Hodaka, Hina, Nagi and Sora took a plane back to Tokyo and went straight to the docks where they took the next ferry back to Kozushima. The ride was silent and tense, with neither of them speaking a single word for a long time. Hodaka could tell that the ferries that ran to and from his island were starting to see better days. The aisles became a filthy debris trap before twenty miles were done. A drunk lurched unevenly past their cabin and he suddenly found himself against his personal space when he went out to get a drink. Why, anybody at all could move into my cabin without realizing it! We do things an awful lot better in Tokyo. First Class means what it says. Nobody intrudes on you in your own little cabin.

Deciding to take a stroll outside, Hodaka opened the umbrella as a shield. His raincoat was already rumpled and water-logged. Within the next ten minutes, he saw the familiar shape of Kozushima in the distance.

But for the second time in his life, Hodaka was now seeing the place of his birth in a friendly, positive light. He hadn't felt this way since he came back here, after his adventure to Tokyo.

The hubbub at the docks and the shouting daredevil drivers in the maelstrom on the Kozu-hondo made Hodaka's heart race with excitement, and he forgot how boring and provincial his island home was. It was almost the same as he left it, with only a few small changes. There were buildings he'd never seen before, new names above old storefronts, noise and hurry and push. Funnily enough, his bike was still there, just where he left it. No one had even bothered to touch it, and Hodaka decided to come back for it later.

He looked eagerly out the window of the taxi at the houses in Kajiyama, identifying the owners to Hina and Nagi, noting the signs of better times for them. The Makotos had a new roof, the Shimouras a new color paint. Things weren't nearly as shabby as they'd been when he left a year and a half back.

And there was his house! Why it's hardly changed at all! Was it always so close to the street? For pity's sake, I'm just being silly. What difference does it make? I've already decided not to live here anymore.

"This is your house?" asked Nagi when they got out of the taxi.

"Yes, it is," replied Hodaka in a quiet voice.

The outline of the house and it's details were looming above him making him feel small and helpless as they walked up the path. To Hodaka, it felt like ages before they finally reached the front door. He sighed before taking a second glance at his two friends. Hina was on his left, Nagi, carrying Sora, stood on his right. The two that changed his life for the better had given all the courage that he need to walk up to the door and ring the bell.

"I'm coming!"

Hodaka recognized his mother's voice immediately. She hurried from the sitting room toward the door, expecting her friend Nagisa, who she was planning to go to the movies with, but her smile fell when she saw Hodaka.

"Well," she said in a tone that was less-than-sympathetic. "It's about time you got back."

She noticed Nagi and Hina outside the door.

"And who are they? Friends of yours?"

"More than friends," Hodaka said in a civil tone. "That girl is your future daughter-in-law. The boy next to her will soon be the uncle of your grandchild."

"Grandchild?" Etsuko looked confused, as though her son had committed an immoral, unforgiveable act.

"Yes, Okasan. Hina and I are going to be married and we're here to ask you for your blessing."

Within the next five to ten minutes, Hina, Nagi and Sora were introduced to Hodaka's father, who was in a tizzy when Hodaka explained everything.

"Marriage? At this age?"

He's looking at me as if I just committed adultery, Hodaka thought, sitting on the sofa in the sitting room.

"Yes. You've always wanted a grandchild, didn't you? And you, Okasan, didn't you ever want me to be married to the right woman?"

"I suppose so," said Etsuko, sitting next to Hina and Nagi who was still carrying her grandson. "But you should have done these things more properly."

"Love can make you do crazy things. And after we get married, we'll start a whole new slate. I'll be a better father to Sora than what you have been."

"Better than what I've been?" Shuji got up from his sofa pacing back and forth in a frantic way. "I've raised you right! Sure I may have hit you a couple of times, but that was all for discipline! And I did my damned best to discipline you well! But to go and impregnate this poor girl out of love?! I don't know what to say anymore other than that you have gone too far, Hodaka."

Hodaka stood up from his seat, not at all bothered by his past or his father's harsh tone, any longer.

"Otousan, it was unexpected. I didn't even know about Sora until after Hina gave birth to him. But there's something else that you should know. I know why you abused me. I know why you wanted me to be the perfect son. You were trying be better than your brothers and their families and I know this because Uncle Saburo and Uncle Shuichi told me so."

Shuji stopped pacing at the mention of his brother's names and walked up to Hodaka, his mouth hallway open.

"Saburo and Shuichi? You visited them?"

"Yes, during Ojiisan Okazaki's birthday week. They told me that you were having some type of middle-child syndrome and all that studying and all those years of trying to be the perfect father went to your head. If you were more open-minded, you would know that children have to free to live their own lives. Besides, I'll be turning twenty in March, so you might as well let me make my own choice for once."

The words stroke a sympathetic chord into Shuji, who stared at his son, now grown-up and preferring to start his own life and the next sentence that came out of Shuji's voice was clear that he was teetering on the threshold of saying "yes".

"In spite of your own intentions, do you plan to stay with us after you and Hina-sama are married…at least for a little while?"

"Not even for a single day, Otousan," Hodaka shook his head. "I've already relinquished my assets and my ties here. My home is either in Tokyo, or somewhere else. After all, home is where the heart is. I'm sure you remember that when I told you I was going to the university in Tokyo."

"I hardly remember that all," said Shuji, looking away from his son for a bit. "But if you want to do this, we'll have the best wedding this island has ever seen."

Hodaka smiled and gave his father a quick hug.


It took much longer than Hina expected for Hodaka to make the arraignments. The wedding was to take place on March 10th, his 20th birthday. Invitations were sent out to the Sugas, Uncle Tombo, Aunt Paka, the Morishimas, several of Hodaka's former classmates and neighbors and even the Bisin cult. Hodaka personally selected Chang-min to perform the ceremony while Nagi was to be the man of honor and Aito was selected as the groomsmen. Moka would be the flower girl and Natsumi would be the bridesmaid. Shuji even used some of his money to hire best caterers on the island to make a five-layer cake of chocolate dipped entirely in snow white frosting, and a couple of lotus decorations added on to it. During that time, Hina and Nagi bunked with Hodaka in his old room. Shuji considered it bad form to sleep with one's fiancée before their wedding day, but it didn't really matter to the both of them since they had already gone and did the deed. The time of the ceremony on the 10th was set for eleven o'clock, while the reception was at twelve.

While the wedding preparations were underway, Fang-Lin was put on trial for his past offenses, but his assault on Hodaka barely filled a column of the online articles except for an exclusive interview with Mrs. Sue-Sing. Even some of Fang-Lin's friends were appalled by his actions. But Hodaka was too busy thinking about his future with Hina to even care.

As they slept on the night before the wedding, which was to be held on the spot of the Monoimina no Mikoto Shrine, Hina held Hodaka, wrapping her arms around his neck. The gentle rain made a curtain of soft silence around the bedroom.

"Are you nervous?" she asked, expecting an answer.

But Hodaka didn't even mumble.

"I thought so."

And she went to sleep.


At sunrise, Hodaka stirred and woke. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Hina's peaceful face, and he smiled contentedly. Then he stretched, moaning softly.

"Good morning, Hina."

"Morning," murmured Hina. "Today's the day isn't it?"

They walked carefully to Nagi's sleeping bag, and the basket bed carrying Sora. They could hear his soft morning.

"Later today," said Hodaka. "This child will be legally ours."

As is per custom of many weddings, Hodaka and Hina spent most of the day in separate rooms, getting ready for the ceremony. Nagi was trying his best to make a perfect necktie before Hodaka helped him with it. Even Sora was dressed in a little suit with a black mini-tie.

They took two separate cars over to the shrine, each one carrying a different party of family. The Sugas and Nagi rode with Hina, while Hodaka rode with his own family as well as Uncle Tombo and Aunt Paka, who admitted that Ojiisan Okazaki was too bedridden to accompany them. Hodaka couldn't have cared less, he was more interested in a proper union with Hina than any of his own guests.

At the shrine, everyone took their seats; Morishimas on the right, the Sugas and some of Hina's college friends on the left. The seats were shelter by the trees and a pair of canopy tents, with some of the guests fretting over getting wet. Chang-min walked down the aisle, followed by Nagi, carrying Sora for as much as he could muster, Aito who was looking smart in his grey suit and Natsumi who was decked out in a beautiful lavender dress with purple roses on each end of her shoulders. Suga, who was doing his best to keep Moka and Ame from squirming, kept his composure with a big goofy grin while his own in-laws watched the wedding respectfully.

Usual customs, from both western and eastern customs saw to it that Hodaka went first, while Hina walked down the aisle all by herself, carrying a bouquet of lilies in both hands. To Hodaka, she looked like a traditional beauty, in a traditional white dress with a large Tsunokakushi covering most of her hair. He himself was dressed in the traditional wedding attire with a black kimono and a grey hakama. His eyes remained locked with Hina's until the two of them kneeled in front of Chang-min under the temple roof.

The others found it controversial to see a Korean priest performing a traditional ceremony, but the Morishimas on Saburo and Shuichi's side knew better. Shuichi sat next to Shuji, who greeted him professionally. There was little time for a social chat, however, as Chang-min's voice carried over the congregators at a volume loud enough to keep them quiet.

"We make this marriage vow respectfully before the Hachiman deity. We, Hodaka Morishima and Hina Amano are delighted to be able to make our vows on this great day, and to become husband and wife through the blessing of the Hachiman deity. We swear before the Hachiman deity to love and respect each other forever, and to strive to bring our family prosperity. Moreover, we swear never to veer from the true path of matrimony, and to work to share the divine grace of Hachiman deity by helping people and society."

The words were blocked mentally from Hodaka and Hina's ears, too exited over the fact that they were getting married to even listen, but listened they did when Chang-min instructed the couple with the vows that they were about to bestow…and would seal their destinies together. As practiced, Hodaka spoke first.

"This woman, I marry. No matter what the health situation is I will love this person. Respect this person. Console this person. Help this person. Until death. Protecting fidelity. I swear."

Hina repeated the same.

Chang-min went to Hodaka first. His history of performing both Korean and Japanese weddings was finally paying off.

"Hodaka Morishima. You this woman marry and become her partner. Will you in peaceful times, during sickness, this person love, this person respect, this person comfort, this person help, until death, do you promise to fulfil?"

Hodaka nodded excitedly.

"Yes, I promise."

"Hina Amano you this man marry and become his partner. Will you in peaceful times, during sickness, this person love, this person respect, this person comfort, this person help, until death, do you promise to fulfil?"

"Yes, I promise."

The two of them beamed. Hodaka slipped the ring he had been saving for so long onto Hina's ring finger and she did the same with a gold one. It had nothing else on it, but Hodaka was still happy with it.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Hodaka and Hina faced each other, their heads slowly closed in…and at the moment their lips made contact, the sun came out at last.

The balance of weather had been restored.