💞幸せを結ぶ — 中国式の結婚式 — Before the Wedding Begins

🌸✨ In this alternate universe, Mio and みお are twin sisters, set in a unified world where the virtual singers of Crypton Future Media, Team TWINDRILL, INTERNET Co., Ltd., and the characters of Project SEKAI: Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku coexist. 🌙🎶 💞A traditional Chinese wedding procession: the groom, dressed in a magnificent red and gold wedding robe, rides a white horse at the front of the procession. The white horse symbolizes nobility, honor, good fortune, and a bright future for the couple. Leading the procession, the groom represents responsibility and his journey to welcome his bride. Behind him follows a beautifully decorated red bridal sedan chair carried by sedan bearers. Inside the sedan chair sits the bride, surrounded by golden embroidery, silk curtains, and elegant tassels. The bridal sedan chair is not merely a means of transportation; it symbolizes the bride’s honored journey from her childhood home into a new family, carrying the blessings of both families, respect, love, and hopes for a happy marriage. The red sedan chair represents joy, prosperity, and a blessed union. Accompanied by traditional musicians, family members, and attendants, the wedding procession moves through an ancient Chinese city street, creating a majestic, festive, and romantic scene. 💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 The wedding procession finally came to a gentle stop before the manor gates. The drums and festive music that had accompanied them along the way gradually slowed, ending for the moment on one long, resonant note. The great vermilion gates stood open, with a straight red carpet stretching out before them. Lanterns hanging on both sides of the entrance swayed lightly in the breeze, while the guests waiting on the steps smiled toward the bridal sedan that had just arrived. The white horse stopped steadily before the sedan. Gakupo dismounted, the hem of his crimson-and-gold wedding robe lifting softly with the movement. His long purple hair slipped over his shoulders, while the two locks before his ears fell all the way to his waist, glowing gently beneath the morning light. KAITO took the reins from him and reminded him with a smile, “From this point on, you cannot spend all your time looking only at the bride. Everyone else is still waiting.” Gakupo did not argue. He merely returned KAITO’s smile before walking directly toward the bridal sedan. Throughout the journey, he had only been able to glance back again and again to make sure Luka was all right. Now that they had finally arrived, the entire moving procession no longer stood between them. Only the softly lowered curtain of the sedan remained. Miku, MEIKO, Rin, Teto, Mio, and みお were already gathered around it. They did not immediately ask Luka to step out. Instead, they first checked her wedding gown and hair ornaments. The journey had been long, and although the bearers had walked with great care, the gentle rocking of the sedan and the breeze along the way had caused her veil and ornaments to shift slightly. “Luka, we have arrived,” Miku said from outside the curtain. Luka’s soft voice answered from within. “I know.” She sounded calm, yet her fingers held the round fan more tightly than before. While they were still travelling, she had been able to listen to her friends’ laughter and watch Gakupo riding ahead whenever she looked outside. Now that the sedan had stopped and the wedding ceremony truly awaited her, the nervousness that had gradually settled during the journey quietly returned. MEIKO noticed the subtle change in her voice. “There is no need to hurry,” she said gently. “We will make sure everything is in place first.” Rin lifted one side of the curtain slightly, while Miku leaned closer to inspect Luka’s hair ornaments. “None of the hairpins have loosened,” Miku said. “Only the right side of the veil has slipped down a little.” Teto took a quick look. “I’ll fix it for you.” She was about to reach forward when she noticed Gakupo standing outside the sedan, his eyes fixed upon Luka. Ever since the sedan had arrived, his gaze had not left her. Teto paused, and an understanding smile appeared on her lips. “Or perhaps it would be more appropriate to leave it to the groom?” Luka froze for a moment. Gakupo also raised his eyes toward her. Their gazes met between the inside and outside of the sedan. Even though many people were still waiting nearby, no one urged them to hurry. MEIKO looked from Luka to Gakupo and quietly stepped aside. “Then we shall leave it to the groom.” Miku lowered her hands with a smile. “Just be careful. The right side of the veil is slightly uneven. You do not need to move any of the hairpins.” Gakupo answered softly, “I understand.” He approached the sedan and bent slightly toward the entrance. Luka remained seated inside, her crimson wedding gown arranged in graceful layers around her. Golden embroidery extended from the neckline down to the hem, while her pink hair had been carefully secured with hairpins and jeweled ornaments. A fine red veil rested over her hair and shoulders, though one side had slipped slightly during the journey. Gakupo lifted his hand but did not touch her immediately. “Luka, may I fix it for you?” She looked at him. The nervousness in her blue eyes gradually softened. “Yes.” Only after receiving her permission did Gakupo carefully reach forward. His fingertips first supported the edge of the veil that had slipped down, then slowly lifted it back into place along the line of her hair ornaments. The soft red fabric passed over the back of his hand, cool and delicate against his skin. His movements were normally steady and decisive when holding a sword or guiding a horse. Now, however, they were exceptionally gentle. It was as though even the slightest carelessness might startle the woman before him. Luka sat quietly and allowed him to adjust her veil. They were closer now than during any of the glances they had exchanged along the wedding route. She could clearly see the concentration in his purple eyes, as well as a single red petal still resting upon his shoulder. It had probably landed there while they crossed the stone bridge. He had never noticed it. Luka’s eyes lingered upon the petal, and a soft laugh escaped her. Gakupo looked up. “What is it?” “There is a flower petal on your shoulder.” “Is there?” He instinctively began to turn his head, causing the veil in his hand to shift slightly. Luka immediately stopped him. “Do not move yet.” Gakupo became perfectly still. His hand continued to support her veil, while a rare hint of helplessness appeared in his expression. “It seems I cannot remove it myself at the moment.” Luka looked at the petal and smiled more brightly. She raised her hand to take it away, but the wide sleeve of her wedding gown made the movement awkward. Realizing what she intended to do, Gakupo leaned a little closer. Luka reached out and gently removed the red petal from his wedding robe. “There.” She placed it in her palm. Gakupo looked at her, warmth and amusement filling his eyes. “Then keep it.” “Why?” “Because you were the one who removed it for me.” The words were simple, yet they brought a faint warmth to Luka’s cheeks. She lowered her gaze toward the petal in her palm. “It is only a flower that fell along the road.” “But it accompanied us throughout the wedding procession.” Gakupo returned his attention to her veil. He smoothed the section that had slipped down and carefully checked that both sides hung evenly. Whenever his fingers brushed against a strand of her pink hair, he immediately lightened his touch to avoid disturbing the carefully arranged style. “Is this part too tight?” he asked. “No.” “Is one of the hairpins pulling your hair?” “No.” “Are you certain?” Luka raised her eyes toward him. “That is the third time you have asked.” Gakupo paused. “I only want to make sure you are comfortable.” “You are being very careful,” Luka said softly. “Even more careful than Miku and the others were while helping me dress.” Standing nearby, Miku immediately looked innocent. “Luka, I was very gentle this morning.” Rin tried to hold back her laughter. “But Gakupo looks as though he is handling the most precious thing in the world.” “Because he is,” Teto replied naturally. Warm laughter rose around the sedan. Luka’s already flushed cheeks grew even warmer. She raised her fan slightly, hoping to hide her expression, but Gakupo gently placed his fingers against its handle. “Do not hide yet.” Luka looked up at him. “Why?” “I still need to check the position of the veil.” His voice was completely serious, but a faint smile lingered on his lips. Luka immediately understood that the veil was not the only thing he wanted to look at. During the journey, each of his glances back had lasted only a brief moment across the distance between them. Now that he finally stood before her, she was still seated inside the sedan, and he did not rush her. He merely wanted to make certain that every detail was perfect—and perhaps to look at her a little longer. “You kept looking back during the procession,” Luka suddenly said. Gakupo’s fingers were smoothing the final section of the veil. At her words, his movement paused. “You noticed?” “I saw every single time.” “I thought I was being less obvious.” “Everyone noticed.” The bridesmaids and groomsmen nearby suddenly became very quiet, pretending that they had heard nothing. Only Len failed to restrain himself. “I told you that already.” KAITO immediately placed a wedding sweet in his hand. “This is not your moment to speak.” Luka could not help laughing. Gakupo laughed quietly as well. “If you saw every time, why did you never tell me?” “Because I was waiting for you to look back again.” Her voice was soft, yet the words made the expression in his eyes turn even gentler. Gakupo looked at her for a long moment without turning away. The drums and cheers of the procession had temporarily fallen silent. Before the manor gates, only the faint sound of lanterns moving in the breeze remained. Their friends also refrained from hurrying them, silently leaving this brief moment to the bride and groom. At last, Gakupo adjusted the final fold of her veil. The red fabric that had slipped to one side now rested evenly over her pink hair and shoulders. Her golden hairpins and jeweled ornaments remained perfectly in place, without the slightest sign of disorder. “It is done,” he said. Luka lightly touched the edge of her veil. “It truly is not crooked?” Gakupo examined her carefully. “It is not.” “And the hair ornaments?” “They are perfect as well.” “Then how do I look?” She asked naturally, though her fingers quietly closed around the red petal in her palm. Gakupo did not answer at once. He simply looked at Luka seated inside the sedan, taking in her pink hair, crimson wedding gown, and blue eyes that still held the slightest trace of nervousness. Then he gave her the same tender smile he had worn every time he looked back during the procession. “Beautiful.” Luka froze for a moment. Gakupo added, “Even more beautiful than I imagined throughout the entire journey.” She lowered her eyes, though she could not hide the smile appearing on her lips. Outside the sedan, Miku finally clapped her hands softly. “There. The veil has been fixed.” MEIKO stepped forward to inspect it once more and nodded in satisfaction. “Everything is in order. We can begin preparing for the next part of the ceremony.” Gakupo straightened, but he did not immediately move away from the sedan. He extended his hand toward Luka. It waited before her, patient and steady. Luka remained seated inside. She had not yet stepped beyond the sedan entrance. Instead, she gently placed her hand in his and felt the familiar warmth of his palm. “Are you nervous?” Gakupo asked. “A little.” His fingers closed more securely around hers. “There is no need to hurry.” Luka raised her eyes toward him. The manor gates stood before them, and the red carpet extended from the bridal sedan toward the place where the ceremony would be held. The groomsmen and bridesmaids waited around them, while the guests quietly anticipated the bride’s appearance. Yet for the moment, she remained seated inside the sedan. Gakupo stood before her, holding her hand and allowing her all the time she needed to prepare for the next step. The red petal in Luka’s palm was protected gently between their joined hands. She looked at the veil he had personally adjusted, and the nervousness within her heart finally began to fade. “I am ready,” she whispered. Gakupo did not immediately help her rise. He first checked once more that the breeze had not disturbed her veil, then looked at her tenderly. “Then we will wait until you are ready to step out.” Luka smiled and nodded. After receiving the blessings of the entire city, they had finally arrived at the entrance to their wedding. Before Luka took her first step onto the red carpet, Gakupo carefully fixed the veil of his most beloved bride—and, with the same gentle care, calmed the heart that still beat rapidly with happiness.