Love Comes After Simulation

[She asked you, “Does the red-checkered yukata in my left hand look better, or the blue morning glory yukata in my right hand?”]

[You could tell she preferred the one in her left hand, but you said you liked the other.]n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

[It was a lie. The moment you saw the red-checkered yukata, you were reminded of the candied apple from two years ago, of the softness and sweet fragrance as she leaned against your back, of her shy gasp when you bit her hand playfully.]

[What you truly liked was the red-checkered yukata in her left hand, a garment that brought forth a flood of cherished memories. But with those memories came a shadow, a hidden unease stirred by their reawakening. The memory of the candied apple was like a wooden box tucked away in a corner; when you picked it up to admire it, the shadows that had been concealed behind it emerged into view.]

[Two years ago, it was right after your wife fulfilled her wish to attend the festival, and just before she saw snow and lakes, that her condition worsened.]

[The unchanging town, the unchanging festival—these things unsettled you. You suddenly understood why the elderly often muttered about things being “inauspicious.” You feared that this scene, so eerily similar to two years ago, was like a sinister spell designed to summon misfortune again, this time upon your wife.]

[And so, you had her wear the blue morning glory yukata instead. This yukata, so different from two years ago, was your way of resisting misfortune, your prayer and hope for her well-being.]

[When you arrived at the foot of the shrine’s mountain, the stone steps were already crowded with locals and tourists. You were late.]

[Hand in hand with Reina, you ascended the steps. Bright, lively, and brimming with energy, the path was filled with laughter and calls from vendors. Yet, surrounding this vibrant ascent was the vast, enveloping darkness of the mountain forest.]

[You tightened your grip on Reina’s hand as the two of you stopped at various food and game stalls. Two years ago, she had been on your back, and you carried her forward. Today, she was in front of you, pulling you along.]

Disjointed fragments of memories flitted through Yuuki Minami’s mind.

Reina Nakajima feeding him a candied apple, putting a white fox mask on him, and challenging him to catch goldfish…

In each of these moments, the girl was radiant, smiling brightly, brimming with vitality. With a healthy body, she fully enjoyed this festival.

[As they neared the mountaintop, Reina finally slowed down. Upon reaching the final step, she turned to look at the illuminated stone path winding through the forest below.]

[Climbing Mount Azuki had taken several rests before, but today she made it to the top in one go, like a healthy person. She turned back to look at you, holding your arm tightly as if she had captured happiness.]

[Before you could find the perfect spot to watch the fireworks, the distant sky already began to glow with vibrant colors.]

[The two of you stood still, staring at the dazzling sky.]

A brief memory scene appeared.

The festival stalls’ lights ended at the stone path leading to the shrine’s torii gate. Beyond the torii gate, only its massive silhouette was visible in the fading glow. Behind it lay the domain of the gods, hidden in the night.

The trail of fireworks rose from behind the surrounding trees, unfurling into beautiful wings in the sky.

Yuuki Minami, gazing at the fleeting fireworks, was suddenly reminded of something and drifted into thought.

Reina Nakajima, watching the fireworks and her husband, noticed his gaze fixed solely on the sky. Feeling a hint of jealousy, she tugged gently at his arm. When he turned to look at her, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips.

“I love you,” she whispered against his cheek after their lips parted.

“We’re an old married couple. Why say something so cheesy?” Yuuki teased her, watching her face flush with embarrassment and irritation.

Reina had spoken those words impulsively. Standing at the mountaintop, under the moonlit sky, with fireworks above, she looked at Yuuki and thought back to her life before she met him—days spent sitting by the window, staring blankly at the garden, weighed down by sorrow and loneliness. Comparing that with the joy and contentment she now felt, she realized how much Yuuki had given her.

She wanted to thank him, but “thank you” felt too distant between husband and wife, so instead, she chose to confess her love.

After Yuuki Minami teased her heartfelt confession, Reina felt both embarrassed and annoyed. She grabbed his hand and bit down on the back of it.

“Getting revenge for two years ago?” Yuuki laughed, gently touching her face.

She also laughed, her happiness washing away her annoyance. Letting go of his hand, she looked up at him.

“I love you too,” Yuuki murmured, lowering his head to capture her lips, playfully chasing that adorable pink nudibranch of hers.

The fireworks were as beautiful as they had been two years ago, but neither Yuuki nor Reina had their minds on the display. Beneath the dazzling lights, they gazed into each other’s eyes—that, to them, was the most magnificent firework of all. Ɽ

On the way back down the mountain, Reina lay on Yuuki’s back.

Initially, she had wanted to carry him as payback for two years ago, but after just a couple of steps, she ran out of strength and was promptly scooped up onto his back instead.

“It feels like you’re always the one taking care of me,” Reina said, resting her chin on his shoulder, her tone tinged with frustration.

“You can drop the word feels,” Yuuki replied, carefully watching his step on the darkened path. The stalls on either side were already packing up for the night.

Reina sighed. Always being the one taken care of left her feeling a bit defeated. She wanted to care for the man she loved, too.

“How can I repay you?” she asked.

“Come back as a cow or a horse in the next life?” Yuuki teased.

Reina’s cheeks puffed out in indignation. “I don’t want to be a cow or a horse! I want to be your wife again in the next life!”

“Talk about repaying kindness with enmity.”

“That’s so mean! I’m going to bite you again!”

“Didn’t you already bite me just now?”

“I’ll bite more places!”

“Alright, alright, you can bite all you want back at the inn.”

Reina didn’t catch the implication in Yuuki’s words, assuming he was just brushing her off. Despite being newlyweds, she was still quite pure in many ways.

As they crossed the last few steps onto level ground, Yuuki set her down. Reina lowered her head, silent, her vacant gaze fixed on the ground. She seemed dispirited.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Still preoccupied with her earlier thoughts, Reina replied, “I’ve already been discharged from the hospital, so why is it still you taking care of me? I want to take care of you too.”

“Aren’t you already taking care of me every day?” Yuuki said, taking her right hand, the one she used most often.

“Not that kind of care!” she said, blushing as she hid her hand behind her back.

“I think it’s more than enough,” Yuuki reassured her. “If Her Highness Reina still wants to care for someone, how about taking care of our child?”

“Alright! Let’s start trying for one when we get back!”

“No, I mean we could contact an orphanage.”

“Can’t we have one ourselves? The doctor said we could give it a try.”

“Your body might change, your skin might lose its firmness, and you’d have to go through surgery.”

“… Then let’s not.”

“Alright.”

They walked a few quiet steps before Reina suddenly thought of something.

“Can we wait until next year to adopt?” she asked.

“Why?”

“I want to go to Yoshida Town with just you. I’ve been waiting two years for this, and if we adopt a child now, they’d get to enjoy the trip I waited so long for right away. It wouldn’t be fair!”

“You’re such a stingy little thing.”

“Ah! You called me a stingy ghost again!”

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