Chapter 4 – A future together
"Tomoya, what do you think of this one?" At long last Kotomi had managed to let the honorifics go, with me at least, it's progress so I'm not going to complain, unfortunately, in this case I was being shown yet another wedding dress.
"It looks very nice Angel." Kotomi managed to both frown and pout at the same time.
"You said that about the last on too."
"I'm very sorry sweetheart, but I think you'd look amazing in all of them." The frown, pout combo was replaced with a bashful smile.
"T-thank you Tomoya-kun." I had to chuckle at her slip up, she still reverts to the honorifics when she gets flustered.
"Besides, I'm not supposed to see the dress until the wedding, am I?"
"Oh, that is a good point."
"Why don't you get together with the twins and Furukawa so you can brain storm a bit."
"That's an excellent idea."
"See, I do have a good one every now and then."
"You have lots of good ideas." Kotomi gave me an impish smile and wrapped her arms around my neck. An unforeseen side effect of Kotomi's counselling was that she was becoming more… affectionate. She was for the most part keeping it under control when there was the potential for us to be seen, but from time to time, she would slip up and get a little 'friendly' without thinking, usually when we'd been talking about the wedding.
"Oi! Put him down! You don't know where he's been!" timed perfectly as ever Kyou walked into the club room.
"But I do know, where he's been. I was with him." To be fair it was pretty much the truth, but Kyou still hadn't gotten used to Kotomi being capable of an effective retort, so she was left agape for a moment. Amusing Fujibayashi and Furukawa no end.
"Good morning, Kotomi-chan, Okazaki-san."
"Good morning girls."
"Good morning Nagisa-chan, Ryou-chan, Kyou-chan,"
"Yeah good morning Kotomi-chan." Kyou had managed to recover the use of her mouth at last.
"Good morning, Okazaki-san, Kotomi-chan."
"Oooh, got the new issue then." Kyou grabbed the magazine off the table where Kotomi had dropped it in order to snuggle up to me. "Is there anything you like?"
"There was a couple I like the look of, Tomoya suggested that I would be better talking to you three, because he is not supposed to see the dress before the ceremony, and he thinks I would look good in all of them."
"Good lord, if you two get any sweeter I'm going to end up in a diabetic coma." Kyou managed to get us both to blush this time. "Why don't we all come around to your house after school and we can take a look in private?"
"Onee-chan, you should really study, our exams are coming up soon."
"Have a little mercy Ryou, one afternoon off isn't going to be the end of the world." Kotomi's ears pricked up at the mention of studying.
"I know, we could, look at wedding dresses, and then we could study together."
"Do you even need to study?" Kyou was a little sceptical about the idea.
"She doesn't really need to study herself no, but she is an excellent study buddy. She worked wonders for me."
"That's a good point. Okazaki-kun's test scores are the best in the class." Fujibayashi suddenly realised her gaff and blushed bright red all the way to her ears. "I-I only saw by accident when I was handing out the results, I promise."
"It's fine don't worry about it."
"Seriously? His test scores are better than yours?"
"Onee-chan, he's in the top 50 in the school."
"WHAT!?" I must admit it was a little irritating that she was so surprised that I actually have a brain.
"What can I say, I finally have a good reason to try hard." I smiled at Kotomi causing that oh so adorable bashful smile.
"Ugh, lay off you two, I don't fancy seeing my breakfast again." Unfortunately, this just made Kotomi blush even more.
Home room finally came to an end and I headed out of the class room just in time for Kotomi to clamp herself around my chest. It was something of a habit of hers to ambush me with hugs or kisses, but she didn't often do it in school.
"Kotomi, do you think I could get through the door first?" She just squeezed me a little tighter. So, I slowly shuffled us off to the side. "I'm not complaining, but what brought this on?"
"I missed you." This drew a round of 'Aww' and 'cute~' from a group of girls that were watching the spectacle of Kotomi firmly attached to me. "And Kyou, Ryou and Negisa are going to help me pick out a dress this afternoon, so I won't see you then either."
"I tell you what, how about you give me a call when you guys start studying and I'll come and join you. How does that sound?"
"Okay." That got the smile back on her face.
"Alright then, shall we go and meet the others?" Kotomi nodded and transferred her grip from my chest to my arm, and we headed for the club room. "Hey, Sunohara! You coming?"
"Yeah, okay. So, you're free this afternoon, are you?"
"Looks that way, you feel like hitting the arcade for a bit?"
"Yeah, sounds like fun."
"You can join us for the study session too, if you like."
"Yeah right, like that'd ever happen."
"I thought you'd say that somehow, the offer stands though, you're always welcome." Sunohara just rolled his eyes and headed off to the club room.
Sunohara and I spent a couple of hours in the arcade, until Kotomi rang my mobile phone, to say they were done with dress hunting and were going to start studying.
"When did you get that?" Sunohara pointed at my phone looking very surprised.
"Oh, Kotomi got it for me, she doesn't like being out of touch with me."
"Ugh, why did I ask? Aren't you two over all this lovey-dovey stuff yet?"
"Apparently not. You coming to study with us?"
"Thanks, I'll pass. Catch you later."
"Yeah, see you round."
I arrived at Kotomi's house to find girls sitting cross legged in a semi-circle on the back lawn. Kotomi sprang to her feet and pounced toward me.
"Tomoya! I missed you."
"I missed you mmpph!" Ambush kissed… again.
"Ahem, there are other people here you know." Kyou interjected looking a little awkward.
"Of course, sorry, I got a little over excited." Kotomi turned bright red.
"Yeah, we can see that."
"Aaaanyway, how did the dress hunt go?"
"Yes, yes I believe we have found the correct dress," She was getting excitable again. "We are going to go and try it on tomorrow." Kotomi was practically bouncing now, I hadn't seen her so excitable before, I have to admit it gave me that warm fuzzy feeling, knowing that she was so excited about our wedding.
"You're thinking mushy thoughts again, aren't you?" Kyou looked rather unimpressed.
"H-how did you know that?"
"You get a really goofy smile on your face, do you mind if we get back to work? Or do I need turn the hose on you two?"
"Ah, yes, that's probably a good idea."
"Great, I'll get the hose." She was a little too eager there.
"NO! I mean studying, not the hose." Kyou's shoulders slumped and she gave an exaggerated sigh.
"You're no fun, oh well study it is then."
The following day I went into town to meet the girls for lunch after their little shopping trip, the moment Kotomi spotted me she sprinted over to me and flung her arms around me. She gazed up at me with a huge smile and sparkling eyes.
"Tomoya-kun! Tomoya-kun! We have found it! We have found the perfect dress!" I couldn't help but chuckle at excited she was. "Oh! I am sorry I called you kun again, I just got over excited." She raised her hands to cover her mouth.
"I can see that, and it's okay Angel, I don't mind." The smile returned to her face. We headed in to a nearby family restaurant for lunch. "So, have you decided what you want to do about bridesmaids?"
"Kyou-chan and Negisa-chan well be bridesmaids and Ryou-chan will be my maid of honour." The three girls in question sat across the table from us grinning from ear to ear, Fujibayashi looked a little teary eyed.
"I was really touched that you chose me for such an honour." Fujibayashi croaked a bit as she spoke, clearly quite emotional.
"Okazaki-kun? Have you decided who your best man will be yet?" I had been leaning on Furukawa's parents a bit recently, given my father may as well not exist, I was in need of a grown-up opinion on some matters. The furukawa's were, shall we say 'eccentric' but they're good people, and more than willing to help out. So, I wasn't surprised that Furukawa asked.
"No, not yet." Kyou looked a little surprised.
"I assumed that you'd have that blond idiot be your best man."
"Hmm, yeah, it crossed my mind, but I'm not sure we're that close really anyway. Frankly I consider you more of a friend than Sunohara."
"Oh… umm…" Wow, I'd actually left Kyou speechless. "Thank you Tomoya, that… that means a lot to me, really."
"Yeah… anytime." I was surprised at Kyou's sincerity, I was so used to exchanging retorts and sarcastic barbs, I didn't quite know what to say.
"D-did you have anyone else in mind?" It was Fujibayashi that got things rolling again this time.
"Not really, I'm not that friendly with many guys. Most of the guys my age that I know are monumentally boring nerds, or-"
"This coming from the guy with the highest scores in his class."
"Yes, yes, thank you Kyou. So, nerds or they're too busy trying to look cool, I just don't really want to spend time with those kinds of people."
"How can you have such high standards and hang out with an idiot like Sunohara?" Kyou was on form today.
"I see where your coming from there, honestly, I think my 'friendship' with Sunohara is or was one of convenience, we both needed a reason to come to school, even if it was just to wind each other up. I think that's why Koumura-sensei put us together in the first place. Now that I have better reasons to come to school, we've begun to outgrow each other."
"That's pretty deep Tomoya, are you planning on being a philosopher or something?"
"Me a philosopher? Don't be ridiculous." Kyou was too busy laughing to answer me at the moment.
"Had you thought about what you are going to do after we graduate Okazaki-kun?"
"Yeah, I've been talking that through with your parents, and Kotomi too obviously. I think I've settled on teaching, kindergarten more specifically, now that my grades are good enough, I can go to university if I want."
"Teaching! Really?" I had expected Kyou to tease me about it, but she sounded almost excited.
"Yes, Tomoya is very good with people." Kotomi announced her opinion with no small amount of pride.
"Thank you Kotomi. Anyway, what about you guys?" Furukawa shifted around uncomfortably.
"I will probably just work at my parent's bakery." She was obviously feeling quite down about it.
"Taking over the family business hey? Good for you, Furukawa." She cheered up somewhat after my encouragement.
"I see what you were saying now Kotomi," Everyone stared at Kyou, not quite understanding what she had said. "Well you saw what he just did for Negisa, didn't you? She was sad and feeling inadequate and he cheered her right up with one sentence, didn't you Tomoya?" all eyes were trained on me now, Kotomi was practically glowing with pride, and my face was about ready to burst into flames in embarrassment.
"Well… yeah… She's my friend, I couldn't just leave her feeling like that could I?" Furukawa had her hands clasped in front of her chest and tears forming in her eyes.
"Thank you Okazaki-kun." Fujibayashi put her arm across Furukawa's shoulders and embraced her, smiling fondly.
"Moving on, what about you Kyou, where are you going after graduation?"
"Me? Oh, um I'm… going to um…"
"Onee-chan is going to be a kindergarten teacher too." Kyou's jaw dropped as Fujibayashi dropped her bombshell.
"Oh, excellent! You could be going to the same college as Tomoya." Kotomi added excitedly.
"Yeah it would be nice to have a friend there already." Kyou recovered enough to return my smile. "What about you Fujibayashi?"
"I've been accepted into nursing school. I assume you will be going to university, Kotomi-chan?"
"Umm, no…" For some reason I had yet to discover Kotomi was really self-conscious about the job offer she had received. Everyone looked quite shocked at her admission.
"What? You're not planning on being a full-time house-wife, are you?" Kyou glared at me as she asked, I got the distinct impression that there was a dictionary with my name on it if Kotomi said yes.
"Kotomi has already been offered a job at a nearby lab, quite a lot of job offers as it turns out, including one in Tokyo." Kotomi was too busy blushing to answer, so thought it best answer for her, or Kyou would be going for her book bag.
"You could go to Tokyo, and you decide to stay here? Why?"
"I would be too far away from Tomoya." Kyou face palmed, while the other girls burst out laughing.
"Why did I even bother to ask?" Kyou asked in a voice full of amusement, as I continued my study into the potential of fatal embarrassment.
Days and weeks ticked by exams came and went I was accepted into the nearest teacher training program, they almost didn't let me in when that saw my prior school record, thankfully Koumura-sensei rode to the rescue once again, he wrote an embarrassingly glowing character reference and his brother did the same, so, faced with references from a veteran teacher and a prominent scientist associated to the prestigious Ichinose foundation, they reversed the decision and gave me a place.
Sadly, Kyou had not been so lucky, she had thrown a few too many books and her school file had been flagged with 'Prone to violent outbursts' so most of the local teacher training programs wouldn't touch her with a 10-foot barge poll. Kyou got really depressed for a while, but Kotomi pleaded with her Godfather to try and help her, given it was literally the only thing she had ever asked him to do, he said he would do what he could but made no promises. It took him nearly a week to find somewhere willing to take a chance on her, she would need to travel quite a long way to get there but that wasn't a problem as her father had said he would buy her a car if it meant his little girl could have the future she wanted.
Kyou was in floods of tears when she arrived at Kotomi's house to thank her for saving her dream. It was a side of her I had never seen before, but it was a side of her she would allow us to see more and more after that night, I believe we were finally allowed to see the real Kyou, we exchanged retorts and sarcastic remarks, but there was a more caring side to her that did make her seem more suitable to be a teacher.
Sunohara went back to his home town to try and find work, he was unsure of what he would be able to get given his grades. But he promised he'd be back for graduation. Ryou was getting to be quite busy because her nursing school had offered her extra pre-term training and paid work at the weekends, so we had to work around her hours for the wedding plans a bit.
With graduation mere days away and the wedding in a couple of weeks off, I finally gave in to Kotomi's badgering to go and see my dad, I had become quite adept at avoiding him, and would go a week or more without seeing him never mind speaking to him. But Kotomi could be remarkably stubborn given the right subject. I finally gave in when she played the 'I wish I could go and see my mommy and daddy' card. Kotomi decided that we would go after school on Saturday.
As we stepped into my dad's house, Kotomi pulled closer into my arm, I looked over to see her with the deer in the headlights expression she used to have every time she met someone new. She was quite nervous about meeting him and had even got dressed up in a very lovely blue and white dress with white gloves, she looked nothing short of stunning. This made her look all the more out of place among the detritus of my dad's creation. I tried to keep the place clear, but it would always end up a mess again by the time I got home.
As I turned the corner into to lounge, I nearly stepped on my dad's arm, he was sprawled across the door way fast asleep. All I could do was sigh and step over him. Kotomi's hands were pressed to her mouth in shock.
"I told you I wasn't exaggerating didn't I." Kotomi just nodded still in shock. "Come on dad, time to get up. There's someone you need to meet." He gave a slight grunt but showed no further sign of moving. "Kotomi, would you mind putting a pot of tea on while I try and get him presentable?"
"Y-y-yes, of course Tomoya-kun."
"Thank you, Angel, the tea is in a red tin on the second shelf by the sink and the cups are in the cupboard next to that." Kotomi nodded and tottered of toward the kitchen. "Come on dad, up and at em."
"Tomoya-kun?"
"Would you please stop calling me that." Kotomi and I had already talked over what I should say if he called me 'Tomoya-Kun' and had finally settled on a script of sorts.
"Huh?"
"I am you son, not someone you ran into in the bar." It was taking a great deal of self-control to stop myself from shouting at him, but it seemed to be sinking in at least a little. "Come on dad, sit up, some tea will be ready in a minute."
"Oh, yes of course." It was fairly evident he had no clue what was going on.
"You, awake yet? There's someone you need to meet." As if on cue a rattling of cups on a trembling tray approached the lounge. An extremely nervous Kotomi arrived in the door way, she was trembling so much felt compelled to take the tray off her before she dropped it. "This is Ichinose Kotomi." I placed the tea tray down on the table. "My fiancée." Kotomi smiled and bowed.
"H-h-hello Okazaki-san, it is nice to meet you." I hadn't seen her this nervous in quite some time.
"Oh, it's my pleasure my dear." He recovered far quicker than I expected. "I am pleased to see Tomoya-k... err… Tomoya has found himself such a beautiful young lady." I was floored, I hadn't expected him to have even heard me never mind taken in what he was hearing properly. I just stared a him until Kotomi squeezed my hand and snapped me out of it.
"Tomoya has been very kind to me, he has also been doing very well in his exams." Kotomi's pride in me seemed to have overpowered her shyness and she was on a roll. "And will be starting at teacher training school next term."
"Oh? Really?" Dad's turn to be gob smacked.
"Yeah, Kotomi has been a huge help to me, she helped me challenge my old exam grades and find a career I can care about. She has already given me a future, and we're not even married yet." Kotomi was fidgeting with fingers in her lap blushing all the way to her ears now.
"Then I already owe you a great deal." I hadn't thought it possible but Kotomi went even redder under the barrage of compliments and thanks. "I think we'd best give your fiancée a moment to recover, don't you Tomoya?" I couldn't help but laugh.
"Yes, that would probably be a good idea."
"Would you like some tea dear?" Kotomi managed a nod. "Tomoya?"
"Yes please."
"So, have you two set a date for the wedding yet?"
"Ah… Yes… about that, it's um… it's two weeks today." A shadow of regret crossed my Dad's face, making me feel really guilty.
"Don't worry, I understand. I have not been the best father to you all these years, have I?" Dad lowered his head in shame, sight of him like that gave me a tightness in my chest.
"I think you must have been a better father than you believe, Tomoya is a wonderful man." His eyes snapped up as Kotomi gave him an emotion filled address. "He is kind, cares deeply about his friends and never turns away from someone in need." All three of had watery eyes now, but it was Dad that spoke first.
"Thank you, young lady, it is very kind of you to say so." His voice was thick and husky with emotion barely held in check.
We drank our tea quietly for a while so we could all calm down, after that we chatted comfortably for over an hour. It was the first time I could remember sitting and having a conversation with him.
Graduation day, I couldn't quite decide if it was 'Graduation day already' or 'Graduation day at last' I had tried asking Kotomi what she thought but the question just confused her.
"Tomoya,"
"Hmm?"
"Are you looking forward to Graduating?"
"Yeah, I am, it's funny, just a few months ago I would have said no or that I didn't care. But now, yes, I definitely am."
"Good, I am very pleased for you." Between the way she was walking, with her arm looped through mine, and the gentle smile on her lips, Kotomi suddenly struck me as looking exceptionally lady like. "Tomoya? Do I have something on my face?"
"No, I was just thinking how beautiful you are."
"Oh… Thank you Tomoya."
"Hey! Okazaki!"
"Yes, can I help you?"
"Very funny, Okazaki."
"I'm sorry, do I know you?"
"It's me! Sunohara!"
"Seriously? What happened to your head man, it looks really weird."
"I go away for a few weeks and suddenly you're a comedian." Kotomi giggled at his remark. "Did she just giggle? Since when do you giggle?"
"Oh, you'd be surprised what she can do, she can even nail Kyou with a retort."
"Seriously?"
"Yup, she left Kyou speechless not so long ago." He looked like I had just shown him conclusive proof that grass was really pink. "Anyway, what happened to your hair."
"This is it's natural colour, I couldn't get a job with it still blond."
"Fair enough, did you get something?"
"Yeah I'll be driving a cab."
"At least you got something, there's plenty of people that can't get anything you know."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, especially with a record like ours."
"So… you didn't hear?"
"Hear what?"
"Tomoya is going to college next term."
"What with grades like yours?"
"You never looked at the exam league tables then?"
"No, why would I?"
"Umm you may not believe this, but I'm in the top 50 in the school."
"Huh? The top 50%?"
"No… the top 50, as in, there are only 49 people in the school with better test results."
"WHAT! When did that happen!"
"Do you remember when I first started to ask if you wanted to study with us?"
"Yeah."
"Then basically, I challenged my previous exam results so would have to option to got to uni or at least get a better job."
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE JOKING!"
"Sorry man, I tried to talk you round but…"
"Who's doing all that shouting? And who's this guy?"
"Very funny Kyou, but Okazaki already done that routine."
"Dang it, beaten to it by the class swot."
"Good morning, Kyou-chan, Ryou-chan."
"Good morning Okazaki-kun, Kotomi-chan."
"Mornin' Kyou, Fujibayashi. Have you two seen Furukawa yet?"
"There she is, at the bottom of the hill."
"Speak of the devil huh."
"So, Sunohara, did you find a job?"
"Yeah, driving a cab."
"Good for you."
"Err… yeah, thanks Kyou. Fujibayashi did you put something in your sister's morning coffee?"
"Oh, that's lovely that is, I'm nice to you and you accuse my sister of drugging me?"
"Yeah, it's weird." Kyou just folded her arms in a huff and turned away from him.
"Good morning Negisa-chan."
"Good morning everyone, Oh, who's this?" Everyone erupted in laughter, apart from an annoyed Sunohara and a confused Furukawa.
After the ceremony was over, I made a point to seek out Koumura-sensei.
"Hey old man." Kotomi gave me a disapproving look.
"Hmmm… Tomoya-san, you have not called me that for a long time."
"One last time, for old times' sake, look I wanted to make sure that I spoke to you before I left today."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I owe you more than I can ever repay, if you hadn't given me a second chance, I would never have been able to make something of my life."
"That is where you are wrong Tomoya-san, I would not have had a second chance to give you had you not already earned it."
"I don't follow."
"Hmm. By the time you came to me, asking to challenge your exam results, your attendance was perfect and your test results in the top 5 in your class. Did I help you with that?"
"Well no but-"
"If you have anyone to thank for that, it is yourself, and this young lady you have on your arm."
"I see what you mean there, and I know I owe a lot to Kotomi-"
"You have helped me a lot too." Offered Kotomi.
"Yes, that's true but-"
"So, it seems we are all even then?"
"*sigh* this is not going the way expected it to go. Give and take aside, there is one thing I do definitely owe you."
"Hmm… and what would that be."
"Sunohara. If you hadn't put us together that day, I never would have finished school."
"Hmmm… very well, I will admit to that. There is however one thing you can do to repay me."
"Name it."
"One day in the future you will no doubt come across a student that need the same kind of help that you did, give that student all the help you can."
"You know I'm going to be a kindergarten teacher, right?"
"Indeed, I do, but you have a long career ahead of you, and I suspect you will move on to new challenges one day."
"I hear you're retiring."
"Hmmm, I am far too old, and I am not needed here anymore. I am pleased that I can depart on a high note, even young Sunohara-san managed to graduate."
"Yeah, he was here, but he didn't hang around long."
"Hmmm… I was a little surprised he came in the first place."
"I think he was planning on rubbing my nose in the fact he had found a job, he hadn't heard about my grades, so it's kind of burst his bubble when we told him."
"Hmm… so he managed to find work did he, good. I was a little concerned he would struggle to find anything."
"You don't need to worry about him too much, he's a survivor."
"Hmmm… It seems that someone else would like to speak to you." Koumura leaned to the side and looked behind me. "I will see you at your wedding." With those parting words He shuffled off toward the school. It was only then that I turned around and saw who it was behind me.
"Dad? You're here…"
"I was very pleased when Kotomi-chan said that you would like me to be here today."
"I didn't… think that you would be able come, what with the short notice and work and all." I felt Kotomi tense up and what I was about to do, so did my best to cover my mistake.
"Oh, my boss was very happy to give me the day off when I told him what it was for."
"Kotomi and I were about to go for lunch, would you like to join us?" Dad was surprised but recovered quickly.
"That would be lovely, thank you Tomoya, it would be nice to get to know my future daughter-in-law a little better." I had expected Kotomi to be blushing because of the daughter-in-law comment but she was simply smiling at me.
We went to a local restaurant and had a pleasant enough meal. I don't think Dad and I will ever be truly close, there's been too much water under the bridge, but we can at least we can be civil, and I'll make an effort to be a good son, mainly because it means so much to Kotomi. Once we parted ways, Kotomi stopped walking.
"Kotomi, is something wrong?"
"Tomoya-kun, are you angry at me?"
"Angry? No. Why would I be angry?" Kotomi looked a little confused.
"But I told your father that you wanted him to be at your graduation?"
"That's okay Angel, I understand why you did it, you had my best interests at heart didn't you?" Kotomi nodded vigorously, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "So, I don't have anything to be angry about do I. Honestly I would probably have regretted it in later life if he hadn't been there." The worry and tension melted away as Kotomi's smile returned to her face.
"Really?"
"Yes, really." I drew her in to my arms and she snuggled herself into her favourite spot against my chest.
"You're so good to me Tomoya."
"That goes both ways don't you think? Come on let's go home." Kotomi reluctantly pulled out of my arms.
"Okay, we have yet to finish the seating plan for the reception and it needs to be completed by Tuesday." She slipped her hand in to mine and inter-twined our fingers.
"Huh… When did I start thinking of your place as home?" Kotomi smiled up at me, her eye's sparkling excitedly.
"Really? You do?"
"Yeah, I guess home really is where the heart is." Kotomi abandoned hand holding, electing to coil her arms around my bicep instead. "Are you sure you okay with us moving into your parent's old bedroom? There are other room we could use if it makes you uncomfortable."
"No, it is okay, I have spoken with Doctor Lee about it a number of times, he feels it would be good for me if we did. It will help me move forward and as he said, 'Put some ghosts to rest' but there has been no scientific proof of existence of ghosts, so I am unsure what he means."
"It's just a common phrase, he means that it will help deal with some bad memories and negative associations, so you can start making new happier memories." Kotomi's face suddenly turned bright red. "What? Did I say something weird?"
"N-n-no i-it is n-nothing."
'What on earth is she thinking of? The bedroom? Did she just… nah, there's no way Kotomi would… would she?' Kotomi was still blushing by the time we got back to her house, she would keep glancing at me, but then looking away when I looked her way.
'It's almost like how she was before… we… first… kissed… Oh boy. She is isn't she.' Kotomi did eventually calm down once we got stuck into the seating plan.
Two day before the wedding we were, cuddled up on the sofa watching TV when Kotomi turned off the Tv and shifted position so she could look me in the eye.
"T-Tomoya, do you want children?"
"I've been thinking about that a fair bit myself lately, I don't know if I'd want to start a family right away, preferably I'd be settled into a teaching job first, but yeah I would like a couple of kids, what about you?"
"Yes, I would very much like some children."
"Are you happy to wait for me to be in work first, it'd be a couple of years you know?"
"Oh, yes, I had thought it best to wait a while first too. We are still quite young after all."
"Well, it's a relief we are both thinking the same way. Had you thought how many you would like?"
"I believe it would be wonderful if we could have two, then they could play together in the back garden in the summer, and in the winter, they will build snow men together, and we could go on picnics in the park. You will spoil them and shower them with love. And, and we will be a very happy family." Kotomi was looking off into the middle distance smiling as she fiddled with the buttons on my shirt.
"So, you haven't given it much thought then." Kotomi giggled and hit my chest playfully. "Yeah I think two would be nice, I always wanted a little sister."
"That is because you like to protect people."
"You think so?"
"Yes, you always do your best to help your friends, and make them feel better when they are sad. I think you will be wonderful father. But I worry if I will be able to be a very good mother, I am still not very good at dealing with other people's emotions."
"Hey, you're better at reading people than you think. It's clear as day to anyone that care very deeply about your friends, and you can read me like a book. So, don't be so down on yourself. You'll be a great mommy, okay?" Kotomi just nodded and buried her face in my shoulder. Her emotions got the better of her and she wept quietly as I stroked her hair. She must have been really worried about being a good mother.
The morning of the wedding finally rolled around, and I was nervous, really nervous. I adjusted my tie for the fifth time.
"Tomoya, we need to get going or you'll be late."
"Yeah, thanks Dad."
"You okay son?"
"Yeah… why?"
"You look like you're going pass out or throw up, or both."
"I'll be fine, I'm just kinda nervous."
"Nervous? Really, I would never have guessed." Dad chuckled to himself. "Do you have everything?"
"I think so, crap, where did I put the ring?" Panic set in as I ransacked my remaining possessions.
"Tomoya."
"What?"
"Top left pocket."
"Huh? Oh, right… thanks." Dad put his hands on my shoulders.
"Tomoya, calm down. You'll do fine."
"I be okay, thanks. I just don't want to mess this up for Kotomi, it means so much to her."
"She won't care, so long as you're there." I stared a him dumbfounded. "I've seen the way she looks at you son. Now come on let's make a move."
"Yeah…"
Standing at the front of a remarkably full church, my heart was going a mile a minute already. I was beginning to regret my decision the go without a best man. The quiet chatter that had filled the air suddenly stopped. And in walked the three bride's maids, and my heart kicked into high gear.
The wedding march began, and a vision of pure beauty stepped in to view. Kotomi as couldn't have looked more like an angel without wings. She was wearing a pure white gown that hugged her curves perfectly, it was accented with pale blue gem stones that looked drifting clouds of star-dust. the veil obscured most of her face, but the shine of her eyes was unmistakable.
As she approached the front of the church, I had to remind myself to breathe. Guided by her Godfather Kotomi stopped just short me.
"Who gives this woman?" The ministers voice snapped me out of my reverie.
"I give this woman." Koumura-sama passed her hand to me and, placing his hand on Kotomi's back and guided the last few steps to my side. He leaned forward and whispered in my ear. "She's all yours." All I could manage was a nod.
"Meet here today to bear witness to the joining of these two hearts in holy matrimony, they have chosen to write their own vows." That was Kotomi's cue, she had been quite adamant that she went first. She produced a folded and slightly dog-eared piece of paper, she was trembling so much, I was surprised that she could read it.
"As childhood friends in my garden you were already helping me face my fears, since we reunited in the library that afternoon, you have helped me conquer them. You have given me friends and freedom from my fears, you have helped me heal after the loss of my parents, and given me happiness and hope for the future, but most of all you have given me love. I would have none of this if not for you. I love you and wish for nothing but to spend the rest of my life by your side." The entire church was either choked up or crying by the time she finished. Including the minister.
"Okazaki-san, when you're ready." The minister croaked slightly as he tried to clear the lump from his throat. I drew my script from my pocket and cleared my throat.
"Kotomi, when I found you in the library, I was an angry, bitter and lost teenager, without a future to call my own. You guided me, and supported me as I corrected my past mistakes, You gave me hope when I had none, through persistence, logic and love, you gave me back the relationship with my father, that I thought lost for ever, I had lost my dreams for the future, but you gave me new dreams. You took the fragments of a broken young boy, and reformed them, into a man I can be proud to be, and I hope I can become the man you deserve. I want for nothing more than to have you by my side as my wife."
The minister coughed a couple of times, trying to clear his throat.
"If anyone knows of any reason why these two may not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace." The only sound that could be heard, was the occasional sniffle from an emotional member of the congregation.
"Do you Okazaki Tomoya take this woman Ichinose Kotomi to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do you part?"
"I do." As gave my answer I slipped the ring on to the finger, between Kotomi's trembling hands and my own, it took a couple of tries.
"Do you Ichinose Kotomi, take this man Okazaki Tomoya to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do you part?"
"I do." Kotomi had similar problem put the ring on my finger.
"You have pledged yourselves to one another before God and these witnesses assembled here, renew this pledge daily, love one another, cherish one another, and may all those assembled her hold you to account, should you fail to keep these vows."
"By the authority vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." I lifted Kotomi's veil, revealing her beautiful violet eyes, red rimmed and tear filled, but happy. I cupped my hands around her face and wiped away her tears. Then leaned forward and kissed my wife.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding for, Okazaki Tomoya and Okazaki Kotomi." The congregation rose to their feet and applauded as we kissed. It seemed a little odd really, usually we were being told to knock it off.
'Okazaki Kotomi… I like the sound of that.'