The wedding was in a traditional western style format such as one would normally see for a young couple in the modern times. I was sentenced to be Satoshi's best man and Chitanda was Ibara's maid of honor. The actual ceremony wasn't that long, but it still wasted my energy to stand up there for that long.

The reception the most painful part, in my opinion. I was seated next to Satoshi's parents. They thought I was a fascinating person, apparently, because they poked and prodded with a thousand questions. Satoshi's father though he was the funniest person in the world. It wasn't that he was cracking jokes all the time, but he loves to make puns out of everything, especially me. What was odd in my opinion is that he was the head of a department in military intelligence. Why a guy like this was doing an important job like that has always bewildered me. I guess he's good at what he does.

And then there is Satoshi's mother who sits meekly as a housewife. Just from talking to her I discovered where Satoshi got his love of facts. That woman knows more about the most unnecessary things in life than I could, if I tried. She never went to college, but she has studied extensively almost everything that could ever be imagined. In intelligence I am even surprised by her, but her look is very homely. She has big red glasses like a librarian out of the 70's would wear with short hair dyed red. To the wedding she was in a lime green dress with bright red lipstick. She belonged in a library more so than a wedding. This couple joked and bantered the entire evening, but when I tried to ignore them or make an escape for the cake, they roped me right back in. After the two hours of the reception I was able only to obtain some nuts and drink some water during the course of it, both some of the only things at the table.

On the other side of the table, Chitanda was politely chatting with Ibara's mother. Ibara's mother was quite a bit more normal than Satoshi's parents. I had actually been able to work with Ibara's mother before the wedding. She works as the manager of a different branch of the bank I work at. While she is located on the other side of Tokyo, she once visited my branch for a staff meeting, in which I was also required to participate in. She offered a low maintenance plan which I couldn't help but agree with. I had noticed on her name tag the name Mayaka, so I asked if she knew an Ibara. Ibara was, in fact, her daughter. She mentioned that Ibara complained a lot about me and how lazy I was, however she said that for me to be in my position in the bank I couldn't have been lazy. So she thought well of me.

As for her father I didn't know much about him. He died a few years ago and apparently he was a little like Satoshi in looks but was very kind in personality; Ibara was a daddy's girl through and through. Oddly, she never talked much about him or the rest of her family, but I got a little of that idea from what Satoshi had told me as he met them. He said her dad was a big terrifying man who threatened bodily harm to him who messed with his daughter and broke her heart.

"He had me by the collar for turning her down in middle school; that was twelve years ago!" he had said after meeting her folks for the first time.

As for how he died, he did it like a good father would, saving his daughter from a house fire. He was in the hospital and it was from smoke inhalation, that's what I heard.

Ibara at that time was devastated to the point that she couldn't look at Satoshi and not start sobbing because he looked so much like him and she missed her father so much. Ibara was torn over her love for her dad and her love for Satoshi, but she finally returned to Satoshi after several months of mourning.

But with the look on Ibara's face one couldn't even tell that she had ever been in such a state. The newly-weds were both grinning from ear-to-ear and were in almost complete synchronization in their actions. When the cake was cut, Ibara smashed the cake in Satoshi's face with a gleeful giggle and he simply laughed with a broad smile. While I knew their perfect harmony wouldn't last, it felt as though the two were really made for each other. I couldn't help but smile inwardly at them.

On occasion during the ceremony and reception, I tried to catch Chitanda's glance, but she never seemed to notice me. And even if she did turn my way I never knew what I was going to do. I wanted to talk to her, but I didn't have anything to say. Things had become so hopelessly awkward between us; I didn't like it.

After the wedding ended I stayed to help clean up and to congratulate the two. As I approached them they still smiled broadly and spoke happily with some of the remaining guests, including Chitanda.

"I pray your marriage will be a long and good one!" said one of the older women. "I wish I were a young a spry and you are! You will have so much fun being married…" et cetera. She talked on and on while everyone else in the group smiled and nodded.

One of the other women turned to Ibara. "How many kids do you want?" she whispered.

"Well, I think it's a bit early to start thinking about kids…" she replied, laughing off the comment. Satoshi turned and join in the side conversation.

"We're going to have plenty! You love kids, don't you Ibara?"

"Satoshi…"

"Why else would she work at a daycare, right?"

"I…Satoshi, don't put words in my mouth…" Ibara hissed, her demeanor darkening. He waved his hands in submission.

"I'm kidding, I agree with you, sweetie!"

Sweetie? Since when did he start calling her that? Something like that out of his mouth…actually it didn't seem so unusual, come to think of it. Just using it in a sincere way is a little odd to me seeing as he always used it to embarrass me.

I was standing back listening to this conversation and others when suddenly I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look and saw Chitanda approaching me. "Good afternoon Oreki-san," she said sweetly.

I nodded in response.

"I really enjoyed the reception; the cake was very good! And the ceremony was very sweet and special. I love weddings! Did you try some of the cake?" I never got the chance because of Satoshi's parents. Chitanda frowned. "We have plenty left over, do you want some?" I passed, I'm not much for sweets, and I just wanted to get away from such talkative people.

"Well," she said starting again, "since you're here in Kamiyama City, would you like to come over for some lunch tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"What do you prefer for lunch? I'm making it myself." Oh! Another of Chitanda's homemade lunches?

"It doesn't matter to me. Whatever you want."

"Okay then," she smiled, "I hope you don't mind, but some of my family will be there too…"

That's to be expected. I didn't mind getting to know her family; I had seen them only as they were rushing about during the Doll festival, so seeing them relaxed at lunch should be nice. I'll be looking forward to lunch tomorrow.

Sorry this one is so late (at night...)! I am really very glad you guys are enjoying this. Sorry this wasn't so much of a good chapter in regards to progress, the next should certainly be better (I hope)! Please do leave comments! :D