"Luo Qing..."
Ayaka's face lit up with unconcealed joy upon seeing him enter the room.
However, mindful of her brother standing nearby, she tried her best to compose herself, lowering her head slightly, biting her lip to suppress the grin threatening to spread across her face.
"Brother-in-law, shall we begin?"
Luo Qing winked at Ayaka before turning to Ayato with a playful smile.
"..."
[Frustration Value 1 from Kamisato Ayato]
Don't get angry. Don't get angry.
Ayato silently repeated the mantra to himself, ntally coaching himself to remain calm. This was the person his sister liked—soone closely connected to the Shogun, no less.
After a long pause, Ayato finally spoke. "I'm only the examiner. Ayaka, it's your decision."
At that mont, he fervently hoped his sister would say no.
But alas...
"I'm fine with it!"
Ayaka nodded eagerly, practically telegraphing I do! with her entire deanor.
My dear sister...
Ayato looked to the heavens, feeling as if he were enduring so form of punishnt.
"Very well, let's begin."
Resigned to his fate, Ayato abandoned his resistance. After all, his sister would eventually marry soone soday—he might as well get used to the idea now.
"Thank you, Brother!"
Ayaka was elated, turning to Luo Qing with a bright smile. "Luo Qing, do you know how the sake-sharing ceremony works? Should I explain it to you?"
Her enthusiasm confird one universal truth: if a girl likes you enough, she'll show up with the paperwork already filled out.
"Each cup is drunk in three sips, then exchanged, right?" Luo Qing tilted his head slightly.
Makoto had once ntioned these wedding traditions to him, insisting they practice privately in preparation for future Inazuman ceremonies.
"Yes, exactly!"
Ayaka nodded vigorously, thrilled that Luo Qing had apparently taken the ti to learn Inazuman wedding customs on his own.
"Brother, we're starting now!"
Ayaka turned back to Ayato, her expression glowing with happiness.
"Mm..."
Ayato's heart ached, yet there was nothing he could do.
"Go ahead."
At Ayato's cue, Ayaka's expression shifted to one of composed grace. Although a faint smile still played on her lips, her deanor beca far more dignified.
The two raised their cups, bowing to one another before taking a small sip and exchanging cups.
Starting with the smallest cup, they repeated the process three tis for each size. The first two rounds involved only light sips, while the final round required them to finish the sake entirely.
Ayaka and Luo Qing moved through the ritual with perfect harmony, executing each step flawlessly.
Even Ayato, standing off to the side, couldn't help but wonder:
How is this foreigner so adept at Inazuman wedding ceremonies?
Had he practiced in secret, too?
"The next step is the recital of vows," Ayato said, his tone flat, his expression unreadable.
Having been subjected to a full display of affection from his sister and Luo Qing, Ayato was now struck by an intense urge to dive headfirst into a dramatic romance of his own.
"Luo Qing, it's ti for our vows," Ayaka said, gently leading him to another table at the front of the hall.
On the table lay a bundle of sacred branches from the Grand Narukami Shrine, carefully wrapped in white cloth—sothing Ayato had personally procured from the shrine's head priestess.
"Luo Qing, just repeat after ," Ayaka instructed.
The vows were sothing she had crafted herself, committing them to mory long before this day. She intended to use the sa words in her actual wedding, unchanged.
"Alright," Luo Qing replied softly, nodding.
Ayaka parted her lips and began reciting in a tender voice:
"We willingly join as husband and wife. From this day forward, we shall shoulder the responsibilities and duties of marriage together: honoring our parents, raising our children, respecting and cherishing one another, trusting and supporting each other, understanding and forgiving, sharing joys and sorrows, and loving each other for a lifeti."
Luo Qing repeated her words, his tone steady and deliberate.
Ayaka glanced at him, her hand instinctively tightening around his as warmth flooded her heart.
"No matter the circumstances—whether in prosperity or adversity, wealth or poverty, health or illness, youth or old age—we will face life's trials together, sharing in both joy and hardship. We vow to uphold these promises we make today."
Luo Qing echoed her vow without hesitation, his delivery so smooth that it seed as if he had practiced it countless tis before.
"The final step: the tamagushi ritual," Ayato announced, his tone betraying no emotion.
"Luo Qing, this is the last part," Ayaka whispered, squeezing his hand. "We just need to turn the sacred branch toward ourselves."
"Alright," Luo Qing replied. Together, they rotated the branch until its tip pointed toward them.
"We're done!" Ayaka exclaid, her face lighting up with excitent. She turned to her brother eagerly.
"Brother, how did I do? Can I graduate now?"
"..."
[Frustration Value 1 from Kamisato Ayato]
Ayato had initially hoped Luo Qing's arrival would reveal so flaw in him.
But to his dismay, Luo Qing perford so flawlessly that the entire ritual felt like an actual wedding rather than a re rehearsal.
Despite his reluctance, Ayato had to admit the truth. "You passed."
As he spoke, a wave of relief washed over him—but it left an odd emptiness in its wake.
Ah...
My little sister's getting married...
Looks to the heavens.jpg
"Thank you, Brother!"
Overjoyed, Ayaka dashed over to give her brother a hug before quickly returning to Luo Qing's side, clasping his hand tightly.
"Brother, does this an I can officially be with Luo Qing now?" she asked, her voice brimming with anticipation.
"..."
Ayato was speechless.
You two just went through an entire wedding ceremony, and you're still asking if you can be together?
"...Yes."
"Thank you, Brother!"
Ayaka gave a deep bow of gratitude, and Luo Qing followed suit, exclaiming loudly, "Thank you for your blessing, Brother-in-law!"
"..."
[Frustration Value 1 from Kamisato Ayato]
"That's enough. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll leave you two alone," Ayato said, turning to leave. The longer he stayed, the more his heart ached.
He walked away, head tilted at a 45-degree angle, hoping the tears wouldn't fall.
"By the way, Luo Qing, why did you co to see today?"
As soon as her brother was out of sight, Ayaka dropped all pretense, throwing herself into Luo Qing's arms and resting her head against his chest.
"Tomorrow is the Lantern Rite," Luo Qing explained, stroking her hair gently. "Tonight, our family needs to have dinner together."
"Our family?" Ayaka blinked, confused. "Does that include Brother?"
"No," Luo Qing replied with a chuckle, pinching her cheek affectionately. "Because this is our family."
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