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Beautiful was an understatement. Ethereal was a word to better describe the man before him. He was the love of his life. The sun to Yuuta’s dark, expansive universe–the steadying shore that met his rough tides.
The day was finally here. The one they had talked about for years.
At the end of the long aisle, Toge and Yuuta stood, clad in white suits, hand in hand. The venue was intimate, with only their closest loved ones filling the chairs. Behind them was an ivy-covered arched trellis, flanked by their wedding party.
Toge stood proud in his boxy, silvery-white tux. He had picked out what they would wear today—an oversized suit with a high neck and white boots for himself, and a slim-fitting tux accompanied with a skinny tie for Yuuta. Both were flattering to their body types, and the subtle differences made their joint look balanced and all the more perfect.
The one through line between the outfits, besides the color, was their crimson and ivory boutonnieres.
Toge was an esteemed florist in the greater Tokyo area, and he had spent the past few months ideating their matching boutonnieres. After many fussy arrangements and brainstorming sessions with his business partner Maki, he landed on a design—simple and sleek to both accentuate and tie together their differing outfits. Toge decided on a white calla lily flanked by baby’s breath and a small collection of red phlox at the lily’s base. It was charming, and Yuuta was honored to wear one of Toge’s personal creations.
Having watched Toge put so much time and intentionality into the boutonnieres, Yuuta felt the need to return the effort in some way. How could he, Yuuta, possibly make this day even more special for his soon to be husband, the way Toge had for him?
Yuuta hit the jackpot with Toge, and despite Toge’s reassurance, Yuuta’s persistent insecurities made him feel like he was the only one that truly benefitted from the arrangement. He felt the need to portray his love back tenfold.
So, to make their day even more special, Yuuta devised a plan. A surprise. While Toge may act bashful and say he doesn’t like grand gestures, everyone saw through it. In the end, Toge treasured the moments that were planned for him, relishing in the attentive care that it took to make them happen.
“Yuuta, there is no place in this world I’d rather be than by your side. I promise, my love, you’re my forever. Thank you for being mine.”
As Toge finished his vows and reached to wipe Yuuta’s tears away, Yuuta knew it was his turn.
He planned for this. He could do this.
Yuuta looked over his shoulder and nodded at Toge’s maid of honor, Maki, who then reached behind the white trellis.
She walked up to the couple, glancing at Yuuta. “Don’t mess it up, loverboy,” she chided. Maki may tease him, but it had no discernible bite to it, especially given the proud look she wore on her face. She smiled as she placed a wicker-woven basket full of fresh red and white flowers of varying types on the altar.
“What is all this?” Toge signed, confused.
Yuuta scratched the back of his neck, sheepish. “Okay, so I know you said no surprises and no bouquets since we have our matching boutonnieres. But, I… I just wanted to do something special for you.” He gazed at Toge, a silent plea for understanding pinched between his brow. “May I?”
Toge nodded cautiously, suddenly feeling winded, emotion welling up in his eyes at the basket that lay beside them. He worked with flowers every day. He knew these flowers, their names, and their meanings.
Yuuta steadied himself, clearing his throat and taking a few deep breaths. He took a couple stems of a spindly flower within his hands before he met Toge’s gaze.
"Agapanthus. It means a lot of things, but the one meaning I read many times was ‘love letter.’” Yuuta paused, handing the flowers to Toge, then began to sign.
“I vow to always show you how much I care for you, not just in the big ways like today, but in the smaller moments too. These vows, these flowers, are one of many love letters I wish to give you over the course of our life together.”
A lump caught in Toge’s throat as he watched Yuuta, who clearly practiced this speech many times. Toge just read his vows from a paper stashed in his pocket, while Yuuta had this whole thing planned and memorized. Yuuta’s words stole the breath from his lungs, and his eyes watered. Next, Yuuta laid a humble collection of rose-like flowers in his hands.
“Ranunculus. I am dazzled by your charm.”
“Toge, my star, my light, you continue to take my breath away with your wit and charisma. You are truly the most charming and radiant person I’ve ever met, pleasant and lovely to be around at all times. I vow to always keep our love playful and do my best to keep up with your vibrant self.”
Warmth crept up Yuuta’s neck and his hands shook, now a bit less than before, as he reached for the next bunch of stems. His nerves subsided seeing Toge’s happy tears, Yuuta’s own hugging the bottoms of his eyes.
“Aster. A flower signifying patience in love.”
“You have forever been my biggest supporter, understanding me even when others haven’t and even when I’ve tested your patience. I vow to you that I will do my best to hold that same patience for you and our new life together, investing the time and energy needed into our future.”
“Globe amaranth–an unfading love. I’ve loved you the moment I met you and I’ll love you the moment I leave this earth…”
Toge’s heart hiccuped in his chest at Yuuta’s sincerity. With each flower given, Toge felt a garden growing in his heart, flowers of promised future. Each one was planted by Yuuta, sowing his name and his love deep in the soil of Toge’s heart.
Their future together would grow steadily and bloom through all phases of their life. Only when one of them left this world would the flowers wilt, a heartbreak too painful to bear.
“Forget me not—true love. My love for you is the most bone-deep feeling I’ve ever felt. It’s true love that I have for you, and no one can take that away from us.”
“Gentian—I love you when you’re sad. You are the strongest person I’ve ever met, and you’ve been through so much. I vow to love you no matter what state you’re in. It’s an honor to see all of you. I’ll always keep you safe and protect you.”
Toge recalled all the moments that Yuuta was there for him–the really bad ones. They both were the first one the other would call when distressed. There was never judgement nor anger, just a steady presence– the life vest they needed in a tumultuous sea, keeping them above water until the storm settled.
Toge reached a hand out to Yuuta’s forearm, seeking a steadying force to soothe his overwhelming emotions.
Yuuta reached out, thumbing a tear from Toge’s cheek. “Is this okay? Are you okay? Should I stop?”
Toge shook his head. “It’s perfect. It’s beautiful. Keep going.”
And so Yuuta carried on, giving his heart to Toge with every stem placed in the other’s grasp. Yuuta signed until his basket was empty and Toge was swallowed by stems and petals of white and red.
Toge, with an armful of flowers and a dimpled smile, beamed at his fiance. With one hand, he struggled to sign with the outrageously large bouquet that now rested in his arms. “You did this on purpose, to fill my hands up so I couldn’t complain about how sappy you are.” Toge rolled his eyes, in faux annoyance.
Yuuta knew he’d only been teasing, and he meekly rubbed the base of his nape to play along.
A choked sob suddenly pulled them out of their joint reverie, and they found their friends crying by their sides. Nobara and Yuuji were full waterworks. Maki brushed a tear away with the heel of her palm. Even Megumi’s eyes threatened to spill over.
Their friends all knew sign language by now, and a quick glance at the unknowing guests in the audience reminded the couple how intimate Yuuta’s vows really were.
Yuuta took Toge’s free hand in his, clasping it firmly with a soft shake. He stepped closer, resting his forehead on Toge’s.
“These vows are for you, my love. I wanted to sign them so you could know how special you are to me. These are for you, and I mean every word. My vows are my oath for our future. For a forever of you and me.”
“Ugh, just kiss already!” Nobara shouted with a tearful, wet laugh.
Yuuta and Toge croaked out an emotional giggle, breath mingling in the small space between them.
“I didn’t get ordained for nothing!” Gojo chuckled.
They stepped away from each other, Yuuta’s hand still in Toge’s. Toge passed the huge bouquet to Nobara.
Gojo signed and spoke at the same time.
“Do you, Toge, take Yuuta to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love and cherish him, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for so long as you both shall live?”
Toge grinned. “I do.”
Gojo wiped non-existent sweat from his brow. “Phew! I was worried there for a second.” Gojo joked.
Toge rolled his eyes playfully.
From the front row, Geto, Gojo’s husband, barked, “Get on with it, Satoru!”
“Alright, alright,” Gojo sighed, hands up in mock surrender. He turned to Yuuta, and gave him such a proud smile, like Yuuta really got it right.
God, don’t look at him like that, Yuuta thought. That look alone would make him crack.
“Do you, Yuuta, take Toge to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love and cherish him, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for so long as you both shall live?”
“I do.” Yuuta announced, voice almost breaking from the excitement swirling in his chest.
Gojo beamed, glancing at his own husband with a gentle, loving smile. “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husbands for life! You may now seal your marriage with a kiss!”
The guests and bridal party exploded with cheers as the two crashed their lips together, Yuuta dipping Toge down in his arms.
Toge grabbed Yuuta’s collar, his other hand cupping his jaw. The kiss was full of wide smiles, just as much teeth as it was lips. Yuuta kissed Toge like a promise, full of all of the vows he recited.
Yuuta felt a wave of peace overcome him as he held Toge, his husband, in his arms.
He was really his, and Toge tasted like coming home.