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Mashiho remembers it clearly.
The first time Junkyu started squeezing his hand as a way to show his love. They just started dating at that time and were still trying to hide it from their friends.
"3 means I love you, you know?", he said, "So if I squeeze your hand 3 times, that's me saying I love you. I'll do that since I can't say I love you out loud."
Squeeze (I).
Squeeze (Love).
Squeeze (You).
"Mashiho! You have to squeeze my hand back to answer my I love you!"
And each time... each time Mashiho always squeezes back.
It became a habit afterwards.
People around them are aware about their relationship and they are openly in love. But still, Junkyu would squeeze his hand 3 times every chance he gets.
He'll squeeze Mashiho's hand when he's happy after ordering his favorite chicken....
... when he's sad 'cause his favorite tv show just ended
... when they fought over the simplest things
... when he's angry at Mashiho for missing their anniversary celebration because of work
... when he's overjoyed because Mashiho said yes to marrying him
... when he's crying after exchanging vows
... when they received the news that Junkyu has only months to live...
Junkyu squeezed Mashiho's hand a thousand times that day.
He remembers it clearly.
Mashiho remembers all the feelings that came along with those squeezes while sitting inside the hospital room. He remembers all the moments they shared together. The happy ones... the sad ones.
He remembers everything vividly as he now looks at their hands intertwined.
Mashiho remembers as he squeezes Junkyu's hand.
Once...
Twice...
Thrice...
... but Junkyu didn't squeeze back. He won't. He can't.