Late April
"Saki-chan!" Sumire continuously knocked on the door to Sakiya's apartment. "Please don't ignore me!"
"What do you want? I'm busy." Sakiya grumbled from behind the door, and Sumire barely made out her muffled voice.
"If you were busy you'd be off practicing! Please, don't avoid me."
"Why should I go to this wedding? I could be practicing! I know Makoto and Haru but I also really… don't. The most I've interacted with either of them was back in Bali!"
"Haru-senpai invited you, Sakiya! This is a private wedding that very few people know about! Don't be rude! She's been working very hard over the past year to make this happen!"
"Like I said, I don't know her that well. My absence won't change her budget or how most people feel."
"I don't think that's true, Sakiya."
"Don't project your feelings onto others, Sumire. I could be practicing while I'm off in Kyoto or wherever they're going."
"Our next big event isn't until the end of May."
"Please come, for me."
Sakiya felt her stone-cold, gymnastics focused heart melt. She begrudgingly opened the slow, extremely slowly, and saw Sumire beaming a smile.
"Err… Fine. I'll come, for you."
In a huff, Sakiya crossed her arms and scoffed.
"Thank you, Sakiya!" Sumire jumped at her for a hug.
"You're in charge of picking out my dress, since you want me to go so badly. I'm only a guest after all." Sakiya replied in a huff.
"Sure thing!"
"Ughhhh…."
"Why don't you get ready, then! We'll go right now!"
"Eughhh…."
"We can practice after!"
"...Fine." Sakiya poked Sumire's chest. "But this is a wedding for Haru and Makoto, not Ren and you. Got it?"
"Huh?" Sumire turned beet red.
Over the next several hours, Sakiya and Sumire shopped for the perfect dress. Thanks to several years of training with Ann at this point, Sumire had become reasonably fashionable in regards to formal events, although she still liked to act ineptly when it came to dressing Ren and herself up. She enjoyed making him wear silly clothes just as much as she liked seeing him in formal wear.
"This isn't bad at all, Sumi-chan!" Sakiya scanned the outfit she wore as she stepped out of the dressing room and looked in front of a mirror. It was a dark green dress with spaghetti straps and no sleeves, cut at an angle with the left portion of the skirt reaching her ankle and the right reaching below the knee. On her feet were tan heels.
It was simple but effective.
"Thank you, Saki-chan! You look great!" Sumire pulled out her phone and took a picture. "I'm going to show Ann-senpai!"
"Ann, huh? I should talk to her more…"
"We could all afford to spend more time with our friends, but practice comes first, right?"
"Couldn't have said it better myself!" Sakiya beamed a grin, but felt a sharp pang in her heart as thoughts of Ryuji sprung up at the mention of 'practice.'
"She loves it!" Sumire exclaimed. "I'll pay for it, too!"
"Oh, you don't need to pay for it, Sumi-chan! I'm actually kind of getting into this now…" Sakiya picked out a dark-brown purse, grinning.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely!"
"Alright!"
Over the next several days, the Phantom Thieves all received their prescribed outfits from Haru and Makoto. Ann, Sumire and Futaba all received a beautiful pink dress, while Yusuke, Ren and Ryuji all received a finely tailored blue suit. Morgana got a little blue scarf. He was absolutely required to come, cat or not. Futaba went shopping for Sojiro to find him an outfit and gifts. During their trip, he spoke about how happy he was that Haru was getting married and how he could "show his swagger" again. Futaba groaned and loudly "cringed" in response, regretting teaching him internet terminology. While he picked out his outfit, Futaba texted Hanako, asking if she needed help finding a dress. She replied that her parents had one prepared for her, which made Futaba sweat nervously.
"I've still got it." Sojiro chuckled as he stepped out and stood in front of a mirror, wearing a pink, collared dress shirt, a white jacket with folded up sleeves and a pink inside, black suit pants with a white belt, and black dress shoes. To top it off, she put on a new, white fedora.
"That's just like your old one!" Futaba cried out.
"No. This is completely different! Damn kids have no sense of style anymore!" Sojiro growled back.
"Now you're just embarrassing me, dad!"
"Heh, dad."
"Aughhhhhhhh…." Futaba hid in her hoodie, groaning and retreating to her internal thoughts.
"I really hope Hanako's outfit looks good!" Her heartbeat rapidly spiked. "Because I'm just concerned about how she'd look in public in something risque! AH! No Futaba! Stop thinking about that! Don't think about it! IT'S NO USE!"
"What're you all red for, Futaba?" Sojiro scratched his chin, looking at her curiously.
"Oh uhhh… Uhhhh…."
"Thinking about your girlfriend again?"
"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"
Futaba spun around and ran out of the store.
"Huh… I coulda swore she was doing something with Hanako-chan by now…" Sojiro sighed. "Futaba! Wait!"
She was gone.
"Jeez… She'll text me in a minute. Might as well check this outfit out after I change…"
Not long after Sojiro bought the outfit and exited the store, he received a text from Futaba stating that he owed her ice cream. He sighed and obliged to her request, and their day came to a close soon after.
May 3rd, Sunday
Ren honked his horn outside the Yoshizawa residence, waiting for Akane and Shinichi.
"I hope mom didn't get caught up tying dad's tie again… She always says he does it wrong…" Sumire sighed.
"They don't even need to get dressed up yet. Maybe they're making sure Grandma Uzuki is all settled in?" Ren replied with a smirk.
"Maybe…"
"Hellooooooooo, Ren-kun, Sumire!" Akane waved excitedly as Shinichi and her stepped out and walked to the car.
"Hello." Ren motioned for them to get in.
"This is certainly exciting." Shinichi sat down in the car. "Okumura-san has set up quite the elaborate wedding and reception. That's not unlike her, though. She always puts the happiness of her guests and customers before her."
"Sometimes I forget you worked with her, dad."
"I'm looking forward to seeing her again."
"I'm looking forward to seeing my little Sumire in her bridegroom dress!" Akane snickered. "This is Okumura-san and Niijima-san's wedding, right? Or… is it yours?"
"Mom!" Sumire blushed.
"Hehehe."
"And we're off…" Ren shifted into drive and made his way to Leblanc. Once they arrived and stepped inside, they saw everyone barring Haru and Makoto present.
"And there are the last…" Sojiro adjusted his glasses. "We still have some time to drive to the Shinkansen… I'll get everyone a cup of coffee, and then we'll be off."
Everyone unanimously thanks Sojiro for his hospitality, and soon after finishing their coffee, the group made their way to the Shinkansen. They boarded in small groups; The Yoshizawa family sat in one row, with Ren and Morgana, placed in a pet carrier, in the parallel row. Futaba and Sojiro sat in the row behind them, with Shiho, Ann and Ryuji behind the Yoshizawa's. Yusuke and Hanako sat behind Sojiro and Futaba, and Sakiya sat alone. The trip to Kyoto didn't take long at all thanks to the speed of the bullet train, and the small groups talked amongst themselves. Ren and Morgana talked about Haru, fish and the prospect of Morgana being the "best cat" at the wedding, a title he saw worthy for him to bear. Sojiro pestered Futaba about Hanako, who constantly gave Futaba excited looks. Futaba tried to divert the conversation by talking about university. Ann and Shiho talked to Ryuji about more of their overseas trips, and he told them about his training for the Olympics, which was barely three months away. Yusuke and Hanako got into an extremely in-depth conversation about the art of rhythmic gymnastics, something that Hanako was a scholar in, and Yusuke a student willing to learn. Akane teased Sumire the entire trip, while Shinichi tried to calm her down.
"Hold on. You babysat?" Akane's eyes sparkled.
"Wh-Where did you hear that?" Sumire panicked.
"I just heard Ren-kun mention it, and knowing you…" A wide smirk crossed Akane's face.
"U-Um…"
"So, what was it like? Did you have fun being a mother?"
"M-m-m-mom…"
"I'm just so proud of you, Sumire!" Akane giggled.
"I-It was fun… I had to reach Ren a lot of things about taking care of a baby…"
"Awww! I can't wait until you two have a child together!"
"T-That's not for a long time, okay mom?!"
"It's still fun to think about!"
"I'll admit, I'm looking forward to it as well." Shinichi laughed.
"Oh… Not you too…" Sumire sighed and did her best to deflect the embarrassment onto Ren, who she knew would become flustered about it.
Within three hours, they all arrived at the Wilton Hotel.
"Welcome, everyone!" With a massive, bright smile that could blind everyone, Haru greeted the group.
"Hello." Makoto stood next to Haru, and Sae next to her.
"It's been quite some time since I've seen many of your faces." Sae smirked. "I also see some new ones. My name is Sae Niijima, I'm Makoto's elder sister." She bowed. "Thank you for coming."
"Niijima-san, Defense Attorney…" Shinichi nodded and held out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I could say the same, Yoshizawa-san." Sae shook his hand.
"We get this whole hotel to ourselves…?" Shiho looked around and took in the sites of the massive entrance hall. The floor consisted of brilliantly patterned red and white tiles with a gold inlay, while the walls and pillars were all stark white. A massive, golden chandelier hung from the ceiling above, and there was a large, wide reception desk against the back wall, with two spiraling staircases on both sides of it, as well as elevators. On the left side of the room was a large, open archway that led to the buffet, and on the right, an identical archway that led to a large room.
"We do." Takakura stepped forward. "Greetings. I am President Takakura of Okumura Foods. I assist Okumura-san in managing the business while she studies at university, but today we are all gathered for something else entirely. If you all saw the schedule given in the formal instructions, we will be having the wedding ceremony tomorrow at the St. Mary Church in Kyoto, followed by the reception here at the Wilton Hotel. To the left, we have the buffet, and to the right, we have the ballroom. We will be hosting the reception there. Thanks to the patronage of the administrators of this establishment, we have private reserves for the next three days over the ballroom, buffet and second-floor suite rooms. The staff will work as they always do, so don't be afraid to ask questions. With that said, does anyone have any questions?"
Ren took a deep breath, doing everything in his power to keep himself from acknowledging Hanako while at the same time appearing to act natural about it. They both knew they couldn't miss this wedding, but the fact that they had to be together in a social event just made things that much more difficult. Sumire noticed his hand tightening around hers, and she silently reassured him with a smile as he looked down at her.
"I have one!" Sakiya raised her hand. "When can we eat at the buffet?"
"The buffet is reserved for the reception tomorrow. Additionally, tables will be set up in the ballroom with various selections from the buffet itself. In other words, the ballroom and buffet will be in the same location. Today, we will be having a rehearsal dinner at the local Big Bang Burger, per Okumura-san's request. Are there any other questions?"
"Yes…" Yusuke stepped forward. "Would I be allowed to paint during the reception?"
"Per Okumura-san and Niijima-san's word, yes."
"We wouldn't let you miss the chance to paint on such a great occasion, Yusuke!" Haru giggled.
"We'd be honored if you were to paint us, Yusuke!" Makoto added with a smile.
"Thank the heavens." Yusuke sighed in relief, gently putting down the extremely noticeable, large canvas he held.
"Are there any more questions?" Takakura looked around.
Silence.
"No? In that case, I will show you all to your rooms."
"There are at least fifteen rooms on each floor… They rented out the first floor, which has the buffet and ballroom, and second-room floors for at least four or five days to prepare and host this… Just how much is Haru spending…?" Ren shuddered at the thought, but Haru's smile told him that she didn't give a damn. Takakura guided everyone to the second floor of the hotel, with everyone separated into designated rooms: The Yoshizawa parents, Sumire and Ren, Hanako and Sakiya, Sojiro and Futaba, Shiho and Ann, and finally, Yusuke and Ryuji.
"Hey, Sojiro! Can you switch with Hanako?" Futaba nudged him with her elbow, whispering.
"Hah! What? You don't want to room with your old man? Besides, I can't room with Sakiya-chan."
"Darnit…" Futaba groaned and looked at Hanako, who gave her a loving smile and waved.
Once everyone unpacked and prepared their rooms, they reunited in the lobby and were escorted by Haru and Makoto outside, only to find two massive limousines waiting for them.
"Huh? This is how we're gettin' around?" Ryuji's jaw dropped.
"That's what shocks you?" Ann laughed. "We have part of the hotel to ourselves!"
"Riding in style, huh?" Shiho grinned. "I could get used to this kind of living."
"You know, Ren." Akane leaned down next to his shoulder. "The costs of an event like this are maybe half of what it costs to raise a child. Are you ready for that, Mr. Babysitter?"
"W-What are you talking about?"
"Just a fair warning~"
"Akane, dear…" Shinichi sighed.
"What~?"
Ren felt his wallet tingle in his pocket. He gulped.
"Okay everyone, get in!" Haru excitedly motioned for everyone to step into the limos. Haru and Makoto entered one with the adults; Takakura, Sae, Sojiro, Akane and Shinichi, while Ren, Sumire, Ryuji, Yusuke, Sakiya, Futaba and Hanako got into the other. An excited, tense silence filled the limousine as they all sat down.
"So… How's everyone been?" Ann stated in a bubbly tone. "This is the first time Sakiya and Shiho have gathered with everyone since… uh…"
"Bali, Ann." Shiho nudged her chest.
"Right! As for the rest of us, we last saw each other at a baby shower! Excluding Hanako-chan..."
"I think we all met Hanako… uh… she hadn't met us when we went to Bali…" Ryuji scratched his head.
"Futaba-chan told me about the trip to Bali!" Hanako clapped. "I'd love to go sometime! It sounds lovely! Especially the baths!" She looked directly at Futaba as she finished her sentence.
"The baths were pretty damn nice…" Sakiya rotated her neck. "That was almost two years ago now, huh?"
"Yes!" Sumire nodded. "We've been friends for almost two years, Saki-chan! That's really strange to think about!"
"Yeah…" Ryuji smirked. "It's been, what, four years since I met you Ren?"
"Just a little over four years." Ren reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar pair of glasses, perching them on his face. "Does this make you feel nostalgic?"
"Hah! You're like some kinda superhero! You look totally different when you put those on!" Ryuji chuckled.
"He's actually right…" Ann leaned forward to get a better look at Ren. "With those on, you're so unassuming and just… plain? When you aren't wearing them, you look like you're ready to take on the world!"
"Perhaps you could straighten your hair?" Yusuke held up his hands in a square. "It might make you look more charming, perhaps?"
"No." Sumire shook her head.
"Ohhhh, someone's possessive!" Shiho grinned.
"I-I'm not possessive…" A light blush blossomed on Sumire's cheeks.
"You don't need to lie to them, Sumire." Ren laughed and threw his arm around her. "Tell them how greedy you are."
"R-Ren!" Her light blush turned into a full field of red roses.
"I knew it!" Sakiya exclaimed, pumping her fist.
"Huh… Now that I think about it, Ryuji, that means I met Sumire four years ago…" Ren's eyes widened. "Time really does fly…"
"I wonder what my life would have been like if I met you all back then…" Hanako glanced around, mostly at Futaba. As she did, Ren became self-conscious about his glasses, and he took them off.
"Dammit… Can I really do this!? Hanako doesn't seem to care, but for the sake of both of us… I can't leave, though! Do I just not talk to her? Maruki told me this couldn't be helped sometimes, but at this rate… If Hanako does really love Futaba and wants to date her… I'm not sure if we can maintain that barrier anymore..."
The touch of a soft hand against his calmed him down slightly, and he saw Sumire giving him a reassuring smile, telling him "We'll talk later," without speaking.
"I'm not sure if you would have wanted to, Hanako-chan." Futaba shook her head. "It was… a wild year for most of us. Honestly, for me at least, everything got better after I met you."
"Aww! Thank you, Futaba-chan!" Hanako pulled her in for a hug, and everyone looked at each other with an eyebrow raised. Sakiya pulled out her phone and started texting Ren.
Sakiya: Are we sureeeeeeeeeeee Futaba and Hanako aren't… You know… Dating?"
Ren: I don't think they are, technically. Just let them do their thing, and please don't tease Futaba. There's probably a good reason why, so just let it go, yeah?
Sakiya: Hmmm. Sure.
Soon after, the group arrived at the local Big Bang Burger, and Haru escorted them inside.
Ren immediately noticed that the interior of the Big Bang Burger had been altered drastically for the purposes of the rehearsal. All of the tables had been lined up as one, long table, covered by a white cloth, with all of the staff dressed in more formal cook wear rather than their employee outfits. They all bowed as Haru entered, and she waved them off with a smile.
"Please bring out the food!"
"Yes, Okumura-san!"
"Feel free to join us when everything is ready!"
"B-But Okumura-san…" One of the female employees stepped forward. "We're not guests. We're just employees…"
"That doesn't matter!" Haru giggled. "You're all precious workers to me!"
"Huh." Ren watched Haru in amazement. He turned to Makoto and spoke in a low voice. "She really is the complete opposite of her father. His heart was distorted, though… I still can't believe she's brought so much humanity to the company. Takakura-san must be proud."
"Haru's been working day and night for the past three years to restore the Okumura Foods name, Ren. It really warms my heart watching her work so hard and make time to support me while I study."
"Not regretting your choice of wife, then?" He smirked.
"Never. We've struggled a couple of times, but we always managed to bring ourselves back up. I love her, and I want to be there for her. Always." Makoto gave him a satisfied nod, and the two turned back to Haru.
"Okay, everyone! Feel free to eat as much as you want! If anyone would like to give a speech, please say so!"
"I'd like to." Ren stepped up.
"Go ahead, Ren-kun!"
"Hold on just a moment." Ren waited for the employees to return with food and drink before pouring himself a glass of wine. Everyone in the group arranged themselves around the area, picking up plates and glasses along the way.
"Good evening, everyone." Ren raised his glass. "Today, or tomorrow technically, we'll be celebrating the union between Haru Okumura and Makoto Niijima, two of my most valued friends. Now, you may ask me, 'Ren, what could you tell us about them that we don't know?' and frankly, I have many things I could say." He chuckled, and to his surprise, most everyone else did as well. "However, what I can say is that Haru is one of the sweetest, most kind souls on this planet, and Makoto is one of the most driven and stern. To most, these two appear to be polar opposites. Makoto addresses everyone with cold fists of justice, while Haru invites them to tend plants with her atop a snowy rooftop, willing to make you a nice, hot cup of coffee after." He glared over at Makoto, who laughed at his jabs at her and looked lovingly towards Haru. "But! By the whims of fate, these two fell in love with each other and built a bond that might compete with my love for Sumire." He grinned and looked at Sumire, who was hiding a blush. "Okay, I might have lied there. The point is, they love each other a lot. Over the past few years, they've faced a harsh reality together, rebuilding the Okumura Foods name, dealing with criminal injustice, learning about the unseen evils that affect Japan… These two are as tough as nails. I'm not surprised that they've made it this far, considering that I've literally watched them wrestle behemoths!"
Everyone laughed along, especially Ryuji, Futaba, Ann and Haru. Ren noticed Makoto wistfully smiled reminiscing of the old times past. With a satisfied nod, he held out his hand, and Sumire stood up to join him.
"Most of all, I wanted to thank them for showing us that love extends beyond the boundaries traditionally set by our culture, our creed. Love is universal, and it's something the world needs more of." Ren took a deep breath and squeezed Sumire's hand, choking on his voice slightly. "I love you two, just like everyone else here." He raised his glass. "To Haru and Makoto!"
"To Haru and Makoto!" Ryuji raised his glass, and everyone else that could join him. Everyone began to make small talk, diverting their attention from Ren. Once he felt comfortable enough, he pulled Sumire off to the side.
"That was an amazing speech, Ren!" She gave him a warm smile.
"Thanks. Um… Sumire…"
"Something's been bothering you, right?"
"Yeah…" He looked around again and made sure nobody was listening. "Being around Hanako is so much harder than I thought. You know why."
"I do. Is there anything you can do about it?"
"I… I don't think so. We're not supposed to interact outside of the sessions… I'm not even supposed to talk about it, but it's my fault for running my mouth to you."
"Don't worry about that." Sumire shook her head. "This isn't like you, Ren."
"I know… But between this and babysitting… These aren't problems I can just gamble with and come out on top. There are real consequences that could easily do damage. I don't care if I get hurt, but these responsibilities can result in others getting hurt if I mess up. That's the last thing I want."
"Ren Amamiya." Sumire tightly gripped his hand. "I care if you get hurt. I don't want you saying anything like that again. If you aren't going to be selfish, then I will. I appreciate how much you love helping people, but disregarding your own safety on top of your happiness? I can't stand it." Sumire grit her teeth as her throat tightened. "If you want me to get over my pain so badly, I'll need you to practice what you preach. Okay?"
"Sumire… I'm sorry…" Ren looked at her in complete shock as she held back a tear.
"Don't be sorry, Ren. Be selfish. If you need to talk about your frustrations at work, talk to me. I'm here for you, so tell me what's frustrating you with Hanako-chan."
Ren let out a long sigh, bags seemingly forming under his eyes as he finally let himself breathe.
"You don't need to wear a mask around me."
"Right… I just… I don't know if this can last. I want to help her, really. Part of the code of ethics states we can't be too involved in each other's lives, and honestly, we're nearly at that point where the line barely exists. Both of us have tried really hard, but I always know who she's talking about. Trying to stay neutral is… it's exhausting."
"There has to be another way."
"The only other person that understands her position and knows her enough is… well… Dr. Maruki."
"Dr. Maruki…"
"Yeah… That's the tricky part." Ren sighed again.
"Hey there, Mr. Talks-A-Lot!" Ryuji walked up to the table. "You two flirting in the back?"
"Oh, hey Ryuji."
"We'll talk about this another time, Ren." Sumire loosened her grip and stood up. "Ryuji-senpai, do you have any recommendations for the food?"
"Oh do I! Follow me!"
With an awkward conclusion to their conversation, Ren and Sumire joined everyone else for the reception dinner rehearsal, where they all spoke about miscellaneous things in their lives, formally learning about one another and alleviating some of the pre-wedding stress Haru and Makoto felt. Time flew by, and Haru soon led everyone out, where they all got back into the limousines and bed down for the night, the wedding imminent.
May 4th
As Ren woke up, he rolled over and yawned before leaning up and stretching. In front of him, he saw Sumire standing in front of the large mirror in the suite, attempting to hook together the back of her pink dress.
"Need some help?" Ren jumped out of the bed and walked up behind her.
"Oh, good morning Ren!" Sumire blinked. "I was so focused on trying to fix my outfit, I didn't even notice you…"
"I am a Phantom Thief." He grinned. "Let me hook that up."
"Thank you…" Sumire blushed as Ren used his dexterous fingers to finish tightening the outfit around her.
"I'm surprised you couldn't do that, given how flexible you are."
"W-Well…"
"Unless… You wanted me to help you?" Ren grinned, and Sumire averted her gaze, her face flaring up as red as her hair.
"You look great, though." He took a step back, taking in the sight of her in the pink groomsmaid dress. "I'd prefer violet, but beggars can't be choosers. Maybe at our wedding… Nah." He shook his head. "It has to be white, like Ella."
"W-W-Wedding…" She shook in place, as red as ever.
"Ella is technically an extension of yourself, so when she first appeared, were you trying to say that you wanted to marry me? I swear she and Raoul danced together, too…" He grinned and tilted his head.
"I-We-You…"
"I always knew the answer was yes, but to think you wanted to marry me from all the way back then!" Ren swooned, dramatically waving an arm in the air. "I can't help but fall in love with you again!"
"G-Go get changed already!" Sumire exclaimed, puffing her cheeks, clearly frustrated.
"Fine fine…"
Ren changed into a navy blue, finely tailored suit with a grey vest and white button-up shirt underneath. Next to him stood Morgana, who waited for him to tie the small, blue scarf around him.
"I can't believe it's Haru-chan's big day…"
"Feel like a dad doting over his kid?" Ren chuckled.
"More like a big brother watching his sister get married!"
"You really are a big brother to a lot of us, Morgana."
"Of course I am! I have more experience, am wise, smart, and funny!"
"Yes yes." Ren bent down and tied the blue scarf around him, allowing it to blend with his signature yellow one. "There! One dapper cat!"
"Thank you very much!"
"Sakiya hasn't said anything about your presence yet, which honestly has me kind of worried…" Ren scratched Morgana's ear.
"Maybe she's gotten over her 'allergies' or whatever she called it and finally recognized my genius!"
"I'm not too sure… I'll have to talk to her. Let's go."
"Right!"
Ren and Sumire walked downstairs and saw everyone suited up in their dresses and suits, assembled in the front lobby. The only two that were absent were Sakiya and Hanako.
Akane wore a beautiful, long, wine-red dress, her hair tied into a long ponytail. While she didn't totally resemble Sumire, it certainly made Ren think of what she'd look like when she was older. Shinichi wore a black suit, a blue vest underneath, and a white dress shirt. Sojiro wore his "swagger," while Sae wore a black dress that looked very similar to Sakiya's, exposing her shoulders and back. Ren saw Ryuji and Yusuke in the same blue suit he wore, and he saw Shiho, Ann and Futaba in the same dress as Sumire.
Meanwhile
"This dress is beautiful, Hanako-chan! Damn!"
"It's so tight…" She let out a deep breath.
"Don't worry about that! You'll be fine!"
"Are you sure? I don't know…"
"Have some confidence! Think about how Futaba will react!"
"Ohhhh!" Sakiya watched as Hanako suddenly jumped up with confidence. "Let's go!"
"That's the spirit!"
The two made their way out of the room without newfound fervor.
"Oh man oh man what am I gonna do?" Futaba nervously tapped her fingers together, internally panicking. "What is Hanako wearing? We all have these pink dresses… But what is she gonna be wearing? I'm not ready… No... I must be ready! Focus, Futaba!"
Everyone's attention turned toward the staircase as Sakiya announced her presence. She stepped down first, and the group nodded in approval at Sakiya's dark green dress. What really shocked the young adults, especially Futaba, was Hanako's outfit.
"Hello, everyone…" Hanako stood at the top of the staircase, tapping her fingers together. She wore a traditional, tightly wrapped white kimono with purple cloth underneath the sleeves. In her hair were her white flower pin and silver butterfly pin, with a fine braid tied through her hair. On the left side of her chest was a purple ribbon, tied in the shape of a butterfly. As she began to descend the staircase, everyone saw layers of white and purple blend as the kimono shifted.
"Homina Homina Homina Homina Homina Homina…" Futaba's jaw dropped as she stared in total disbelief as her thoughts ran wild. "I've died and gone to heaven…"
Upon seeing Futaba's reaction, Hanako smiled and decided to focus completely on her. With confidence in each step, she made her way down the staircase, walking directly up to her.
"Futaba-chan!"
"H-Hi Hanako-chan." Futaba nervously gulped. Every last cell in her body told her to run away. Hanako was too cute. She couldn't just deny it. If she did say anything, though… That'd be the end of their friendship.
"We're just best friends… We're just best friends…" Futaba's face turned red as she continued to panic in her mind. Hanako giggled, devoting all her attention to Futaba. She was just as nervous as her, but seeing Futaba react to her made her heart whirl, calming her down and making her excited at the same time. As long as Futaba was watching her, her social anxiety didn't matter.
"Just a little bit longer, Futaba-chan…" Hanako told herself. "I'll be ready to tell you how I feel soon. I'm starting to understand a little bit more every day about this feeling… Please wait for me."
While Sakiya flourished herself, Ren noticed Ryuji occasionally glancing at her, and Sakiya occasionally glancing back. He kept his thoughts to himself, pulling on his dress shirt.
"Dammit! She looks great! Is it alright for me to tell her? I don't know! We've mellowed out a lot since talking, and I've been practicing, hopin' things would change! No… I shouldn't make a move. Don't want to piss her off. Just wait till the Olympics, Ryuji! You'll steal her heart!"
They didn't say a peep to each other, though. Sumire saw Akane and Shinichi glancing at her, with Akane holding a conniving, devilish grin on her face. Shinichi smiled and waved approvingly. Ren noticed her sigh and tightened her grip around his hand.
With everyone present, Sae led the group to the limousines, and they made their way to the St. Mary Church. Makoto, Haru and Takakura were already there in separate rooms. Once the group arrived at the Church via limousine, they took in the sight of the building. It was built from red brick and refurbished with modern glass. The Church itself had a slanted roof with a white cross at the peak, and a large glass pan above the main entrance. Sae guided them inside, where a number of cylinder lamps hung from the ceiling. A brilliant red carpet was laid out along the floor, with several rows of pews lining it. In the back was a decorative cross with Jesus depicted, and above that, a circular window. Below that was a large, decorated altar for the bride and groom. Takakura served as the officiator, waiting at the altar. Given the circumstances regarding both Haru and Makoto's families, the processional proceeded in a slightly altered fashion. Everyone took their seats, with the exception of Sae, who slipped into the back.
Haru entered first with Morgana at her side, who acted as her escort. Soon after, Makoto made her entrance with her best man, Sae, at her side. They walked to the altar, and Sae "gave" Makoto away to Haru.
"Hello, everyone." Takakura cleared his throat and spoke. "I would like to thank everyone for joining us on this wonderful day, 4th of May, 2020, to witness the union between Haru Okumura and Makoto Niijima. Their love first blossomed in highschool and only flourished from there, with the two deciding to attend Kyoto University together. Niijima-san comforted Okumura-san after the loss of her father, the late President Okumura. Through that grief, Okumura-san found a spark of hope. That hope turned into love as time passed. This ceremony represents the celebration of the hardships the couple has overcome together, working to fight against what they believe is an unjust world. Once these two make their vows, they will truly be one and the same in each other's minds. Nothing matters more to them."
Takakura took a deep breath before continuing.
"Today, Okumura-san and Niijima-san are agreeing to make vows to one another as well as share the responsibilities of marriage. These include caring for the spouse, their property, their belongings, and anything else they may wish to share. Vows are sacred and should not be violated. Niijima-san, are you prepared to make your vow?"
"I am." Makoto sternly nodded.
"Okumura-san?"
"I am." Haru cheerfully nodded.
"Very well." Takakukura turned back to Makoto. "You may begin."
Makoto exhaled sharply and looked at Haru, whose face was covered by the veil.
"Haru, when I first met you, we were both struggling to find ourselves in a world that didn't want anything to do with us. I didn't have much experience interacting with others in an informal setting, and I often found myself flustered or confused. That's where you came in. Through the time we spent together, all those little moments, you taught me to laugh, and how to love. This is just the beginning for us, though. I've learned so much from the time we've spent together. I love you for everything that you are. Your sweet demeanor and open heart always save the day after a stressful day at my internship, or at university. As your wife, I vow to love you with the same sweetness and love that you've shown me over the past three years. I pledge myself to protect you and everyone else, just like I always have."
Haru held back tears of joy as she nodded and began to speak.
"Mako-ch- Makoto, I love you with all my heart. Over the past three and a half years I've known you, I've always admired your strength and determination. Since I started university, I realized that your confidence and stern behavior kept me going through even the hardest of days. With you by my side, my dream of honoring my family's vision is no longer a dream. Their vision is a reality I am actively building, and it's something I wouldn't want to do without you. As your wife, I promise to protect you from anything scary in the dark, that I'll make you breakfast in bed whenever I can, and that I'll stand by your side whenever you need to vent about work! This isn't over, not by a long shot!"
"Now, will the ring bearers please present the rings?"
In unison, Morgana and Sae walked up, with Haru bending down to pick up her ring from Morgana, and Makoto taking her ring from Sae.
Takakura looked over to Haru.
"Haru Okumura, do you take Makoto Niijima as your wife?"
"I do."
A wide smile crossed Makoto's face as Haru raised her hand and placed a beautiful, immaculately carved silver ring on her finger.
"Makoto Niijima, do you take Haru Okumura as your wife?"
"I do."
Makoto did the same, carefully sliding the ring onto Haru's finger.
"Very well. You may seal your vows with a kiss."
With a nervous thump both in her chest and mind, Makoto slowly lifted the veil and bore witness to Haru's radiant, excited smile. Both of them leaned in, and their lips met as Haru pulled Makoto in, embracing her. The crowd erupted in applause as two of the Phantom Thieves took their next big step into adulthood.
With the wedding ceremony over, the guests made their way back to the Wilton Hotel for the reception. Haru and Makoto stayed at the St. Mary Church a bit longer for pictures. Everyone shuffled into the ballroom, where two long tables had been set up on both sides, a large number of appetizers and drinks prepared.
"Haru literally had them move the buffet…" Ren laughed in disbelief.
"I'm grateful for that!" Sumire's stomach grumbled. "Let's eat!"
Ren and Sumire separated as they began to mingle with the other guests during the cocktail hour. During the period, Ren approached Sae.
"You know, I'm surprised you don't have some kind of SDF squad watching over Makoto at all times or something."
"Perhaps if it were you she was marrying, I would." Sae chuckled. "But jokes aside, that's not my jurisdiction anymore."
"Oh. I see."
"I don't have to worry about Haru at all. She's sweet, kind and considerate. Makoto really needs someone like her."
"She needs someone like her?"
"I think so." Sae took a sip of her wine. "I… was harsh toward her, and I still regret it. When we lost dad… I was angry at the system, and I was angry at Makoto for not understanding anything. It wasn't her fault, though. She was a kid. I just didn't know how to control my anger and raise her. I tried my best, but I'm glad she found Haru. She'll take much better care of her. As for me… I'm thankful for you coming into my life as well."
"Me?"
"You taught me how to live, remember? Your case is what made me want to become a defense attorney."
"Ah…. I remember now."
"Give yourself more credit, Ren."
"I'll try, Sae. In any case, she's happy now. On another note, do you feel like you'll do anything regarding LGBTQ representation in Japan? I remember Makoto talking to us about it a few months ago."
"Hmmm…" Sae took another sip. "It's not often that comes up in my work. Most people tend to keep their sexuality very private. I don't feel it's my place to do so. I'm leaving that to your generation."
"I see. Well, have fun, Sae."
"I'm having a blast."
Ren waved and walked off. He looked around and saw Futaba talking to Yusuke and Ryuji, Sumire speaking with Akane and Shinichi, Hanako with Sojiro, and Sakiya off alone. He focused his attention on Hanako and Sojiro, and saw Hanako bowing repeatedly, a cheerful look on her face. Sojiro laughed constantly, and they soon separated.
"I wonder…"
"Hey."
Ren looked down and saw Morgana at his feet.
"Zoning out again?"
"No, I was looking for someone to talk to."
"Maybe you could talk to Sakiya? I won't approach her, but she's been… distant. Especially from Ryuji. Do you think she doesn't like weddings?"
"Who wouldn't like a wedding, though?" Ren shook his head.
"Maybe Sumire knows something!"
"Let's ask."
Morgana and Ren walked up to Sumire, who was blushing
"Sumire, tell us more about little Etsuko-chan!" Akane giggled.
"I've already told you everything!"
"I know, but I want to hear it again!"
"Oh, hello Ren-kun." Shinichi gave him a nod. "I'm surprised Sumire and you became babysitters."
"It wasn't wholly by choice…"
"I see. Well, shifting topics, how is gymnastics, going, Sumire?"
"It's going really well!" Her mood immediately shifted as she managed to escape her mother's teasing. "I've nearly gotten to the point where I can say I've mastered the clubs as best as I can!"
"The clubs, hm?" Shinichi adjusted his glasses. "Akane and I have watched a lot of your performances, and I can't wrap my head around any of them, to be honest. You went from a little girl doing cartwheels to a professional in the blink of an eye."
"Thank you, dad!"
"I still think your ribbon performance is the best!" Akane grinned. "I know you'd never mess up, but wouldn't it be quite the sight if she tangled herself up in front of you, Ren?" She gave him a mischievous look.
"Wh-Wh-Wh- Come on, mom!"
"That would be quite the sight, Akane-san. However, as you said, that won't happen."
"My, how confident! I like it when a man's bold!"
"Sumire is the bold one here." He pointed a thumb at her. "Combine that with her grace, and she's practically unstoppable."
"I'm so happy Sumire has someone to support her like you! If I was young, you'd make my heart swoon!"
"Now now, dear." Shinichi sighed.
"Oh come now, honey. Ren-kun is a spitting image of you when you were his age!"
"And you were the spitting image of Sumire."
It was Akane's turn to blush.
"That doesn't make any sense, dad!" Sumire looked at him, confused.
"It's the truth. Promise. Honestly, Kasumi was more like me. She didn't let anything stop her."
"That's true… But still… Mom… Shy?"
"He's just joking around, Sumire!" Akane nervously laughed. "Why don't you go mingle with your friends!"
"Akane is right. You can talk to us anytime!" Shinichi waved the young couple off.
As they began to step away, Takakura entered the ballroom, and everyone knew to drop off their gifts and line up on both sides of the room. On cue, a DJ began to play the song Whims of Fate, and Haru and Makoto made their way into the ballroom. All of the guests were seated as the two walked into the center of the room. In a silent embrace, they began to dance together. Despite the upbeat, fast pace of the song, the two danced slowly but still matching the beat of the song with their movements, with Haru still in a fine dress. They went until the lyrics stopped. A few seconds after, an instrumental version of the song began, and Takakura guided Haru and Makoto to the head table. Sae stood up and walked up and behind the table, standing behind Makoto.
"Welcome, everyone. Thank you all for joining us once more to celebrate the marriage of Makoto and Haru. They may be unified formally by ceremony, but their bond goes back much further than that. They share a love that goes beyond words. When Makoto first told me that she was dating a woman, I wasn't shocked in the slightest. I had a hunch of who it was, given how often she spoke of Haru, but I let her take her time to confirm it. I was more concerned that she chose to start dating as she went into university, planning to become an officer and even taking an internship. It turns out that her relationship was the key component that kept her strong and driven through her endeavors, and I'm forever grateful to Haru for that. Over the past two years, they've come across rough patches and hard times, but they've always been there for one another. I believe it's those close bonds that help us realize who we really are, and who we'll become. I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors. Now, it's time to eat."
The group clapped for Sae as she stepped away, and everyone got up to grab food from the buffet, which had been wheeled in on large tables. Haru and Makoto walked around, offering to take pictures with everyone.
"Ren-kun, Mona-chan!" Haru waved the two over. "I'd love it if you took a picture with me!"
"Of course, Haru!" Morgana ran up to her, and she picked him up. Ren waved Sumire over, who took the camera. He stood next to Haru while she took a picture.
"You two are my closest friends!" Haru whispered. "Don't tell anyone, though!"
"Of course, of course!" Ren whispered back. This went on for about an hour, and once again, Ren spotted Sakiya on her own. They elected to move onto family dances, with Sae and Ren already having given speeches. Makoto danced with Sae, and to everyone's enjoyment, Haru danced with Morgana, and then Ren. Once they finished these dances, Haru called for everyone to dance. Ren immediately looked over at Sumire, who flashed a smile at him. Wordlessly, they stepped to the center of the ballroom and began a dance. It began slowly, with the two holding out an arm outstretched and another raised as they glided along the floor. They spun around several times, with Ren pivoting Sumire around him, holding her arm up and letting her spin. Their feet danced around to the beat, right crossing left, and left crossing right. Every single one of their movements was calculated, precise and beautiful.
"Look at the newlyweds, stealing the show!" Akane hollered.
"I'm so proud of them…" Shinichi added.
"They really do look like the newlyweds!" Haru clapped. "They're so passionate!"
"This reminds me of my hayday… Hoo boy."
"Looking great, Joker and Violet!" Makoto shouted.
"Just put a ring on her!" Futaba yelled.
Sakiya's face became redder and redder as everyone cheered the two on.
"Ren! We're drawing too much attention!"
"Ha, and? We haven't danced like this in ages! I feel great!"
"Rennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!"
"Truly beautiful…" Yusuke pulled out his sketchbook.
"Go Ren! Go Sumire!" Shiho and Ann cheered them on.
"Shoulda let me be your best man, dude!" Ryuji yelled.
"They really are trying to steal the show…" Sae sighed.
Sakiya watched in the distance, her heart painfully beating. She looked over at Ryuji, who was being thrown between Ann and Shiho in a wacky, uncoordinated dance. She looked over at Ren and Sumire, feeling only what she could describe as jealousy. Lastly, she looked over at Hanako and Futaba.
"Would you dance with me, Futaba-chan?" Hanako held out her hand, a wide smile on her face.
"Uhhhh… A-Are you sure you'll be able to dance with me? I-I leveled up my dancing skills 50 times while practicing! I bet you couldn't handle it!" Futaba nervously blurted out.
"We'll start with a slow dance, then!" Hanako took her hand.
"W-Wait no!" Hanako spun Futaba around and grabbed her waist as she finished spinning. She guided Futaba along in a slow dance, a beaming smile on her face the entire time.
"Y-You're really good at this, Hanako-chan…"
"I'm a rhythmic gymnast! Every performance is a dance!"
"O-Oh yeah…" Futaba gulped.
"If I mess up now, Hanako's gonna hate me!" Futaba internally chastised herself. "I just had to go and run my mouth! She probably thinks I'm some raid dancer or something! Crap! How do I get out of this…? There's that one dance move where I'd get spun and let go…!"
In a burst of desperation, Futaba lifted Hanako's arm and tried to spin around her, only to trip over her own feet. Hanako took a step back, and Futaba safely fell forward. Into Hanako's chest. Her midsection was tied tightly thanks to the kimono, but that didn't matter to Futaba. She messed up.
"Ughhhhh…. I messed up…. I'm so sorry, Hanako-chan… I'm no good as a dancer. I lied… And now here I am again… On your chest."
"It's okay, Futaba-chan!" Hanako's smile only grew wider, and she wrapped her arms around Futaba.
"H-Huh? You don't hate me?" Futaba turned a deep, crimson red, and she looked up, completely confused.
"Of course not!" Hanako giggled. "That was really fun! I'd love to teach you basic dance steps! We can practice together!"
"Hanako..."
Once again, Futaba felt tears welling up in her eyes from Hanako's overwhelming kindness. She silently buried her face in Hanako's chest, and Hanako patted her head. She got to hug the girl she loved, and she was realizing that there was more to it than that.
While Ren and Sumire finished their dance, he spotted Sakiya out of the corner of his eye. He spun Sumire out of the dance, giving her a wink and walking over to Yusuke, who was tapping a paintbrush against an empty canvas.
"Excuse me, Yusuke."
"Hm? Hello Ren."
"Could you dance with Sumire for a minute? I have to do something, and she wanted to see how art can influence dance."
"But of course!" Yusuke stood up and walked over to Sumire without hesitation. "Sumire. Would you like to practice a dance I recently learned? Futaba showed me it. She told me it is deeply tied to rhythmic gymnastics, and I would like to see if we could both do it. It is called… the 'default dance!'"
"Oh! Um, sure thing, Yusuke-senpai!" Sumire looked at him confused, but nodded along.
With everyone occupied, Ren made his way over to Sakiya, who was drinking wine.
"Hey."
"Hey to you back."
"Is something the matter? You've been pretty out of it this whole trip."
"Huh. I'm not sure if I'm out of it, but weddings aren't my thing." She shrugged.
"That sounds like a lie to me. What's up?"
Sakiya stood for a moment, intensely staring at Ren, who returned the same look. Eventually, she cracked and let out a long sigh.
"Fine… I guess you're the only one I'd talk to about this anyway." She quickly looked around to make sure they were alone. "It's about Ryuji."
"I thought you two called a truce or something? I just know you're both training separately, without 'couple' distractions."
"I did call it that… But… Uh… That's the thing."
"What is?"
"Distractions! I… I can't stop thinking about Ryuji, no matter how much I focus on gymnastics! I go to practice every single day, and whenever I stretch or run or perform a routine, I want him there! It pisses me off! I told myself one or the other, not both!" Her voice seethed with both frustration and anger.
"So you're saying that you want to devote yourself strictly to one or the other? If I remember correctly, you didn't want to commit to love yet." Ren raised an eyebrow.
"Right. It has to be one or the other. If I commit to Ryuji, my gymnastics career is gone."
"Why do you think that?"
"Why? Sakiya's eyes widened. "It's because…"
…
…
…
Ren furrowed his eyebrows as she struggled to come up with an answer.
"Because… I can't focus on both loving him and training."
"It sure sounds like you want to, though."
"N-No it's not!"
"But that's exactly what it is."
"Hold on… I want to focus on gymnastics."
"Yup."
"But I also want Ryuji with me."
"Sounds like it."
"So I want to train with Ryuji because I enjoy both gymnastics and being with him?"
"Exactly."
"Putain de merde! What the hell do I do then?" Sakya angrily stomped her foot.
"Is there anything stopping you from confessing?" Ren twirled a few strands of hair with his fingers.
"I…" Sakiya bit her lip, and stayed silent for another minute, thinking.
"I'm afraid to, like I said before. The only way I feel like I'll be able to really determine if that's what I want is when I see him perform at the Olympics. I know it's stupid, basing off of that, but I can't think of anything else! Maybe I'll realize something when he runs, I don't know!"
"I see… That's actually not that stupid, Sakiya."
"It sure sounds stupid."
"If you think it does, try asking Sumire who she dances for. Ask her why she performs."
"Huh…" Sakiya tapped her foot. "I still need to think about this. Honestly, you gave me a lot to think about. Maybe too much. I'm gonna go to the bathroom and think some more. Thanks, Ren."
"Always a pleasure, Sakiya. I'm sure you'll find your answer."
"I hope so. I really, really hope so."
Ren felt the word Hope stir within the sea of his soul as his bond with Sakiya deepeend for the ninth time.
"One more…"
"One more?"
"Huh? Oh, don't mind me." Ren waved her off. "Good luck."
"I don't need luck!" Sakiya stormed off, and Ren shook his head.
"What an idiot…"
With a sigh, he returned to Sumire, thanking Yusuke for dancing with her. Shortly after his talk with Sakiya, the staff brought out a tier-4 wedding cake. Haru was given a comically large knife, one so large that even Makoto looked worried. She held it with Haru, more for her own safety, and cut into the cake. Two figurines sat atop it, expertly crafted from frosting. Everyone grabbed a slice, or several slices, or many, many slices in the case of Ann, and ate. While everyone ate their dessert, Haru and Makoto went around, taking funny pictures with everyone. Futaba, after recovering from her stunt with Hanako, joined Yusuke in making a series of absurd poses, with the two getting into a heated competition over it. Hanako joined them, pulling off her own poses.
Ren went out onto the dance floor on his own and signaled to the DJ, who changed the music to an instrumental version of Rivers in the Desert. He busted out his moves, which made Sumire laugh so hard that she nearly choked. She requested Futaba to record him, and so she did. Ryuji and Yusuke joined Ren in, and the three put on nothing short of a comedy act. Makoto made conversation with Sae and the other adults, formally speaking to Shinichi, Akane and Sojiro. The party slowly winded down, and Haru dramatically announced the end of the reception, thanking everyone for the gifts. Makoto joined her in thanking everyone, and the newlyweds left. Shortly after, everyone else returned to the Wilton Hotel and checked in for the night, exhausted from the partying. The next morning, everyone returned home and started to unwind over the rest of Golden Week with the exception of Sumire, Sakiya, Ryuji and Hanako, who all tripled down on their practicing.
The Olympics were in sight, though there were still a few things they needed to settle.
