episode_0018

Kyotarou Hyoukyou

—

Our relationship, which began with “How about we get married?”, progressed through several dates.

Now, I had even set foot into Tomoe’s room.

The moment I entered the room, I was stunned. Honestly, I never imagined such a disparity. It seemed my perception that we lived in different worlds wasn’t entirely wrong.

“You can sit wherever you like,” Tomoe said. Her room’s living area was so vast it was troublesome to count the tatami mats, like something I had only seen in movies. *It’s her profession, of course she has one*, I thought, but an unfamiliar grand piano still imposingly sat near the center of the room.

When I sat on the gray sofa by the window, the view overlooked the city’s nightscape, making it an utterly gorgeous room. I shrank timidly, like a cat on a leash.

Immediately after, I remembered Tomoe was in a wheelchair and, rushing to help, found her changing… Well, that’s the kind of picture-perfect romantic comedy life we were living. But I never grew accustomed to Tomoe’s charm. My heart always pounded.

The more intimate we became, the more our defenses crumbled.

Looking back, the last time I considered losing my virginity was six years ago.

I never dreamed it would be to Tomoe.

It seemed to be Tomoe’s first time too, and both of us struggled awkwardly, despite our age.

“This feels… strange. I can’t stop laughing.”

As we lay naked, Tomoe resting on my arm, the world’s most beautiful woman was, in bed, a very clingy girl who giggled and begged for kisses. Every day was pure happiness; so overwhelmingly happy that I almost forgot many important things.

It seemed a few colleagues at work had seen Tomoe and me kissing, and my boss had scolded me with an “Oh, you…” But when he saw the bento Tomoe had prepared for me, he blessed us with a wry smile and a quiet “That’s good.”

When I went to greet Tomoe’s parents, they simply hugged their daughter without a word.

His quietly uttered “That’s good” somehow brought a smile to my face too.

“President, you truly smile now. You’re completely different from before.” Takagi-san, my secretary, said this when she visited our home.

“Before, you were more like dignified, or perhaps an ice princess. There was a barrier, you know. But now you feel very gentle! You two are a perfect match, aren’t you? Kyotarou-san, where on earth have you been all this time? …Ah, but that’s a foolish question to ask.”

She was a beautiful woman who spoke loudly. I heard she used to work for another music-related company. Upon hearing Tomoe’s performance and learning that Tomoe herself was establishing an agency, she had tendered her resignation to her former office. While I thought she was wild, she also gave me the impression of being a very trustworthy person.

She laid out several pamphlets in front of us: Hawaii, hotels, private chapels.

“After all, it’s Yako Tomoe’s wedding! Let’s make it lavish, truly lavish. When it comes to celebrity weddings, I suppose Hawaii is the way to go! I’ve never been there myself, but… Even with flight arrangements included, it should be fine, right?”

Takagi-san gestured money with her hand.

She must think our savings have no limit.

Well, Tomoe’s savings, not mine.

“Ahaha… I’m sorry, Takagi-san. I want to have a relatively small wedding. I have a lot of work, and we can travel after things settle down in the New Year or something. Right, Kyotarou?”

Takagi-san looked dissatisfied, but I agreed with Tomoe. Considering her physical condition, I couldn’t let her overdo it. A nearby location that caused minimal burden would definitely be better.

Even our parents would be burdened by an overseas wedding. From the pamphlets Takagi-san brought, we chose a hotel… though still a top-tier hotel, specifically its chapel.

“Hehe, with this, all those tabloid TV show articles will need to be rewritten, won’t they? Oh, Kyotarou-san, you absolutely must not leak any information about the wedding to reporters. Freshness is key with this kind of information; everything can lead to good business.”

I was surprised that celebrities had to make their own weddings into a business. However, worrying about that was Takagi-san’s job, as she managed the marketing, and Tomoe herself didn’t seem particularly concerned.

A few days later, we went to scout the venue, also to meet with the hotel planner, and arranged for the dress and ceremony details. Our wedding steadily approached.

Then came the creation of invitations for our guests.

It was here that I confessed the feelings I had kept hidden in my heart.

“Takeo and Chihana. Would it… be alright to send invitations to them too?”

My voice hitched at the end. A lot had happened. Considering Tomoe’s past, I thought inviting those two was out of the question. But six years had healed those wounds, and I wanted to believe that they had each reached different conclusions by now.

Tomoe, sitting beside me, thought for a moment, then took my hand and smiled.

“…Yes. It’s been six years, after all. Chihana-san might even be married to someone else, and Takeo-kun is still active… Besides, Takeo-kun is a celebrity, so he’ll hear about it eventually. Considering that, it’s a matter of sooner or later.”

Learning about our marriage through an invitation from us would surely feel different than hearing it through others. If possible, I wanted to meet and talk to both of them before the wedding.

Unfortunately, Takeo was busy with TV appearances and matches, and his agency manager declined, saying he wasn’t available. In the end, we only sent an invitation. It seemed reports of Tomoe and my romance were also getting in the way.

As for Chihana, she was completely out of touch, whereabouts unknown. All her previous contact information was defunct, and the apartment she lived in during university was already occupied by someone else. We contacted her high school home, but they still didn’t know her location. We even learned she had been disowned by her parents, and Tomoe and I exchanged uneasy glances.

There was nothing we could do about someone who wasn’t there. *If only she could hear about our marriage somehow…* I had devised one plan, though.

A month later, on the wedding day.

Takeo, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, approached me looking exceptionally happy. He grabbed me and wrapped an arm around my neck, rubbing his head against mine, expressing his joy. He said, “Tonight won’t end with just the after-party and a third round.”

Busy as it was, the ceremony began.

The lights dimmed, and I waited for Tomoe, the bride, at the midpoint of the aisle.

“The bride is entering.”

A soft gasp of “Wow…” escaped from some of the guests. Tomoe, clad in a pure white dress, was far more beautiful than I had ever imagined. Clutching her gloved hands tightly, Tomoe slowly moved towards me, her wheelchair pushed by her father, as she proceeded down the aisle.

“From now on, I leave her to you.”

“…Yes.”

Entrusted with Tomoe by her father, I advanced with her to the priest.

Her eyes, peering from beneath her wedding veil, were already somewhat moist.

“The kiss of vows.”

Tomoe, with her veil lifted, was unbelievably beautiful.

I involuntarily blurted out, “You’re beautiful,” and she relaxed her cheeks into a smile.

“Thank you.”

Exchanging a kiss with those words, we swore eternal love amidst thunderous applause.

Even after moving to the reception hall, everyone’s applause and smiles remained. Everyone blessed us. We enjoyed the wedding wholeheartedly, never doubting our happiness for a moment.

That’s when it happened, while a video detailing how we met was playing.

From the creaking door, a woman entered, without anyone noticing.

By the time Tomoe sensed something was wrong, she was already standing before us.

In her hand, she clutched a dull, gleaming blade.

“Chihana—”

“I will never forgive you for abandoning me!”

Happiness transformed into tragedy.

—

Next Episode: ‘What I Must Protect.’ *Takeo Furuya’s perspective*