“The true essence of love is freedom.” —

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)

0

In this country, spring is called “the season of love.”

Countless encounters and farewells intersect, and from that chaos, countless romances are born.

An ordinary love story that happens everywhere. Yet to someone, it is a single, irreplaceably precious love story.

We are no different.

Amid the flood of blessings, having overcome many trials, today, in this place, we are joined together— in this white church where the bells ring.

1

A little while after the new school term began and the fully-b blossomed cherry trees had scattered their petals. Golden Week, the last day, early afternoon.

Rattle-clank, rattle-clank— I was inside a green Yamanote Line train car.

My destination: the famous meeting spot, in front of the Hachikō statue in Shibuya.

Having arrived at the station, I stood in that bustling spot filled with young people, fidgeting nervously while waiting for one woman.

Even though we’d only ever exchanged messages, today was the first time we’d actually meet.

The phone clock told me there were two minutes left until the appointed time.

Unable to stop fidgeting, I checked her photo again.

A 23-year-old I’d met on the matching app TWINS. The bust-shot on my screen showed “Sakura-san”—a cute face that looked a little younger than her age, framed by softly fluffy, faintly tea-colored hair.

I kept alternating between staring at the phone and scanning the crowd, searching for Sakura-san, when— tap, tap— I felt something like fingers poking my back.

Then a voice called out.

“Shuu-san, right?”

I turned around reflexively.

Standing there was a cute girl with softly fluffy, faintly tea-colored hair.

“Ah, it really is Shuu-san!”

Still stunned, I watched as she spread the five fingers of her right hand wide and showed me her palm, looking overjoyed.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Sakura.”

She introduced herself and smiled brightly.

Cute.

She looked exactly like a beautiful high school girl who had jumped straight out of a 2D world. She even seemed to smell sweet and nice.

(No, “like” one… she basically is one…)

Of course, she looked just like the profile photo on the app—same level of cuteness.

But the Sakura-san standing in front of me looked far younger than the Sakura-san in the photo—

2

That had been a little over a month earlier, at the end of March when the cherry blossoms were just beginning to bloom.

Click, click… A little past 10 p.m. on a holiday night, right before bed, I was repeatedly taking selfies with my phone’s front camera.

“Hmm, not quite…”

The ws and the smile felt off. I fixed my bangs with my hand, forced another smile,

Click-click-click-click-click!

This time I used burst mode.

I decided to pick the one that turned out the best. “Hmm, this one it is.”

A slightly subculture-looking guy with glasses—honestly looked like a low-key handsome dude. After tweaking the brightness and contrast a bit, it instantly became a photo I was satisfied with.

“Yeah, this should do. Probably.”

It wasn’t wildly different from the real me, but definitely better than the version I see in the mirror every day.

And so, here I am—Kizaki Shūgo (26), high school teacher—standing in the short, narrow hallway of my 1LDK rental apartment, white wall as backdrop, doing something completely out of character.

All because of what happened last night—Saturday night.

It was a guys-only drinking party of three in a private room at a chain izakaya.

“I’m actually getting married.”

Right after the first toast, Hakamada dropped that bombshell.

The other two here—Hakamada and Yana (Aoyagi)—were my college classmates who took the same teaching courses.

After graduation, Yana went to elementary, Hakamada to junior high, and I to high school. Different places, different age groups, but we still get together every now and then to drink and exchange info.

I didn’t even know Hakamada had a girlfriend. The marriage announcement was so shocking my brain froze for several seconds.

“I thought you had something serious to talk about, but marriage…?”

Yana looked just as stunned as me.

“Is she a fellow teacher? Don’t tell me you went after a student’s mom.”

“No way! I’m not into affairs or widows. The one obsessed with busty widowed moms is you, Yana!”

Hakamada instantly shot back.

“She’s not a coworker either. She’s the same age as me—an office lady, specifically a systems engineer.”

“Same-age SE? How’d you meet?”

“Wait a sec.”

Hakamada grinned like he’d been waiting for that question and started tapping his phone.

What the heck was he about to show us?

After a bit, he shoved the screen in our faces.

“I signed up for this.”

A white screen with “TWINS” written on it, then instantly switched to a grid of women’s profile thumbnails.

Yana frowned.

“Delivery health site?”

“Hell no! It’s a matching app.”

“Matching app… so basically a dating site, right?”

When Yana asked that, the screen switched to men’s thumbnails.

“Well, it’s different. TWINS isn’t just ‘hookup’ or ‘casual dating’—it’s specifically for serious marriage-minded people. That’s where I met Hiro-chan.”

“Hiro-chan.”

I accidentally repeated the name.

That must be the woman Hakamada is marrying.

“What kind of girl is she?”

Yana asked, and Hakamada’s mouth curled into a smug grin.

“Wanna see?”

“Don’t tease us.”

“Fine, fine. Here—Hiro-chan.”

He showed us right away.

A selfie of a couple cheek-to-cheek in a park.

“Whoa, total couple vibes.”

Yana blurted out instantly, and I felt exactly the same.

Overflowing normie energy.

Explode already.

“And she’s a glasses girl.”

“Definitely gives off SE vibes,” Yana added to me. “And exactly your type—baby face.”

“Yeah, perfect strike zone.”

Hakamada answered, clearly proud.

Cute face, ponytail, glasses girl. A little plain in a good way. Since even the voice actresses Hakamada likes are this type, she really was 100% his type.

“We met half a year ago. Her profile said 148 cm, and she really was tiny and adorable in person. We clicked over games and anime, conversation flowed perfectly.”

Apparently Hiro-chan had hit her limit with constant overtime and felt like she was breaking. She wanted emotional support and registered on the app.

“And she wanted marriage too, so everything moved fast.”

“You wanted to get married…?”

I couldn’t help muttering—I’d never heard that from him. I thought he was a hardcore otaku whose only loves were 2D beauties, 2.5D cosplayers, and voice actresses.

“I’ve always liked kids. In the normal way, obviously.”

“Yeah, the abnormal way too, though.”

Back in college, Hakamada was infamous for loving little-girl characters—called a lolicon, destroyer specialist, watched Sunday morning kids’ hero shows religiously. We used to joke he must never be allowed to teach elementary or junior high.

“And once I became a homeroom teacher, work got crazy busy. I realized if I kept going like this, forget kids—I’d never even get married.”

Teaching junior high leaves almost no time to meet women of marriageable age, especially after the pandemic killed off new social opportunities the last few years.

“Industry mixers and group dates basically disappeared,” Hakamada said.

I never went to those, but I’d heard the same from other teachers.

“And in our generation, almost everyone who’s married met in college or are childhood friends, right?”

“…True,” Yana agreed.

Not just teachers—reality for most people our age. Unmarried rates keep climbing. Same across society.

“That’s why just waiting for ‘fate’ to drop the perfect person felt pointless. Ten, twenty years would pass, I’d get old, marriage would get harder, raising kids even more so. I want two, maybe three kids if possible. The sooner the better.”

He always liked family-themed anime, even the fake-family ones.

CLANNAD is life, and all that.

He’s an only child; parents divorced when he was little. Family is probably something he’s always longed for.

“Anyway, that’s why I tried the matching app. It’s awesome. Look—I found the love of my life.”

“How many people did you actually meet before Hiro-chan?”

“About ten.”

“So you went on dates with all ten?”

“Did you sleep with them?”

“I only got serious with three, and only slept with Hiro-chan, jeez. Just messaged a ton more. According to strategy sites, some people marry the very first person they meet, but I think my number is pretty average…”

“Shūgo, you interested?”

“Eh…?”

I was just asking out of curiosity, but that question put me on the spot.

Interested… I couldn’t say I wasn’t.

“Leaving widow-lover Aoyagi aside—do you have anyone you’re into? Never heard you mention anyone.”

Someone I’m into.

Well—

“Not… really, at the moment…”

The last time I had anything resembling proper romance was ninth grade.

Since then, basically nothing.

“Then let me teach you everything. You should totally try it. It’s basically modern omiai.”

Hakamada chugged his sake and continued.

“TWINS has 20 million users. I started because I saw news that about 20% of new marriages now start on matching apps. Meaning the way people fall in love changes with the times. From arranged marriages to ‘love supremacy’ is less than a hundred years old.”

“As expected from a history teacher!”

Yana teased, but Hakamada had a point.

Even in the modern and classical Japanese literature I teach, the shape of love and the path to marriage differ by era.

In the end, love has no single essence. No rules. It takes all kinds of forms depending on the time and the people.

I vaguely remember the English writer Shelley saying something like that (the one who wrote Frankenstein).

“But isn’t it expensive if it’s always top of the sales rankings?”

“Normal use is about 4,000 yen a month. You can afford that, right? Basically one 10-pull gacha plus a little extra.”

“4,000 yen… yeah, that’s nothing now.”

Back in college that was real money, but now it’s one drinking night.

“Right now there’s a New Year campaign—no registration fee, and a three-month trial costs only one month’s fee. In other words, if you’re gonna do it, now’s the time!”

“…You sound like a shady cram school ad.”

“I’m a junior high teacher. Totally legit. Some otaku-targeted apps on SNS look super sketchy, but TWINS is the real deal—I’m getting married because of it. Consider it sharing the happiness. Gahahaha!”

He threw his head back and laughed—the triumphant laugh of a winner in the marriage market.

“Come on, download it already. You’re interested, right?”

Well… yeah.

He was right—since becoming a teacher, free time is scarce.

Next term I’m becoming a homeroom teacher for the first time; I’ll be even busier.

It’s true I’ve had almost zero chances to meet people lately. Everyone around me who’s married met their partner in college or grew up together.

There is one woman close in age at school—a beautiful teacher one year older—but she’s way out of my league, and the PE teacher who started the same year as me, Katō-sensei, is head-over-heels for her and keeps telling me about his one-sided crush.

No way I’m getting in the middle of that, and anyway I don’t stand a chance.

The only other women around are students’ parents—obviously way too risky.

I’m not obsessed with my partner being a virgin or anything, but a widow with kids feels too heavy for me right now. And home-wrecking is out of the question.

“Real talk—proper romance is only possible while you’re a student. Once you’re an adult, calculations always creep in.”

Because you’re conscious of marriage, you hesitate when you’re not sure how the other person feels.

You’re not even sure if it’s okay to fall for them.

But matching apps are different.

“That’s why TWINS is the best. Both sides are clearly looking for romance, both sides have signaled interest, and basic info is already out there. Everything moves fast after that.”

He had a point.

I’m getting up there in age, and yeah, I’d like to finally lose my virginity.

Some of the manga and light novels I used to read now have sequels starring the protagonist’s kids.

Even I’m starting to feel the pressure.

And honestly? Getting lapped by hardcore otaku Hakamada, who I thought was behind me in the race, lit a fire under me.

“By the way, according to Hiro-chan, civil servants are still super popular. Women aiming for marriage want stability in this uncertain world. Even with the declining birthrate, teachers won’t completely disappear—AI might take some jobs, but not all. You’ve got a huge advantage in the marriage market, Shūgo. Hurry up and download—”

“Fine, fine, I got it.”

Fueled by alcohol, I downloaded TWINS.

“Then I guess I’ll try too.”

““For real!?””

Yana’s declaration made Hakamada and me shout in unison.

“I mean, I might match with an older widow, right? Better than a student’s parent.”

Fair point.

No problems there.

“Alright, once download finishes, register. You guys on Facebook?”

“Nope…”

“Me neither.”

“Then email works. Just follow the guide.”

“Now?”

“If you wait till you get home you’ll forget. Do it now.”

“Uh… download done.”

“Then start filling out your profile.”

I followed instructions: name, birthdate, etc.

“It says nickname is fine, right? Not real name? I mean, privacy, and I’m a teacher…”

“Most people use nicknames. If you use your real name some people get doxxed by googling. Nicknames don’t hurt your matches at all.”

If Hakamada says so, fine.

I went with “Shuu.”

I use it in games too. Comes from my real name, but no easy doxxing.

“…Height too, huh.”

“Some apps even ask income and job. Smoking, living alone, etc. Women care about a lot of things. Some hate mama’s-boys or short guys living at home, right?”

Mama’s-boy and human-rights-less hobbit…

(For reference: “kodomo-heya oji-san” = adult living in childhood room; “hobbit” = derogatory term for men under 170 cm living with parents.)

I barely escape hobbit status. And I live alone, no pets, so I select “living alone.”

“There’s also marriage history, and when you want to get married.”

Obviously never married.

For “when do you want to marry?” options were:

• As soon as possible
• Within 2–3 years
• When I meet the right person
• Discuss with partner
• Not sure

I went with “discuss with partner.” It’s not something I can decide alone.

“No smoking…”

“Same,” said Yana.

“Young women rarely smoke these days—definite plus.”

“Shut up already. You really are acting like my master.”

I couldn’t help laughing bitterly at Yana. He really was.

“Anyway, that finishes your side. Next: preferred partner settings. Age range, location, etc.”

Lowest age… starts at 18.

(Should I set 18…? No, maybe 20…?)

I asked just in case.

“Can I change this later?”

“Yeah.”

Then for now… 18 to one year older than me.

“What’d you set as max age, Aoyagi?”

“35.”

Almost ten years older.

Classic widow-lover Aoyagi—wide net.

Location: “Tokyo area.”

We kept wrestling with the options until—

“Alright, just need photos and you’re done.”

“Peace!”

“Not peace!”

Hakamada instantly shot down Yana’s single peace sign.

“Double peace then?”

Now with ahegao face, of course.

“Cut the crap. Profile photos are literally the most important thing. There’s even a book called ‘Looks Are 90%.’ No way we’re using drunk photos.”

“Only there you get serious.”

“Because I’m your master now.”

He grinned proudly at me.

He really liked being called master.

“Don’t worry about doxxing—take proper ones tomorrow. You both have decent faces, so make them look good. Also… you saw it earlier, but take a clear photo of your ID and send it. You both have driver’s licenses, right? That works.”

According to Hakamada, until ID verification clears, most features are locked—to prevent misuse.

Meaning I can’t really start using the app until review passes.

—And that was last night’s drinking party.

Which brings us to now: finishing the rest of the setup at home.

“Photo set… done.”

I already photographed my driver’s license and sent it for ID verification. Both photo and ID are pending review.

(…It’s already this late?)

Almost 11 p.m.

I slept half the day because of yesterday’s hangover (I’d completely forgotten about the app until Hakamada’s afternoon LINE jogged my memory).

I’m not sleepy yet, but tomorrow is Monday—school.

Can’t oversleep, can’t show up with sleepy eyes.

Because tomorrow the new term begins.

The day I stand in front of my very first homeroom class as their official teacher.

“First impressions are everything. Remember that when you actually meet someone IRL.”

Master Hakamada’s first-date advice from last night.

Same goes for first day as homeroom teacher.

(As expected from a winner in the marriage market…)

I was genuinely impressed it felt like life wisdom.

Anyway, that’s enough for today. Time to sleep and prepare for tomorrow.

“No point rushing. The path of marriage-hunting is not built in a day.”

Another golden quote from the predecessor and success story—Master Hakamada.