Chapter 44 - Chapter 44 - A wedding with a cold-hearted junior colleague.

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==============

How many years had passed since I met her?

Inside the chapel, the solemn sound of the pipe organ and the beautiful harmony of the choir resonated.

When the entrance doors opened, a bride, clad in a pure white dress, stood there.

After exchanging a few words with her mother beside her, the veil was reverently lowered. Every single one of her gestures was sacred and beautiful.

Spread out before me was a crimson virgin road.

The bride, taking her father's arm, slowly took one step after another.

A hymn was sung loudly, and a passage from the Bible was read.

Prayers were offered, vows were exchanged, and rings were swapped.

During the vow kiss, she seemed a little nervous too.

I suppose that's only natural. For a modest person, kissing in public would probably only happen at a time like this.

Now, swirling before my eyes were the confetti of blessing.

My beloved, standing beside me, said, as colorful petals danced high in the air,

"Nene-san! Congratulations on your marriage!"

—-----

Some time after the ceremony had ended.

"Indeed, it was a truly sacred covenant. Could there be anything more joyous in this world!"

"Oh, yeah, yeah. You're so right... "

In a corner of the reception hall, which began shortly after, the red-faced Zaimokuza was ranting.

Zaimokuza was wearing his usual trench coat... of course not, but rather semi-formal attire. My girlfriend, sitting next to me, gave the unfamiliar Zaimokuza a cool glance and said,

"Um, why is this person here?"

"Well, don't say that to him. He probably has no prospect of getting married like Nene-san, and he feels out of place surrounded by relatives."

"Oi, Hachiman? If you're whispering, lower your voice by three more levels? Also, I'm not unable to get married, I just choose not to..."

His voice, growing fainter and fainter, was tinged with melancholy, almost making me feel sympathy for him. You're right, many people choose not to marry these days.

"Well, but it really is cause for celebration."

My gaze fell on Nene-san and Tetsuya-san at the bride and groom's table, surrounded by friends and acquaintances.

Time flew, and it had already been a little over two full years since graduating from university. The two, who had been steadily dating, had finally reached their goal. Our relationship was also going smoothly, but we hadn't specifically discussed marriage or anything of the sort.

"Right. Nene-san looks incredibly happy."

Saying that, Iroha narrowed her eyes as she watched Nene-san smiling. I wondered if Iroha also harbored aspirations for weddings, and by extension, for marriage.

"Now then, Hachiman."

Zaimokuza cleared his throat, as if to cut off my thoughts, and then spoke.

"Speaking of marriage, isn't it about time you two started thinking about it?"

The moment he said that, Iroha and I froze as if time had stopped. This guy, with a beer in hand, talking like some relative's uncle...

However, Iroha and I have been dating for over four years now. It wouldn't be strange for people to see us that way.

I glanced at Iroha, and she must have been looking at me too, as our eyes met immediately. She gave a slightly troubled smile, and opened her mouth before I could say anything.

"Well, I guess we'll get to that eventually, won't we? Senpai's always busy anyway."

At this somewhat expected answer, a small ripple of unease stirred in my chest. But if she said that, there weren't many words I could return.

"Oh, oh... I'm sorry? For always coming home late..."

"Hmm... Hachiman, you've really become a corporate slave, haven't you?"

From his tone, was Zaimokuza also busy?

I don't know the details of his job, but he's employed and working normally. He occasionally sends me strange documents, so he probably hasn't given up on his dream of being a writer. I think Zaimokuza-kun should work more than he writes.

"Oh, Senpai. Nene-san and her husband seem to be done soon, let's go say hello."

"Mmm. Oh... alright, let's go."

As if to say the topic was closed, Iroha suggested, and I looked at the bride and groom's table. Seeing them taking photos, it seemed the people around them were about to return to their seats.

Now, on this joyous day, what words should I, who felt utterly uncelebratory, offer? Thinking such thoughts, I stood up with Iroha, and we headed towards the couple.

—------

"Haa~, I'm exhausted~"

As soon as we returned to the apartment and entered the living room, Iroha said that and plopped onto the sofa. She stretched her legs, long and slender from the party dress, onto the floor and gave a big stretch.

"If you lounge around too much, you'll wrinkle your dress."

"It's fine~ I'm sending it to the cleaners anyway."

When I sat next to her, Iroha leaned back against the sofa, sprawling out and looking at the ceiling.

The apartment we lived in was not the same one from our university days when we first lived together, but a room in an apartment building relatively close to a subway station. It wouldn't have been right to just stay in the apartment she rented for her university life, and besides, it was too far from both our workplaces.

It was in Tokyo, and within walking distance of the station, so the rent was quite high. However, for a working adult, commute time is an indispensable factor for balancing work and life.

"Senpai~ My legs are swollen~"

"Ah, yeah, yeah..."

When I said that, Iroha used the armrest as a pillow and lay down on the sofa. I took her outstretched legs onto my thighs and, as requested, massaged her calves with gentle strokes.

"Senpai, you've gotten quite good at this~"

This kind of interaction was already a routine. From an outsider's perspective, it would look like I was whipped, but I couldn't help it since I didn't dislike it at all. In fact, it was a reward to be able to touch Iroha's beautiful legs with her consent. I'd never tell her that, though, she'd definitely be grossed out!

"Iroha's orders are very specific... I've practically got the Iroha Special Course mapped out in my head."

"Oh, that's good~ Though your touch is a little suggestive."

Oh... she noticed.

Iroha, still having her legs rubbed, sat up with a sudden movement and, with the same momentum, hugged me. Our eyes met for a moment, she gave my cheek a quick peck, and then she smoothly slipped away from on top of me.

"Thank you very much. I'll make dinner now."

"Ah... But I might not be very hungry."

"Understood. Then something light."

Saying that, Iroha went into the changing room, presumably to change.

These kinds of interactions, these cunning gestures, haven't changed even after years. My cheek, where her lips touched, still felt warm, and unknowingly, the corners of my eyes softened.

It was too embarrassing to say it to her face, but in my heart, I could assert it.

More than when we reunited in university, more than when we started dating, more than when we started living together.

Right now, I feel the most strongly for Isshiki Iroha.

—--------

"Oh, I really do yearn for a wedding dress."

As I microwaved a packet of rice, I recalled the wedding ceremony from earlier.

To me, Nene-san was the person who had taken care of me the most during university, someone who was a bit naturally air-headed but also a dependable older sister. Her radiant figure on her special day shone blindingly.

Of course, seeing her like that, I couldn't help but feel something. Someday, if I were to wear that pure white dress, and there was someone standing next to me...

"Senpai~"

...I could only imagine it being him, but the man himself was looking at his tablet with a difficult expression, muttering. He seemed to be checking work emails or something again. He should really just rest properly on his days off.

"How much rice do you want to eat?"

"Mmm... Small rice."

"Understood~"

"Small rice" was based on the portion size at the ramen shop nearby. Just as he said, he didn't seem very hungry.

"Here you go~"

"Oh, thanks."

For now, the side dishes were pre-made deli items and a quickly-made tamagoyaki, with a small portion of rice as he requested. Senpai seemed to have drunk quite a bit, so I added a clam miso soup. Instant, but still.

"Let's eat."

Saying that in unison, our rather late dinner began. I took a bite of the tamagoyaki to check its taste, then chewed while gazing at Senpai's face.

How many times had we shared a meal like this, gathered around the table? It must be well over four digits, and we were approaching the number of years together where you could call us a seasoned couple.

"Somehow, I'm a little envious."

"Huh?"

"Because Nene-san and her husband are starting their newlywed life together now. All that happy, embarrassing, heart pounding excitement."

"Ah... Well, yeah."

Senpai, perhaps recalling when we first started living together, muttered while looking diagonally upwards. His expression, devoid of any freshness or tension, made me want to tease him.

"So, here. Say 'ah'."

"Ah."

When I offered him the tamagoyaki, Senpai took it into his mouth without any hesitation. He used to be so shy about it, but now he just accepted it normally. His reaction was far from heart-fluttering.

"So? What's the 'so'?"

"Mmm... Playing newlywed?"

"We've done all that plenty of times already, haven't we?"

"Ugh, boring. Do you prefer mouth-to-mouth?"

"Please, no solids..."

Senpai responded calmly to my joke.

Even that reaction wasn't unpleasant or anything; if anything, I was a little happy.

I wonder if it's strange to want to keep doing this.

—-----

Watching Iroha's dissatisfied face, I vaguely thought to myself.

Iroha said, "happy, embarrassing,heart pounding excitement," a worn-out phrase. We no longer had such things, and I didn't think that was a bad thing either.

"Iroha."

I called out to her, then picked up the last piece of tamagoyaki with my chopsticks.

"Here, say 'ah'."

"Ah."

When I put it in her mouth, Iroha chewed. It was amusing, like I was feeding her. Even though Iroha made it.

"Did you feel a flutter?"

"No, not at all."

She said it nonchalantly, but I wonder if she knew she was saying something not much different from my own reaction.

But even such a contrary reaction was adorable, and I couldn't help but cherish it.

That's why I think.

Ah, truly—

—-----

"No, not at all."

When I said that, Senpai looked resigned, then gave a weak laugh.

It was just our usual conversation, the novelty and excitement long gone.

Still, I thought.

Ah, truly.

From the bottom of my heart.

((I want to get married...))

—That's what I thought.

============

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