Work Text:
No matter what, Minori feels like she will never get used to the fact that she’s a fully fledged idol now.
From what began as the smallest seed of a dream germinated from being saved by Haruka all those years ago, it now blossoms into a technicolour tapestry of the reality Minori now lives in - the reality wherein she has finally found a place to belong where she can continue striving for her dream alongside some of her closest friends. Reminiscing back to a time where she would never have even thought about standing on stage as a real idol always makes her heart flutter, surer than ever that her younger self would be so mystified if she knew what her future would be like. Between practise on the rooftop, regular livestreams, collaborations and full-blown concerts, Minori can still barely believe that her aspirations are slowly but surely being fulfilled.
However, Minori had yet to be a part of a different side of idol work. That is, until today.
Today, when under the temperate blaze of the late-afternoon sun, Minori Hanasato read the email requesting her to participate in a photoshoot all by herself, let out the loudest gasp she could possibly muster in her life, then promptly fainted.
When she came to, she was met with the concerned yet slightly bemused expressions of her other group members poring over her. Airi made an off-hand comment about the email’s offer, and Minori’s heart raced so quickly that she was moments away from fainting again, right then and there.
It wasn’t like this was the first time More More Jump was being approached to do a promotional event, however. Since Airi, Shizuku and Haruka had acclaimed success prior to joining their new group, they were still being contacted with offers to appear in commercials, photoshoots, and the like, albeit with the added bonus of being able to actually pick and choose which to accept since they were no longer under management. However, this was the first time that Minori had been specifically requested. Her, out of all the other idols? Minori could scarcely believe it - some part of her still wonders if this is all just a practical joke.
The thing to bring her back down to earth, however, is when Shizuku beams, commenting, “Well, it appears that Minori-chan is completely on board! Airi-chan, I’ll just take the phone now and write a reply…”
Okay, if there’s one thing that makes Minori spring into action immediately, it’s Shizuku’s technology mishaps. With agility that could never be replicated in her actual dancing, she lunges forward and snatches the phone from Airi’s hands before the onset of any chaos. “Um! Thank you, Shizuku-chan, but I think I want to read the email a little more first!”
“Oh, I see! Carry on, then!” Shizuku’s eyes widen apologetically. Airi shoots Minori a look of immense gratitude.
The email appears relatively normal, the details all being straightforward enough that Minori is starting to realise that this really is happening. The photoshoot was to take place on Valentine’s Day, within a nearby cathedral, and Minori would be playing the part of the bride. Frankly, she’s surprised to be picked for such an important role instead of just a humble bridesmaid, but the prospect only makes her more giddy with delight. The fact that they wanted her out of all people was exciting enough, but on top of that they wanted her to play one of the most important roles? Minori could die and be sent to heaven right here and now.
“Am I dreaming? Somebody, pinch me!” She exclaims, only to yelp and wince when it actually happens, “Ow ow ow ow ow! Not so hard, Haruka-chan!” Yet another reminder not to make Haruka angry, not that she’d ever even dream of doing that.
“So, Minori…” Airi begins, “I know this must be a pretty big decision to make, seeing as it’s your first time being asked to do something like this, but do you think you’d want to accept it?”
“Is that even a question?!” Minori yells, perhaps a little too loud for comfort. She can’t even imagine turning that offer down. Sure, more opportunities might come up in the future, but how could she be certain? Life was all about racing towards new opportunities, right? Surprisingly, however, Airi raises an eyebrow, “You barely even thought about it, huh… I guess I can’t blame you. I was excited to do something like this for the first time too.”
Excited doesn’t even come close to describing how Minori feels right now. It’s more like… delight. No, exhilaration. Not even that, it’s the feeling of being completely over the moon, stuck on a faraway dreamlike planet and being unable to come down to Earth. At this point, Minori was making plans for permanent residency on Planet Happiness.
That is, until Airi removes her rose-tinted lenses with the simple words: “There’s just one issue… you’ll have to be there on your own.”
“Eh?!” She wails, “But I won’t know what to do at all! Is this some kind of cruel punishment or something?”
Beaming mirthfully, Shizuku shakes her head, “No, no, of course not! It’s just that Haruka-chan, Airi-chan and I have all got plans for Valentine’s Day, so…”
Oh, right. The shoot is on Valentine’s Day. Curse her friends and their thriving love lives.
“Mmm…” Upon hearing this news, Minori seems to wilt like some sort of dehydrated weeping willow, but not even the charm of her pouting face was enough to make her group members reconsider their decisions. Sure, they might have loving partners and all, but couldn’t they spare even a second thought for her in such a dire time?
“You’ll be fine, Minori. All you have to do is get in there, pose for some photos, and it’ll all be done before you know it. Nothing too different from things we’ve done before.” For once, Minori isn’t fully convinced by Airi’s enthusiasm. Especially when Haruka taps her shoulder, presenting the email again. “There is one more thing at the bottom here… it says that you’ll be participating with a partner. They don’t seem to have found one yet, but I’m sure they will inform you on the day…”
Okay, that was enough to make it ten times worse. First, the photoshoot would be done without the support of her friends, and now it would be with someone she’s never met before? A hint of dread courses through her just thinking about it - what if she didn’t get along with them? What if they were unfriendly? What if she somehow manages to mess everything up? Minori hopes that the other person will at least be another idol that she knows, but even that outcome is enough to make her stomach churn.
“Minori-chan,” Shizuku places a hand on her shoulder, “you can refuse if you don’t want to-”
“But I’m not a quitter!” These days, that seemed to be her initial response to anything that looked difficult to handle, and she finds that it motivates her more to dive head-first into stressful situations. Besides, when was Minori ever going to pass up the opportunity to do her very first photoshoot? Daunting or not, no task like this was going to be insurmountable, right?
A squeak escapes her throat when Airi slaps her on the back, exclaiming, “That’s the spirit! Now go get ‘em! No pressure, of course.” Where once there was anxiety welling up in the pit of her stomach, now settles a lingering sense of determination, a yearning to try her very best and make her first photoshoot a complete success. After all, from here there was only one way to go - up.
It doesn’t take long for Minori to send off a reply, and after that, there was only one thing to do - await what could be her first step into another sect of stardom, or impending doom. She goes to bed that night with galaxies behind her eyelids, envisioning herself on the front spread of a magazine, or on fans’ photocards from near and far.
…
In all her months of idol training alongside the rest of her group, Minori has always kept one thing in mind - to always maintain confidence and professionalism, no matter what. That all went out the window, however, come Valentine’s Day.
Since the moment she awoke, Minori has collected more than enough pent up energy, and if she wasn’t careful with it, her heart would be set on a crash course for destruction. Even her family would shoot her odd glances when she kicked her feet together too hard or when her voice edged an octave too high, an admirable feat considering just how high even her normal voice could reach. “Can you stop squirming so much? It’s distracting…” Her own brother had commented over breakfast, and Minori had to resist the urge not to start sprinkling extra pepper into his scrambled eggs.
Of course she was nervous! Why wouldn’t she be? This was almost as stressful as when she auditioned for the same company Haruka was under, about three and a half years ago!
Even just making it to the cathedral on time was a chore in of itself, especially without the rest of her fellow idols to remind her how to act in front of the organisers, but Minori just barely managed to scrape herself by in time (that is, whilst allowing herself at least fifteen minutes of deep breathing and calming exercises). Sure, she might have nearly tripped over a piece of equipment as she made her way through the entrance, but at least she’s here in one piece, right?
Upon her arrival, Minori is immediately taken aback by the amount of staff busying themselves with work, either helping to set up decorations and position photography equipment, or rushing off to other areas of the building. It reminds her of a well-oiled machine, crossed with a beehive, where everyone knew exactly where they needed to be going and what to do at any given point. Honestly, she kind of envies them - she would love to have a clear sense of direction whenever she needed it, too.
Thankfully, she doesn’t have to wait too long to get instructions. Once she’s spotted, a brusque-looking man in a well-kept suit makes a beeline for her - only for her misconceptions to be dashed when he flashes her a toothy smile and offers a handshake. “I believe you’re Minori Hanasato, then? It’s nice to meet you, and a pleasure to be working with you today. Thank you for agreeing to this - I understand it’s your first photoshoot, so we’ll be keeping this nice and casual today.”
Nice and casual? That’s a relief. Minori hadn’t even considered that outcome, too busy worrying over what could and couldn’t happen on the day. Her clammy hand shakes the man’s own thoroughly as she exclaims, “Yes, that’s me! I’m a first year at high school, and my hobbies are making catchphrases and-” Oops. She must have unconsciously started reciting her speech for idol auditions.
A kindhearted laugh echoes through the cathedral, “Not to worry, miss. This isn’t an idol audition, no, not nearly as stressful. Now, your partner is already here, so we’ll start with some brief introductions to get to know each other first. Come along.”
Oh, right. Minori completely forgot about that too - but now that tidal wave of nerves is beginning to surge over her higher than ever. As she follows the man into a spare room of the cathedral, she unconsciously tries to hide behind him as best as possible, crossing her fingers behind her back and praying that none of her misgivings would come true. There were a wealth of possibilities as to what could happen and who she might get partnered up with, but Minori is starting to regret ever taking a seat at the metaphorical gambling table in the first place. The man, probably the producer, notices how she bounces stiffly on her heels and flashes her another reassuring smile as they approach the door. “Do you need a moment, miss?”
“Nope! Perfectly ready!” Minori knows full well she isn’t ready yet, but if she keeps dawdling, she would never be ready at all. Might as well jump headfirst into the deep end, right?
“Very well,” he ushers her through the door with a soft click from the doorknob, “Just remember, you have nothing to fear, alright?”
Nope. Nothing to fear except, quite literally, everything. Minori takes a deep breath, then screws her eyes shut and strides through the door.
When she opens her eyes, however, she’s met with a whole lot of nothing. Well, maybe not nothing, but she doesn’t spot whoever her partner is supposed to be at first. Unfortunately, this only had the effect of making her even more antsy than before. Maybe they were so repulsed by her that they didn’t want to see her at all? Just the sheer thought sends a shiver down Minori’s spine - she gets along with the vast majority of people, but she doesn’t want her relationship with her photoshoot partner to be spoiled from the start! Her eyes wander around the room, before she finally spots her - a silver haired girl of short stature, seated by an ochre desk and tapping her fingers on the table, as if to some sort of anxious rhythm. When they make eye contact, the thrum of her fingers immediately stops.
…did she do something wrong? Does her facial expression look friendly enough? Have they already gotten off on the wrong foot? Minori might as well keel over right here and now and- wait a minute, now that she’s thinking about it, that girl looks suspiciously familiar. It takes an embarrassing amount of time for it to finally click, but eventually Minori’s eyes bulge out of their sockets upon remembering just where she had seen that girl before.
“Eh?! Kanade-chan, is that you?!”
Finally recognising her, the silver-haired girl raises her eyebrows, almost as if some sort of over-expressive cat. “Hanasato-san? I don’t know how I didn’t notice, we saw each other only a few days ago…” Yes, she remembers that as clear as day - being able to take Kanade back to Spojoy Park alongside Ena for her birthday was an experience that she hopes was memorable for Kanade, wanting to let her experience as many memories as possible that she missed out on whilst growing up. Honestly, she should be the one embarrassed for not noticing at first.
Then it finally hits her - what on earth is Kanade doing here? Wasn’t it going to be another idol instead?
“We had someone else lined up for this shoot, but they had to drop out last minute, so we had to find a replacement from wherever we could,” the producer explains, “It appears that you two are already acquainted, though? Good, that means we can skip the introductions.”
As Minori makes her way over to Kanade’s side, she figures that that’s not the most important part of the equation here - how did they even find her in the first place? Enough shock seems to radiate off her that Minori’s curiosity is evident to everyone around her.
“I’m guessing you want an explanation…” Kanade sighs, “You see, sometimes I get approached randomly by model scouting agencies. I was at the convenience store, just trying to buy some ramen, when I got approached… I was going to refuse, but the producer started begging and offered to pay for a whole box of cup ramen. So that’s why I’m here now.” Her expression softens momentarily, “At least it’s with you, and not someone I’ve never met before…”
“I guess I feel the same way…” Minori fiddles with a lock of her hair, recalling what happened when she initially found out about the photoshoot. It seems fortune must have been smiling down on her for once, because if not for Kanade being a familiar face, she’s not sure if she would have even survived introductions. “I’m relieved that you’ll be by my side, Kanade-chan! I don’t know if I could have stomached meeting someone new today… I’m such a mess today that I started reciting my idol audition intro when I met the producer.”
Kanade may not laugh very often, but she finds her heart twinge when the softest of laughs escapes her, barely a wisp of amusement in the air. “That’s quite like you, Minori.”
Before Minori can retort with a hey, what’s that supposed to mean , the producer clears his throat. “I guess that means we can proceed now, right? So, I’ve already informed Hanasato-san that she will be playing the bride today. However, what I haven’t informed you two yet is the overall theme of the shoot. It may not be the most conventional, but you two will be acting as a couple on their wedding day.”
Oh, that seems normal.
Wait, what?!
Minori has seen countless idol photoshoots of this manner before. Wedding day-esque photoshoots weren’t anything out of the ordinary, and some of her idol magazines even feature photos like these. But being in one herself? Acting as a couple alongside Kanade? Okay, she may not be nervous anymore, but now she’s just incredibly flustered. The aforementioned girl refuses to make eye contact with her, a blush tinting her milk-like skin. Through her embarrassment, Minori wonders if Kanade is uncomfortable, or if she’s perhaps thinking the same thing as her.
“Um!” She squeaks, barely able to get the words out, “So you’re saying I have to be Kanade-chan’s bride?!”
“Precisely,” the producer grins, “And seeing as you two seem to know each other, it should be easier to do this comfortably, right? As long as you both do your best, that’s all that matters! No need to be embarrassed - it’s all for show, in the end.”
Is it all for show? How could she believe that when this atmosphere, this tension was thick enough to be cut with a butter knife? “All for show, huh…” is just barely audible to her, the whisper lingering between them like some sort of unspoken litany. Yes, that’s what she has to remind herself in order to make it through this alive. Haruka, Airi and Shizuku would never get this worked up over a simple little photoshoot, therefore she shouldn’t either.
“Perfect,” the producer claps his hands together, “Now that you two have been debriefed, we’ll be using this room, so please wait in the main area of the cathedral. You can do whatever you wish during this time, just don’t leave the area and the costume staff will soon be there to collect you.”
Wasn’t this moving a bit too fast? Minori raises an eyebrow, but since this is her first shoot, maybe she’s just not well-versed enough to know the ins and outs of the scheduling. At least it provides somewhat of a distraction to the bombshell of information that had just been dropped on them. Focusing her attention on quite literally anything else she can, Minori turns on her heel and saunters back out of the room again, maybe a little too quick for her liking. Kanade must have lingered in that room a little longer, because it takes a bit of time before she joins her in the main hall of the cathedral.
For a few moments, they simply stand and stare at the opulence of the cathedral. Then, Kanade breaks the silence.
“Hey,” she murmurs.
“Hey,” Minori responds, absent-mindedly trying to focus on that very interesting marble pillar in the corner.
An awkward silence settles between them, but Minori finds that even silence is comfortable to bask in with Kanade. Her placid expression is enough to fill in the gap between conversation, as every time Minori glances her way, a wealth of emotions is conveyed through a single glance alone.
“So…” Fighting to make herself seem somewhat composed, she laughs sheepishly, “We’re getting married today, huh?”
“Mhm. It seems we are.” Kanade, meanwhile, seems more enraptured by the sight of the cathedral’s organ - a glossy, powerful-looking instrument, its pipes luminescent, crawling up the walls like gilded ivy. Yes, Minori can agree that the organ is eye-catching, but some part of her would rather that Kanade pay attention to the situation at hand. To her, even. Minori wouldn’t call herself a needy person, but she at least wants to be noticed at their own wedding…
A fake wedding, she reminds herself. A completely imaginary wedding for a photoshoot. She can almost hear her brain’s version of Airi chastising her right now for thinking such thoughts.
Yet another miniature eternity goes by as they await the return of the staff. Minori spends her time gazing around at the liveliness of the cathedral after having been prepared for the shoot - iridescent light cascading through glossy stained glass, creating bold shadows swathed throughout the entire space, not to mention how pristine every inch of marble and stone had been kept. After Minori makes eye contact with the same carved statue for what felt like the fifteenth time, she nearly jumps at the slightest tug on her sleeve.
“Minori, may I ask…” Kanade swallows, an action that doesn’t go unnoticed, “Since we’re about to get married, shouldn’t I propose to you first?”
“Propose?” Minori echoes - although Kanade does have a point. It was only fitting that there should be a proposal before the actual wedding, even if the entire thing was just a fabrication. After all, it would only be fair to do so, and it would help prepare her heart for the moment they stepped up to the altar together, too. “I guess that makes sense, but… we don’t have a ring.”
She lapses into thought for a moment, then reiterates her request. “Even though I may not have a ring to give to you, I’d like to make this proposal regardless.” With a conviction that Minori has never seen before from the tiny silver-haired girl, Kanade carefully bends down on one knee, grasping one of her hands and tenderly rubbing circles on her knuckles as she prepares herself. It only takes a few moments before light swirls in the oceanic depths of her eyes, and she begins her speech.
“Minori, from the moment I first saw you, you saved my life. You were able to help me unlike anyone else could.” Minori isn’t sure if that’s true, considering anyone on the street that day could have come to Kanade’s aid, but she decides not to break the immersion of the moment. “You refused to leave my side, even as I struggled with physical activity. Together, we fought battle after battle together…”
…If by battle, she meant barely winning a match of bubble soccer against Ena and Ichika, Minori supposes that maybe she’s at least partially right.
“...and you shine brighter than the sun. So bright that I melt at the sight of you.” Minori would have blushed upon hearing those words, if not for the fact that Kanade meant it literally. Yes, she had the ability to literally melt. Quite the talent, if she does say so herself.
“All of these things, and more, make you the perfect partner, so… Minori Hanasato, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”
It’s not real, she reminds herself, but Minori can’t help but feel her heart do pleasurable backflips at the sound of those words, because she knows that if Kanade really was her wife, she would be the one feeling honoured. Just imagining it all makes her mind traverse paths it doesn’t usually explore…
Something scintillating catches Minori’s attention - the yearning sheen of Kanade’s eyes as she awaits a response. Speaking from both her head and her heart, Minori murmurs, “...Yes, Kanade-chan. I’ll marry you.”
Silence lingers between them as they simply stare into each other’s eyes, neither of them daring to even flinch and break the transient bond between them. That is, until the peace and quiet becomes less peace and more quiet.
“...er, what comes after this part?” Kanade lets go of Minori’s hand, clambering up from the ground, and she has to admit that she doesn’t know either. She hasn’t had the luxury of witnessing very many proposals, but all she knows is that there’s supposed to be a lot more emotion. A lot more crying, even. Since this wasn’t a real proposal, however, this lack of passion made sense.
Minori shrugs. “I guess we’re just engaged now. That was quick, wasn’t it?”
“It was.”
At first, she had thought the voice emanated from some sort of vengeful cathedral ghost, and it seemed that Kanade had had the same thought when they both scrambled to try and hide behind each other. That is, until they’re met with semi-polite laughter - oh, it was just a member of staff. She makes a mental note for herself to stop blaming everything immediately on ghosts - not only is it unrealistic, but as she recalls, Kanade has a significant fear of ghosts, and it wouldn’t be very fair to make her all worked up over nothing.
“Congratulations on your engagement,” the staff member comments, “are you two ready to go to the dressing rooms now?”
Minori thinks she’s more ready to curl up into a ball and scream out of sheer gayness. The only response she can muster is the smallest squeak. Another laugh emanates from the staff member, who then begins to lead her away, “Right this way, then.” Taking one last glance back at Kanade, who appears to be going to a separate dressing room, she flashes her the best smile she can conjure, and Kanade blinks back at her, as if she wants to say something, but can’t get the words out. When they meet again, they won’t just be engaged anymore - they’ll become newlyweds.
Once she’s in the dressing room, she’s led to a seat, greeted by a makeup artist armed with products and blending equipment alike. “It’s nice to meet you, Hanasato-san. I’ve worked with the other members of your group before, but I believe this is our first time meeting. I hope I can receive your utmost cooperation today.”
“Of course! I’ll do my best!” Minori nearly begins to salute, but the makeup artist beams, waving her hands, “No need to be so formal! There’s no pressure here, after all. Now, I’ll get started right away…”
Whilst pots of makeup products are set on the table in front of her, swatches upon swatches tested to find her shade, Minori can finally absorb the reality of the situation she’s in - a situation where she’s about to be married, however fake it may be, to Kanade. Her younger self would never have imagined that this would factor into her dreams of becoming an idol. Soon, her mind wanders, meandering naturally to thoughts of Kanade, the girl so small and so cute that she could move mountains just with a smile alone. Minori certainly finds herself moved by Kanade’s persistence towards her work.
“Excuse me,” she pipes up, as the makeup artist slathers foundation onto her beauty blender, “Could you please… Could you please try your very hardest to make it perfect?”
“Of course we will.” comes the response, as foundation is liberally applied all over her face, “Everyone wants their first photoshoot to be flawless, after all.”
Minori nods and murmurs her thanks, but in reality, that’s actually not the reasoning that tosses and turns at the bottom of her heart. It’s actually because… I want to impress Kanade. I want to see her looking all surprised during our wedding… She hopes that the makeup artist doesn’t notice the heat rising to her cheeks. I wonder if maybe she’s thinking the same thing right now…
“Oh dear, Hanasato-san, your cheeks are going red… are you alright? Do you need some water? Are you feeling feverish?”
What was she thinking? Of course the makeup artist of all people would notice, with how up close and personal they had to work. “I’m okay!” She assures her, “Just… thinking about things.”
That must have been vague enough to get her off Minori’s tail. At least, that’s what she thinks, until the makeup artist smirks and flashes a wink out of the corner of her eye. “And I don’t suppose those things have anything to do with-”
“Let’s just get the makeup done!” Minori insists, balling her hands on her lap into fists. Any more teasing and she thinks she’s going to short-circuit.
…
The first thing Minori thinks when she looks in the mirror is wow, is that really me?!
What stares back at her in the mirror isn’t her - it’s someone completely different entirely. A demure bride, one who couldn’t possibly be considered the same as the girl who had first walked in here. She had been adorned in a bridal dress fit for a princess, the ivory sheen of her dress billowing out in all directions, and her short sleeves puffed perfectly, whilst the rest of her arms were swaddled in silk gloves. Her hair wasn’t long enough to create a proper bun, so instead it was now draped in loose curls over her shoulders, and with the help of liberally applied makeup and a few well-placed pieces of jewellery, Minori had been transformed into someone now fit for the camera. They had even managed to make her look somewhat mature, an achievement considering the styles Minori had been so used to wearing in the past.
All Minori can hope for is to sweep Kanade off her feet.
Not literally, of course. Even though she’s definitely strong enough to pick her up, Kanade probably wouldn’t appreciate being lifted off the ground like some sort of stray cat. Besides, between her stack of romance mangas and weddings she’s seen online, she’s pretty sure that the groom would normally lift the bride. Since there wasn’t a groom in this equation, that idea was firmly off the table. Her mind can’t resist visualising Kanade attempting to lift her up, and Minori giggles to nobody in particular.
“Do you like it, Hanasato-san?” One of the staff members pores over her, “We aren’t quite finished yet, but there’s not too much left to be done.”
“Like it? I love it!” Fabric flutters every which way as she performs a small spin for the mirror, “I’m so excited… I can’t believe that’s actually me!”
A laugh echoes behind her, but it’s not a mean-spirited one. Minori can’t thank the staff enough for being welcoming towards her - she was still quite clueless when it came to the idol business, so she didn’t expect the staff to be very patient with her, but knowing that they aren’t shunning her for being so inexperienced is a relief of its own. “Well, I’m glad you like it so far. Hop back into the chair for me and we’ll finish up your hair.”
She doesn’t have to be told twice. Taking great care not to dislodge or mess with any other part of her outfit, Minori slides back into the salon chair the staff had managed to haul into the cathedral, and allows herself to be fussed over once more.
As she’s being tended to, however, she notices the half-obscured silhouette of figures just outside the door, slightly ajar from the amount of people having to rush in and out of the room. Voices begin to leak through the gap, and with nothing else to occupy her time, Minori finds herself eavesdropping on them.
“You know that girl they hired for the other role? Yoisaki-san, I believe that was her name? Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it, but she cleans up nicely in a suit.”
Oh, I’m glad that the staff seem to like Kanade!
Wait, a suit?!
“Hanasato-san, please hold still. I haven’t finished putting the pearls in your hair…” However, the staff member’s words fall on deaf ears, and the speed at which Minori’s face flushes completely crimson could barely be considered humanly possible. Kanade, the timid, meek yet tenacious girl she had always known was wearing a suit? And Minori was just supposed to be okay with this? This was groundbreaking! Dare she say it, but it’s even more shocking than the thought of Haruka wearing a suit!
Of course, in the spirit of professionalism, Minori tries to calm herself as best she can, sitting still so rigidly that she could almost be mistaken for a lifelike doll. That is, if not for her facial expression, her bottom lip quivering in anticipation. At least the crew could finish her hair and makeup now, if not for the bemused glances they would shoot her when they thought she wasn’t looking.
The rest of her time in the makeshift dressing room is spent fraught with anticipation as to what will happen next, preparing herself physically and mentally for what she was about to see. Minori has a feeling that no amount of preparation is going to allow her to withstand this, but in order to keep her dignity intact and to live up to the expectations of the producer, she should at least try her absolute best not to melt into a gay mess when she gets there.
Before she knows it, the aforementioned producer pokes his head through the door, asking, “Now, is the bride ready?” When the staff give their affirmations, he grins. “Good. Right this way, Hanasato-san. We’ll be beginning shortly.” As if this new attire has even changed her mannerisms, Minori follows the man in poised grace, but not before making her gratitude known to the costume staff. “Good luck with her,” she swears she hears one of them whisper under their breath. Okay, now this was getting a little ridiculous.
Minori doesn’t have time to be overwhelmed by all the teasing, however. There’s a role she has to play, and she’ll strive to fulfil it to the best of her ability.
Shutters are poised in her direction, even as she ambles towards the very back of the aisle. A few well-timed shots are taken of her from there, and Minori manages to keep composed as if this is second nature to her. Soon, she’s beginning to wonder if she had been overestimating this whole photoshoot-
Minori’s eyes find her. To say her jaw dropped would be an understatement.
That can’t be Kanade. No, that would be impossible!
But there was no denying the truth, and the truth was beginning to make it hard to even focus on walking down the aisle. There were a thousand, no, a million words she could use to describe Kanade’s appearance right now, but the one Minori would use the most is breathtaking. Kanade had stolen her breath and her expectations, and it seems she wasn’t planning on giving them back either.
Swept back into a sleek ponytail, the hair that was once draped around her body like a curtain now hung prominently behind her, allowing the entirety of her porcelain face to be seen. Kanade’s charm was far deeper than simply ‘cleaning up nicely in a suit’ - Minori finds herself drawn to the textured silken tie, the deep midnight blue of her suit, the white carnation boutonniere fastened to her right side, every single minute detail. If anyone had told her before that this is what she was witnessing today, she would never have believed it. Now, however, she just wishes she had prepared her heart a lot more.
Every step Minori takes is shaky, every breath drawing her chest further and further inward as she peers, mouth half-agape, at her prospective wife.
“...Hanasato-san! Please look towards the camera!”
Maybe having a gay panic in the middle of a photoshoot isn’t the best idea. Minori angles her head towards the camera, attempting to flash the most idol-like smile possible. Despite the fact that she wasn’t nearly as good as the rest of More More Jump were at it, she figures that Airi must have taught her well, because she can spot a few of the staff muttering to each other about her cuteness. Even if it was just because of the crew’s hard work, Minori still considers that a win.
Even more of a win, in fact, when she realises Kanade still hasn’t taken her eyes off her.
Minori manages to pose for a few more shots, marvelling at the fact that even the slightest movement from her was enough to change the photo’s atmosphere entirely - at least, that’s what she’s been told. In her opinion, the average viewer would barely notice it if she happened to smile a little too wide, or angle her body two degrees in the wrong direction, but rules are rules, and Minori isn’t about to muck up the photoshoot of a lifetime. Each flash of the camera gave her the briefest break from staring at Kanade’s dazzling self, so for that at least, she’s eternally grateful.
“Alright,” the producer announces, once they were satisfied with the outcome, “Now up to the altar, you two. Let’s get some more dynamic shots.”
In comparison to the rest of the cathedral, the altar had remained completely untouched, and frankly, it didn’t even need to be decorated further. On its own, the sprawling crimson carpet leading a trail up to an ornately carved altar provided a romantic atmosphere on its own, along with the candles that jut out like waxen pillars from the altar’s surface. As they make their way up the stairs to the altar, Minori casts a wayward glance at Kanade - they still haven’t spoken a word to each other since the reveal. Not that any words needed to be spoken, however. One look conveyed everything she needed to know.
She holds her breath, the only sound audible being the camera’s shutter and the chattering instructions of the staff. Everything seems to drown away, however, when they’re instructed to join hands at the altar.
“Minori…” Kanade utters, finally breaking the ice between them, “you look just as beautiful as the day I proposed to you.”
She gulps, and even the crisp, cool fabric of her bridal gown is beginning to become too hot for her. That is, until she remembers.
“Wait a minute,” Minori splutters, “But you only proposed to me two hours ago!”
Kanade shrugs, “I suppose that means I’m still right.”
Did Kanade even know what she was doing to her heart, or was this all unintentional? Minori finds it hard to believe that Kanade would keep making her so flustered by accident, but then again, this was the same girl who would keel over at the very mention of a five kilometre jog. Although it’s hard to think of her like that when their hands are joined at the altar, and Kanade’s aura is practically magnetic.
“I believe that the next part of a wedding, since there’s no officiant here, is… saying the vows.” Kanade announces, “I don’t exactly know what to say yet. Minori, would you like to say yours first?”
Vows? Okay, Minori didn’t realise she was participating in both a photoshoot and a variety show segment too - she was, frankly, terrible at being put on the spot, but it would be good practise for being called upon impromptu, right?
“Alright, I’ll do my best!” Accentuated by the volume of the bridal gown, she puffs out her chest, then her brows furrow in thought. There’s a lot she wants to say to Kanade, in all honesty, and there are some things she would like to repeat time and time again until Kanade is certain about them - that Minori wants to continue supporting her, no matter what. Her unfettered goal from the beginning has been to make Kanade smile, and if she could keep treasuring that smile for all time, it would make her the happiest girl in the world.
“Well, first off I’d like to say… when you’re happy, I’m happy.” Minori doesn’t curse herself for being informal like she usually would - instead, it only feels natural for perfect imperfections to unite them both. “When you smile, I feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and I get this urge to just… protect that warmth of yours forever. I’m- I guess I’m starting to ramble a little, hehe, but how can I not when you’re just that amazing!” She beams, “When we first met, you praised me and made me smile like the happiest girl alive. So I want to do the same for you, for the rest of our lives together.”
Minori hopes that Kanade doesn’t notice how earnest those words are, because they truly are spoken from her heart, not the rational part of her mind that reminds her that this isn't real. Even so, maybe it had the chance to become real in the future, in whatever shape it took. Minori thinks she’d really like that.
“That…” Cerulean eyes are wide with surprise, Kanade’s eyebrows raised in wonder, “That was beautiful, Minori.”
A jolt of delight courses through her veins at the thought that Kanade was actually moved by her vows. “Well, they were alright…” sheepishly, she blushes, then continues, “Now it’s your turn.”
There must be a bit of an issue with that, however, as Kanade looks as if she’s trying to stall for time, dithering in earnest. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what to say.” Maybe she just needed a little encouragement in order to come up with her vows? Gently, Minori squeezes her hands, insisting, “It can be anything you like! You don’t have to pressure yourself at all. It could even be the first thing that comes to mind.”
That seems to get Kanade’s gears turning. Minori can’t help but admire her focused expression, the same expression she would likely be donning whilst working on songs for hours on end. After an intricate thought process, Kanade finally makes eye contact with her again.
“Er, I overheard Mizuki saying this once, but since I have no other ideas, it will have to do. Baby, you light up my world like nobody else…”
Minori isn’t sure whether she wants to laugh, cry, or both at once. She has to stifle her giggles by hiding her face in their joined hands. “Was something wrong with that, Minori?” Kanade tilts her head to the side, and she shakes her head. “Oh, nothing at all…”
It’s safe to say that Kanade doesn’t look entirely convinced. “Perhaps something different would work? Here’s another one I heard Mizuki say once. Girl, you know I want your love. Your love was handmade for somebody like me.”
…maybe Minori should make sure Kanade doesn’t get influenced so much in the future.
“Um… that was great!” She musters up a lopsided smile, hoping to appear somewhat genuine. “They were, um, very romantic vows. Yes. I was blown away.”
Wow, Minori just can’t help but gulp when Kanade inclines her head ever so slightly, overwhelmed by the amount of cuteness able to be crammed in one tiny person. It’s so mind-numbingly adorable, reminiscent of a curious owlet, that she can almost forgive the girl for what she had just said. Almost.
“Were they really?” Kanade’s voice is tinged with apprehension, but Minori hates to see the girl worried about something so small. “Of course they were. You did great!” Warmth seeps into Kanade’s expression, the likes of which makes this whole exchange all worth it in the end. By now, however, the producer seemed to soon be nearing the satisfactory amount of shots. Once, twice, then thrice do the camera shutters go off again before the producer announces,
“Alright, for the final few shots, we’d like you two to lean in closer. Pretend as if you’ve finalised your vows, and the officiant has told you to kiss each other.”
Okay, now the fanservice part!
Oh no, the fanservice part…
Without hesitation, Kanade tentatively leans in, her eyelashes fluttering as she stops about halfway. How is she so calm? Minori wonders, but she’s not completely clueless - she soon notices that Kanade is ever so slightly quivering, and her eyebrows furrow to the point where she hopes that she’s not accidentally making Kanade uncomfortable. “It- it’ll only be for a few minutes, right…” she whispers to assure them both, but even Minori is starting to get overwhelmed as she inches ever so slightly closer. A whiff of fragrant perfume dances around them. Was it the scent of wild lilies? How ironic.
Wow, Kanade’s eyes are prettier up close. Not to mention her lustrous silver hair, framing her face perfectly, silky strands dangling towards her. She can’t even begin to mention the warmth of Kanade’s breath she barely basks in, the thought that their lips could brush at any moment threatening to make her heart flatline. All she has to do is try her best not to look at Kanade’s lips. Try her very best to keep eye contact, and nothing will go wrong…
As if by some trick of fate, Minori’s eyes unconsciously wander downward. Only the slightest bit of lipstick rests on Kanade’s lips, but they look so, so irresistible.
“Kanade-chan…” she whispers, mystified, “can I ki-”
“-and that’s a wrap! Well done, everyone, we’ve got all the shots we need!”
Just her luck. Kanade pulls away, and as Minori glances down at the slight tremble in her hands she can practically feel the disappointment radiating off of herself. “What were you going to say?” she asks, with that adorable, owlish tilt of her head.
“Um… nothing important!” Minori beams, and she thanks her lucky stars that Kanade drops the topic immediately. If she knew of the thoughts racing through her head right now, that would be a death sentence - no, worse still. Even so, the reassuring glance Kanade shares with her makes her wonder if maybe telling her might not be such a bad idea. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance that they shared the same thrills at accidental contact, the same fluttering in their heart, the same anticipation of filling in the mismatched space between them. Nothing would deter Minori from hanging onto that little lifeline, even if it was so slim that she threatened to slip from its grasp.
“Kanade-chan,” she smiles fondly, offering her hand, “It was nice getting married to you.”
That faint gasp that escapes from Kanade’s mouth couldn’t have been imagined, nor could she have imagined the unusual clamminess of her palm as she shook the smaller girl’s hand. In the slightest voice, Kanade murmurs, “It was nice getting married to you too… will you be taking my last name, or should I take yours?”
Okay, she had to know what she was doing there. Out of all the times this has happened, there was no way that it wasn’t intentional. Was that a smirk threatening to tug at Kanade’s lips? What on earth happened to the timid Kanade she was so familiar with before? Before she can ask, however, the photography crew begin to wind down, and both girls are called away to separate dressing rooms to be rid of their five minutes of fame. She vows she’ll investigate further into this different facet of Kanade’s personality later on.
Once Minori’s appearance is back to normal again, she exits the makeshift dressing room, awaiting Kanade’s return. Upon passing by one of the rooms, enthusiastic voices spill out, loud enough to be audible from the hallway. “How did you get your hair to be so perfectly straight?” one voice asks, while another comments, “It’s so long and smooth too… What's your routine? Wait a minute, how can you have hair like that without a proper routine?”
Minori smiles wistfully, hesitating by the door, Poor Kanade-chan. I hope she’s holding up well. For a moment, her fingers brush against burnished oak, wondering if she should intervene, then she recalls Kanade’s previous lapse of confidence. I’m sure she will manage, she guesses, and makes her way towards a quieter part of the cathedral. Sure enough, Kanade emerges in due course - weary, but still in one piece.
“So many questions…” Kanade mumbles, and Minori giggles good-naturedly. “At least it’s all over now, right?”
“That’s right,” another voice cuts in- it’s the producer, who somehow managed to appear out of thin air behind Minori. Thankfully, she resists the urge to reflexively flail, scream or do anything too far out of the ordinary. “There’s nothing else left to do here, but I must say, these photos have turned out splendidly with your cooperation. Thank you two for your time! And especially, thank you, Yoisaki-san, for agreeing to this on such short notice.” The hint of a mischievous grin contorts the producer’s face. “You were a hit with the staff, so maybe I’ll have to contact you again should the need arise…”
“...thank you, but I don’t think that will be necessary.” Minori can tell Kanade’s thinly veiled smile is one mired by exhaustion - she can’t blame her for not wanting to venture into the world of stardom again. Even Minori’s own energy has been drained from the shoot. Despite the fact that she would rather enjoy another photoshoot with Kanade, it just seems that some people aren’t meant for this sort of fame, and Minori can respect those wishes with great enthusiasm.
“Either way, good work today! We’ll contact you both again when the photos are due to be released. Have a safe trip home!” She’d argue that maybe it wasn’t the best idea to leave two high schoolers to walk home alone, but the producer seemed rather carefree, and it was still mid-afternoon, so it wasn’t like they were in any immediate danger. Okay, maybe she wasn’t. Kanade, however, seems daunted by the prospect of even walking to the cathedral door.
“After all that’s happened today, I don’t know if I’ll survive the walk home…”
“Oh, I can walk you home!” She offers, her chest tightening at the very prospect, “I wouldn’t want you to get stranded somewhere, after all!” The tightness in her chest becomes a pressure that she welcomes when Kanade smiles softly, murmuring, “I’d like that,” with an expression that reminds her of a comforting fireside. As they make their way out of the cathedral, their fingers just barely brush. One heartbeat skips, then another.
Sure, this might not have been a real wedding, but… Languidly, she glances towards Kanade, who appears satisfied without a care in the world. A wistful smile tugs at her lips.
I guess I can still dream of something more between us…