The sunlight streamed through the window as I adjusted my tie once more, standing in front of the mirror. The day had finally come—my wedding day. I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness, but I knew this moment had been coming for a long time. Touka and I were finally going to be together, officially.
Haruka, my older sister, stood in the doorway, watching me with a smirk. "You're more fidgety than when you first confessed to Touka," she teased, stepping into the room.
I laughed, trying to shake off the nerves. "I'm fine, Sis. Just… trying to make sure I look good."
She walked over and adjusted my collar. "You look fine. Now stop overthinking it. Touka's not going anywhere."
Her words brought a bit of comfort, and I took a deep breath. As I left the room and made my way to the garden where the ceremony was being held, I saw the guests beginning to take their seats. Familiar faces from all parts of my life were gathered, making everything feel even more real.
In the front row, I spotted Kousuke, grinning like always. He gave me a nod, probably thinking of all the things we'd been through together. Beside him sat Alicia, my childhood friend. Seeing her there stirred memories I hadn't thought about in years. We had grown up together, inseparable as kids, but when middle school came around, Alicia and her family moved back to Canada. It had been years before she returned, just as I entered my third year of high school. Her reappearance had been a surprise, but it felt like no time had passed between us.
Then I noticed Kei, my cousin, sitting quietly near the back. True to her nature, she stayed away from the crowd, her cold demeanor evident as she kept to herself. Despite her reserved personality, she was still there for me, and I appreciated that in her own subtle way. She'd always been shy, keeping her emotions hidden behind a wall, but I knew she cared.
Members of the Literature Club were present as well—people who had shaped so much of my high school life. Uguisu-senpai stood out among them, her elegance still commanding respect. Then, of course, there was Hiro, sitting beside Yuka. Yuka's little sister, Sumire, was next to them, as quiet and reserved as Kei, though her shyness was of a different kind. Hiro caught my eye and gave me a nod, a gesture that reminded me of the bond we shared back then.
And then the music started.
I turned to see Touka walking down the aisle with my mother, radiant in her wedding gown. She was breathtaking, and in that moment, everything else faded away. This was the person I was going to spend the rest of my life with, and I couldn't have been more sure of that.
"To the groom, Shin Himeya. Do you vow to love your wife, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" The priest said.
"I do." I said.
"To the bride, Miyako Touka. Do you vow to love your husband, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"Yes… I do." Touka said as she looked at me with a radiant smiled.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," The priest announce to us, "You may now kiss the bride."
I turn my gazed into Touka, "Touka…"
She looked at me and then she closed her eyes, "Himeya…"
We kissed, and the sound of applause filled the air, but my focus stayed on Touka, her smile lighting up everything around us.
As we turned to face the crowd, I spotted Haruka wiping her eyes, though she quickly tried to act like it was nothing. Kei clapped softly, her face still holding that distant expression, but I could tell she was happy for me. Alicia was grinning, her eyes full of nostalgia, and I knew she was thinking about our childhood and how much had changed since then. Kousuke cheered loudly, as expected, and Hiro and Yuka smiled warmly at us, while Sumire clapped along.
"Sniff…Sniff" Haruka was crying.
"Haru-nee… you're still crying?" Kei said as she tries to calm Haruka.
"Well, it is her younger brother's wedding." Kousuke said.
"I'm sure Himeya and Touka-chan are happy to have all of these people celebrating their marriage." Alicia said.
"Wedding huh… let's try them later, Yuka." Hiro said as she looked at Yuka.
"You're proposing?" Yuka said with a grin.
"Keep trying, Takamine-san." Sumire said with a smiled.
"He looked very handsome, didn't he?" My mother said.
"Yeah, It was a great ceremony…"
"And Touka-chan… She was so pretty. I wonder what trick did our Himeya used to conquered her?"
"He got the very same charm as his father." My father said with a grin.
"Oh dear." My mother smiled and pinching my father's cheek.
The Master of ceremonies of our wedding then took on the ceremonies, "And now, the new couple would like to voice their gratitude toward all of you."
"Hello, everyone… We would like to thank you all for making the time in your busy schedules to attend our wedding. Touka and I met for the very first time in High school, she and I just happened to speak after we got into our new class in High school. Now, here we are as husband and wife." I looked at Touka before continuing my speech and then, "Many things have happened in the interim. We've had good times, and some not good times… At this very moment, the person I love stands beside me. She's close to me, and dear to my heart. I'm truly happy to stand here as her husband. And to think that so many people had been watching us, watching over us… It made me tear up. With all my hear, thank you very much to all of you."
"It is a mysterious way of how fate works." Touka said.
"All of you here today are people that has ties to the two of us and we're here standing in front of you because of our bonds. This is not an exaggeration, I believe that if even one of you were missing from our lives, the two of us would not be who we are today… I was able to meet such precious people. And for that, I am thankful from the bottom of my heart for everything."
Tears flows up from her cheek as she finished her speech. I took out a tissue form my pocket and gave it to her.
"And lastly, allow us to make just one more vow to all of you." As I said that Touka and I look at each other and then turn to the audience.
"We promise to do our best in life and support each other in any situation to create a happy life." The both of us said in unison.
The audience then claps their hands. I was thankful that I got to see this scenery. I've been giving a chance in life and I succeed in saving her.
"Let's be happy together." I said as I looked at Touka and smiled.
She respond with a smile and said, "Yes dear."
The reception was a whirlwind of laughter and conversation. Kei, as always, stayed on the sidelines, but at one point, she approached me, her usual aloofness in place. "Congratulations, Big Bro," she said softly, her eyes not quite meeting mine.
"Thanks, Kei," I replied, grateful she had come.
"I'm happy for you," she added quietly before slipping back into the crowd. It was such a brief moment, but coming from Kei, it felt significant.
Later, Alicia approached me with a glass of champagne, her eyes sparkling. "It's hard to believe, huh? You're married now," she said, her voice tinged with both amusement and fondness.
"Yeah," I smiled. "You came back at just the right time."
"I wouldn't have missed this for anything," she said, her tone warm. "We've been through a lot, but seeing you like this, it makes me happy. Touka-chan is a lucky girl."
"I'm the lucky one," I replied, feeling the weight of everything we'd gone through—the years apart, her return, and now this moment.
"Himeya…" and then it's Haruka who came to us.
"Sis…"
I don't know why but I got emotional as she was standing in front of me, and then tears began to fall on my cheek. Haruka as my sister hug me and said, "Please be happy. And congratulation… you keep your promise." She smiled and then return back to the crowd.
Uguisu-senpai came to us and then she hugs Touka.
"Touka-san, please be happy with Himeya."
"I will Senpai." Touka said as she replied Uguisu-senpai's hugs.
After the hug, senpai looked at me and said, "Himeya-kun…"
"Senpai, thank you for all the support you gave me when Touka and I were apart…"
She smiled as she hears me and then, "That's what senpai do to their kouhai, right."
"Heheh." We laughed like when we were on high school.
As the night went on, Kei stayed with my sister, my mother, and my father, watching from close, while Alicia and Kousuke made sure to keep me busy with jokes and stories. Hiro raised his glass during his speech, joking about our days in the Literature Club and how he'd always known I'd end up with Touka. Yuka, of course, added her own playful teasing, reminding everyone of how obvious it had been.
By the end of the evening, as the stars appeared overhead and the last guests began to leave, I stood with Touka by my side, looking out at the people who had made this day so special. Haruka gave me one last smile before disappearing into the crowd, Kei gave me a small nod, and Alicia gave me a final hug before slipping away.
This was the start of a new chapter in my life, one I would share with Touka. And with my family, my friends, and the memories of everything we had been through, I knew I was ready for whatever came next.
"I can't wait to see our child." Touka said.
"Be patient with them, will ya?" I said.
"You said, will ya, haha."
The curtain of the night closed with us talking as the glow of the moon covering us with his grace. reminiscing our past, I looked at the sky and felt grateful to start my life in this world.