Once the main event was finished, there was still much celebrating to be done. All the guests and attendees were excited to celebrate the birth of a new marriage, so they came ready to party and mingle.

"There's a lot of people that we had to greet, huh?"

"Of course, it's our wedding that has been long awaited by the masses!"

"Okay, we're not idols, but I understand."

Takei and Akari were discussing the busy events of today while the after party was going on. They had changed to more casual clothes after the marriage ceremony and were now indulging in the festival-like atmosphere.

Since everyone was now of age, many people were drinking alcohol and having a grand jolly old time. Takei had rented out a different venue than the church to have the afterparty. It was a small indoor area that was convenient to use as a banquet hall for a buffet-style dinner.

"So Ms. Tanaka, how do you feel about getting married?" Takei grinned.

Akari bewitchingly smiled and pulled Takei's tie down. "Ara, I feel quite happy to have my husband's last name now. How about you, dear?"

"I'm very happy as well. The thought that I share the same last name as my loved one makes my heart feel at peace. Thanks for asking, honey."

"T-That's just unfair!" Akari blushed due to Takei referring to her in such a cute way. "Calling me by that nickname is too much for my heart..."

"Eh? You called me by a nickname first?"

"It's okay because it's me!"

The two were casually conversing as normal even though they had gotten married earlier. It was most likely because they had been acting like a married couple long before their actual marriage.

"Oh, look over there. Looks like Eiji drank too much... I'll send my thoughts and prayers to Helena," Takei laughed.

"Ryuto isn't doing too much better over there," Akari giggled. "He's completely wasted already and it's barely past dinner time."

After the initial introduction and toasts, Takei and Akari retreated to their own corner of the room because they wanted to spend some time alone together. Of course, everyone else respected the newlyweds and steered clear of them.

The afterparty was mostly just an excuse to have fun and cut loose. Although it was painted as an afterparty to celebrate the marriage of Takei and Akari, it was closer to a large mixer event where many different people from all walks of life would meet up and have a laugh over drinks.

Since everyone was having such a good time, Takei didn't want to interrupt the festivities, so he chose to sit down quietly next to Akari. The groom of the wedding could cut loose and have fun right now, but he didn't want to leave Akari alone.

The other girls were too busy taking care of their boyfriends and husbands, so Akari would most likely have to be alone if Takei went to party.

"What did you think of today?" Takei asked. "How was it compared to the wedding of your dreams?"

"It was even better than I had hoped," Akari cheerfully smiled. "I think the me in high school would've been very proud to see this happen."

They had been talking about this day since the both of them were in high school, so it was no wonder that they were reflecting on such a surreal experience. This has been a day that had been meticulously planned for many years.

"If I went back in time and told the me of the past that I was going to marry the goddess in the future, I'm sure he would look at me as if I was making a cruel joke," Takei said.

"Oh you... I haven't heard that nickname since high school."

Akari's nickname has long since disappeared since their high school days. It turns out that many people in college don't really care for others, so no rumors or gossip was passed around about Akari. Everyone was too busy trying to survive the slaughter that was college, no one had time to worry about other people.

"How could the goddess fade into such obscurity?" Takei sighed. "She was truly the only thing that I looked forward to in high school."

"Hey... I'm right here?" Akari pouted.

Takei laughed and put his arm around Akari's shoulder. "I know you are. You're always right here next to me."

He hadn't told this to anyone besides Akari, but he used to wake up from his sleep in cold sweat and tears. The lingering scars of his past had affected him for a long time, but it slowly started to fade due to the interference of a certain person.

The one person who brought a smile to his face everyday was always by Takei's side and nowhere else, which was something he really appreciated and loved about her.

Some people had asked Takei beforehand; What made you fall in love with Akari?

His answer?

"Her patience and compassion is what made me fall in love with her. Although there are a lot of reasons why I love Akari, those are the two that stand out."

Takei knew that Akari had been a lonely child just like him, and he also knew how she had endured all those years of loneliness where her parents left her alone to fend for herself. He knew the deep scars of loneliness that Akari had in her heart. He knew how much pain she was enduring everyday.

She was quite possibly the most patient person on the entire planet.

Even though she was going through such a situation, Akari managed to keep a smile on her face for her parents and the students at school. She didn't want anyone to worry about her, so she played the nice honors student who was the spitting image of the ideal student everyone wanted.

The loneliest girl who had the biggest heart.

That is the essence of the being known as Akari Tanaka.

"Thank you for being patient with me for so long. Thank you for being so kind to the me who was aloof and unfriendly. Thank you for falling in love with me. I love you so so much," Takei earnestly whispered into Akari's ear.

Takei loved the Akari who was patient with him while he was being dense about their relationship. Takei loved the Akari who was kind to him when he was a depressed unsociable loser. Takei loved the Akari who would always support him no matter what.

No matter what events would happen in the future, Takei knew that his love for Akari was absolute.

"E-Eh? Why are you being so sentimental all of a sudden?" Akari stammered as she blushed furiously due to Takei's confession of love.

"I just felt like it," Takei shrugged as he snickered. "Hey, I just thought of something really good."

"Hm?" Akari tried her best to recover from the sneak attack by Takei. "What is it?"

"I know what to name our daughter."

Takei resolutely stared into Akari's eyes to make her understand that he was being serious.

"Our daughter? How do you know the gender of our unborn baby?" Akari looked at Takei with an expression of exasperation.

Takei just shrugged and grinned. "Don't worry about it. I know just the perfect name for her."

"Okay, I'll play along. What did you want to name our daughter?" Akari responded.

Takei remembered a certain dream from long ago where he awoke in the future and was married to Akari. He also had a daughter with a very pretty name, so he decided to use that dream as a reference.

"Marie. Let's name our daughter, Marie."

—

Wedding arc (4/4)

2 chapters left to go until the end!

Serious-san: Let's name our kid, K*rito!

Sugar-chan: He'll be known around the world as the black swordsman!