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“Hey, Rin…are you ready for your big day?” Ibara asked her brother, Rintarou, who was busy adjusting the sleeves of his black suit.
“Yes, I’m ready, nee-san…It’s just—I’m so nervous right now,” Rintarou admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Of course you are, Rin. It’s your wedding. It’s normal to feel nervous,” Ibara said with a soft chuckle, amused by his anxiousness.
“Nee-san…you’re making me more nervous with that chuckling. Please—not now,” Rintarou muttered, frowning as he tried to focus.
“Okay, okay—I’ll stop,” she said, raising her hands in surrender. “But seriously—what’s got you so worked up?”
Rintarou sighed, running his fingers through his already neatly combed hair. “I’m scared, nee-san.”
“Scared of what?”
He finally turned to face her, vulnerability clear in his eyes. “Scared that…he won’t show up.”
A heavy silence settled between them. In the mirror’s reflection, Ibara stepped closer, her gaze softening.
“Rin…What are you talking about? You know Haruaki. He wouldn’t do that to you. He loves you so much”
“I know… I know. But there’s this voice inside me, whispering doubts. What if… what if he fell for someone else before this wedding even happened? What if he’s out there right now…marrying someone else?” His voice cracked. “I—I couldn’t bear the thought of him being someone else’s husband.”
For a moment, Ibara just watched him, then gave a soft laugh. “You know, Rin… you just reminded me of something all of us Miki siblings have in common.”
“What’s that?”
“We’re ridiculously possessive when it comes to love.”
“What?” Rintarou blinked at her. “You’re possessive over Izuna?”
“Huhu~ I just hide it very well,” she teased with a sly smile, clearly amused by his reaction.
“Ehhh… I didn’t know being possessive was one of our family traits.”
“It is,” Ibara confirmed with a grin. “We just don’t go around admitting it to the other youkais.”
Rintarou let out a deep sigh. “Great. First I fell in love with Haruaki, and now I find out I’m possessive about him too?”
“Oh, come on. Just embrace it,” she said, nudging his shoulder playfully.
“But nee-san…” Rintarou began, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.
It was Izuna, Ibara’s husband—and Rintarou’s friend and colleague. “Hey, you two. The ceremony’s about to start.”
“Got it! We’ll be right there,” Ibara called back, then glanced at her brother.
“I’ll wait in the car,” Izuna said, then walked off, giving the two siblings the space that they needed, which they both appreciated.
Ibara stepped closer, placing her hands gently on Rintarou’s shoulders. “Listen to me, Rin. Haruaki loves you—with everything he got. He’s not going to leave you standing alone today. Remember…he’s the one who proposed to you. And both of you have chosen this day to be your special day to say your vows in front of youkais, humans, or whatever they are; all of them are very important to both of you and Haruaki. And if, by some impossible chance, he even thinks of breaking your heart—I swear, I’ll haunt him and make his life feel like he’s living in hell.”
His sister’s statement finally brought a smile to Rintarou’s face. “Thanks, nee-san…”
Without another word, he pulled her into a tight hug, grateful—not just for her comfort, but for the fierce, terrifying love she always showed when it mattered most.
With one final deep breath, as they broke their hug, Rintarou followed his sister out of the room and down the hallway. Outside, the warm afternoon sunlight spilled over the gravel path, and at the end of it was Izuna—waiting by the car just like he said, leaning casually against the door with his arms crossed.
“Took you long enough,” he teased lightly. “Come on, Mr. Abe-to-be. Let’s not keep everyone waiting.”
Ibara rolled her eyes fondly at her husband. “You know you don’t have to sound that smug about it.”
With a chuckle, Izuna opened the door for them, and soon they were riding in comfortable silence toward the shrine of the Abe family that was handling it.
The drive was short, but for Rintarou, it felt like an eternity. His hands were clammy, twisting nervously in his lap as the scenery passed by in a blur.
“You okay back there?” Izuna asked, glancing at him through the rearview mirror.
“I’m…managing,” Rintarou muttered.
“You’ll be more than fine,” Izuna said, voice steady with the quiet confidence of someone who had seen worse situations and survived them all. “Besides, you’ve got Ibara with you. And if Haru even thinks of running, we both know she’d drag him back by the ear.”
“Damn right,” Ibara added, folding her arms proudly.
Rintarou let out a soft laugh despite himself. The nerves didn’t go away entirely, but the warmth of their support made it easier to breathe.
Before long, they arrived at the shrine—a beautiful garden temple nestled between ancient trees. The scent of sakura blossoms hung in the air, petals drifting down like delicate confetti.
Guests were already seated, chatting softly, waiting for the ceremony to begin. And at the front—
There he was.
Haruaki.
Standing beneath the old sakura tree, dressed in a deep blue kimono embroidered with silver thread, Haruaki looked like he belonged there—as if the entire world had led to this moment, right here, with him waiting at the altar.
Rintarou’s heart thudded painfully against his rib cage—but this time, it wasn’t panic.
It was love.
The moment Haruaki’s gaze found his, everything else fell away. The sounds of the crowd blurred, the wind seemed to hush, and for that heartbeat in time, it was just the two of them.
“You see him, Rin?” Ibara whispered as they stood beside the car. “He’s here. He’s been here—waiting for you.”
Rintarou nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in his throat. “Yeah…yeah, he is.”
Izuna clapped him on the shoulder once before stepping aside to take his place among the guests. “Go get him.”
With Ibara at his side, Rintarou walked the path leading to the altar.
As they drew closer, Haruaki stepped forward, reaching out his hand without hesitation. Rintarou stared at that hand for a moment before finally taking it—and the second their fingers laced together, everything in Rintarou’s mind finally, finally stilled.
“You came,” Rintarou whispered.
“Of course I came,” Haruaki answered softly, his smile steady. “I told you… I’m not going anywhere.”
The ceremony began. The priest’s voice rose in gentle, rhythmic cadence as the ancient words of union filled the garden air. The guests watched in respectful silence, and the sakura petals floated down like soft blessings from the heavens.
When it was time for their vows, Rintarou’s nerves rose again, but Haruaki gave his hand the faintest squeeze—just enough to remind him that he wasn’t alone.
“I don’t care if the world changes… or if the stars all fall from the sky. I just want to walk beside you. As long as you’ll have me—I’m yours,” Rintarou finally said, voice trembling with emotion.
Haruaki smiled with the kind of certainty that could level mountains. “Always.”
The priest lifted his hands. “From this day forward, may your lives be woven together, like threads in an eternal tapestry.”
Applause broke out. Guests stood, cheering, laughing, and wiping away tears. Ibara gave a loud whistle, clapping like she was trying to summon thunder.
Izuna smiled from his seat, nodding once in approval.
As the two of them leaned in for that first kiss as husbands, sakura petals swirled around them like tiny echoes of ancient blessings, fragrant and fleeting—but beautiful all the same.
And for the first time that day, Rintarou felt…free.