Disclaimer : I do not own GALS nor any characters from its Manga/Anime.

Chapter 3

REI

"I can't believe this!" my mom squealed. She was so happy. "I'm entrusting my son to you Aya-chan." she said as she held her hands. From the tone of her voice it seems like she's that excited to let me marry. "I must call your mom and let her know!"

"Mom!" I called. Good thing she stopped. "Aren't we supposed to go there and formally break the news?"

"Ah yes. Where are my manners?"

"Now dear, you were just so excited. But at the same time, Rei, you shouldn't have brought the young lady here until it was formally announced." my dad corrected me.

"Oh stop with the pretend here. I know the both of you had been spying on us for half a year already. You knew we were dating."

"You were?!" my dad said as if he was surprised by the news. He's acting was not convincing though. I rolled my eyes in disbelief. Really, these are my parents.

"Uhmmm- thank you for keeping an eye on us," Aya bowed at them. That I cannot believe she did. How can she be thankful?

My mom started to tear up. She sometimes reminds me of Yuuya. "You really are a kind hearted lady. I do hope your patience and kindness would last to understand my son."

That's how I broke the news to my parents. They were overjoyed upon hearing my decision. They kept on thanking her as if she had just saved me from a life and death situation.

As soon as the next day came, my mom called her mom telling that I had a decision already. That was a long talk. They went from thanking each other to planning the engagement party to planning the wedding and even our living arrangements.

"Don't they get tired?" I asked as I watched both of our parents exchange comical reactions.

I looked at the person beside me when I haven't heard a response. She's wearing that worried look again.

"Aya-"

"Are you sure about this?" she asked while still looking at our parents.

"Would you rather marry a stranger?"

She didn't respond, but her face says it all. "Thought so."

And now we ended up having this party to finally announce our engagement, not just to the noble community but to the whole public. This means also revealing our identities

The gang had been invited without any idea what was coming. Except for Yuuya and Mami. Yuuya knew by being curious, while Mami, she has her family connections.

"I hate wearing this kind of clothes," I heard Kotobuki ranting as I approached them.

"Manners Kotobuki. You're in an elite ball," I reminded her.

"I won't be attending this if it wasn't for Aya. Where is she anyway?"

"Calm down, Ran. We're surrounded by people with high rankings. Mind your words and actions," Thank you Yamazaki.

"How did we even got an invite here?" she wonders. Aya wanted to be completely honest with them hence we sent them an invite. It would be better this way than explaining to them from the very start. Plus, I'm sure Kotobuki would try to punch me if we have this discussed over Palm Trees.

"Yuuya, I'll leave them to your care," he nodded. "Kotobuki, enjoy the food. Just don't act so careless." I left them and went to Aya. It's time.

REI

She was seating on the couch when I found her on the waiting room. She was fiddling with her hands unconsciously. Aya was that nervous that she wasn't able to sense my approaching presence or even heard the door for someone coming in.

I held her hands to stop her from what she's doing. She'll ruin her nails. She looked at me and said, "I didn't hear you come in."

"You were busy thinking." This is the first time I was able to looked at her closely. She is mesmerizing. She has her make up on but just enough to emphasize her assets, her long lashes and lips. That midnight blue dress she's wearing had complemented her white skin. I hope she's comfortable moving with it unlike last time.

"You look…uhm...good," I managed to praise her somehow. I guess that did the trick as she blushed.

"Thanks. Is Ran and Miyu already there? I wanted to see them but I was told to wait here."

"Yup. They're here. Yuuya and Honda are keeping them company."

"Do they have a clue?" I shook my head.

"No one these days would think that any of the noble families would exist and follow old traditions."

"But the Imperial family still exists. We exists because they exists," she argued.

"You sure do read your history."

Knock knock…

"Come in."

"My Lady…" she said while her head is bowed. "Oh my…Pardon me. I didn't thought you'd be hear my Lordship." she resumed bowing after noticing me in the room.

"No worries. It's fine. You could stop with the bowing," I said. My Lordship? It makes me cringe. "And stop with the 'My Lordship'. It doesn't suit my hearing."

"But-"

"That's an order, Mari-chan. At least not when it's just the three of us." she nodded and smiled.

"You need something, Mari-chan?" Aya asked.

"Ah! Yes! It's time. Rei-sama, you should be waiting now at the bottom of the staircase. Lady Aki and Master Ryu are waiting for you."

Here it goes. "Thanks." I turned my head to Aya "Give me your hand," she did without asking. I placed the bracelet around her wrist. "Happy birthday."

"It's beautiful. Thank you." she said as she looks at the jewelry, her eyes were shining brightly.

"I have to go. See you in a while," I said before finally exiting the room.

AYA

"I have to go. See you in a while." Then the door closed. I let out a sighed.

"He is a nice young man," Mari said when Rei was sure out of sight. "And a very good looking one. I saw how he looks at you."

"That was nothing. Any woman would melt in those stares."

"But he won't stare at anyone other than you." she went and help me stand up avoiding to wrinkle the dress. "The bracelet sure did the trick with your look."

"It does."

"You ready?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Come on! Smile my Lady. It's your birthday." it doesn't feel like it.

"Thank you Mari-chan." I smiled at her. She has always been there for me since I was a little kid. She was basically like a sister to me. "I wouldn't know what to do if you're not around."

"Hey, stop with the water works. You'll ruin your make up. We don't have enough time to redo that."

REI

"Where have you been?" my mom asked as I approached them.

"Relax my dear. He's here already," my dad trying to calm down my mom. It seems like they thought I'd run away on this day.

"You look dashing, Rei," Aya's mom greeted me.

"My Lady," I bowed in honor.

"Oh stop that. You could start calling me mom," she said with a wink. "You're basically my son the moment you accepted this arrangement."

I just smiled on her remark. I can't imagine how this lady in front of me managed to be a strict one in front of Aya. Base from her stories, she's the terror mom who'd always want her to have a straight As and good conduct, no record of wrong doings. Yes, she was just trying to bring Aya at her best.

"Are we ready?" she asked. We all nodded.

Then it started. The moment I've been trying to avoid my whole life.

The music stopped. All, of the guest had their eyes on our way as the host started to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, our guest of honor for tonight. Our celebrant, her Lady herself, Hoshino Aya."

There was a round of applause as she gently comes down the stairs, trying to steady herself while wearing that gorgeous dress and high heels. Her hand sliding down the railings. I went to meet her at the bottom, offering my arm for support and leading her down to the few more remaining steps.

I can hear soft whispers amongst the crowd saying how beautiful she is. She is and no one can be compared to her.

"You did great," I told her as I placed my other hand on top of her hand that was placed above my lower arm. "You're shaking though."

"That was my first grand entrance. I thought I might trip and roll over the stairs."

"I'd catch you anyway."

We settled beside our parents. The host had now given the microphone to my dad. It is of custom for the man's family to do the announcement.

"Good evening to my fellow nobles, friends, family and guests. We are very glad that you have all came here to celebrate with us, not only the birthday of Lady Aya." I never heard my dad talk this way before. He was always the gently one to compensate with my mother's hyperactiveness. They are such an opposite of each other. "It is such a great honor for me, as the head of the Otohata clan, to announce the union of the Otohata and Hoshino clan. We welcome our dear Aya here to our family as she is finally engaged to be married to our son, Rei."

The crowd had again started to clap. I can see the gang from our position, Miyu and Yuuya trying to keep Ran in place as the girl tries to go after me.

"Oh Aya dear, I'm so happy," my mom wrapping Aya into a hug. "I always wanted a daughter, you know. But I'm stuck with this one here and his brother."

Aya looked at me with a questioned expression. I guess she's surprise to hear that I have a brother.

"Rei, please do look after Aya for us. She can be a clutz sometimes," her dad commented. Oh I know that. You don't have to remind me.

"Stop keeping the children here. Let them have fun tonight. Rei, why don't you take Aya for a dance. It's still her birthday anyways," take it from my dad.

It was the greatest suggestion by far tonight. Let us have fun. Anyway we'll be tied to your plans for us for the rest of our lives. So let us have this one time.

I offered my hand like a gentleman would do. She looked at me somewhat not believing my actions. So I said, "Care to dance with me, my Lady?"

She took my offered hand and followed me at the center of the crowd. Guests are giving us enough space as we pass by,bowing. The music changed the moment we reached the center. All eyes were on us as we positioned ourselves for a waltz, her one hand on my shoulder while mine is just at the middle of her back.

"I'm never good at dancing," she said as she looks at our feet.

"Don't think. Look at me and just follow my lead." She did as I told her. Her face is turning red as she blushes under my stares. I started to move following the best of the music. I never thought those dance lessons would come this handy.

"You sure know your waltz," she commented.

"I was forced to learn.".

"I should have taken my social dancing lessons seriously."

"Can't tell that you're having a hard time."

"Thank you again for the gift," she said referring to the bracelet I gave her earlier. I had no intentions of giving her anything on her birthday, but the moment I saw the bracelet it reminded me of her. The next thing I know I was already inside of the jewelry store, paying for the item.

"Gald you like it. You don't wear much of accessories."

"It's simple but beautiful and unique. I love it." Just like you are.

Then silence. I got nothing to say this time. I realized I was never this closed before with Aya, not physically where I could even smell her. She has been blushing all this time that I look at her, but this time it seems like I'm turning of the same shade. I never felt this awkward towards her. I can feel my heart beating faster than before. Is this even normal?

"Otohata-"

"Rei," I said cutting her off.

"I'm sorry?"

"You should learn to start calling me by my first name."

"But-" she protested.

"What? Should I call you Otohata once we're married?"

That silenced her up. "Fine. Re- Rei." she stuttered. Was that difficult?

"Yeah?" I asked pretending to ignore her stuttering.

"I think all of the guests are looking at us right now," she said while looking around us as we do another turn.

"Can't blame them."

"What?"

"Nothing. Do you want to stop now?" I asked. She nodded.

I let go of her hand and waist giving a small distance between us. I suddenly missed the feel of her warm hands.

I bowed to her and she also did. The crowds again made a clap as we exited the dance floor.

"Aya!" I heard Kotobuki shout. She smiled at her and gave a small wave. Later on I already saw her walking towards the Supergal and the rest of the gang. I just followed.

Ran threw her arms at her engulfing her in a hug while saying, "Why didn't you tell us sooner? And why him?!"

"Quiet down Ran. They're looking at us," Aya told her.

"They're looking at you dummy. I mean look at you! You maybe a mole but a stunning one," I'd have to agree with her for that.

"I don't know if I shouldn't feel flattered for calling me stunning or offended for calling me a mole," she giggled, first time since thr last two weeks that I saw her. "But truly, thank you guys for coming. It means a lot to me."

"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Yamazaki answered. "But you could have told us at least. We we're so worried about you." she said to her. "And you," this time turning to me. What did I even do? "You make sure to take care of her. Marriage is not a joke Otohata-kun."

I just nodded.

End of Chapter 3