Chapter 5 – Happy ever after?
The reception was more energetic than I had imagined it would be, Sunohara was on the dance floor making a fool of himself. All of our friends we with us chatting and laughing, Fujibayashi surprised me by introducing her boyfriend, Keppei or something like that, he had been a patient she had help at the hospital and they hit it off apparently. He seemed like a nice enough guy. My Dad was another surprise, I had been a little concerned about his drinking, but I never once saw him with anything stronger than fruit juice, he spent quite some time chatting with the Koumura's, although none of them would tell me what they were talking about.
Time drifted by but Kotomi never once let go of my hand, I did tell her that I didn't mind if she wanted to mingle for a bit.
"No, thank you Tomoya, I am not ready to let go of my… husband, just yet." She informed our little group. Much to Kyou's chagrin, she rolled eyes and pretended to be about be sick.
"Geeze, they're getting worse." The rest of the group laughed as Kotomi and I blushed a little. For me the funniest point of the evening was when Kotomi threw the bouquet, Fujibayashi was the one to catch it. She turned bright red and her boyfriend turned white.
"Well then Okazaki-chan, shall we head home?" Kotomi giggled at the use of her new name. The limo whisked us away to my new home, Our home.
Kotomi looked a little confused when I stopped her at the door.
"Be patient, Okazaki-chan. There is tradition to consider." She was a little startled as I picked her up, but fell into uncontrollable giggles as I tried to get through the door way with her in my arms. But she did quiet down as I led her up the stairs. We had redecorated the master bedroom, but it still felt a little odd going in there.
Kotomi hesitated at the door way, a little red-faced.
"It's okay if you're not ready yet, there's no rush."
"No, I am just a little nervous." She took a deep breath, and stepped in to our room.
Kotomi carefully removed her veil and necklace placing them reverently on the top of the desk. I removed my tie and jacket, hanging the up ready to be returned to the rental shop.
"Tomoya-kun, would you help me with m-my dress? I cannot reach the zip."
"O-o-of course." I had to fight to steady my hands so could even grip the zipper.
"Thank you." Sounding remarkably calm all of a sudden Kotomi shrugged the straps off her shoulders, allowing her gown to slip down and form a white ring around her feet. I froze at the sight before me. I couldn't take my eyes off her as she carefully folded her gown into its storage box.
Kotomi turned around and faced me. She was wearing a stunning set of white lace underwear. I couldn't quite decide where I should look.
"Kyou said that I should wear something like this, do you like it?"
'I must remember to thank Kyou later.'
"You look amazing." She smiled bashfully, and slowly walk over to me. She gently placed her hands on my chest. Rising up onto her tip toes she kissed me lightly on the lips, then she began to unbutton my shirt. As she slipped my shirt off there was a gleam in her eyes I hadn't seen before. Then she went to work on the rest of my clothes.
'What happened to my shy, coy Kotomi?' It occurred to me that I should really have seen it coming, she can be quite passionate when the mood takes her, the ambush kissing for example.
Kotomi, having completed her work pushed me backwards to the bed and then removed the last of her own clothes before climbing into bed next to me.
I awoke in the morning with a familiar and comforting weight on my chest, Kotomi was still fast asleep, snuggled into my side with her head on the right side of my chest. She looked so peaceful; I couldn't bring myself to wake her up.
I spent a while just enjoying being close to her, as she smiled contentedly in her sleep. Sadly, it wasn't long before she stirred, she yawned and stretched her arms.
"Good morning Angel, did you sleep well?" She smiled, with a twinkle in her eye she moved up and planted a mind-blowing kiss on me.
"Yes, I did thank you." Kotomi settled back into her spot on my chest. "Tomoya, do you mind if we stay here for a little longer?"
"I don't mind, are you still sleepy?"
"No, I am quite well rested thank you." She gave me an impish smile and winked.
"Oh, I see what you mean, sounds like a lovely to spend our first morning together."
We had decided to forego a conventional honeymoon for the time being, after all we'd have enough to adjust to as it was, I still had to move the remainder of my personal items from my Dad's place. There was also the issue that Kotomi had been living alone for the last ten years, so it could be difficult for her to get used to having someone else around the house all the time. So, we were just going to have some time at home together.
The following afternoon, we decided to head out to town to do a little shopping, Kotomi wanted to visit the book store for one thing, no big surprise there. There were a few other odds and ends but nothing big so we could go for a meal once we were done shopping. While we were wandering between shops we ran in to some friends.
"Ah, Ryou-chan, Kyou-chan it is good to see you." Kotomi was still hanging off my arm as she greeted her friends.
"Oh, hello you two, you managed to persuade yourselves to get out of bed for a while then?" Kyou, it was clear she was expecting to embarrass Kotomi, the mischievous smile on her face.
"Onee-chan!" Fujibayashi was the only one that was actually embarrassed.
"Yes, thank you Kyou-chan, but only for a little while." Kotomi gave her retort with floorless timing, a big smile and not even the slightest hint of blushing. It's fair to say I was extremely proud of her at that moment. It had it's intended effect, that of silent, stunned and red faced Kyou. She stood there agape until the three of us broke down laughing.
"Come on Kyou, even you have to admit, you had that one coming."
"You know, I think we trained her a little too well."
"Oh, I don't know, I'm feeling a little proud right now."
"Thank you Tomoya." Kotomi gave her traditional bash full smile.
"Seriously? That makes you blush? And the bedroom thing gets nothing." Kyou's frustration made both me and Fujibayashi chuckle.
"Kyou-chan, we are married now, so I don't think there is anything to be embarrassed about. Wouldn't be stranger if we didn't?"
"Aaaanyway, we were just about head to the book store before going for dinner, would you two like to join us?" I needed to get Kotomi off this line of thought before she started trying to discuss details.
"Are you sure? I'm a little surprised you'd want company; you know being newlyweds and all."
"Kyou-chan, we have as much time as we want together, but now that we're not in school together, we won't be able to spend so much time together."
"There's no arguing with her logic is there, Tomoya."
"Sometimes, but not often."
"Alright then, I need to get some more teaching books anyway."
"Yeah I need a bunch of books too."
"Oh, Tomoya we can read together again." Kotomi gazed at me with stars in her eye's
"It really odd how excited she is to do that you know. I would have thought she'd have the all lined up in alphabetical order for you by now."
"We used to read together as kids, and the reading list only came last week, so we were a little preoccupied for some reason."
Once we arrived at the book store Kotomi and Fujibayashi headed off towards the cook books, while Kyou and I headed to find our textbooks.
"I'm impressed she managed to peel herself off your arm."
"What's up Kyou? Not getting a little jealous, are you?"
"Yeah, maybe a little."
"Oh… I didn't expect you to admit that."
"Well, my experience trying to get into teaching school was a bit of an eye opener. If I had been honest about my feelings in the first place, I would never have had those warnings on my school record. While I have you too myself. Thank you."
"You've lost me there Kyou."
"On which bit?"
"Most of it frankly."
"*sigh* You always were blind to us girls until Kotomi came along weren't you."
"That has been pointed out to me yes."
"Okay then, easy one first then, thank you for helping me get into teaching school."
"But that was Kotomi that got Koumura-sama to intervene."
"But she only did that because you asked her to, correct?"
"How did you…"
"Kotomi told me." Of course, she did. "When I went to thank her, she got all flustered and said she couldn't take credit for what you asked her to do."
"Yeah, that sounds like her alright."
"Why did you help me?"
"For one thing you're my friend, and I couldn't stand by and see your past mistakes ruin your future, when I had escaped my own mistakes."
"You're a sentimental sod, do you know that?"
"Kotomi said something similar yes. Anyway, what did you mean about being honest about your feelings?"
"You know I was in love with you don't you."
"Yeah, I kind of figured it out while I was studying for my resits."
"Just after you got engaged, yeah, you two were getting all lovey-dovey about then, so it was a little difficult to hide my discomfort."
"I really sorry if we hurt you, it was never my intention."
"You don't need apologise, you're in love with her and she can be quite affectionate." I had to chuckle at Kyou's observation. "What, you almost definitely don't know is that Ryou and I had both had the hots for you since the second year."
"Y-yeah, you've got me there."
"The thing was Ryou came to me for advice, saying that she was in love with you. So being the good 'Onee-chan' I decided I had to set aside my own feelings and help Ryou and you get together."
"I see, so the bento boxes and dragging me around shopping was all aimed at getting me and your sister together."
"Right."
"And the book throwing, and aggression was to what? Hide your feelings?"
"Nail on the head there Tomoya."
"you weren't kidding about me being blind were you."
"No, but Kotomi seems to have cured you of that, hasn't she? You don't need to worry about me by the way. I may get the occasional twinge, when I see the two of you getting all loved up, but I am happy that you two are so happy."
"Thanks, Kyou, I appreciate it. Oh, by the way, is it safe for your sister to be handling cookbooks?"
"Come on be nice, she tries really hard you know."
"Yeah, I know, I've seen the plasters."
"She's getting a lot better as it happens."
"Really? That's good to know. What triggered the change?"
"The new boyfriend I think."
"Is he teaching her to cook or something?"
"No, I think it had more to do with you to be frank."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you're a really manly man, so I think that intimidated her a bit."
"Because… I'm… manly?"
"Yeah, hasn't Kotomi said anything like that?"
"She says I'm very protective, quite a bit, but I don't recall her ever saying manly."
"Hmm, I may have to have words with your wife."
"Never mind that- "
"There's that protective thing."
"*sigh* Thank you Kyou, but can get back to what you were saying about your sisters cooking? So, does he not intimidate her so much?"
"He couldn't intimidate a five-year-old, seriously the first time she introduced him I thought she was telling me she was gay." My laughter drew more than a few disapproving looks. Seriously it's not a library, am I going to disturb the books?
"So not what you'd call butch then."
"No, not even a little bit. But he's a nice guy."
"Good, Oh, hello Fujibayashi, were your ears burning?"
"N-no, w-why?"
"Tomoya, would you please not tease my sister."
"I tell you what, you stop teasing my wife and I'll stop teasing your sister."
"Hmm, sorry Ryou, you'll just have to put up with it." Again, we got the disapproving looks.
"I thought that was you Tomoya, have you found all of your books yet."
"Not yet angel, we were too busy chatting. You can help us find them if you've got all you wanted already."
It turns out the assembled list of Kotomi's book choices made for some slightly embarrassing insinuations,
50 Breakfasts for lovers
101 romantic meals
Eat, Drink, Love
And to cap it all off, Foods to boost your energy.
Kyou was in hysterics most of the way to the restaurant, Fujibayashi didn't get what was funny, that added further fuel to Kyou's laughter. Kotomi did get the association but didn't see why it was funny.
We had a couple of blissful weeks like this, we'd occasionally meet up with friends, relax in the garden, read together, cook together. It was the happiest I could ever remember being, but all good things come to an end eventually. All too soon it came time for Kotomi to start work at the lab.
Since I wasn't starting training just yet, got up early and made breakfast for us and I would pack her a bento box, to take with her. She was a little conflicted to begin with, she really didn't want our idyllic little life to change. I had to take her to work in the morning for a couple of days, it made me think of taking a child to school, Leaving her at the gate with a lunch box in her hand.
Things soon settled down once she got comfortable and began to enjoy her work. Once it came time for me to begin my training Kotomi took a few hours off work so that she could walk to collage with me, she had declared that it was only fair as I got to walk her to work for her first day, so she wanted her turn. I had expected her to do that, but not her reasons for doing it. In hind sight I had wanted to take her to work as much for my own reasons as it was for her.
What I hadn't expected was that I would earn myself a nickname, before the end of my first week.
It all started as we were all packing away our books away at the end of the day. One of the guys sitting by the window shouted and waved us over to see something.
"Check it out, there's a smokin' hot chick standing by the gate." That was enough for almost all of the guys in the class to head for the windows.
"Hey, Okazaki, check it out."
"Fine, fine I'm coming." What I saw was an attractive young woman wearing a suit that fitted in all the right places, it was "Kotomi?!"
"What? You know her?" All eyes were all on me in a heartbeat.
"Err yeah."
"Who is she?" Ask most of the guys all at once.
"She's umm, my wife." Silence. "Anyway, as you can see, I have to get going. See you guys tomorrow." I could almost feel them watch me leave. Added to that once I got in range Kotomi shouted my name, ran over to me (quite the achievement in high heels) She then proceeded to attach herself to my face. By the time she let go, everyone within 50-feet was staring at us. Oblivious to this fact Kotomi gleefully wound herself around my bicep and set off home chattering away contentedly.
As it transpired if Kotomi left work exactly on time she could make it to a bus stop and get to my college in time for the end of my classes. We were going to need some ground rules.
"Kotomi, it was very nice of you to come and meet me, and I will be very glad to have you do so whenever you want. But you may need to… how should I put it? Restrain your enthusiasm a little." She gave me a sorrowful look that almost broke my heart.
"Did you not want-"
"Hang on, that's not what I said, is it angel?"
"But…"
"Look, do you remember back in the theatre club, the others asked if we could show a little restraint, because it made them a little uncomfortable?"
"Yes, yes I do."
"And do you remember how I didn't really want to?"
"Yes."
"It's the same thing here. I know you were really happy to see me, so you didn't notice, but everyone around us was uncomfortable. So, we will have to wait until we get home, okay? Then we can kiss and cuddle all you like okay?"
"Okay, can, can we not kiss at all when I see you?" Oh crap, she was using the puppy dog eyes again.
"One of these days I will have to work out how to say no, but I think a little kiss will be fine." A big smile lit up her face.
"Okay." By the time I reached the class room the following day I had learned of my new nick name, 'Lucky'
Time dripped by much the same way, Kotomi came to meet me every day, she did manage some restraint… most of the time anyway. I made new friends in my class, they had asked why we got married so young when she wasn't even pregnant, they stopped asking once we had all been out for dinner.
Before too long I came time for me to go for a placement at a local kindergarten, I was honestly terrified, what if they didn't like me, or wouldn't listen or any number of other nightmare situations. Thankfully it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I had suspected, by the end of the day, I was exhausted but happy. And surprise, surprise Kotomi was waiting for me at the gate. How she had managed it was another thing entirely, especially as I had not told her where I would be working.
Yet more time slipped by, I had been really lucky to be going to the same school for all my class room training sessions. A few of the others had been forced to go to more than one school because of a lack of spaces. Three months had passed since my first placement, and I was talking to Kotomi at the gate, when one of the girls from my class came over and tugged on my trouser leg.
"Yes Kotori-chan, did you want to speak to me?" She was one of the quieter children I work with, but she had really taken to me, she was just barely as tall as my knee, so the sight of her gripping on to my trouser leg was unbelievably adorable.
"Mommy isn't here yet, can I wait with you Oki-sensei" Okazaki was a bit of a mouthful for some of the younger students so once one of them called me Oki-sensei the rest just did the same.
"Of course, you can sweetheart." Kotomi looked like she had just seen the cutest thing on the entire planet, just noticing Kotomi for the first time, little Kotori hid behind my leg.
"Who is that lady?" Kotori whispered from behind me.
"Kotori-chan, this is Kotomi-chan, she is my wife." Kotori peeked out from behind my leg.
"Hello, my name is Kotomi, call me Kotomi-chan, would you please be my friend?" Now that felt nostalgic. Kotori peered up at me, looking for confirmation.
"It's okay, go ahead." Kotori stepped out from behind my leg, gave a polite bow, without letting go of my trouser leg.
"My name is Habane Kotori, it is nice to meet you."
"Well done Kotori-chan, I am very impressed." She beamed up at me, "We have been learning about manners today, haven't we Kotori-chan?" Kotori nodded vigorously.
"Hello Okazaki-sensei, I thought I would find Kotori with you."
"Ah, Habane-san, the traffic was a little heavy again was it?"
"I'm afraid it was, the new road works a real pain. Thank you for taking care of Kotori for me."
"Oh, it was our pleasure."
"You've been making new friends have you Kotori."
"She is Kotomi-chan, Oki-sensei says she is his wife."
"Is that so, it's nice to meet you, Okazaki-san." Kotomi bowed lightly.
"Thank you, you have a very polite daughter, she gave me a very good introduction."
"Oki-sensei, told us about manners today."
"Really? And what did you learn." Kotori took a few steps away from her mother and performed her introduction for her mother. "That's really good Sweetie." Habane-san hug her daughter pride written all over her face. We chatted briefly about how Kotori was doing in class, then parted ways.
"So, how was it at the lab today?"
"It was good, I believe we are making good progress. Hibari-chan asked if we would like to go to dinner with her and the women from the lab."
"A girl's night out is it?"
"No, they stated that they wanted to meet the man that managed to get me away from my desk so easily." I couldn't help but laugh, I knew how absorbed Kotomi could get into her work, and it seems her colleagues had noticed the disparity between that and how promptly she liked to leave work at the end of the day.
"Seems only fair since you've already met some of my class mates."
"Okay, I will make the arrangements. Kotori-chan seemed quite attached to you."
"Yeah, she's a sweet kid, but she can be really shy at times, I'm not sure why she latched on to me so quickly."
"does she have many friends?"
"she does have a couple now yes, why?"
"Did she not have many before?"
"Well not really, like I said she can be really shy, why do you ask?"
"And did you introduce her to these new friends?"
"Yes, but I'm not sure I see where you're going with this."
"She trusts you because you have helped her, just like you helped me."
"I hadn't thought of it like that. You're not getting jealous, are you?" I couldn't resist the joke; it was just too easy.
"Maybe a little."
"What?" I didn't see that one coming.
"Of her mother that is, she's such an adorable little girl. And I couldn't help but think you looked very… fatherly." Perhaps having children will come sooner than expected.
The following week we had our regular catch up with the rest of the theatre club. Furukawa was doing fine; her mother had been able to expand her study school now that she didn't have to help in the bakery so much. This had the happy side effect of almost eliminating the weird and inedible creations. Fujibayashi was enjoying her nursing training although it had taken her a while to bet used to how hectic it was. I was comparing notes with Kyou on our teacher training, Kyou was finding the academic side of things a little difficult at times but she was really enjoying the on-site training, she was telling us quite proudly how well she was getting on with the children. It was at that point Kotomi eagerly shared how well I was doing with the children too. And then she dropped the Oki-sensei bomb shell.
Both Furukawa and Fujibayashi thought it was adorable, Kyou however, she was laughing so hard the restaurant manager came over to ask her to keep it down. I was just glad she hadn't found out about my nickname at college.
The following months passed by largely uneventfully, Furukawa was sick again for a while but recovered well. Fujibayashi and her boyfriend were doing well. Kotomi continued to meet me after my classes every day. Little Kotori was very upset when she had to move up a year and couldn't take her Oki-sensei with her. Even after she moved class, she would come and wait with me when her mother was running late.
I soon reached the point where I was about to graduate from my teacher training and have to find a real job. I had been agonising over some job listings during my lunch break trying to decide where was practical to go to, (most of them would require me to travel a lot further.) When the head teacher of my training school called me into his office. They weren't advertising a position so it never crossed my mind that I could stay where I was. But that is exactly what the head wanted to offer me, apparently the reason they weren't advertising a position was, they wanted to offer it to me before they went to the trouble of interviewing lots of applicants. Obviously, I was over joyed and accepted immediately. The following term I would have my very own class, at the school that already felt like home. To top it all off they agreed that I could continue to study toward a bachelor's degree as part of my in-service education.
It was probably a mistake to tell Kotomi when I met her at the gate, but I couldn't contain my excitement. Kotomi's reaction drew more than a few wry smiles from the Mothers waiting at the gate their children, it was the arrival of Kotori that got Kotomi to detach herself from my chest. Kotori was equally excited when we told her I would be staying. So, I was left with a number of laughing mothers taking pictures on their phones, while I had Kotomi wrapped around one arm and Kotori clinging on to my leg.
Kyou was also fortunate in finding a job, it was the third school she interviewed with that took her on, and it would cut her commute in half.
Fujibayashi and her boyfriend got engaged, he'd had a hard fight with cancer in the year and although he was now clear.
Once the new term began it took me a day or two to find my feet a little, it was classroom full of new students and I didn't have another teacher in the room as back up anymore. But I soon settled in, and somehow, I had retained my Oki-sensei moniker, not that I really minded.
I loved my job but I was glad of the rest when the first school holidays came around, Kotomi took some time off work at the same time so we could some quiet time alone together for a change, it had felt a little like we had either been working or studying since that first day I walked Kotomi to work.
A couple of days into our break, I decided I would treat Kotomi to breakfast in bed. But she only had one bite of her toast, before she ran out of the room toward the bathroom.
I found her leaning over the toilet throwing up. I poured her a glass of water and stroked her back until she was done.
"You okay angel?" I put my hand on her forehead as she gulped down the water, I gave her. "Hmm, you don't have a fever. How do you feel?"
"I am okay, thank you, Tomoya, I just suddenly let sick."
"It's probably just a tummy bug, get some rest and I'll make you some tea." Kotomi nodded and headed back to bed.
By midday Kotomi was feeling much better, so I just figured it was just an anomaly. At least until the following morning that is.
By lunch time we were both staring intently at a white plastic stick, while I occasionally checked my watch.
"Come on, seriously, how long is thing supposed to take anyway." Kotomi smiled at my impatience.
"Just one more minute, Tomoya."
"Couldn't you invent a faster one or something? The waiting is killing me here."
"Hmm I may look into that." Kotomi pondered. "But I suspect it wouldn't ready before this one is done." I shrugged and returned to glaring at a white plastic stick.