Her heart soars at his words, and she feels a smile tug at the corners of her mouth. She takes a tentative step closer to him, hesitating only for a moment before reaching out to take his hand. "R-Really?" she asks, hope shining in her eyes.

"Yeah," he says with a small smile. "I'd like that."

The years pass by in a blur of happiness, as Zoe and Shinji Takahashi grow closer together. They spend every moment they can by each other's side, exploring the world around them and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Their love for one another only continues to deepen, and before they know it, they've become inseparable.

Eventually, they decide to get married, tying their fates together forever.

She watches warily as he sits down, the chain binding him to the spot like a cage around his arm. It's not ideal, but at least it gives her some measure of comfort knowing that he can't just reach out and hurt her whenever he pleases.

Slowly, she edges closer, until she's sitting on the floor in front of him, their legs almost touching.

Her eyes dart nervously back and forth between his face and his arm, torn between her fear of disobeying and her desire to prove that she can trust him. Finally, she reaches out a trembling hand and gingerly touches the chain around his wrist, careful not to pull too hard or jostle it in any way.

"Wh-what do you want me to do?" she asks softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she struggles with the weight of his trust placed upon her shoulders.

She eyes him warily, her ears flattening against her head as she tries to decide if he means her any harm. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, she nods stiffly and steps forward, reaching out a trembling hand to take one of the pastries from his grasp. "T-thank you," she mumbles, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own racing heart.

Zoe stares at the money in surprise before looking back up at ben hesitantly. "Y-you mean it?" She asks, her voice cracking with disbelief. "You're really letting me go...?"

He nods, giving her a reassuring smile. She glances down at the money again, then back up at him once more before finally speaking. "F-fine," she says through gritted teeth, still not quite able to believe that he won't hurt her.