"It's three in the morning."
Ichiko blearily rubbed at her eyes. Admittedly, she had panicked slightly when she felt her phone buzzing beside her pillow in the middle of the night only for her to check it and see Yumemi's name displayed. She had picked it up in a hurry but before she could get a word in, Yumemi had wailed, "What if he thinks surface world wedding dresses are ugly?"
Ichiko had deflated back into her futon and responded like any rational person would.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry! I'm just nervous." Yumemi sputtered.
Ichiko sighed and turned over on her side, letting her phone rest against her cheek. "I know you are, Yumemi. But, you know you could walk down the aisle in a rice bag and that stupid king would still think you're the most beautiful creature ever created."
The other end was quiet, and Ichiko took the opportunity to close her eyes and hopefully fall asleep somewhere in the middle of Yumemi's babbling. After all, this was the third late night phone call this week, and considering it was only Wednesday… it probably wouldn't be the last…
"I just keep thinking…"
Ichiko hummed but kept her eyes closed.
"What if it's not enough?"
Grabbing her phone off her cheek, Ichiko rolled onto her back. She looked up at her dark ceiling and wondered if Yumemi was similarly staring into the darkness of her room. Alone and overthinking.
Ichiko knew exactly what this worry really was: 'What if I'm not good enough?'
"Yumemi," she breathed, "he doesn't think that and neither should you."
"But-"
"Trust him. You always have."
Sometimes even more than me.
"Can you seriously think of all the things you've been through together and still doubt this? Doubt him?"
There was a sniffle. "Ichiko…"
She let out a small laugh.
"You're wedding is going to be amazing and you're going to be beautiful and you both are going to live happily ever after."
The sniffling devolved into full on sobbing.
"Wipe your nose," Ichiko said with another laugh.
"Yesh," came Yumemi's muffled, snot-filled reply.
Ichiko listened with a smile as she could hear Yumemi rustling about her room, pulling tissues from a tissue box, and loudly blowing her nose. The sobs settled down and Ichiko closed her eyes once more, her body relaxing into a sleepy comfort.
"Ichiko?"
"Yeah?"
"… Can I stay on the phone with you?"
Emotion bubbled up into Ichiko throat, and despite them being closed, she could feel tears forming in her eyes. "Okay," she replied as neutral as possible.
There was some rustling – probably Yumemi getting comfortable in her bed again.
"Yumemi."
"Mmhm?"
"If you call me again this early, I'm passing the maid of honor title to Suzume."
Yumemi laughed loudly into the receiver.
:'^]