The twelve happy ending ceremony that evening is even grander than it sounds. It takes place outside of the workshop on the stage with full lights. And if that doesn't make it feel like enough of the concert, twelve famous drummers from twelve different rock bands play as Krista oversees the ceremony with a newborn baby tucked in a sling across her chest.
She calls each couple she has match-made over the twelve days of Christmas, backward from day twelve. Nurses, doctors, and even a couple of senior vice presidents from GoX who I didn't know were together now…or gay. Each couple comes up on the stage after of huge drum roll from their favorite rock 'n' roll drummer.
I don't recognize the older man at the end of the row of twelve drummers until Krista says that he used to play for Jefferson Airplane and ask for a round of applause.
Everyone cheers as the last drummer starts playing the soft intro to "White Rabbit."
"This year, we unfortunately only had one elf who matched for true love," Krista tells the crowd.
Her announcement is met with boos, which she laughs off. "I know a lot of you were disappointed about that, but let's find some elf spirit and give our biggest round of applause yet to Kristal and Hayato!"
I jolt at her announcement. Somehow I had forgotten about our crazy exchange when she insisted that Kristal and I were a True Love match. Christmas feels like that long ago.
"We don't have to go up there," Kristal whispers beside me. "People decline all the time. This is actually one of the only Happy Ending ceremony’s where I’ve seen all twelve couples show up."
But this is something she wants. I sense it like I sense my own heartbeat.
So I take her by the hand and lead her through the crowd.
Despite the boos from earlier, Kristal's fellow elves cheer louder for us than anyone else.
Then even louder when we get up on stage. And louder still when we give in to their demands to "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"
After we draw apart, Hugh jumps up on stage and takes the microphone from his surprised wife.
"One year ago today, I made a choice to believe in magic…to believe in true love," he calls out to the crowd. "And it was the best decision I have ever made."
This time, the crowd cheers so loudly, Hugh has to yell, "Pipe down, Kringles! Pipe down now!" before he can speak again.
"Three days ago, this woman made me the happiest man on earth. And I know she already said yes to my marriage proposal, but I wanted to give her another grand gesture. This time with our baby in her arms," he tells the mostly elf audience. "So I'm going to sing rather badly, and I would appreciate it if you dance along. It might make me sound better."
There's a chuckle from the audience. But we all come together and start swaying side to side as Hugh sings "Wonderwall" in honor of his wife and newborn baby.
"Thank you for doing this," Kristal says as I hold her close and sway. "I always wanted to take part in the Twelve Happy Endings ceremony. You made my dream come true tonight."
For a moment, I don't answer. I can't answer. I have never in my life felt so powerless.
But then I find myself asking, "What is your name? What is your real name?"
She reacts with a start. "You know about that?"
I nod. "Hugh told me. But, you don't have to tell me. I understand if you don't —
"It's Dorinda. Dorinda Green," she says before I can finish letting her off the hook. "But most people called me Dorie when I was a kid. I wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you on New Year's Eve. But it didn't feel fair since I knew I had to leave. I figured it would only make it harder."
I asked the question, but my heart cracks at the answer.
Kristal… Dorie… she's right. Knowing her real name does make it harder.
I don't realize the stoic mask I've been wearing all day has fallen until Kristal begins to cry. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it harder. I was so afraid of getting hurt, but now look at what I've done to you. To us. This is all my fault. And I'm so, so sorry…"
I pull her close, holding her tight to me while I still can. "Don't be sorry. You made this great sacrifice because you are kind and noble. From the beginning, you've only wanted the best for everyone. Even your one-night stand. This is what makes you, you. And this is the reason I will miss you while we are apart."
My words only make her cry that much harder.
But we continue dancing. Long after Hugh's song is done.
We dance and dance until she says, "Only twenty more minutes until the workshop blinks away from this dimension. Walk me home?"
My only option is to wait.
I walk her home, back inside the workshop.
And we’re not a J-Drama. But I feel like one of the more tragic ones when I pull her into my arms, hugging her tight. She's no longer crying, but she clings to me like she is.
It only feels like a few seconds go by. But eventually, a voice overhead announces, "Two more minutes until the closing of the workshop. All guests should vacate the premises. Two more minutes."
When we finally pull away, Krista's eyes are once again brimming with tears. "I'm sorry. And I hope I see you next Christmas when the workshop comes back. I understand if I don't. But I hope I do."
All I can do is wait.
Without warning, my life flashes before my eyes.
My teenage years when I learned not to acknowledge the ghosts….
Holding Satomi’s body in my arms….
Lying to my therapists at the sanitorium…
Watching my mother die right in front of me…
Dragging Koyamo out of the Tokyo residence after Satomi tried to use her to confront my father. And then, breaking things off with her for reasons she didn’t understand.
Meeting Kristal…
She dazzles me across a small table.
She kisses me even when I tell her she’s not allowed.
She can never stay still when I’m on top of her.
And she’s better than any other woman I’ve ever met.
She makes me a better person.
She makes everything in my life better.
The highlight reel fades away as Kristal’s words from earlier echo in my mind.
Santa only makes deals that are in your best interest. Like, he doesn’t agree to anything that won’t ultimately benefit you.
What if the answer to my problem comes down to doing what would best benefit Kristal. Not me. Not figuring out how to keep her. But figuring out how to make her life better.
I am my father’s son. I've never been brave. Not when it comes to relationships.
But after a lifetime of doing what would serve my best interests, or protecting myself above all others, I swallow and tell Kristal the truth she deserves to hear. The truth I’ve been keeping inside during our ten days together. Possibly from the first moment we met.
"I love you,” I tell her. “I truly love you."
She inhales sharply, then turns her face away. As if I've hit her, not professed my true love.
I take her by the chin and gently force her to meet my eyes. "Do you love me?"
More tears spill onto her cheeks, and her voice sounds broken as she answers, "This is not the time to start a deep conversation. We have less than two minutes. You have to leave."
But I don't move. I don't let her look away. I only ask again, "Dorie, do you love me? Do you love me like I love you?"
Kristal looks at me for a long helpless second. Then her face crumples, and she nods. "Yes, I love you. I love you so much. And I'm glad Jae-Hyun got his closure, even if he turned out to be a morally questionable and seriously problematic ghost. But this is breaking my heart."
Mine too.
My only option is to wait.
353 days.
But I'm a Nakamura.
We pivot. We adapt. We fight.
And Krista was right. This is True Love.
Letting go of Kristal's chin, I pull out my phone and start typing out a text.
"One minute until we return to the North Pole!" an elf calls out over the speaker.
"What are you doing?" Kristal asks, "You have to get out of here…"
She trails off when I turn the phone around to show her what I've written. A message addressed to Hugh, Norio, and Go.
"Have decided to take a year-long sabbatical to be with the love of my life. I won't be back or reachable until Christmas Day. Hugh Edgeworth will explain everything."
She reads it. Then she looks up at me, her eyes shining and bright. "Do you mean it? Do you really mean it?"
I answer her question by pulling her into my arms.
I kiss her as the final warning alarms blare overhead. And I kiss her some more as the elves start counting down.
"10…9….8…7….6…"
By the time they make it to "One!" I'm fairly certain she knows that this time our arrangement won't be for one night…
Or ten days…
Or even twelve days…
Twelve months.
I'll be with Kristal for twelve months. Twelve Months of Kristal.
Then after that….
A lifetime.
And on that promise, we both fade along with the workshop from this plane of existence.