Forever After the Rain

 
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**The Wedding Day**
Airi woke to gentle rain tapping against the window.
For a moment, panic seized her—rain on her wedding day, would they have to cancel, move it indoors, ruin everything they'd planned?
Then Ren's arms tightened around her, and she remembered: they were getting married on a rooftop. Their rooftop. Rain or shine, that's where they'd promised to do this.
Rain or shine.
She smiled and settled back against him. "It's raining."
"I know." His voice was sleepy, content. "Perfect."
"Perfect?"
"Rain is how we started. Seems right that it's here for our wedding too."
"You're not disappointed?"
"Disappointed? Airi, rain is *ours*. It stopped being lonely the day I met you. This is a sign." He kissed her shoulder. "The universe approving."
"We're supposed to be separated today. Bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony."
"We spent four years separated. I think we've paid our dues to superstition." But he sat up, checking his phone. "It's 7 AM. We should probably start getting ready. Big day and all."
"Big day," she echoed, feeling butterflies erupt in her stomach. "We're getting married today."
"We're getting married today," he repeated, grinning like a kid. "About damn time."
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## 👰 Getting Ready
By 9 AM, they'd separated—Airi to her parents' house where Saki, her mother, and Ren's mother were waiting. Ren to his apartment where Takeshi and a few other friends were gathering.
"The bride!" Saki squealed when Airi arrived, immediately pulling her into a hug. "How are you feeling?"
"Terrified. Excited. Like I might throw up."
"That's normal," Ren's mom said, pulling her into a hug. "I cried through my entire wedding morning. Happy tears, nervous tears, all the tears."
Airi's mother appeared with coffee and a knowing smile. "You look beautiful already. But let's make you even more beautiful."
The next three hours passed in a blur of hair styling, makeup application, and finally—the dress.
It was simple but elegant. White, fitted at the top, flowing at the bottom. No train, no excessive beading. Just clean lines and classic beauty. Exactly Airi's style.
When she looked in the mirror, fully dressed with her hair pinned up and a simple veil, she barely recognized herself.
"You look like a princess," Saki said, tears already streaming.
"You look like yourself," Airi's mother corrected gently. "Just the most beautiful version."
"Ren is going to cry when he sees you," Ren's mom added, dabbing her eyes. "That boy loves you so much."
"I love him too," Airi said, staring at her reflection. "So much."
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## 🤵 Ren's Preparation
Meanwhile, across town, Ren was struggling with his tie.
"Why is this so hard?" he muttered, fumbling with the silk. "I wear ties for work all the time."
"Because your hands are shaking," Takeshi observed, amused. "Nervous?"
"Terrified."
"Of marrying Airi?"
"No. Of screwing up my vows. Or tripping on the way to the rooftop. Or—" He stopped, took a breath. "I just want everything to be perfect for her."
"It will be perfect because you'll be there and she'll be there. That's all that matters."
"When did you become wise?"
"I've been paying attention. You two have been teaching us all what real love looks like for nine years." Takeshi fixed Ren's tie with expert hands. "There. Now you look like a groom."
Ren checked his reflection—dark suit, crisp white shirt, silver tie that matched Airi's dress. In his pocket, their rings. In his heart, vows he'd been writing and rewriting for weeks.
"I'm getting married," he said to his reflection.
"You're getting married," Takeshi confirmed. "To the love of your life. After nine years. It's about time."
"It really is."
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## 🏫 Return to the Rooftop
At 2 PM, guests began arriving at their old high school. Fifty people—family, close friends, mentors who'd shaped them. Professor Nakamura, Ms. Ito, even Tanaka who'd become a genuine friend over the years.
The school principal had not only given permission but had helped set up—white chairs arranged in a semicircle on the rooftop, a simple arch decorated with cherry blossoms, the city skyline as their backdrop.
And the rain had stopped. Not completely—there was still a light mist in the air, the kind that was barely more than moisture, not enough to soak but enough to feel. Enough to be present.
Perfect.
Ren stood under the arch with the officiant—a friend from university who'd gotten ordained specifically for this. His hands trembled as he adjusted his tie one more time.
"Ready?" Takeshi asked, standing as his best man.
"More than ready. Been ready for nine years."
Music started—a simple piano melody. The guests stood.
And then she appeared.
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## 💕 The Ceremony
Airi walked onto the rooftop on her father's arm, and Ren forgot how to breathe.
She was ethereal in the misty light—white dress flowing, veil catching the breeze, smile bright and beautiful and meant only for him. Every step toward him felt like a lifetime and no time at all.
When she reached him, her father placed her hand in Ren's.
"Take care of her," he said quietly. "You've earned her."
"I'll spend every day proving I deserve her," Ren replied.
Then it was just them—standing under the arch on their rooftop where everything had begun, hands clasped, eyes locked, surrounded by everyone they loved but only seeing each other.
"We're gathered here," the officiant began, "on this very special rooftop where Ren and Airi's story began nine years ago..."
Ren barely heard the opening words. He was too focused on Airi—the way her hands trembled in his, the tears already gathering in her eyes, the smile that hadn't left her face since she'd appeared.
"Ren and Airi have chosen to write their own vows," the officiant said. "Ren, would you like to begin?"
Ren took a shaky breath, pulling his written vows from his pocket. But when he looked at Airi, really looked at her, the paper didn't matter. The words he'd agonized over seemed insufficient.
He set the paper aside and spoke from his heart.
"Airi. Nine years ago, I sat behind you in class and thought you were the most interesting person I'd ever seen. Not because you were perfect—though you were—but because I could see the real you hiding behind the perfection. And I wanted to know her. I wanted to see her.
"You told me once that I made you feel alive. But you did the same for me. You taught me that caring wasn't weakness. That feeling deeply was beautiful. That love was worth fighting for, even when the fight was hard.
"We spent four years apart. Four years of distance and doubt and moments when we both wondered if we'd make it. But we did. Because we chose each other. Every single day, even the hard days, we chose us.
"Today, standing on this rooftop where everything started, I choose you again. Not for four years or four decades, but for forever. I promise to see you always—not just the parts you show the world, but all of you. I promise to choose you every morning and choose you again every night. I promise to be your partner, your home, your safe place to land.
"I promise to grow with you, not just beside you. To celebrate your victories and hold you through your struggles. To be the kind of husband you deserve—patient and present and endlessly proud of you.
"You're my best friend, my love, my home. And I can't wait to spend the rest of my life proving that choosing you was the best decision I ever made."
His voice broke on the last words. Airi was openly crying now, her hands gripping his tightly.
"Airi?" the officiant prompted gently. "Your vows?"
Airi wiped her eyes, took a breath, and smiled through her tears.
"Ren. When we met, I was afraid of everything—afraid to feel, afraid to want, afraid to be seen. I'd built walls so high I'd forgotten what it was like to be human.
"Then you crashed into my life like thunder and refused to let me hide. You looked at me like I was worth seeing. Like I was interesting and complex and worthy of love. And slowly, you taught me how to feel again.
"You taught me that rain wasn't lonely if you had someone to share it with. That being perfect was lonely but being real was beautiful. That love wasn't a weakness—it was the bravest thing I could do.
"We survived four years of distance. Four years of train rides and video calls and letters that kept us connected across the miles. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But it was also the most worthwhile. Because it taught us what most couples never learn—that love is a choice. A daily, sometimes hourly choice to choose each other.
"Today, I choose you with my whole heart. I promise to be brave with you. To build dreams with you. To see you always, even when you forget to see yourself. I promise to be your partner in everything—your victories and your struggles, your calm days and your chaotic ones.
"I promise to love you through every season of our lives. When we're young and ambitious like now. When we're old and gray and sitting on this same rooftop remembering where it all began.
"You're my person, Ren. My home. My forever. And I can't wait to spend the rest of my life choosing you."
By the end, both were crying. The officiant was crying. Half the guests were crying.
"The rings?" the officiant managed through tears.
Takeshi handed over the rings—simple silver bands, matching and perfect.
"Ren, do you take Airi to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?"
"I do." He slid the ring onto her finger, right next to her engagement ring. "Forever."
"Airi, do you take Ren to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?"
"I do." She slid the ring onto his finger, her hands shaking. "Forever."
"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The officiant beamed. "You may kiss your bride."
Ren cupped Airi's face gently, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "Hi, wife."
"Hi, husband."
Then he kissed her—soft and sweet and full of nine years of love and choosing and fighting for each other. The guests erupted in applause and cheers, but Airi barely heard them.
She was too busy kissing her husband.
Her husband.
After nine years, Ren Kurosawa was officially, legally, forever hers.
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## 🎉 The Reception
The reception was held at a small venue near the school—intimate and warm, decorated with cherry blossoms and photos from their journey together.
Their first dance was to the same song that had played at their high school festival, when they'd danced together for the first time. Now they moved with the ease of partners who knew each other's rhythms perfectly.
"We did it," Ren whispered as they swayed. "We're actually married."
"We're actually married," Airi echoed. "Feels surreal."
"Feels right." He pulled her closer. "Everything about us feels right."
The evening passed in a blur of joy—toasts from family and friends, stories about their relationship, laughter and tears and overwhelming love.
Saki's toast: "I've known Airi since university. I watched her transform from someone afraid to feel to someone who feels everything deeply. That's because of Ren. They bring out the best in each other, and it's a privilege to witness."
Takeshi's toast: "I've known Ren since high school. He used to be angry and lost. Then he met Airi and suddenly he had purpose. She gave him a reason to be better. They're proof that love can change you for good."
Airi's father's toast: "I set a test. Four years. I wanted to see if their love could survive distance and time. They didn't just survive—they thrived. Both built successful careers while maintaining their relationship. They proved me wrong about young love, and I've never been happier to be wrong."
Ren's mother's toast: "Ren's father left when he was six. He grew up thinking love meant leaving. Then he met Airi and learned that real love means staying, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. Thank you, Airi, for teaching my son what forever really means."
By the end of the night, both were exhausted and happy and ready to start their honeymoon—a week at the lake where they'd had their first date, where everything had truly begun.
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## 🌙 The End of the Night
As guests departed, Airi and Ren stood on the venue's balcony, watching the city lights.
"Best day of my life," Ren said.
"Mine too."
"Better than I imagined."
"Better than fantasy."
They were quiet for a moment, just breathing together, processing everything.
"Remember senior year of high school?" Ren asked. "When we decided to pursue different universities?"
"I remember being terrified."
"Me too. But look at us now. We survived the distance. Built amazing careers. And we're married." He turned to face her. "We did it, Airi. Everything we said we'd do. We actually did it."
"We did." She touched his wedding ring, still amazed it was there. "And now?"
"Now we keep building. Our careers, our home, eventually our family. But together. Finally, completely together."
"No more distance."
"No more distance. Never again."
"Never again," she agreed.
A light rain began to fall—gentle and peaceful, blessing rather than burden.
"Rain at our wedding," Ren observed. "Fitting."
"Perfect." Airi held out her hand, catching droplets. "Rain isn't lonely anymore."
"No. It's just rain. Beautiful, ordinary rain."
"Because we're together."
"Always together." He pulled her close, both of them getting damp from the rain, neither caring. "Mrs. Kurosawa."
"Dr. Sato-Kurosawa," she corrected with a smile.
"My brilliant, beautiful wife."
"My kind, passionate husband."
They kissed in the rain, sealing nine years of promises, beginning forever.
And somewhere above them, the clouds were starting to break, revealing stars.
When the rain cleared, they'd still be here.
Together.
Always together.
Exactly as they'd promised.
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## 📔 Journal Entry
*Dear Past Me,*
*I'm married.*
*To Ren Kurosawa. The boy who sat behind me in class. The man who survived four years of distance with me. My partner, my home, my forever.*
*We got married on our rooftop where everything began. Where I first admitted I was falling for him. Where we made promises we kept.*
*It rained during our wedding. Not the lonely rain from high school, but beautiful rain. Rain that blessed us. Rain that reminded us of how far we've come.*
*From "rain is lonely" to "rain is just weather."**From "I'm afraid to feel" to "I feel everything."**From "we might not make it" to "we made it."*
*Nine years. Four years of distance. Five years of building a life together. And now—forever.*
*I wish seventeen-year-old me could see this. Could see that the boy who wouldn't leave her alone becomes the husband who'll never leave her side.*
*We did it, Past Me. We survived everything. Distance, doubt, fear. And we came out stronger.*
*This is our happy beginning. Not ending—beginning.*
*The beginning of forever.*
*Love,**Airi Sato-Kurosawa (wife, partner, home)*
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