Saruhiko will never admit it, but his captain actually looks good in that formal wear.
There's nothing new about Munakata Reisi being formal, but there's something else that day. Something else that made him look different for the better.
That's probably his happiness. He's happy, and he actually looks like he is. With a genuine smile, not that smirk that he usually has, he greeted everyone around him, including Saruhiko. Saruhiko forced a smile to not ruin the other people's moods.
He wasn't the type to care about what other people think, but if even Munakata Reisi is this happy, then Saruhiko feels like he at least should keep himself in place.
Even if he doesn't really want to smile.
Saruhiko will never admit it, but he fell for Munakata Reisi when the latter saved him from his loneliness. He helped Saruhiko get up after being thrown aside by the person he used to call his best friend. The moment his best friend left him, he didn't know that he still has the ability to fall for someone.
He loved his captain ever since, no matter how cheesy that sounded.
Of course he hid his feelings. Nobody can know, not even Munakata himself. He wouldn't stand a chance anyway, and it's not like he actually has the courage to tell the truth. So he just kept quiet and silently admired him.
He even had to act like he dislikes the older man, even if it hurts him. But it was necessary. He had to do that to effectively hide what he feels. After all, because of that, no one would ever suspect that he likes the captain, right?
Great. Because it perfectly worked. That's why nobody knows how much it hurts.
Nobody knows how much it hurts to stand and watch happily while the person you love so much is getting married to someone else that isn't you. Nobody knows that he wants to yell at them, to tell them to stop. And nobody knows that even if he wants to do that, he won't be able to do so.
Nobody knows that this is how he feels.
He shouldn't be feeling sad about that, right? Since this is what he wanted anyway. He wanted to hide his feelings, so he has no right to feel bad now that nobody knows. So why is he feeling so lonely that tears were threatening to fall from his eyes?
Just a little bit more. He must hang in there a bit longer. The ceremony is almost over anyway. Just a little bit more. Just a little bit more and he can go home and cry all he wants.
Just a little bit more. Just one more thing waiting to be done. Just… the kiss… waiting to be done.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Should Saruhiko look? Should he or should he not? A million thoughts raced in his mind. It would hurt so much if he looked. Not that it would hurt less if he didn't. He argued with himself, but in the end, he decided not to look. He doesn't want to look. It's too risky. Because if he did look, he himself doesn't know if he'll be able to stop those goddamn tears from falling.
The church bells rang and Munakata happily carried his bride. They look so good together. Saruhiko should have known that they would end up with each other. Of course. The king and second-in-command of Scepter4. Munakata Reisi and Awashima Seri. The king and his queen.
Saruhiko smiled as wide as he can and happily joined the cheers of the people. Everyone is happy for them. He should be too. He should just forget about that growing pain in his chest for now.
This is how it should be anyway.
"Well… Congratulations in your wedding, Captain, Lieutenant. I'm happy for the two of you."