A gentle sea breeze drifted by beneath blue skies and a sapphire sea.
Along the coast, the vast ocean stretched out until it met the heavens, everything above and below dyed in shades of blue. The surface of the water rippled softly as wave after wave rolled toward the shore, one after another, as if drawn there by something beautiful waiting on land.
It was almost like a playful older sister draped in blue silk, lounging across the sea's horizon, teasingly flicking the hem of her skirt with slender fingers, sending up endless layers of waves.
And on such a breathtaking shoreline stood a lovely little villa.
Outside its courtyard, more than twenty white chairs had already been arranged.
The flowers and shrubs had been carefully trimmed into two neat rows, as if welcoming the couple who would soon pass between them.
The guests stood around with glasses in hand, chatting and smiling from time to time in a warm, cheerful atmosphere. Still, every now and then, people from both sides would set down their drinks and start gesturing animatedly, clearly having a bit of trouble communicating.
Standing behind the second-floor window, Yukio couldn't help smiling.
The two families were definitely having a hard time talking to each other.
"What are you looking at that's making you smile so much?"
Ibuki was already used to being close with him, so she didn't bother acting reserved. She simply leaned in and rested against his shoulder, looking out the window with him.
"Nothing much." Yukio had no intention of teasing their parents, so he turned and looked at her instead.
Ibuki still looked as energetic as ever, and there was still that stubborn edge in her eyes, but the moment Yukio looked at her like that, she instinctively averted her gaze.
Damn it. How had she never realized before that this guy actually looked really good in a white suit?
Her eyes darted around restlessly, just unable to look straight at him. She was afraid that if she stared too long, her cheeks would betray her and start turning red.
Today, Yukio was dressed in a suit and tie, his hair styled into a sleek, mature look. With his neatly combed-back hair, white suit and trousers, bright eyes, straight nose, and sharp lips, he looked so good that even Ibuki found it hard to take.
"He really looks amazing, Hiyori~"
Sakura's voice of admiration drifted out from the room on the second floor, and both Yukio and Ibuki couldn't help turning their heads.
At that moment, Sakura and Shiina finally stepped out, and the sight lit up both of their eyes.
It was like seeing a goddess descending to earth.
Today, Hiyori's outfit matched Yukio's perfectly. She wore an elegant off-the-shoulder white wedding dress, tailored flawlessly to her figure, and it only made her airy, ethereal presence stand out even more. She looked like mist, like a drifting cloud, so unreal that she hardly seemed human at all—pure and almost sacred.
A headpiece made of seven white roses held her translucent pale veil in place, half-covering her silver-blue waist-length hair. From the side, you could still glimpse the black ribbon tied into it to keep the hairstyle intact.
And with the bouquet she held in her hands, anyone who looked at her could instantly see beauty itself.
Leaning in the east wind, she smiled softly, and with one glance, all flowers seemed to pale in shame.
"Yukio."
Hiyori looked at Yukio quietly, the happiness in her expression utterly intoxicating.
"How do I look?"
"Amazing."
Yukio suddenly realized his knowledge of poetry wasn't enough. No matter how hard he searched his mind, he couldn't come up with words beautiful enough to describe her.
Sakura was simply happy for her dearest friend, her eyes full of the same joy.
Ibuki's expression, on the other hand, was much easier to read.
It was envy.
In modern times, a wedding dress was practically every girl's dream.
But today, the one wearing it wasn't either of them.
It was Shiina.
That, in part, had to do with Hiyori's own decision. She had already decided that after graduation, she would go back with Yukio and leave her homeland behind.
Even though Yukio had personally stepped in and met Hiyori's parents several times, they still couldn't fully put their minds at ease. In the end, after discussing it together, they decided that the official wedding would be held on Yukio's side later.
But before that, there would be an engagement ceremony here first.
And that was how Hiyori had ended up taking the lead and becoming the first among them to put on a wedding dress.
Sakura had long been mentally prepared for this. In fact, from the time of the all-class agreement, she had already placed herself in the role of a lover, never even daring to dream that she herself might one day wear a wedding dress.
Today, she had even volunteered to be Hiyori's makeup artist, contributing her own not-so-small share to this important day for her best friend.
And over the past few years, Ibuki and Hiyori had only grown closer and closer, so she obviously wasn't going to say anything.
But she still couldn't stop the sour feeling in her chest.
All Yukio could do was soothe them afterward and promise that everyone would get their turn to wear a wedding dress. It sounded easy to say he'd treat everyone equally, that he'd keep the bowl level for all of them, but actually putting that into practice was pretty difficult.
For Yukio, that was a very happy kind of trouble.
"It's almost time," Yukio said, extending his right hand.
Wrapped around the ring finger of that hand was a silver ring engraved with delicate patterns.
"Mhm~"
Hiyori responded softly, the happiness in her heart practically overflowing. Every casual shift of her gaze, every tiny lift of her brows, even the slightest curve at the edge of her lips was brimming with sweetness.
At Yukio's invitation, she raised her own right hand. On her ring finger was a matching ring, and she gently placed her hand in his.
Ibuki glanced at it, then laughed too. She clasped her own left hand around her right and smiled.
The reason was simple.
On the ring finger of her right hand was a matching ring too~
Sakura didn't say anything, nor did she hold her own hand the way Ibuki had.
She merely rested a hand quietly over her chest.
And if one had to say why, it was because, considering Hiyori and Hiyori's parents, Sakura didn't dare openly wear her ring. Instead, she had threaded it through a silver necklace and worn it around her neck.
As for where the ring was resting now… it lay right above the place Yukio loved most.
From holding hands to intertwining their fingers, Yukio and Hiyori exchanged a happy smile, then prepared to head downstairs and officially begin the engagement ceremony.
At that point, Ibuki stopped grinning like an idiot and hurried downstairs. After reaching the first floor, she first pushed open the villa doors, drawing the attention of all the guests.
Then she quickly moved a number of cages over from behind the wall where they had been hidden from view. The moment she opened them, a flurry of wings burst into the air.
Row after row of white doves—symbols of good fortune—flew out of the villa, rising into the sky on the sea breeze. Every so often, a pure white feather drifted down, drawing delighted smiles from the guests.
On the other side, Sakura wasn't idle either. She pressed the switch on the second floor, and the two rows of spray machines that had long since been prepared began producing a gentle current of air, scattering the rose petals stored inside them.
White doves danced with rose petals.
The sky and sea blended into one.
And amidst that beautiful scene, Yukio and Shiina stepped out hand in hand, welcoming the happiest future of all.
...
For every 50 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.