You really never expected much from the day. Sure, you knew Koichi loved you, he proved as much when he was so insistent upon the second wedding, from the way he held you in his arms at night, from his gentle yet firm words and how be caressed you when you made love.
Koichi loved you, that much you knew was true.
But as he kissed you on your forehead before you parted ways at the train station, you couldn't help but call out. "Koichi!"
He turned and gave me a questioning look. You were struck again by how handsome your husband looked. Perhaps it was one of the reasons why you had agreed to your arranged marriage, so long ago, but that didn't mean it was the main reason why you loved your husband. He was kind, caring, adorably shy despite his affections being absolutely obvious. You knew Koichi had a reputation around his office for being a doting husband.
"Will you be home early tonight?"
"Oh, um." He hesitated, a look I couldn't read crossing his face. "Maybe not. I... have a project I need to work on."
"Oh." A sinking feeling churned in your stomach. "That's alright! I'll have your dinner in the oven." You pasted a smile, giving a wave before turning to head to your station.
Your phone buzzed in your pocket, and you smiled when you saw Akiko's name flashing on your phone's screen, and smiled when you saw her message, as you remembered that you were supposed to have a celebration with the girls tomorrow. At least you knew you were guaranteed to have one good time.
'Happy birthday, Asami!'
Aiba had discreetly went out to buy cake with Akiko before lunch, and the whole office managed to surprise you with a fried chicken and cake party for lunch. You were surprised at how they had managed to convince Ebihara-san to agree to a celebration when it would mean a few hours of downtime from their work, but at the same time you knew your boss, Hana-sama would've had a hand in convincing the uptight Ebihara.
It was a great time with your office mates, especially when Hana told you to take off early today. It was rare for you to be able to witness the orange sky of the sunset as you stood in the packed train on your way back home. 'What should I cook today?' you thought, remembering that Koichi had mentioned he would be home late today.
At the memory, your heart sank again. Did he really forget? Sure, yyour birthday's wasn't exactly something the two of you put a lot of importance of. You knew he remembered the date you two met for sure, with the dinner he had planned when the two of you were on Miyakojima island the last time.
Yet, you had made sure to plan a dinner of his favorites, and even bought a cake back on your way back from work. You had presented him with a tickets to Katsuyama, to visit the 'Jurassic Park' of Japan with robo-dinosaurs (although you aren't too sure if that present was more for yourself, since you found it absolutely adorable the way he marvelled and wondered like a child the whole time).
Did he really forget?
You heaved a sigh as you stepped out of the station and walked your way back home, your mind warring with itself on reasons and excuses for your husband.
Unlocking the door, you soon begin your familiar routine of chopping vegetables and marinating meat, intending to make a hamburg steak with roasted potatoes and vegetables. At the very least if your husband had no plans to celebrate your birthday with you, the least you could do was to treat yourself, right?
Whistling as you worked, your heart did a happy skip when you heard the meat sizzle as you slide it in the pan, and it wasn't long before you were digging into one of your favorite meals of pork hamburg steak. The explosion of umami flavors managed to bring up your mood. Finishing your meal, you tidied up the kitchen and placed Koichi's portion in the oven on heated mode, before heading in to the shower. Curling up on the couch, you fully intended to wait for your husband to wake up, but your eyelids fell extremely heavy, even as you did your best to concentrate on the television program you had turned on.
"Asami?" A soft voice pierced through your sleep-filled subconscious, and you stirred, but refused to open your heavy eyes.
You felt soft hands sliding under your body, and a familiar heat and body holding you close. Instinctively, you nestled closer, recognizing the scent of your husband, his cologne lingering on him. "Koichi... What time is it?"
"Almost 11PM." he murmured, using his feet to gently push open the door to your shared bedroom. Your body jumped for joy as he laid you on the bed, tight from cramping up on the sofa. "I told you to go to sleep if I was ever late."
"I wanted to wait for you." you replied, finally managing to pry your heavy eyes open to blearily peer at your husband. He was perched by your side, his hand stroking your head as he looked at you tenderly. It was the look you knew Koichi reserved only for you. You had never seen him look at anyone else that way. You frowned when you notice a shuttered look in his eyes, as if there was something he wanted to tell you, but couldn't figure out how.
"Koichi? What's the matter?" you asked, twining your fingers with his.
He paused in his actions, and then sighed. "Happy birthday, my wife."
"Oh." your eyes widened, and then a gentle, loving smile curled your lips upwards. "Thank you, Koichi. I thought you forgot."
"I'm... I'm sorry. I- I'll make it up to you, okay?"
You shook your head. "It's okay. I'm just happy I get to see you before the day is over."
He sighed, and leaned closer to press a gentle chaste kiss to your lips. "I love you, Asami. Go to sleep, you look exhausted."
That weekend, Koichi brought you on a five-course omakase meal at the top of the tallest building in town, and the dinner was complete with a bouquet of a dozen roses. After the dinner, you strolled hand in hand down the street towards the train station, happily enjoying each other's company.
"Asami, do you mind going somewhere with me first?" Koichi suddenly asked, much to your surprise.
Your eyes widened but you shook your head. "Of course not. Where do you want to go?"
"Just come with me."
He tugged at your hand as we got on the train, surprisingly packed for a 9PM weekend night. Your heart warmed at how Koichi urged you against a wall, and then literally used his own body to form a barricade around your own, keeping you away from all the jostling of other people before he motioned at you to get off at a station two stops away from your home-station. Curious now, you followed his instructions, and he led you down the street before coming to a stop at a stairwell leading down to the river canal that ran through your city. There, a boat was waiting, fairy lights twinkling. You looked back at Koichi in disbelief, not really sure if this was where he intended to lead you, but Koichi just gave a self-confident smile, and placed his hands on the small of your back, giving a light push. "Go on, get on. I've booked this for us."
"But Koichi-"
"It's your birthday, Asami. Do you not think I would consider it an important date?"
"But I thought you forgot." you blurted out, unable to contain your surprise.
He helped you in, and settled down on a seat with you, signalling at the boatman to start rowing before he turned to you again. "I didn't. But... my plans for the day was derailed one after the other, and the next thing I knew, everything I had planned for you had fallen apart." He had such a dejected look on his face, you couldn't help but internally give an 'Awww' while you took his hands. "But I had to make your birthday special. It's your birthday. If you weren't born I... I would still be that cold, unfeeling man who had no care for anyone else. I... You've taught me so much, Asami, and I... this is just a fraction of a fraction of what I can do to thank you for all you've done for me."
"Oh Koichi," you murmured, placing your palm against your husband's cheek and rubbing your thumb against his cheek, a tender smile on your face. "You really don't have to. I'm happy enough to know you love me."
"I love you, so so much, Asami." he muttered, pulling you closer and burying his head in the crook of your neck, holding you so close. You relished the feel of his firm body against yours, the way you moulded together as if you were made for each other. Who would've thought an arranged marriage could bring you so much happiness?
"I love you too, Koichi." More then you imagined you would