Wedding! And Tomorrow

From Elize's Perspective

Under a blue sky with white clouds, doves fly about. Today is my wedding day with Akira. I am dressed in a wedding gown. It has been two years since Akira and Eric saved me from a life-threatening situation, and I gave birth to our daughter, Forte, who is now one year and eight months old.

My father, now in this body, takes my hand and leads me to Akira. Even though the soul within him is different, giving away his daughter in marriage seemed to have taken its toll, as he spent last night in tears.

Akira, in a tuxedo, greets me. I almost laugh at how it doesn't suit him, yet it reminds me of the phrase "clothes make the man." At the church, family and friends are gathered, including Akira’s sister, Ryoko Suzuki. I catch her eye.

"With the ability to easily travel between this world and the other now, it’s unnecessary to keep in touch with Akira via the ‘Vocal Academy Diary’," I say, referring to the important notebook she handed over to me yesterday.

"Reading the recent entries, it seems he's thriving on his elite path and getting quite popular. Make sure you keep him in check, though he seems devoted to you for now, beware of infidelity."

Yes, Akira and I finally discovered the magic of interworld transfer. On the day of the cultural festival a year ago, I improvised a new magic using scales. With the same concept, I experimented with existing material transfer magic on a similar scale to connect Japan and Miravenia, struggling over three years.

Just a month ago, we finally discovered the magic. Once we got in touch with Akira's parents in Japan, they suggested having an official wedding ceremony, combining it with meeting new relatives.

The ceremony went smoothly, and it was time for the bride and groom to kiss. Despite kissing Akira every day, doing so in front of an audience was embarrassingly different.

As I closed my eyes and tilted my chin up, his lips gently brushed mine. That rascal, Akira. Just last night, he was all over me, trying to conceive our second child, and was even more affectionate afterwards!

Oh, how I love this mischievous man, Akira.

When did I fall so deeply for him? I knew he was a good guy the day we first switched places, when he stood up to Chopin. On the day we used choral magic during the field trip, I had already seen his hidden talent. But it must have been during the cultural festival, under a romantic starry sky, as we practiced for High Tone Dream, that sealed it.

After he officially confessed during our dungeon exploration and later, when we visited his family in Kofu, many things happened. From rescuing the secretary from an old castle beneath the lake to rushing into the newspaper office and becoming witnesses in history, we have grown stronger through numerous adventures.

Once a man, now playing the roles of a wife and mother are merely role-playing for me. But it is in these roles, before Akira and Forte, that I find true happiness.

Because of you, Akira, I chose to live as a woman. Without you, I might have returned to being a man.

As the ceremony concludes, we move to the reception, greeted by familiar faces from the academy.

"I'm going to be a treasure hunter after graduation!"

"Still a kid at heart! I guess I'll have to follow you around since you're too silly to be left alone," Sonata retorts as she and Allegro banter back and forth.

"I’m joining the Ministry of Magic. I’ll rise up the ranks and prevent people like Congressman Amadeus from emerging again," says Chopin, picking a path true to his character.

As for me, proud of who I used to be, Clara has been assigned to the military band. I'm aiming to become a researcher in magic, and Akira, a protector of summoned beasts.

As spring arrives, we are all ready to leave the academy with our dreams.

Then, a week later, a graduation event combined with a dungeon exploration is announced.

"Odds are 1.7 for the Akira & Elize pair—overwhelming favorites. Next are Eric & Clara at 3.5, and Chopin & Boule at 8.5," reads Allegro from the newspaper.

"What about us?" Sonata interjects.

"Shut it! You barely made it to dragon class at 107 times the odds!"

Laughter breaks out.

"Alright, everyone, it's time to start. Gather at the entrance!"

As everyone crowds at the start line, the event is both a serious competition and a festival.

"On your marks! Get set! Go!"

And so, the next chapter of our lives begins.