Betrothal Ceremony (Romance)
After returning from Bandai, Nakayama Takuya entered into a busy period leading up to his engagement.
His work was already on track, and all projects were proceeding smoothly without him having to do anything personally.
But this doesn't mean he can relax.
On the contrary, he even felt that dealing with those old foxes on the board of directors would be easier than dealing with the current situation.
Kyoto, a century-old wufu (traditional Japanese clothing) shop.
Nakayama Takuya stood expressionlessly on a low platform, letting two elegantly dressed master craftsmen in simple kimonos examine him.
He was wearing a brand new crested haori, the black haori bearing the "Bellflower in a Circle" family crest representing the Nakayama family, which gleamed with a calm luster under the light.
"Madam, look, the young master has the perfect figure for clothes; this outfit seems tailor-made for him."
The shop owner was an elderly man with gray hair, who was speaking to Nakayama Miyuki, who was sitting upright to the side, with a big smile on his face.
Nakayama Miyuki nodded in satisfaction, her gaze lingering on her son's tall figure, her eyes filled with undisguised pride and joy.
She took a sip of her tea, her posture elegant, but her tone carried an undeniable authority. "Adjust the shoulder line a bit more; my son's shoulders aren't that narrow."
"Yes, yes, you're right."
The experienced craftsman quickly stepped forward again and carefully straightened the wrinkles in the haori.
Nakayama Takuya remained completely still throughout, like a beautifully crafted doll.
What he was thinking was that if Sakamoto or his business rivals saw him like this, their jaws would probably drop to the floor.
The heir to the prestigious Nakayama Group, the future leader of a gaming empire, is currently being held down here by his mother, fussing over an outfit for an engagement ceremony.
If word gets out, won't he lose face?
"Takuya, don't look so serious. An engagement is a joyous occasion." Nakayama Miyuki gave her son a stern look, her tone tinged with reproach.
"I didn't," Nakayama Takuya replied helplessly.
He simply felt that spending an entire afternoon trying on clothes that would only be worn once was far too inefficient.
"Alright, this one will do." She made the final decision. "Takuya, after you finish here, you need to visit the calligrapher who wrote the invitation for you tomorrow. I've already made an appointment, so don't be late."
Nakayama Takuya: "..."
He felt a vein throbbing on his temple. Sure enough, engagement was more grueling than business warfare.
April 15th, Da'an.
In Akasaka, Tokyo, there is a high-class restaurant that does not accept reservations. The dry landscape garden in the courtyard is quiet and still under the warm spring sun.
The atmosphere inside the elegant Japanese-style room was solemn and dignified.
Nakayama Takuya, wearing the crested haori that his mother had been fussing over for so long, sat upright. The family crest of "Bellflower in a Circle" was understated yet eye-catching on the black haori. His back was straight, and his expression was calm, showing no sign of the impatience he had shown while trying on the clothes.
Sitting opposite him was Nakagawa Eri.
Her makeup was exquisite, and her demeanor was dignified, like a lady who had stepped out of an ancient painting. However, there was a hint of a smile and reassurance hidden in her eyes as she looked at Takuya.
Their eyes met briefly in the air, as if to say, "This day has finally come."
The seats of honor are occupied by the parents of both sides.
Nakayama Atsuo and Nakagawa Jun, two business tycoons who respectively headed Sega and TV Tokyo, both restrained their usual sharpness and became ordinary fathers.
"President Nakayama, how have you been lately?" Nakagawa Jun broke the silence by speaking first.
"Thanks to you, he's still quite healthy." Nakayama Hayao nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over his son before settling on Nakagawa Eri.
His tone was calm yet acknowledging, "As for Miss Eri, she's become increasingly poised and elegant."
Meanwhile, the wives of both families, the two core members of the "wedding promotion committee," were enjoying the scene before them with smiles on their faces.
Their gazes fell upon the decorative items displayed on one side of the room.
The paulownia wood willow bottle, the pair of white fans with auspicious meanings, and the shoku and kelp representing delicacies from land and sea—each item was arranged neatly according to the oldest etiquette.
"Mother-in-law, look, the children chose these themselves; they have excellent taste," Nakagawa said softly, her voice full of satisfaction.
Nakayama Miyuki gracefully picked up her teacup, a smile she couldn't hide in her eyes, "Yes, they have their own ideas. As elders, we should just observe."
They said that, but everyone knew that without the "supreme instructions" of the two mothers, the ceremony would never have been so perfect.
Nakayama Takuya listened to his mother's words, his eyes twitched almost imperceptibly as he recalled his date with Eri in Amazake Yokocho that day.
More than the grand and complicated ceremony, he missed the simple and pure joy that belonged to just the two of them.
But he knew that the ceremony was necessary.
It is not merely the union of two young people, but also a silent declaration between the Nakayama family and Nakagawa family, two massive business entities.
As the waiters of the ryotei presented the ritual utensils one by one, the room fell completely silent.
The closing ceremony has officially begun.
After going through a series of tedious and outrageously traditional procedures, we finally arrived at the moment of exchanging vows.
Nakayama Takuya held a vow written by a master calligrapher; the touch of the paper exuded a simple and solemn air.
He took a deep breath, his gaze passing over the paper and settling steadily on Eri across from him.
"I, Nakayama Takuya, hereby enter into a marriage Nakagawa Eri, to share joys and sorrows for the rest of my life, and to stay together until our hair turns white."
His voice was steady and clear, echoing in the quiet room.
Every word was like a heavy hammer blow to everyone's hearts, announcing the beginning of a new era.
When Eri said softly but firmly, "From this day forward, I will change my surname to Nakayama and my name to Nakayama Eri," Takuya's heart skipped a beat.
Nakayama Eri.
The name seemed to possess a certain magic, completely linking two independent individuals and two vast families together.
Looking at her, he suddenly felt that all the trouble he had gone through trying on clothes and visiting the calligrapher had been worth it.
During the ring exchange, Takuya took Eri's hand.
Her fingertips were slightly cool, with a barely perceptible tremor. He slowly and firmly slipped the exquisite engagement ring onto the middle finger of her right hand.
The cool metal touched the warm skin, and at that moment, their heartbeats seemed to synchronize.
After the ceremony, the next step was to toast the relatives.
This is practically a social marathon.
From the elders of the collateral branches of the Nakayama family to the relatives and old friends of the Nakagawa family, none of them could be neglected.
"Takuya!" A ruddy-faced, highly respected uncle, holding a wine glass, said in a loud voice, "You'd better hurry up and seize the opportunity with such a wonderful girl as Miss Eri! The important task of continuing the Nakayama family line is entrusted to you!"
These words were met with good-natured laughter from the room.
Eri's cheeks flushed instantly, almost burying themselves in her elegant furisode sleeves.
Takuya, however, remained unfazed. Holding his wine glass, he bowed slightly, his smile polite yet carrying a youthful cheerfulness, "Uncle, rest assured, Eri and I will definitely do our best."
He defused a minor embarrassment with ease, adding a touch of joy instead.
At the subsequent banquet, the two changed into more formal kimonos and greeted all the guests.
Nakayama Hayao and Nakagawa Jun, two business tycoons, stood together and raised their glasses.
The banquet finally ended, and the noise and extravagance faded away.
In a private room reserved for them to rest, Takuya and Eri almost simultaneously slumped onto the soft sofa, not wanting to move a single finger.
"Phew—" Takuya let out a long breath, tugging at the still-perfectly straight collar of his kimono. "I hereby declare that this product launch event, planned by the 'Wedding Promotion Committee,' has been a complete success."
Eri chuckled at his teasing and leaned her head on his shoulder, her voice slightly nasal. "You've worked hard, Takuya. You too, Eri." Takuya turned his head to look at her delicate profile, which looked almost unreal in the soft light.
At this moment, there was no heir to the Nakayama family, nor a powerful businesswoman from the television station, only an ordinary couple who were exhausted but overflowing with happiness.