Led by a priest in a light pink ceremonial robe and a shrine maiden, the bride in a white "shiromuku" kimono, the groom in a black hakama with a haori jacket, and both families walked together into the main shrine courtyard.
The white "shiromuku" symbolizes purity and signifies that the bride can adapt to any family after marriage, symbolizing a new beginning.
The groom's haori jacket, traditionally called "mon-tsuki haori hakama," is usually adorned with five family crests, but since this baseball star likely doesn't have one, he wore a plain black haori.
"Wait, regular people can have their wedding at iji Shrine too?" Shouko asked, eyes wide with admiration as she watched the bride walk alongside her husband under the red umbrella, her voice full of longing.
"Shouko, you'd look even more beautiful than her in a white kimono" Kyousuke said, taking Shouko's hand gently.
He knew that whenever Shouko saw sothing so beautiful, it made her feel fragile, because it was sothing she once longed for but couldn't reach.
Feeling the warmth from his hand, Shouko turned away from the wedding scene, her doubts quietly dissipating.
Yuzuru, on the other hand, was busy snapping pictures, excited to witness a traditional shrine wedding for the first ti.
As the priest perford a purification ritual for the newlyweds, Shouko leaned forward, almost as if she wanted to join in the ceremony.
When the priest began his wedding blessings, Shouko listened intently, her expression serious, as though she had beco the bride herself.
As the priest prayed to the gods for their blessings, Shouko smiled shyly, feeling both anticipation and happiness.
But when she heard the priest's report to the gods, she no longer felt envious of the bride.
Because she knew her own god had already appeared and was always by her side.
With this thought, Shouko turned her gaze from the ceremony and looked at Kyousuke.
As long as Kyousuke was with her, she was the strongest.
After the ceremony, the three of them left Yoyogi Park.
Since Yuzuru was tired and Kyousuke had to carry her on his back, they decided to skip shopping and sightseeing.
Instead, they went to a place Shouko had already picked out—Harajuku's Ma Shiba Café.
Walking out of Yoyogi Park, they were imdiately on Takeshita Street, one of the most popular spots for girls.
The street was filled with cute items, fashion stores, crepes, photo booths, and 100 yen shops, creating a completely "kawaii" atmosphere.
Although Yuzuru's legs were sore, she still tried to squirm off Kyousuke's back to join in the fun.
But Shouko stopped her, reminding her to rest before playing more.
Midway down Takeshita Street, they reached a pink building.
The tickets were arranged by Kyousuke's subordinates who worked as scalpers, so they didn't have to wait in line.
As a thank-you, he planned to give them extra training next week.
They received their tickets from the subordinates at the entrance: 780 yen for adults and 580 yen for children, offering 30 minutes with a drink included.
Inside the café, they took off their shoes and stowed their bags before entering a room with tatami mats.
A bunch of adorable black, white, and yellow dogs imdiately appeared in front of them.
"So cute!" Shouko exclaid, raising a hand to cover her mouth in excitent.
She eagerly walked in, carefully approaching a pure white dog.
While Yuzuru was also enchanted by the dogs, she imdiately raised her cara to take photos.
Shouko, now sitting on the tatami, adjusted her skirt around her hips and sat cross-legged, smiling contentedly as she gently stroked the white dog's head.
Other dogs gathered around her, causing her to be surrounded by joy.
The Ma Shiba Inu is a miniature version of the Shiba Inu, each wearing a triangular scarf with their na on it.
The café was cozy enough for the dogs to crowd around the guests.
Kyousuke found a corner and leaned against the wall, feeling no fatigue himself but, seeing Shouko so healed and at ease, he was tempted to just take a nap.
But before he could close his eyes, a white and yellow Ma Shiba Inu trotted over and sat directly in front of him, staring up at him.
Kyousuke t its gaze without speaking.
Shouko, noticing from across the room, couldn't help but smile.
When Kyousuke interacted with the dog, their stare-off was amusing.
She grabbed her phone to capture the mont.
After about five minutes, the dog finally relented, lying down and offering its head to Kyousuke.
"Good dog," he praised softly.
Ti passed quickly, and Yuzuru was feeling much better after a rest.
The three of them then headed to the lower level to visit the Owl Forest, which was included in their ticket package.
The owls in this exhibit were the exact opposite of the fierce birds people often imagine—these were all adorable and ta, with soft, fluffy feathers.
It was even more soothing to pet them than the dogs.
Shouko, who had been reluctant to leave the Ma Shiba Café, now lost herself in the experience of petting a brownish-gray Indian eagle owl nad YOUNG.
After another half hour, Kyousuke led the now reluctantly departing Shouko and Yuzuru out of the owl room.
An owl with a smiling face hooted softly at Shouko, almost making her want to buy another ticket.
'Maybe I should open a café like this and have Shouko run it as the owner. '
'As for the owls, I could just send my subordinates to catch so in the mountains—and have them bring the dogs from ho too?'
'No, no. That's too much like sothing out of a fantasy novel.'
Kyousuke chuckled to himself, dragging Shouko and Yuzuru out of the café as he entertained his thoughts of opening a business.
Once outside, they were once again in the crowded Takeshita Street.
It was so packed with people, with street vendors calling out to attract custors, and throngs of people filling the space.
Earlier, Kyousuke had cut through the crowd quickly with Yuzuru on his back, but now, accompanying Shouko and Yuzuru, he felt overwheld by the crowds.
"Let's go," he said, determined, as he led them into the sea of people.
Later, after Kyousuke had dropped Shouko and Yuzuru back at their apartnt and returned ho, it was already 8 PM.
He studied for a while, had a late-night snack, and got ready for bed.
Lying down, he pulled out his phone and went through the pictures he had taken of Shouko and Yuzuru that day, picking out two to send to his mom in Hokkaido.
Even though Shouko would send them too, he had to send them or else his mom would bombard him with ssages.
That silly woman, always saying she'd die if she didn't see Shouko Sakura soon.
He wrote down the plan for sending Yuzuru back ho tomorrow and jotted down Satoshi Katagiri's contact info, preparing for the possibility of needing it when Miyamizu Mitsuha might need him.
And with that, Kyousuke's day ca to a close.
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