Christmas Eve

“Kouki… today is…”

“I want you to leave today to me.”

“…Okay.”

Before I knew it, Christmas Eve had arrived.

It’s a weekday, but the academy’s already on winter break. Manami somehow managed to get through her second-semester exams, and not only that, she achieved her best grades ever. Her English, in particular, showed remarkable improvement, a testament to her hard work.

Thanks to being Manami’s tutor, my own skills have been steadily improving, and my test scores are gradually climbing… but I still can’t beat Aisa. That’s been the situation for a while now.

Well, that aside, the point is, this day really snuck up on me.

“Not too cold?”

“I’m fine, but…”

Aisa said, breathing warmth into her reddened hands.

“Let’s hold hands.”

“Mmn…”

It’s still a bit awkward, but today, I’m a little bolder, taking Aisa’s hand and enveloping it in mine.

Our destination is the hotel where Manami works part-time—a proper place, even though it’s near our local station. Aisa, who hasn’t been told anything, follows along with a nervous expression, unsure of where we’re headed.

“You don’t come around this area much, do you?”

“Where are we going…?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Muu…”

Aisa’s pouting is adorable.

The department store we usually go to is part of the station complex, and the arcade is closer to the station too. We rarely come to the street where the hotel is, so even though it’s our hometown, it feels fresh.

Of course, I’ve driven through here or seen the scenery a few times.

“What’s around here, I wonder…”

Aisa murmurs, and I grin, excited to see her reaction as we head toward our destination.

◇

“Huh? This place is…”

“I thought you might know it since it’s where Manami works.”

“I’ve never been here… Wait, today is…?”

“Well, for now, let’s head inside.”

“Is it okay… dressed like this…?”

“It’s calm and elegant, so I think it suits you perfectly.”

Aisa’s wearing the refined, graceful outfit I picked out for our date, even more subdued than usual. Her coat isn’t flashy either, and it looks great on her.

I’m wearing clothes Aisa chose for me. Manami said they didn’t look out of place, so I think I’m fine.

“Welcome, thank you for coming.”

The receptionist’s polished demeanor makes me feel a bit nervous. Manami’s amazing… working in a place like this…

“Um… reservation for Fujino, for a tour…”

“Fujino-sama, we’ve been expecting you. A staff member will assist you shortly; please take a seat over there.”

The sofa they point to looks so luxurious I hesitate for a moment, but I start walking toward it—

“Oh, Onee-chan, Kouki-nii!”

“Manami.”

“Ehehe, allow me to guide you. This way, please!”

“Whoa…”

Manami greets us but switches to work mode in an instant. Her posture’s always been good, and I knew she could pull it off if she tried, but seeing her stand so professionally, so different from usual, makes me oddly nervous.

Once we’re in the elevator, just the three of us, Manami finally reverts to her usual self and speaks up.

“Ehehe, welcome, you two!”

“Was this your doing, Manami? I haven’t been told anything about today…”

“Hmm, I invited you, but Kouki-nii’s the one who’s been making all the arrangements.”

“Arrangements…?”

“Yup, yup! Today, Onee-chan, you’re going to try on a wedding dress!”

“A wedding dress… A WEDDING DRESS?!”

“We’ve arrived!”

Ignoring Aisa’s confusion, Manami resumes guiding us. We’re led to a space that seems to be for wedding consultations, passing through an area lined with dazzling dresses and accessories before being seated.

“I’ll bring you some drinks. Please choose from these.”

Manami hands us a tablet with about ten drink options, each giving off the vibe of something that’d cost nearly a thousand yen elsewhere.

“Kouki-nii, the limited-time tea is really good!”

That’s a relief. I was getting overwhelmed by all the choices.

“Then I’ll have that.”

“Me too…”

“Understood, please wait a moment.”

As Manami steps away, a woman approaches us.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Touno, and I’ll be assisting you today.”

“Thank you…”

She hands me a business card. Seeing “Wedding Planner” written on it makes my back straighten instinctively.

Aisa, meanwhile, reacts to the name.

“Touno… could it be…?”

“Fufu, my daughter Aiko is always in your care.”

“I knew it! Thank you for… um…”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Manami-chan told me about today, and I’ve been looking forward to dressing Aisa-chan in a wedding dress.”

So she’s Touno’s mother. Aisa seems to relax a little, probably because of the connection.

Manami, who just brought our drinks, winks at us—definitely planned.

“Um, I haven’t been told anything about today…”

“Oh my, then let me explain.”

She sits down at the consultation table, waiting for Manami to serve the drinks before starting.

I didn’t know all the details myself since I left most of it to Manami, so this is helpful.

“So, regarding what you signed up for: today, Aisa-chan will wear a wedding dress, and Fujino-kun will wear a tuxedo for a wedding photo session. And since we have some free time, we thought you could tour the venue in those outfits.”

My face is probably turning red, but Aisa’s is getting redder with every word.

“Kouki!? You didn’t tell me about this!”

“I kept it a secret…”

“Ugh!”

Still, her expression is unmistakably excited, so I don’t think I messed up. Manami, sitting next to Touno-san, is grinning as she watches.

And there’s one more surprise I haven’t told Aisa about.

“Fufu, well then, shall we head to the fitting rooms? Aisa-chan, you’re so cute and have such a great figure—I’ve been looking forward to this.”

Led by Touno-san, we head toward the fitting rooms.

◇

“Oh, we’re splitting up here?”

“Yup, men’s fitting is this way, so Kouki-nii, you go here.”

Manami informs me that Aisa and I will be separated for now.

“Aisa-chan, we’re going to make you stunningly gorgeous.”

“Um…”

Aisa looks at me nervously, and I smile back.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“…Okay.”

“Alright, let’s go! Kouki-nii!”

“Yeah.”

Manami leads me to a separate room.

This works out perfectly—I actually have something to discuss with her.

“Manami, I wanted to talk about something…”

“Hmm? Spill it! Onee-chan’s prep will probably take longer anyway.”

Smiling, Manami encourages me, and I pull something out of my bag to show her.

“This is…”

“Ohh… I see! Onee-chan will love it, and it’s perfect for the kind of plan you’re going for. Yup, yup! I’ll make it happen!”

“You sure it’s okay? With everything…”

“It’s fine! I mean, Kouki-nii, this must’ve cost a pretty penny—are you okay?”

Manami looks concerned.

The wedding photos, this plan—it’s not exactly cheap.

Still, it’s within what I can cover with my part-time job. And I don’t mind spending it all here.

“Honestly, for everything you’re doing, it’s a steal. Thanks, Manami.”

“Haha, Touno-san being here probably helped with that.”

Manami says, efficiently preparing everything.

She’s gotten so comfortable in her job.

“You’re amazing, Manami.”

“Ehehe, keep the compliments coming!”

She playfully demands to be petted, and I oblige. Her work mode and playful expressions shift so quickly—it’s cute, but seeing her in the hotel’s crisp uniform makes it feel a little different, almost surreal.

“Fufu, okay, put this on. I’ll take care of this for now.”

“Got it.”

Manami hands me a tuxedo, and I head to the fitting room.

Men’s clothing isn’t too complicated to change into, which is nice, but…

“I feel like the tux is wearing me.”

I mutter, looking at myself in the mirror.

“Kouki-nii, you done changing?”

Manami calls out, and I open the curtain.

“Whoa… you look cool.”

Her slightly flushed expression makes me feel oddly embarrassed.

“It feels like it’s wearing me, though…”

“No way! You’re just not used to it! These shoes okay?”

She helps me with the handkerchief, cufflinks, and other accessories, getting everything ready before saying with a grin,

“Ehehe, it really feels like you’re getting married, doesn’t it?”

“I’m kinda nervous because it does…”

“Haha, well, it’s just me and Touno-san, so no need to stress, right? The photographer’s a pro, though.”

“That’s a bit reassuring.”

“Ehehe.”

I owe Manami so much for all this.

“Alright, let’s head out. We’ll meet up at the venue, but… Onee-chan might be so beautiful you’ll be stunned.”

“Can’t wait.”

Manami leads me toward the venue.

◇

“Okay, Kouki-nii, wait here for Onee-chan.”

“Right…”

It’s a chapel-style venue. Apparently, I’m supposed to enter first and wait for Aisa.

I’m getting nervous…

Manami grins at me with a mischievous “nishishi,” and suddenly, music starts playing.

Classical music sets a solemn mood as the doors open.

“Oh…”

I can’t help but let out a sound.

Aisa appears, draped in a pure white dress, so radiant with the staging that she looks… divine.

She walks toward me, step by slow step.

In a real wedding, the bride typically enters with her father, who hands her off to the groom at this spot, symbolizing the passing of responsibility.

I try to focus on random thoughts like that to keep my nerves in check, or I might lose it watching Aisa approach, my mind spinning.

Before I know it, Aisa’s standing right in front of me.

I catch my breath. I’m completely captivated, frozen in place, but it seems Aisa’s the same—she meets my eyes and says,

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

That single phrase somehow puts me at ease, and I can finally take a good, long look at Aisa.

The makeup, hair accessories, necklace—everything, every single detail, screams professional selection. They enhance her radiance without overshadowing the essence of Aisa-ness that shines through so distinctly.

“You… you’re just too beautiful…”

“Wha—!? Oh, come on!”

The compliment slips out almost involuntarily, and Aisa’s face flushes a deep red.

Meanwhile, the photographer keeps snapping shots from all sorts of angles.

“So… what happens after this? I haven’t been told anything…”

Right. I haven’t mentioned that to Aisa yet.

It’s not like there’s a priest here in this chapel. She probably thinks all that’s left is some commemorative photos…

“And now! Let’s have the bride and groom exchange rings!”

At Touno-san’s announcement, Aisa looks visibly confused as the lights shift to spotlight Manami.

“Wait, what’s going on?!”

Aisa’s shock deepens as she notices what Manami’s holding, her confusion growing even more.

“Is that… rented too…?”

“No, that’s… well, I prepared it myself.”

“Huh?”

Before Aisa can say anything else, Manami arrives, presenting the rings on a cushion-shaped ring pillow and waiting for Touno-san’s cue.

“The groom will now present the ring to the bride.”

As Aisa hesitates, Manami whispers something to her, gently slipping off her wedding gloves.

“Um… when did you even…?”

“Remember when you were jotting down those couple-y things? You wrote ‘pair rings,’ didn’t you?”

“!? You saw that…!?”

“There were traces of it left after you erased it…”

“—!?”

Aisa’s face turns an almost comical shade of crimson.

“I kept it a secret until now to surprise you…”

“You did surprise me! Seriously… really… ugh…”

Aisa’s eyes glisten with moisture. Manami’s chuckling beside her, so these must be happy tears.

“Will you accept the ring?”

“…Of course.”

Aisa softly extends her left hand.

I take the ring from Manami and slide it onto her ring finger…

“Ugh, I’m crying now…”

“I mean… come on! This is just unfair…!”

“Haha, now it’s your turn, Onee-chan.”

“…Yeah.”

Manami shoots me a knowing glance.

I gently press the handkerchief she’d handed me earlier to Aisa’s face, supposedly to wipe her tears.

“Jeez…”

She glares at me as she says it, but there’s no anger in her expression. If anything, she’s desperately trying to hold back an overflow of the opposite emotion.

Maybe, just maybe, Aisa’s been showing me that kind of expression all along…

“This… it’s the one I was looking at…”

“I’m glad.”

“How did you…?”

“During our date, I made sure we passed by that kind of store, and I followed your gaze.”

“Ugh…”

With a mix of frustration and joy on her complex expression, she slips a ring onto my finger too.

“Alright, that’s the end of the formal stuff! Now you can just relax and let the photographer do their thing.”

Touno-san approaches us.

“Let’s touch up your makeup a bit. Have you stopped crying?”

“…Yes.”

“Hehe, leave it to me then.”

As expected of a pro… or wait, is it normal for one person to handle everything like this? From dressing to makeup, Touno-san finishes the touch-up in no time, and after that, we’re put through a whirlwind of poses, snapping photos left and right.