A week later, Ren is pacing in front of the mirror, adjusting his shirt for the tenth time.
Kai watches from the doorway, eyes amused. "You look perfect."
Ren shoots him a nervous look. "We're meeting the wedding planner. What if she hates us?"
Kai steps forward and fixes the collar Ren has already fixed. "She won't. We're paying her."
Ren swats him lightly. "That's not the point. She plans weddings. She sees important, put-together couples. And then we show up—me, a nervous secretary who cries at soft music."
Kai cups Ren's cheeks gently. "Ren. She's going to love you. Everyone loves you."
Ren hesitates. "…Everyone does not."
"I do," Kai says softly.
Ren melts instantly. "Okay. Fine. Let's go."
The meeting takes place inside a bright, airy studio filled with fabric swatches, floral samples, and framed photos of past weddings on the walls. Soft instrumental music plays in the background.
Their planner, Hana Tsurugi, greets them with a warm, professional smile. She's in her mid-thirties, hair pinned neatly, tablet tucked under her arm. Her energy radiates calm competence.
"Congratulations to both of you," she says as she shakes their hands. "I've been looking forward to meeting you."
Ren tries not to squeak. "Th-thank you. We've been looking forward to meeting you too."
Kai squeezes Ren's hand under the table. Ren squeezes back.
Hana sits with perfect posture. "So. Tell me your vision."
Kai and Ren exchange a glance before Ren clears his throat timidly. "We want something… emotional. Warm. Nothing too big. Something that feels like a story."
Hana smiles. "Beautiful. Any themes?"
Ren brightens. "Soft colors. Blush, champagne, white, light gold."
Kai adds, "Romantic but not overwhelming. And privacy is important."
Hana nods, typing quickly. "Understood. I believe the venue I recommended will fit your needs perfectly. It's quiet, secluded, and customizable. Would you like to visit it today?"
Ren almost jumps. "Yes. Please."
Kai grins. "We'd love to."
Hana gathers her tablet and keys. "Then let's take a look."
The car ride is peaceful.
Ren holds Kai's hand the whole way, both of their reflections blurry in the window as the city shifts to quieter roads. Trees start appearing more frequently, sunlight filtering through the branches like little drops of gold.
Ren rests his head on Kai's shoulder. "Do you think it'll be pretty?"
Kai kisses his forehead. "It will. Even if it's bare."
Ren hums with a soft smile. "Bare is okay. We get to imagine it."
"Exactly."
Hana glances back at them from the driver's seat with a gentle smile, but doesn't interrupt their moment.
The venue sits beyond a wrought-iron gate on a private property surrounded by tall trees. Hana drives up a narrow path until the building appears—an elegant old greenhouse-like hall made of white-painted wood and glass panels.
It glows faintly in the afternoon sun.
Ren gasps, hand flying to his mouth.
Kai whispers, "It's beautiful."
The hall is empty. No flowers. No linens. No chairs. No decorations. Just sunlight spilling through the windows, casting soft patterns on the wooden floor. Dust motes float lazily in the still air, like tiny sparks.
Ren steps inside first, the floor creaking softly beneath his shoes.
The silence feels sacred.
Like they're standing in a memory that hasn't been created yet.
Hana stands near the entrance, giving them space. "You two can walk around."
Ren drifts forward slowly, fingertips brushing across one of the sunlit walls. The glass is warm under his touch.
"Kai…" he whispers.
Kai walks up behind him, arms slipping naturally around Ren's waist. He rests his chin on Ren's shoulder. "Yeah?"
Ren swallows, eyes glossy. "This feels like… us."
Kai presses a kiss to the side of Ren's neck. "It really does."
Ren steps forward, testing the way the room feels beneath him. "I can imagine it already. The aisle, the flowers… everything."
Kai follows him, watching the way Ren's eyes shimmer. "Show me."
Ren turns, cheeks pink. "You want me to… show you?"
"Yes." Kai smiles softly. "Walk me through it."
Ren bites his lip shyly but nods.
He moves to the far end of the room—where the altar would be.
"This would be where you're standing," Ren says quietly. "Waiting. Probably looking terrifyingly handsome."
Kai smirks. "Probably?"
"Hush," Ren says, flustered.
Ren takes a few steps backward into the sunlight. "And this… would be where I walk in."
Kai's breath catches.
Ren steps forward slowly, shyly imitating the pace he might take on the real day.
Sunlight catches his hair. His eyes stay on Kai the entire time.
Kai feels something tighten sweetly in his chest.
Ren stops just a foot away from him. "And then I reach you."
Kai lifts a hand, brushing Ren's cheek. "You're beautiful."
Ren turns bright red. "Kai—"
"I mean it," Kai says, voice low. "I can see the whole wedding just by looking at you."
Ren's breath stutters.
Hana pretends very politely not to hear anything.
They walk the entire perimeter. Ren points at corners where he imagines flowers. Kai suggests where the string quartet could sit. They debate candlelight vs fairy lights. Ren chooses fairy lights because "candlelight makes me want to cry even more."
Kai laughs. "Fairy lights it is."
At one point, Ren stands in the center. "This is where we'll have our first dance."
Kai steps forward and holds out his hand. "Want to practice?"
Ren squeaks, "W-what? No! There's no music!"
Kai shrugs. "We can dance without music."
Ren hesitates, then slowly puts his hand in Kai's.
Kai pulls him in gently, one hand settling on Ren's waist. The other clasps Ren's hand softly.
They sway.
Just slowly, peacefully, without rhythm or sound. Only the faint creaking of the floorboards and the breeze brushing against the windows.
Ren rests his forehead on Kai's shoulder. "This feels real."
Kai hums. "It is real."
Ren squeezes his hand. "I can't believe we're actually getting married."
Kai whispers into his hair, "I can. I knew from the moment you spilled coffee on your shirt at work."
Ren whips his head up. "EXCUSE ME?"
Kai laughs, lifting their joined hands to kiss Ren's knuckles. "You looked so frustrated. And so adorable. I was a goner."
Ren hides his face in Kai's chest. "Stop. You're making me embarrassed."
Kai holds him tighter. "Good."
After a while, Hana approaches respectfully.
"What do you think?" she asks.
Ren looks around the empty hall—sunlight, wood, glass, potential.
"I love it," he whispers.
Kai nods. "We'll take it."
Hana claps her hands once, pleased. "Wonderful. I'll start arranging the plans. This place will look completely different once we decorate."
Ren smiles softly. "I don't think it needs much."
Hana tilts her head. "Why not?"
Ren looks up at Kai, fingers intertwining with his. "Because it already feels special."
Kai's expression melts.
He cups Ren's cheek. "It does. Because you're here."
Ren leans into the touch, eyes soft. "And because you're here."
Hana, again, pretends not to be witnessing something emotional enough to be the finale of a romance drama.
They leave the venue hand-in-hand, sunlight filtering through the trees as the heavy gates close behind them.
Ren glances back once more, watching the white structure shimmer through the leaves.
"I can't wait to see it decorated," he murmurs.
Kai kisses his temple. "I can't wait to see you walking toward me."
Ren blushes. "Please stop or I'll pass out."
Kai laughs and pulls him closer. "Then I'll catch you."
Ren's heart does a full flip.
And as they walk toward the car, Ren squeezes Kai's hand tightly, overwhelmed by everything—love, future, promises that feel gentle instead of heavy.
They're really doing this.
They're really planning a wedding.
Together.
And the world feels soft, warm, and completely theirs.