The wedding was held according to the standards of Soul Society, with the chief priest, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, offering his blessings.
Next comes the newlyweds' three-fold toasting ceremony.
The wine glasses used in the ceremony are divided into three categories: large, medium, and small.
The small cup is on top, the medium cup is in the middle, and the large cup is at the bottom.
Use them in top-to-bottom order.
First, the small cups are served. A shrine maiden in red and white robes hands the cups to the groom, pouring the wine into the cups in three tiers.
The groom drank the wine in three separate servings.
The priestess poured the wine into the cup three times, and the bride drank it in three separate sips.
Finally, the priestess poured the wine into the cups three times, and the groom drank the sacred wine in three separate sips.
This step marks the end of the wedding ceremony, followed by a banquet to entertain the guests.
The venue was pre-booked by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto; it was the Mona Lisa Grand Hotel, not far from the main hall.
The decor is luxurious, so the price is naturally not cheap. Fortunately, Shiraishi doesn't usually have any expenses.
All his food, clothing, housing, and transportation expenses were covered by public funds, so his salary remained unused.
"Spend Captain-Commander's salary!"
Rangiku Matsumoto raised her arm and rallied the troops.
"Oh!
" Ikkaku Madarame, a man who never hesitates to accept a treat, loudly echoed, and the members of the 11th Division were equally delighted."
From top to bottom, they didn't know the meaning of politeness; they only knew that if someone was treating them, they would drink to their heart's content.
"Tsk, what a conventional wedding." Kenpachi Zaraki looked annoyed. His suggestion was directly rejected by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who argued that a blood wedding was a much cooler way to hold such an event.
Now, he can only suppress that impulse with fine wine, which, apart from fighting and taking a nap, is his only pleasure.
"Seriously, let that guy go bankrupt."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi was equally frustrated; the wedding decorations he had meticulously prepared for Nemu were all thrown back to the Research and Development Institute like trash.
How despicable is the aesthetic sense of mortals.
" Mayuri ~"
A familiar call rang out, and a very petite girl moved among the adults. Her clear black and white eyes and adorable black and white panda outfit made her look incredibly cute.
"Tsk, Little Hō, I told you not to call me that."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi seemed to be expressing displeasure, but the expression on his face was one of great satisfaction.
Hakuhō calls Nemu Kurotsuchi" Mom," and naturally refers to her mother's father as "Grandpa." She ran over and asked, "Why didn't I see the beautiful insects that Grandpa Mayuri made?"
"Oh, they're all just a bunch of ordinary people with no discernment. You're the only one who knows how to appreciate things."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi felt a little comforted. Shiraishi was quite annoying, but Hakuhō was really good. At such a young age, he already had a genius-level aesthetic sense.
Given time, he will surely become an outstanding scientist.
"Really? Grandpa Mayuri, don't be discouraged, keep going!"
She tried to stand on tiptoe, took his finger with her small hand, and gave him a grin.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi blushed slightly, a rare occurrence for her, and said, "Well, there's really no other way. Let's go get something to eat."
"So beautiful! Can I take a few more pictures?"
Orihime Inoue approached Rukia with an excited expression, snapping photos of Rukia and Soi Fon with her camera.
" Inoue," Soi Fon called out, her face slightly flushed; she'd taken too many photos.
"Ah, it feels like we don't have enough cameras at all."
Orihime Inoue only regretted that she didn't have enough hands. If only she had several hands like Senjumaru, she could use different hands to hold the camera and take pictures of them, recording this most unforgettable moment.
" Inoue ~ You've been taking pictures of Rukia and the others nonstop since just now, you can take pictures of me too."
Rangiku Matsumoto was eager for people to see her kimono, a light purple one embroidered with large peonies that perfectly complemented her blonde hair; it would be a shame if no one took a picture.
Orihime Inoue readily agreed, saying, "Really!? I want to take pictures! I want to take pictures!"
Rangiku Matsumoto suddenly had a better idea and clapped her hands, saying, "That's it! Let's gather the girls together for a photoshoot. It's a rare opportunity!"
"Wow, great!" Isane Kotetsu agreed. She always felt shy taking photos one-on-one, but she felt fine taking photos with everyone.
"Okay." Retsu Unohana nodded, her pure white dress shimmering as if it were glowing.
A white veil draped over her head, echoing her jet-black hair, and with a slight nod, the gold embroidery on the veil shimmered under the hotel lights.
The brides gathered, and other female Shinigami also rushed over and gathered there.
"Captain~ Please take a picture for us~"
Why me?
Despite his complaints, Tōshirō Hitsugaya took the camera from Orihime.
The groom was surrounded by people, undergoing a special wine-pouring ceremony, and couldn't spare the time at all.
He was instructed to take several photos for everyone.
"Drink! Drink! Drink!"
The jeering echoed in his ears. Shiraishi was truly impressed by Shunsui Kyōraku, that sixth brother who kept pouring him drinks whenever he had the chance, and it was even Gin Ichimaru.
One glass of wine after another, " Renji, can you still hold on?"
Renji Abarai said seriously, "Um, Rukia, it's okay, I can handle it."
"You think you can hold out?"
Shiraishi quickly withdrew his hand. No wonder he felt something was off about the handshake; it turned out the guy mistook him for Rukia. "No, we can't handle this."
"No, how could Mr. Shiraishi not be able to handle this? Drink, drink!"
Ichigo Kurosaki his glass. He wasn't much of a drinker, but he was happy to keep going as long as he could make things difficult for Shiraishi and get revenge for the hardships of his past work.
"Haha, that's right, we should drink on such a joyous occasion."
Isshin Kurosaki shouted, "I'm entrusting my Kūkaku to your care from now on! Come on, have a drink!"
"Hmm..." Shiraishi had no choice but to drink it.
On a rare wedding day, the brides-to-be were drinking with a bunch of men before even going to bed, leaving behind their delicate beauty.
Shiraishi had no choice but to abandon that thought and decide to drink these beasts under the table.
Four hours after the wedding banquet began, drunkards began to appear, some of whom had become completely unconscious.
I should probably go now.
Uryū Ishida stood up and said, " Abarai, Captain-Commander Shiraishi, thank you for today. I wish you a happy marriage."
"... Are you drunk?" Shiraishi remarked.
Uryū Ishida also realized that what he said might not have been quite right.
"There's nothing we can do about it. Captain-Commander Shiraishi married so many women; it would be a long list to go through their names."
Ichigo Kurosaki was essentially trying to smooth things over for his friend.
Uryū Ishida nodded awkwardly and said, "Since there's no reception area at the wedding venue, I'm not sure when would be a good time to give you the gift money. Is now alright?"
As he spoke, he handed the red envelopes to Renji Abarai and Shiraishi.
"And me too." Orihime Inoue, seeing this, also took out a red envelope and handed it to Rukia, Retsu Unohana, and the others.
"No need, I'm already very touched that you came all the way from the World of the Living."
Shiraishi, hiccuping from the alcohol, tried to push the gift money back.
"No, we've been treated well here too. The money inside is World of the Living money; you can use it to buy something next time you come."
Uryū Ishida insisted on stuffing the red envelope into Shiraishi's hand.
"This is a token of my appreciation."
Orihime, following Uryū, insisted that the red envelopes could not be returned.
"It would be impolite of us to take it back; please accept it."
"That's right." Isshin Kurosaki said, stuffing the red envelopes into the hands of Renji Abarai and Shiraishi.
Then, he stepped into the sunlight, turned around, and said very clearly, " Rukia, I'm sorry, I really wanted to encourage you when Kaien passed away."
Unfortunately, I couldn't do it. I hope you can find plenty of happiness, and so can Kūkaku.
"Don't make it sound like I'm just an afterthought, Uncle."
Kūkaku Shiba shouted, his face flushed, holding a bottle of sake in his hand.
"Haha." Isshin Kurosaki let out a hearty laugh, thinking to himself, "Kaien, if you were here, you would be shocked."
That fearless tomboy actually married someone else; she'll definitely be happy.
"Lord Isshin..." Rukia recalled herself back then, when she used these hands to end Lord Kaien's life.
From that day on, her heart was locked in Infinity darkness, from which she could not escape for a long time.
She wants to tell her past self, "There are still many people who care about you, and many people who protect you."
"Alright, we should go back now."
Isshin Kurosaki patted his stomach, still having a lot to say to Masaki, and also wanted to ask Inoue for a copy of the photo later.
Thinking of this daughter-in-law whom he and his wife both highly approved of, the certain good-for-nothing still hadn't taken any action.
He suddenly felt a surge of anger and slapped Ichigo Kurosaki on the back of the head.
"What are you doing?" Ichigo Kurosaki asked.
I don't like you!
Isshin Kurosaki glared angrily at this good-for-nothing brat.
"What? You're already going back? You can stay at our house, Orihime!"
Rangiku Matsumoto strolled over carrying a bottle of sake, her eyes glazed over, and stepped out.
A whole bunch of men Shūhei Hisagi and Izuru Kira, were all drunk by her enormous capacity for alcohol.
"Thank you, Rangiku, but I have to help my brother with work tomorrow morning."
Orihime Inoue shook her head in refusal; she had a lot of work to do.
"Well, there's nothing we can do then, Captain-Commander Shiraishi. Let's keep drinking. You can't leave before everyone's passed out, okay?"
Rangiku Matsumoto narrowed her eyes and smiled seductively.
Shiraishi suddenly felt a headache coming on. His alcohol tolerance had greatly increased, but if he wanted to compete with this person, he was still a little short.
"Are you scared?" She narrowed her eyes, using reverse psychology.
"Just kidding, who's afraid of who? We'll drink! Renji, you see them off!"
Shiraishi shouted and ordered Renji Abarai.
"Okay." Renji Abarai turned to Rukia and said, " Rukia, I'll take them to the Senkaimon. You stay here and look after everyone."
"Okay, everyone, thank you for today."
Rukia smiled and waved, saying, "See you in the World of the Living next time."
On the way to the Senkaimon, Renji, who was at the back, called Ichigo Kurosaki, who was ahead of him, back.
Renji Abarai deliberately kept a distance from the three people in front of him to ensure that the two groups could not hear each other's conversation.
"Shouldn't you explain things more clearly by now?"
Renji Abarai said.
Ichigo his head, looking completely bewildered, and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Don't play dumb, I'm talking about Inoue's matter."
Renji Abarai emphasized this point solemnly.
"What's the matter?" Ichigo Kurosaki still looked completely bewildered, having no idea what Inoue had to do with Inoue.
"You like her, right?" Renji Abarai asked bluntly.
"Ha?!"
Ichigo Kurosaki was shocked. His first reaction was to look ahead. Orihime Inoue, Uryū Ishida, and his father were chatting and hadn't noticed them at all.
"How could I...?"
Renji Abarai said, "Such a good girl, if you don't act quickly, she'll marry someone else. Think about it."
Inoue... marrying someone else? Ichigo Kurosaki suddenly froze, never having considered that possibility, what if she were the one wearing the wedding dress...
"I... I cannot let down the Rain of the Sky."
Ichigo Kurosaki answered in a weak voice, then retorted, "What's with all this sudden act of a caring older brother? You yourself have been procrastinating for decades."
Renji Abarai was already experienced; he simply abandoned the incessantly muttering Ichigo Kurosaki and ran to find the three ahead.
He started a conversation with Uryū Ishida and the others, and waved to Orihime Inoue.
What is that guy doing?!
Ichigo Kurosaki widened; he really wanted to beat him up.
Orihime Inoue walked to his side with her shoulders slumped, her expression somewhat strange, and said, "They said they have some men's talk to say, and told me to go over there."
"Oh, I see." Ichigo Kurosaki sigh of relief. So that was the reason.
Orihime Inoue misunderstood his embarrassment and said, " Kurosaki, you can go too. I can walk behind you, it's fine."
"Uh, me."
Ichigo Kurosaki looked at the group of people in front of him.
Not only Renji Abarai, but also Uryū Ishida and his father were giving him a thumbs up, as if to say, "You'd better watch out for what happens next."
I don't think I need to go.
Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Is that so?"
Orihime Inoue smiled.
Ichigo Kurosaki suddenly felt that the smile was dazzling; it was all that bastard Abarai's fault for talking nonsense.
" Rukia and Soi Fon, they look so beautiful today."
Completely unaware of Ichigo's inner turmoil, Orihime Inoue sighed, "The veils I embroidered for them suit them so well too."
Recalling the scene of the wedding, Orihime Inoue began to feel moved again, and tears welled up in her eyes involuntarily.
" Kurosaki, thank you for taking the photos for me today. I'm really looking forward to seeing the photos. I want to make an album and send it to everyone later."
Orihime Inoue smiled at him, Ichigo Kurosaki felt increasingly flustered. "Oh."
" Kurosaki, what's wrong?"
Orihime Inoue frowned slightly, sensing that something was amiss with this person's situation.
Ichigo Kurosaki shook his head. "It's nothing."
The two then chatted about some trivial matters.
At this point, the Senkaimon could be seen ahead, and the other three people were standing in front of the gate chatting.
Ichigo Kurosaki a deep breath.
Hey, Inoue.
He stopped and looked directly at Orihime Inoue.
"What's wrong?"
Orihime Inoue tilted her head and looked up at him.
At this moment, Ichigo Kurosaki finally understood that the reason he liked the Rain of the Sky was because it reminded him of Orihime Inoue.
It's true that bystanders see things more clearly.
"I have something I want to tell you, could you give me a little time?"