Yurika sighed and leaned her head against his. "You Americans and your 'I love yous'," she said, bemused. "At home, most married couples go their entire lives without ever saying it."

"It doesn't bother me, aijin, it just feels, ano, strange? To hear it?" Yurika answered, shrugging. "Just...don't be hurt if I don't say it back? It's not that I don't, it's just not a word I'm always comfortable with. Blame my very repressed and patriarchal society."