Won't you become my son's bride?

H-chan, my son's childhood friend.

H-chan is a cute, adorable girl with a charming smile who lives diagonally across from our house.

She is always energetic and cheerful, and a hard worker who has been taking ballet lessons since she was four years old.

Going back...
it was during the pre-nursery school days before kindergarten.

While I was watching my son play in the schoolyard, I spotted the mom who had lent my son blocks at a child-rearing support center some time ago.

I spoke to her, saying, "We've met at the support center before, haven't we?"

The conversation flowed, and we ended up talking about where each of our houses was located.

Right then

a miracle happened.

At that time, our house was under construction.

Believe it or not, the mom's house was the one diagonally across from our new home.

What a coincidence!
Was it fate?!

It was so incredibly surprising that I got goosebumps.

The history between our family and H-chan's family began there.

Even back then, my son was extremely shy; he couldn't easily join a circle of friends, and even when friends came to invite him to play, he would stubbornly refuse to go.

However, he opened his heart to H-chan from the very beginning.

H-chan is the type who makes friends with anyone right away.

Even with my son, who is a bit particular and difficult, she always treated him with exceptional brightness and kindness.

She always smiled and said "Sure" to my son's nonsensical rules.
She always praised the pictures my son drew with a heartfelt "Wow, that's amazing!"
When my son said he wanted to play more, she always joined him, saying, "Okay, just a little bit longer then."

I was always filled with gratitude toward H-chan, who understood my son so well, and her mom.

Since we became neighbors, we have been exchanging gifts for each other's birthdays.
This is already the fourth year.

My son makes something, and
my husband draws a picture of the character H-chan is currently into at that time.

The first year, it was a handmade picture book and Ariel.
The second year, it was a jack-in-the-box that pops out candy and Pokémon.
The third year, it was a handmade photo frame and Pikmin.

And this year, as he turns eight,

a diorama and

Splatoon

My son is very shy.
Even before going to deliver it, his face is bright red up to his ears.

When H-chan came to give him her gift, he was so shy that he wouldn't take it, and he even suddenly opened the shoe cabinet and started counting the shoes, which actually troubled her, haha.

This year, too, I can tell his heart is pounding.
Even though he's my own son, he's incredibly cute.

Ding-dong.

"Coming!" H-chan's cute voice comes through the intercom.

My son's heart is pounding.

The door opens with a click, and H-chan pops her head out.

...H-chan, happy birthday.

Your voice is so quiet.

Wow! Thank you so much, ○-kun! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

My son blushes, a goofy grin spreading across his face.

I wonder how much longer I'll be able to watch these two cute kids from such a front-row seat.

I wonder when they'll start seeing each other as more than just friends. Or maybe that doesn't matter.

Perhaps this year will be the last.

Thinking that makes me want to hug the two of them right in front of me.

I want them to stay close friends forever and ever.

Sweet H-chan, who accepts my son for everything he is.

Someday

won't you become my son's bride?