"There's a big difference between falling in love with someone and falling in love with someone and getting married. Usually, after you get married, you fall in love with the person even more," or that's what they said, but it made no difference to Okuda Manami. Today, was going to be the happiest day of her life.

Back when she was in elementary school, the chemistry loving girl, or now woman had dreamt of becoming a researcher. When her teacher had asked her to draw out her future dream, Manami had drawn a crude picture of her holding bubbling chemicals of all colors. Even though in her picture, her glasses weren't perfect circles and even though her braids were just blobs, Manami could see it already. And that was her goal throughout elementary school.

In middle school, the focused girl's goal never changed. In fact, she wanted to be a researcher even more. Making chemicals to assassinate a mutated teacher? Experimenting with dangerous concoctions for pranks? It motivated her. It excited her. And for once, she felt like she didn't have to hide her interests. For once, she felt accepted. Not to mention excited.

In high school, the girl realized that she was so close to reaching the last step. After high school, she would be accepted to a prestigious school that specialized in the sciences. She had been working so hard for it. Finally, her dream would become a reality.

But something was missing.

There was something wrong and she knew it. Not wrong with her and not wrong with her passion, but she felt that something was lacking. It took her months to realize it, but she began to find her answer. All around her, everyone was happy. It wasn't like she wasn't happy. It was because all around her, everyone was happy with someone else. For instance, Nagisa and Kayano had begun dating since high school started and Hayami and Chiba were side by side all along. Sugino and Kanzaki had a complicated relationship, but the feeling of knowing that someone loved you, that someone needed you. That was what the violet eyed girl wanted.

She thought it was selfish. Having two wishes come true? Wasn't she asking for too much? But as time passed, Manami began to wish that in elementary school, she should've drawn a different picture. Not just her with chemicals in a lab coat. A picture of herself with chemicals and a white dress with a mysterious, but loving figure next to her.

When the young woman was in her dream university, she began to wonder if it was too late for love. Her friends seemed so content with their partners and some even tried to set her up with others. But Manami didn't want that. She wanted to find someone herself. Someone that she connected to and could have that special, close feeling the others had without someone setting them up.

During her last year of her studies, the woman had been walking across the street when a motorcyclist stopped for her. Taking the kind gesture, Manami nodded her head and began to walk across…until she noticed familiar mercury eyes that glowed with mischief and an unmistakable smirk.

Now, the woman smiled to herself. Dressed up in a beautiful puffy white gown that reached to her feet, she took it all in. The guests, that were all from the former class 3_E twenty years ago, and the beautiful chapel. The silver butterflies that were lightly printed near the bottom of her dressed sparkled just like her eyes.

"Will Akabane Karma take Okuda Manami as his forever loving wife?"

"I do."

"Will Okuda Manami take Akabane Karma as her ever faithful husband?"

"I d-do."

"You may now seal this with a kiss."

Leaning in, Karma placed his lips against Manami's. It was a gentle feeling that made Manami's heart skip a beat and eyes flutter every time.

This would make a great How I Met Your Father Story, she thinks.