Honeymoon (Romance Route)
On the third day of their marriage, after completing the traditional homecoming ceremony, Nakayama Takuya and Nakayama Eri finally bid farewell to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and the watchful eyes of their families, boarding a flight to Europe to begin their honeymoon.
First stop, Norway.
Instead of choosing a city like Oslo, Takuya rented a car, took Eri with him, and drove along the winding highway, plunging headlong into the embrace of the fjord.
In autumn in Northern Europe, the air is as clear as crystal, and every breath carries a slightly sweet coolness that cleanses the lungs and heart.
Outside the car window, massive mountains stood silently, with emerald-green seas lying serenely between them, and scattered colorful wooden houses dotting the mountainside, like a scene from a fairy tale.
Eri leaned back in the passenger seat, her kimono-clad formality gone, replaced by a beige cashmere sweater that accentuated her gentle and serene demeanor. She was captivated by her beauty.
I couldn't help but sigh softly.
"So, there really are such quiet places in the world."
Takuya, gripping the steering wheel, laughed upon hearing this.
"What, you don't like the hustle and bustle of Tokyo anymore?"
"No, not really." Eri turned her head, looking at his profile as he focused on driving, her eyes sparkling. "It's just that being with you, in this quiet, is just right."
Without the special status of being the Kirin of the Nakayama family" and the "little princess of TV Tokyo," they were just an ordinary young couple.
Takuya order two servings of local specialty meatballs drizzled with rich meat sauce at an unnamed roadside restaurant, using his broken English and a mix of words and gestures:
Eri would carefully straighten his wind-blown collar, and then, when he exaggeratedly complained, "These meatballs are so salty they could be pickled all winter," she would smile Taiwan hand him a glass of Shimizu.
That night, they stayed at a family-run guesthouse deep in the fjord.
The crackling fire in the fireplace bathed the entire cabin in warmth and light.
Wrapped in thick blankets, the two sat by the window, watching the stars gleam like diamonds against the deep blue night sky.
"Takuya," Eri suddenly said softly, "Thank you."
"Hmm? What are you thanking me for?" Takuya stroked her hair.
Eri gently rested her head on his shoulder.
Thank you for giving me a true "world for two."
Takuya felt a warmth in his heart and reached out to pull her tightly into his arms.
Yes, this is what a honeymoon should be like.
It wasn't a superficial visit, nor a business engagement, but rather a complete and unreserved exchange of time and space between us.
After leaving Norway, they took a ship to Denmark, experienced the fairytale atmosphere of Copenhagen, and then entered Germany.
The date was October 3, 1990.
When they arrived in Berlin, the entire city was in a state of near-boiling celebration.
East and West Germany were formally reunified.
Beside the ruins of the Berlin Wall, people waved flags, embraced, wept, and sang. The air was filled with the aroma of beer and an exciting scent called "hope."
Takuya and Eri were swept up by this torrent, standing Brandenburg Gate, witnessing this historic moment firsthand.
The shadow of the Cold War is visibly dissipating before their eyes.
Eri's face was filled with shock. She held Takuya's hand tightly, her palms slightly sweaty.
An era has come to an end.
"Yes." Takuya looked at the jubilant crowd, his gaze deep. "A brand new era has begun."
Next stop, Vienna.
In this music capital, the two completely Panasonic. They spent their days strolling through the Homeworld of the Schönbrunn Palace, and their evenings dressed in finery, attending a top-tier symphony concert in the Golden Hall.
On a sunny afternoon, the two sat in Café Central, enjoying the most authentic Sachertorte.
Eri was Oguchi her coffee, enjoying the leisurely blend of sweetness and bitterness, when Takuya's phone rang at the most inopportune moment.
It was a long-distance call from Sega Headquarters.
Takuya walked to the side to answer the call. Eri saw his brow furrow almost imperceptibly, but it quickly relaxed again.
He said only a few words, his tone calm and decisive, before hanging up the phone.
"What happened?" Eri asked with concern.
"It's nothing serious." Takuya walked back, sat down again, picked up his fork, and casually cut a piece of cake. "Nintendo has started their pre-launch promotions for their new console, the Super Famicom."
"SFC?" Eri vaguely recognized the name. "Is it a competitor to the MD?"
"That's right." Takuya smiled and fed her a piece of cake covered in chocolate sauce. "Come on, open your mouth. Don't let those guys from Kyoto disturb Mrs. Nakayama's afternoon tea."
Eri opened her mouth, and the sweet taste melted on her taste buds.
Looking into her husband's confident eyes, the slight worry in her heart vanished.
He always seemed to be like that, calm and composed, with everything under control.
What she didn't know was that Takuya's instructions over the phone were clear and unambiguous.
"Don't panic. All game projects will proceed as planned. The Super FC can't be stopped. We'll put our game lineup to the test after it's released."
"The Hardware Department should buy a few units and thoroughly understand their performance and architecture."
"The software department should contact some familiar third parties to indirectly learn about the SFC development environment and see what we can learn from it."
Nintendo is far from being so weak as to be on the verge of collapse.
The honeymoon continues.
Upon entering Italy, where the security situation was relatively chaotic, Takuya immediately hired two plainclothes bodyguards, a man and a woman.
At the Trevi Fountain in Rome, he didn't make a wish, but simply smiled and said to Eri, "My wish is already with me."
In Naples, he even brought Eri along and squeezed into the blue sea of Stadio San Paolo.
They witnessed firsthand how Maradona, the football legend, led Naples to a home victory against the seemingly invincible AC Milan.
The roars and shouts of tens of thousands of people in the stadium, that pure passion, gave Eri, who had always been in high society, an unprecedented sense of shock and excitement.
When Maradona scored a brilliant goal, Takuya and cheered like a big boy, then hugged Eri and gave her a passionate kiss amidst the deafening cheers.
Eri's cheeks flushed, her heart pounded, but she smiled and hugged him tightly.
From the romance of Paris to the passion of Madrid, and then to the elegance of London.
This long honeymoon was like a flowing feast, condensing the charm of all of Europe into the scenery the two of them walked through hand in hand.
When the plane landed at Narita Airport, they brought back more than just a lot of luggage.
There is also a heart that has become more expansive through traveling the world, and has become incredibly rich because of having each other.
The car drove smoothly toward the main house of the Nakayama family.
Eri looked out the window at the familiar street scene and rested her head on Takuya's shoulder.
"We're home."
Takuya took her hand, their fingers intertwined.
"Yes, I'm home."
A new life is just beginning.