispering, "You're insane."
"And you're still in love with me."
Shinomi gently pressed his forehead against Ren's. "We have until sunrise."
---
They escaped into the woods—barefoot, fingers tangled like ivy, hearts racing. Shinomi led them to a hidden clearing he had passed on his way to the camp, where the sky opened above in a spray of stars.
Blankets, fruits, warm tea, and two small lanterns from his estate had already been laid out.
"You planned this," Ren said in awe, stepping into the soft glow.
"Of course," Shinomi whispered. "You think I'd risk sneaking into military territory without planning every single detail? You trained me better than that."
Ren sat down, pulling Shinomi by the robe. "You're ridiculous."
"I'm yours."
They lay together under the stars, drinking tea and laughing softly. Shinomi fed him grapes, deliberately missing his mouth just to lick the juice from his lips. Ren retaliated by shoving a peach slice into Shinomi's mouth. Shinomi retaliated by pulling Ren down into his lap and burying his face in his neck.
The quiet became deeper.
The teasing softened.
"I missed you," Shinomi said, voice muffled against Ren's skin. "Everything feels dull without you."
Ren traced his fingers along Shinomi's jaw. "You'll have me soon. Completely."
"Not soon enough," Shinomi murmured.
He reached for a small wooden box hidden beneath the blanket. Inside were tiny wooden figurines—one of a boy in a fencing uniform, the other of a boy with wind-blown hair and a mischievous smirk.
Ren gasped. "You carved these?"
Shinomi nodded. "I tried to make us. The tiny version of you keeps falling over, though. He's clumsy."
Ren chuckled, tears welling in his eyes. "They're perfect."
They stayed like that—wrapped in each other, telling secrets, whispering dreams, and trading soft kisses like sacred promises. The world felt miles away. Time slowed.
And when dawn threatened the sky, Ren lay with his head on Shinomi's chest and whispered, "This was the best night of my life."
Shinomi kissed his forehead. "Then I'll keep giving you more."
As they packed up in silence, hearts heavy but full, Shinomi tugged Ren into one last long, slow kiss beneath the fading stars.
Neither of them said goodbye.
Only "See you soon, my love."
---