It was our second day in Hawaii. Today, we were traveling under Kuro’s guidance toward the place she wanted to visit most—her primary reason for coming here.
Our destination was the Ko Olina Resort, located about a forty-minute taxi ride from Waikiki, nestled slightly away from the crowded tourist hubs. It was home to a seaside church built on a site whispered to be sacred even by the locals: the Paradise Garden Crystal Chapel.
Just as I’d suspected. This was the same chapel featured in a special Hawaiian Wedding spread in the travel guide Kuro had been reading.
Other churches had been listed on the same page, but since Kuro had requested a hotel in Waikiki and planned the visit for the day after our arrival rather than the day we landed... and knowing her personal tastes, I had a feeling it would be this one.
In a way, it was only natural for Kuro to be interested in a Hawaiian wedding venue. Back in the other world, our own wedding ceremony was scheduled for the 30th of the Month of Heavens.
A significant amount of time had passed since I first proposed, and both of us were now waiting for that day with bated breath. Since Kuro was one of the Six Kings—the very pinnacle of the Demon Realm—the ceremony was destined to be a massive undertaking.
The Six Kings of the Demon Realm, the Three Kings of the Human Realm, and even the Supreme God of the God Realm were all set to attend. With Shiro-san, the God of the World, also joining the guest list, preparations had been incredibly time-consuming.
The sheer number of attendees was staggering enough, but Ein-san and Zwei-san had been so enthusiastic that they had even constructed a brand-new venue specifically for the occasion. Due to these various factors, it had taken nearly two years from the proposal to the actual ceremony. It made sense that Kuro would find herself fascinated by the wedding traditions of my home world.
Our cultures were vastly different, and the formats of our ceremonies reflected that. While there were some similarities, there were many notable differences—for instance, the exchange of wedding rings was not a custom in her world.
"Look, look, Kaito-kun! It’s so beautiful here!"
"Yeah, a seaside chapel really has a wonderful atmosphere. The ocean is stunning, and the weather is perfect... Shall we head inside?"
"Yeah!"
Watching Kuro frolic with such a joyful smile brought a warmth to my heart as I took her hand and led her into the church.
The light streaming through the stained glass complemented the chapel’s design perfectly. The sanctuary was built to showcase the surrounding landscape, creating an aura of mystical, ethereal beauty.
"...Huh? There’s no one here."
"Yeah... You're right."
"...Kaito-kun?"
It had been a last-minute request, but it looked like she had pulled it off for me. I’d have to make sure to thank Amaterasu-san properly later.
I smiled at Kuro, who looked puzzled as if sensing I was up to something. Then, I reached into my Magic Box and pulled out a package.
"Here, Kuro. A present."
"...Eh? Th-This is..."
"A wedding dress."
"B-But why...?"
I had caught her completely off guard. Her eyes were wide as she stared up at me.
"Actually, I figured you’d want to come here. I reached out to Amaterasu-san in secret to arrange for the dress and to have the chapel reserved for us for a little while."
"Wait... really?"
"Yeah. I know our official wedding is still a bit further off, but I thought we could do a little rehearsal... Would you like to put this on and walk the aisle with me?"
"...Kaito-kun... Yes, thank you."
Perhaps overcome with emotion, Kuro nodded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, as I handed her the gown.
I had prepared a white tuxedo for myself as well. We went to separate rooms to change before meeting back at the doors of the chapel.
Since this was a private rehearsal for just the two of us, and because Kuro didn't have a father to give her away, we decided to walk the long path of the aisle side-by-side.
The gown—an elegant white-and-silver design accented with gold embroidery—had been tailored specifically to complement Kuro’s hair and eyes. It suited her perfectly.
"...Kuro, you look amazing. You're beautiful."
"Th-Thank you... Ahaha, I’m actually a little embarrassed."
Though I called it a rehearsal, there was only so much the two of us could do on our own. In truth, the ring exchange was the heart of the plan.
In the other world, weddings didn't traditionally involve rings. It was likely a result of their polygamous society; instead, it was common for the bride and groom to create a crystal by fusing their magic powers together. In a world where high-ranking nobles might marry twenty or thirty people, wearing that many wedding rings simply wasn't practical.
Naturally, our official ceremony would follow the customs of her world.
However, the truth was... I already had the rings in my Magic Box. When I’d first decided to propose, I hadn't yet learned the specifics of otherworld ceremonies, so I had followed the common sense of my own world and prepared rings. Even after learning it wasn't the norm, I’d kept them tucked away.
But today, since we were holding a rehearsal in the style of my home world, I decided to take the leap and suggest we exchange them. Kuro had happily agreed.
"...Kuro."
"...Kaito-kun."
"Um... Phew... I, Kaito Miyama, take you, Kuromueina, to be my wife. I promise to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live. I vow to be by your side and to love you forever."
I lifted the veil from Kuro’s face. Rather than answering a priest, I looked directly into her eyes and spoke the vows from my heart. Kuro’s cheeks flushed a delicate pink, and a blissful smile spread across her face as she answered.
"I, Kuromueina, take you, Kaito Miyama, to be my husband. I promise to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as we both shall live. I vow to be by your side and to love you forever."
With our vows of love exchanged, we took each other's hands and slid the rings onto the fourth fingers of our left hands. Then, as if drawn by a single thread, we leaned in and shared a kiss.
When we first met, she was a mystery... The second time, she promised to show me the world... and she rescued me from the shell I had built around myself.
Through her, I experienced countless encounters and faced many challenges. We laughed together; she supported me when I was weary. We shared our joys, and I learned not just to rely on her, but to support her in return.
Our bond had deepened into love, built on a foundation of mutual respect, comfort, and shared strength. We had walked this path together.
The story of my life, which had ground to a halt when I lost my parents, had begun anew because of her. And from this day forward, it would continue... alongside the woman I loved more than anything in the world.
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