Naoki stared at the opened Christmas gift in his hand. "What a...thoughtful choice," he managed.
Sahoko fluttered her eyelashes as she spoke in her gentle voice. "You've been so tense lately. I thought that this would help take the kinks out of your shoulder and neck muscles."
He gave her a tight smile. "Well, that's what it was designed for."
Later that evening he opened his desk drawer. Still in the original box was an almost identical set of muscle stimulators, albeit not silver-plated or engraved. Why, when he wanted to put everything—including her—in the past, did everything remind him of that time?
January
"Mother, it's not my seijin-shiki. I've already endured one and that was quite enough."
"Now, now, you have a fiancée this year who is a year younger than you. I expect you to go and support her. Imagine poor Sahoko-chan, crushed by the crowds..."
Naoki sighed. "She could take one of her grandfather's bodyguards." He looked down at his mother. "You've really come around to accept the marriage, haven't you?"
Mrs. Irie fussed with his tie. "I will admit that she was not my first choice, but she is yours. Therefore I have nothing more to do than to accept whomever you want. There!" She patted his chest. "Go out and enjoy yourself today. You have no need to work."
"Thanks, Ma." He bent down and kissed her cheek.
He was cursed. There was no other explanation for it. Out of all the kimonos in Tokyo, how had Sahoko selected one that was almost identical to the one that she had worn last year? Of course, Sahoko was more poised, and more graceful…
"Naoki-san!"
And more needy, he added to himself.
"Is my hair mussed? There was a bit of a breeze when we descended the stairs."
"You look perfect as always, Sahoko-san."
She looked in a pocket mirror. "I'm still not sure that these flowers match the fabric. What do you think?"
What do I think? I think you're driving me stark raving bonkers. "It looks like they harmonize well enough. Isn't that your family's car over there?"
"Yes, it is," she said as they headed in that direction. "The rest of your family is joining us for dinner later, aren't they?"
"Of course. They're all looking forward to it."
Dressed in his best suit, Yuuki's eyes widened when he caught sight of Naoki's fiancée. How could that girl have been so unlucky as to find a kimono that was a twin of Kotoko's from the previous year? If he remembered correctly, Aihara-san had asked for Mother's help in selecting that one... He began to suspect her gushing admiration for it and saw that his brother also appeared to have the same idea. If Onii-chan acts as smart as he really it, he won't question Mom about it, he thought. She's bound to have an ironclad excuse for the similarity. But I wonder…
By the time the group moved into the lounge for after-dinner coffee, Naoki was all but ignoring Sahoko. The strain of the day was beginning to get to him: her insecurity and clinging ways; flashbacks caused by the dress; his mother acting like the engagement was her entire idea when a few short months ago she was almost kicking her feet on the living room floor in a tantrum. And now here comes the actual architect of this nightmare…
"Naoki-san!" Chairman Oizumi clapped him on the back. "Isn't my little darling absolutely adorable?"
"Of course." He bowed. "Sahoko-san is always pleasingly attired."
"Now, son," he leaned in, "she has told me that you aren't very vocal about telling her so. You must wait until you've been married several decades before you can be so cavalier about compliments."
"Is that so?" Naoki asked drily.
"And speaking of marriage," his voice boomed through the room of relatives and friends, "now that Sahoko is of legal age, isn't it about time that we discuss the actual ceremony?"
The silence was broken when Yuuki dropped a plate, and then Mrs. Irie rushed in with an overflow of words in the startled buzz that followed the crash. "Absolutely, Chairman! I could not agree more."
"Mama!" Mr. Irie hissed to no avail.
"But this is no place for mundane details. Not in the midst of a celebration!"
"Will not that word also describe the union of our two families?" he persisted.
"Yes, yes, but—! Sister-Oizumi!" She waved Sahoko's mother over and huddled with her briefly before turning back to the patriarch. "It's all settled! We will have a planning session at our house next month. Valentine's Day is the perfect time for that!"
The chairman appeared confused. "Valentine's Day? But wouldn't the two lovebirds prefer to have a romantic date on their own?"
"Pshaw!" Mrs. Irie expressed her disagreement. "They have the rest of their lives for that. Planning this is an endeavor that will require the entire family."
He frowned. "I seem to recall that this was a woman's project back when my daughter was married."
"Nonsense, Father!" Mrs. Oizumi countered. "That was over two decades ago. Times have changed, and if you don't change with them, you will be left behind."
"Oh course, Daughter," he smiled. "It will be as you wish. Oh, and of course, as my granddaughter wishes." He nodded at Sahoko. "Does this meet with your approval?"
"Yes, Grandfather." She bowed her head. "I am most eager to be Naoki-san's bride."
Left out of the loop, Yuuki and Mr. Irie leaned against a counter. "Damn!" they said simultaneously. Startled, their eyes met and slowly comprehension spread across their faces. Now if they could only figure out what the female Irie was up to...
Mrs. Irie strode briskly into the living room after shedding her evening shoes. "Gentlemen, the crisis is upon us. I have a feeling that we have all been working toward the same goal, but it is time to weave our individual plots into one unbreakable rope if we want to save Naoki from an awful fate!"
"Okay, Mom," Yuuki plopped onto the sofa, "it's time to brainstorm. What do you have in mind?"