Chapter 156: Wedding ceremony

Thinking about it now, as an adult, pregnancy is treated as something sacred and not at all embarrassing, while s*x is… a secret, something to be hidden. Japan is relatively open-minded, but…

Even so, it’s not easy to talk about a same-s*x relationship, especially one that goes against the natural order of things. Our relationship, created through IVF, definitely defied conventional norms. At least, that’s how I felt.

But the people around us were supportive and celebrated our unconventional pregnancy.

I took a leave of absence before the second semester even started. Not just because of the pregnancy, but because the morning sickness and fatigue made it impossible to attend classes.

Mom came over every day, helping with chores and keeping me company. Dad, having become a legal advisor for the Yukikawa family, was earning enough for Mom to quit her job.

I felt like royalty, eating Mom’s delicious home-cooked meals and relaxing in my clean and tidy apartment. Today, after checking on me and filling the fridge with food, Mom stood up to leave.

“Rina, I’m going now. It’s almost time for your dad to come home.”
“Okay… Thank you for everything, Mom.”
“Don’t mention it. Get some rest, and call me if you need anything.”

“Heehee… Okay.”

Mom chuckled, seeing me sprawled out on the sofa, exhausted.

“I’m not even 50 yet, and I’m already going to be a grandmother.”
“…Sorry.”

“What’s there to be sorry about? It’s a good thing. The sooner, the better. You’ll see what it’s like when you have a child that’s your mini-me.”
“Mom, is that a curse?”

Mom chuckled and left. What was that supposed to mean?!
A short while later, Aya came home from school.

“Rina, how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, Aya. How was class?”
“It ended early today. How about you?”

“Just… focusing on prenatal care.”

Aya chuckled and took my hand. Her touch sent a familiar warmth spreading through me. Even now, I still felt my heart flutter whenever I saw her, just like when we first started dating in our first year.

Was it good for the baby if the mother felt this giddy? I’d heard something like that somewhere. I was a little worried, thinking about what Mom had said. I hoped our child wouldn’t inherit my personality. I wanted them to be like Aya.

As I was thinking about this, Aya started massaging my hand. Her hands were warmer than mine; she was giving me one of her Nordic massages.

“So, when should we get married?”
“Ah…!”

Right. That was the reason we were doing this. The Yukikawa family wouldn’t officially recognize our marriage unless I was pregnant. The reason and the purpose had somehow become… separate, but I’d endured all of this for our marriage.

“Hmm, we should avoid exam season, right?”
“How about right after the exams? We can have the ceremony in Japan and then go to the Netherlands for our honeymoon.”

“Whatever you want, Aya.”

We were practically living as a married couple already, so it didn’t really matter. What mattered was being together, like this.
Lately, something had been bothering me: an overwhelming sense of… lethargy. I was constantly tired, even without doing anything. I’d read online that it was a common symptom of pregnancy, but experiencing it firsthand was… different.

“Ugh… I just want to lie down…”

I grumbled, slumping back onto the sofa. I used to lie on my stomach, but lately, perhaps because of the pregnancy, my breasts had been growing, making it more comfortable to lie on my back.

“Already? You’ll get stretch marks, Rina.”
“Aya… I’m pregnant. Stretch marks are inevitable.”

“But you don’t even have a bump yet.”

“They say the first trimester is the most important. You’re going to be a doctor, and you don’t know this?”
“Rina~ you’re being mischievous.”

“Look who’s talking!”

I retorted, sticking my tongue out, and Aya chuckled, coming over and leaning against me on the sofa. She looked into my eyes, our faces close.

“Am I being mischievous?”
“Yes… Always teasing me… I’m completely wrapped around your finger.”

“Do you dislike it?”

“…Not exactly dislike, but… it’s a bit much.”

“But I love you more than anything.”

Aya smiled playfully and gently caressed my cheek. Her touch sent a familiar warmth through me, making my heart flutter.

“…You’re so mean, Aya.”

“I’m only mean to you, Rina.”
“…Aya, really.”

I pouted, and Aya, gazing at me with her beautiful blue eyes, said, “I love you, Rina.”
Ah… those eyes… I was completely smitten.

“I love you, I love you, I love you.” I replied, and Aya chuckled.

“Aya, you’re like a yandere.”
“Pfft… Me?”

“Yes.” Aya burst out laughing, and her laughter was so contagious that I couldn’t help but laugh along. Our lips met naturally, a soft, sweet kiss. Aya’s tongue gently explored my mouth, a blissful sensation that made me feel languid and content. I wished this moment could last forever.

I hoped this happiness, this warmth… would continue, always.

****

Even with the anti-discrimination law, same-s*x marriage wasn’t legally recognized in Japan.

But we still had a big wedding. We invited our families, close friends from high school and university…

“Rina, you look so beautiful today!”

“Wow… you look like a princess!”

“Aya looks amazing too!”

“Rina is definitely the more feminine one, don’t you think?”
“Aya is pretty stunning too.”

My university friends chattered excitedly around me. Since there were only five girls in our department, we’d become close friends.

Then it was time for the bouquet toss.

“One, two, three!” The bouquet arced through the air and landed squarely in Mizuki’s arms.

“Eh…? Me?”
“Mizuki caught it!”

“You’re next, Mizuki!”
“Hey, hey, not yet! I’ve barely been dating my fiancé!”

Mizuki had been seeing her fiancé more often since we started university. Or rather, he seemed to be pursuing her more actively. Their lukewarm relationship seemed to be heating up.
Honestly, she was too good for him… but I also wanted her to be happy.

Mizuki, holding the bouquet, walked over to me.

“So, Rina-tan and Aya-ring, you’re going straight to the Netherlands after the wedding?”
“Yeah, I think so.”

“You should. You need to register your marriage officially there.” Aya took my hand and added, smiling. I spotted Reina-senpai and Sena-senpai standing quietly in a corner. Reina-senpai… was now my sister-in-law. I cautiously approached them.

“Congratulations, Rina.”
“Senpai… I should call you… sister-in-law now, shouldn’t I?”

“Don’t be so formal. Just call me ‘unni’ like before.”

“…Okay, unni.”

Reina-senpai smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and Sena-senpai smiled at me as well. Sena-senpai looked much healthier than she had at the graduation ceremony. Still small and delicate, but she’d gained some weight, and the frailness was gone. She took out her tablet and typed a message.

[You said you’d give me plane tickets to the Netherlands, remember?]

“Eek…? Did I? Haha… I don’t remember…”

[You promised!] Sena-senpai typed, grinning.

[You’re having the ceremony in Japan for your families, right?]

“Yes, there’s no other way.”
[Can we talk privately for a moment?]

I hesitated, glancing at Aya, who nodded with a smile. I followed Sena-senpai, pushing her wheelchair, to a quiet corner.

Sena-senpai leaned closer and whispered, her voice soft and sweet, like before. It wasn’t perfect yet, but it had recovered significantly.

“Rina-chan, have a beautiful life with Aya.”
“Senpai, your voice…!”

“It’s been recovering for a while, but I didn’t want to… burden Reina… But I wanted to congratulate you today.”

Hearing her voice again brought tears to my eyes. It had taken time, but she was recovering, and she’d be able to… work again, eventually.

“Seeing you so happy, Rina-chan… someone in a similar situation… It’s enough for me.”

“Ah…”

I remembered our shared secret from Okinawa. A secret we couldn’t tell anyone.

We were both… transmigrated, having once been men.

“I’m truly happy for you, Rina.”
“Thank you… Senpai, you have to be happy too.”

Sena-senpai smiled brightly, tears glistening in her eyes, and I smiled back.