Kyoko Kirigiri was uncharacteristically beside herself with worry – not only was she due to get married to the love of her life (aka one Makoto Naegi), but no one had heard anything from or had seen her grandfather. The last thing Kyoko needed on her wedding day was for Fuhito Kirigiri to go missing. The thought brought up horrific memories of the Hope's Peak Academy Killing School Life, specifically regarding the Mastermind's first motive. The information on the disc Kyoko had been given related to her grandfather, who at first was being held captive in Towa City. Once this was discovered Fuhito (amongst many others) was freed from captivity by a Future Foundation task force, only for him to become a target in the Demon Hunting Game operated in Towa City by the Warriors of Hope. Kyoko thought that the happenings in Towa City were long behind them now that the lingering pockets of despair were all but a memory. Kyoko also knew that her grandfather was smart, but he wasn't young anymore—which added to her growing concern.

She pulled out her cell phone for what seemed like the fiftieth time to see if Future Foundation had located Fuhito. What she saw was a text notification from her soon to be husband and nothing else. Even though there was only something from Makoto, she went ahead and unlocked her phone to read the message. What she read caused her to exhale a breath that she wasn't aware she'd been holding for the last twenty minutes.

I just heard back from Future Foundation and they've found your grandfather safe and sound. He mentioned to one of the officers that he was getting a special present for his granddaughter on her wedding day and he'd merely lost track of the time. FF told me to tell you that he's on his way. I'm glad everything turned out for the best, and I'm really looking forward to our ceremony. I love you, Detective Naegi.

Kyoko swiftly swiped out a reply, her eyes watering with happy tears.

Thank goodness, I've been beside myself with worry. Glad that Ojī-san is on the way. I love you too, Ultimate Luckster Kirigiri.

It was at that precise moment that her maid of honor and best friend Aoi Asahina, also the former Ultimate Swimming Pro, came back into the room they were using to get Kyoko ready for the ceremony. Aoi, also known as Hina to her friends, had a concerned look on her face as she asked, "Have they found your grandfather yet, Kyoko?"

Kyoko softly smiled and breathed a sigh of relief before she answered. "Yes, I just heard back from Makoto and he told me that Ojī-san is on his way here."

Hina immediately wrapped Kyoko into a tight hug as she also sighed with relief. "I'm so glad to hear that!" Hina pulled back from Kyoko with a warm smile before continuing. "We should finish your hair and makeup before Kirigiri-sensei gets here, don't you think?"

Kyoko nodded, having already had Hina help her get into her first wedding outfit. Kyoko wanted to forgo the wataboshi so as not to have the need to restyle her hair much before her one planned outfit change, but she didn't forgo her almost traditional kimono. Her wedding kimono was almost all white, with lavender and pink sakura flowers and a deep royal purple obi. The gloves Kyoko chose matched her obi exactly, and she sat at the vanity mirror carefully so as not to disrupt the intricate styling of the kimono.

As Hina helped Kyoko style her hair (while Kyoko deftly applied her own makeup), a light knock was heard at the door. Kyoko looked up to Hina, who nodded and patted Kyoko's shoulder before she answered the door. "Ohayo, Kirigiri-sensei!" Hina exclaimed as she opened the door.

Fuhito nodded to Hina before producing what Kyoko seems to have inherited – the patented Kirigiri smirk. Hina smiled warmly before leading Fuhito to his granddaughter, who had stood up to meet her grandfather. Kyoko smiled warmly before softly exclaiming, "Ojī-san!"

While hugging her grandfather, Kyoko breathed a quiet sigh of relief, which produced a soft chuckle from Fuhito. "Always the worrier, daisukina magomusume."

This never failed to produce a protestation that Fuhito never got tired of hearing. "Grandfather, I'm your only granddaughter."

"Ah, you are correct. That's why you're my favorite," Fuhito replied with a soft smile.

Hina had never seen this exchange before, but it made her feel comforted and safe nonetheless. More pressing matters, on the other hand, didn't allow for much reverie. "Kyoko, we need to hurry. The ceremony starts in less than thirty minutes!"

Fuhito smiled as the ladies bustled about, remembering his own wedding day and how much Kyoko resembled the grandmother she only met once as a very young girl. He, however, took the time to adjust his suit's waistcoat and tie, and also checked the cuffs of his button down shirt. Once his cursory checks were done, Hina let out a satisfied sigh. "Okay, I think this is as good as it will be. Kyoko, what do you think?" Hina asked, her face abuzz with excitement.

Kyoko carefully went over to the room's full-length mirror and gasped aloud. She had seen herself in a full kimono many times before. What she hadn't seen was herself in said kimono with fully coiffed hair and almost full makeup. "Oh my gosh. Hina, you've definitely outdone yourself. Are you sure you're not the former Ultimate Stylist in disguise?" Kyoko asked more than a bit playfully. While the ladies laughed, Fuhito stood to the side of them, mentally remarking even more that his granddaughter bore more than a passing resemblance to his late wife on their wedding day.

"Daisukina magomusume, we've now come to my gift to you," Fuhito reverently stated. Both Kyoko and Hina turned to face him, paying close attention as he continued. "I sadly couldn't find your grandmother's favorite brooch pin. It must've gotten destroyed or lost during... well, we all know what happened before the world came back to life eventually. My task was to find something either close to that pin or in the same style of it, but it wasn't easy. Until I came across a family owned jewelry shop, where the jeweler took custom orders. That is why I was late. The brooch was finally fully completed today. I apologize for worrying you over this. However, I'm not sorry about getting something special for my only granddaughter on such a joyous day."

As he spoke, he took the brooch out of its box and pinned it carefully on to Kyoko's kimono. The pin was a lovely white gold filigreed sakura blossom, with small opal and amethyst dew drops. Fuhito resumed after finishing the task of pinning the brooch on, while Kyoko softly gasped and marveled at how sturdy, yet delicate the pin was. "As you can see, the small opals represent you while the small amethysts represent Naegi-kun."

Kyoko felt her eyes start to water again as she softly replied, "Grandfather, this is so lovely. I've only ever seen this brooch pin in photographs of when you and Grandmother were wed, and that was after I'd come to live with you. Thank you, this is.. so breathtaking!"

Hina cautioned, "Kyoko, don't cry your makeup off," as she was wiping her eyes carefully.

Fuhito just chuckled softly as he lovingly patted Kyoko's left shoulder. "I know that I was gruff with you at times, but never did I not care about you and your happiness. I know I was also against this at first but... seeing you and Naegi-kun together and how happy you both are reminds me of when I was courting your grandmother. I hope you and he never lose that happiness, even during harder times."

Kyoko carefully hugged her grandfather once more. "We didn't, and we won't."

Hina beamed to them both as Fuhito looked at his pocket watch. "Musume. It's almost time. Are you ready?"

Kyoko smiled and proudly stated, "Grandfather, I've been ready for this day for a long time."

Hina, caught up in the moment after adjusting her suit, proclaimed, "All right, then let's do this!"

In the meantime, in another area of the church where the wedding ceremony was due to take place, Makoto Naegi was beside himself with nerves. It was so bad that he'd given serious thought to going back home to get the burner cell phone he still used to contact Hope's Peak Class 77-B on Jabberwock Island. Before he could act upon that instinct, Yasuhiro Hagakure (known as Hiro to his classmates and friends) blockaded the door leading out. "Makoto-chii, why are you so nervous? You're marrying Kyoko-chii! You know! The love of your life?"

Makoto sighed as he sat down for what felt like the twentieth time in less than fifteen minutes with a sigh. "Yeah, Hiro, I know."

Hiro removed himself from the door, then responded with a quizzical tone. "So, then, what has you so nervous?"

Makoto sighed softly again, then smiled to his classmate and good friend. "That's just it, I'm really not sure. I mean, Future Foundation found Kyoko's grandfather so he should be here by now. I have friends here, as well as my sister being here too. I don't know... I guess that I was wishing that my parents could've been here to see this and celebrate with us."

Hiro nodded sagely as he sat down next to Makoto. "I understand. It's hard to not think about that stuff on a day like today. But hey, look at it this way – you have us, you have your sister, Kyoko-chii's grandfather gave his blessing... and everyone we've lost is here today in spirit, you know?"

Makoto looked over to Hiro with a genuine smile. "Are you sure Kyoko didn't tell you to tell me that?"

Hiro laughed uproariously in response. "Naw, man, this is your soul friend speaking from the heart!"

At that moment, former Ultimate Heir Byakuya Togami entered the room, his normal suit replaced with more appropriate attire for his classmate's wedding day. "Hiro. Why is Makoto not fully dressed yet? There's not much time to do so."

Both Makoto and Hiro wordlessly launched up and got Makoto dressed in his kimono in record time. Makoto chose as close to a traditional groom's kimono as possible, which had a black background and small red cardinals as part of the design. His obi was a pleasant shade of greyish-green to match the color of his eyes (and was personally picked out with assistance from his soon to be wife). Once Makoto was satisfied with how he looked, he turned to Byakuya. "Okay, I think I'm ready," he stated plainly, the color back in his face.

Byakuya, on the other hand, just clucked his tongue before speaking. "You are aware that your hair is a complete and total mess. Right?"

Hiro chimed in, "You know that Kyoko-chii is gonna mess it back up again for him if it looks too nice."

Makoto turned about five different shades of red as Hiro laughed and Byakuya uncharacteristically smirked. "I'll concede that point, I suppose. One more thing is bothering me though." As he spoke, the tall, lanky blond surveyed the fit and form of Makoto's kimono, making slight adjustments here and there as he surreptitiously pinned his Green Hills High School pin to the lapel of Makoto's kimono. "There. I expect to receive that back later," Byakuya quietly stated.

Makoto was stunned at the sudden emotionalism of his former classmate and co-worker, but gave Byakuya a smile nonetheless. "I don't know what to say, Byakuya, except thanks!"

Hiro could always be counted on for stating the absolute obvious though. "Makoto-chii, don't let Toko-chii see that on you! You'll never hear the end of it, from her or Syo!"

Makoto immediately started laughing, while Byakuya visibly blushed. Makoto knew better than to poke the proverbial bear, took one last look at himself in the room's full-length mirror, and turned to his classmates with a smile. "Looks like I'm completely ready," he stated to the other two gentlemen in the room.

Hiro adjusted his black suit a little, while Byakuya didn't need to improve upon (self-perceived) perfection. "All right," Byakuya declared. "Let's get down to business, then, and make our classmate an honest man already."

Hiro grinned and replied, "Way ahead of you, Togami-chii."

The trio walked out of the room, heads held high, and out to the reception area and further out to where the ceremony would take place presently. Makoto caught a glimpse of the assembled guests, looking for his sister Komaru. He didn't have to wait long, as she and former Ultimate Author Toko Fukawa were seated together. Komaru had chosen an understated brown suit dress for the occasion, while Toko had chosen to put her hair up and wore an uncharacteristically nice black suit dress. Komaru saw her older brother and waved to him, while Toko only had eyes for her fellow classmate and "Master". Though she did give Makoto a head tilt when she saw her former classmate, so Makoto smiled and returned the head nod.

The assembly didn't have to wait long for the signal that the bride and her entourage would be taking the walk down the aisle. Hina was the first to emerge from the bride's room, an orchid in a button hole of her suit and carrying a small bouquet of sakura blossoms and more, smaller orchids. Once Hina made it to Makoto, Byakuya, and Hiro, she flashed all of them her famous smile before taking her place on the bridal side of the raised dais.

Then came the entry of the bride, her grandfather at her right arm. Kyoko looked absolutely stunning, her hair in a practical yet fetching up-do, and the sakura brooch glinting in the light of the church and rays of the sun peeking in from the upper windows. Makoto's breath stopped as he gazed upon the love of his life. His eyes pricked with happy tears as they caught each other's gaze, and he could tell that she was in the same or similar state as him. 'I can't believe that this is finally happening. She looks so incredible!' Makoto thought to himself.

Kyoko was thinking similar thoughts as Fuhito hugged her, then reached for Makoto's hand and shook it. All Makoto could do was to bow to Fuhito since he knew that his words would fail him. Fuhito winked to the happy couple, then took his seat in the front pew.

The rest of the ceremony was a blur to the couple, even though they both rehearsed their own vows to each other numerous times over the past week. One sentence was loud and clear, however.

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

There it was – the culmination of everything everyone had been through up until this point in time, and the exclamation point was a ceremony filled with hope, love, and joy. Just how the happy couple wanted it to be.

Once back in the bride's room, both Makoto and Kyoko breathed hefty sighs of relief that all of their planning went without a hitch. Makoto was beaming from ear to ear as Kyoko bustled about, gathering her things to take with her in her overnight bag. She caught sight of him smiling to her, then blushed and grinned her own grin as she stopped what she was doing to savor the moment with her new husband. She'd have to get used to calling him that, but she didn't falter as she spoke, more tears coming up from the surface of her soul. "Hey there, Mister Kirigiri," she playfully stated.

"Well hey there yourself, Mrs. Naegi," he playfully retorted. "Are we going to remember anything besides being proclaimed married? Everything was such a blur and happened way too fast."

Kyoko gave him a warm hug while she spoke. "Makoto, all I know is that the room and everyone in it were filled with hope. Hope for themselves, and hope for us. It couldn't have been more perfect."

Makoto chuckled against his beaming bride and gave a sigh of happiness and relief. "Then that's all that matters, since hope shines brightest when it's shared," he stated.

"It is only fitting that our wedding was filled with that same hope too," Kyoko happily replied. "But we can reminisce later – we have a reception party to get to, come on!"

Makoto grasped her hand and smiled as she pulled him out of the room.