The wedding had been a complete success... for the most part. There had been a couple little hitches at the last moment, but they were all taken care of. Satoshi felt filled to the brim in happiness as he finally got to call Naomi his wife. They were prepared and ready to continue on with life together, forever. During the flurry of everything that happened, he didn't notice the estrangement of his two friends. It wasn't until Naomi asked him if he knew what happened that he began to take notice. The two could barely stand to make eye contact, let alone have a single conversation. Which was... really weird. After all, even though they knew some of their families and friends, the two would have most to talk about with each other.

The after party was crazy, having to say hi and catch up with everyone. Lots of congrats and kind words. Still, Satoshi was relieved when he finally was able to break away. He sat down at the table Yoshiki was at, his expression turning concerned. "Hey, Yoshiki..." he said, figuring he'd be blunt and just ask. After all, he wouldn't be surprised if someone yelled him away moments later. "Is everything okay between you and Ayumi?"

Yoshiki had been happy for his friends, of course. But with all that happened, how long he hadn't been able to talk to Ayumi, and all this love in the air was making it hard to get out a true smile... So he had been fake-smiling practically the whole day. He was actually glad Satoshi didn't have the time to talk, because he didn't want him to see him in such pitiful condition. He kept thinking maybe the separation was best, that maybe these stupid, painful feelings would go away, but it only got worse... The pain, that is. Even after over half year, he couldn't stop with someone new... And now he had even lost the first person that had supported him, which only left him with two other crutches that weren't as strong as the third, now broken.

He flinched slightly at Satoshi's voice, not even having noticed him sit down near him. He looked up with slightly dulled eyes, but at the question he just gave Satoshi that fake smile he had been using all afternoon. "It's fine... Besides, today's your day. You shouldn't be worrying about anyone else but yourself and Nakashima," he told him, taking a large drink of whatever they had been serving. He didn't even know... He had just grabbed something to occupy his attention.

Satoshi's brow furrowed in concern, seeing Yoshiki was pretty worse for the wear. Had he really not noticed before? Ah, he had been so involved with the wedding, he had let his friends well being fall to the side of his mind. And the smile he was wearing was so fake, Satoshi couldn't believe he hadn't noticed sooner that something was wrong. "I've been all about Naomi and myself for a while now. I'll be okay taking a bit of a break," Satoshi assured him with a small smile. "So, really, what happened?" he asked again in a more forceful tone. Even if Yoshiki had said 'it's fine,' it certainly didn't sound it.

Yoshiki looked down at his cup, his attempt to even try and pretend he was in a good mood was abandoned. He sloshed the liquid around for a moment, not finding it was a story he particularly wanted to disclose... A story best told vague, because Satoshi probably wouldn't let him off the hook with a simple 'it's fine' or 'nothing happened'. "Just... I did something stupid, and I'm paying for it...," he answered solemnly, adding a small, empty laugh at the end.

Satoshi was glad Yoshiki was talking a bit more, but what he said was so vague. Something stupid could be anything. Though, he was getting the feeling Yoshiki didn't want to tell him specifics... which meant it could be private between him and Ayumi. The empty laugh just made him worry that something very bad was happening. "You two... are still friends, though, right?" Satoshi asked. Friends got in fights... the two would be able to work it out, he hoped. It didn't seem right for any of the group to become detached from one another. "This is just a rough patch?"

Yoshiki glanced up at Satoshi with uncertainty. His own hope was sapped out, he practically felt dead... So... He wasn't sure what to tell Satoshi... The only thing he could say in confidence was... no... "Honestly, I don't know... A wild guess says no...," he admitted as his eyes trailed back to the swirling liquid. He didn't feel like believing anything or having hope when it came to him and Ayumi, not anymore. It had got him into too much trouble, and too much hurt.

Satoshi felt his heart jerk in alarm as he was informed the two were no longer friends. He was thrown off, since the very idea of the two cutting off communications seemed wrong on every level. They had been through so much together... how could they just throw it away? "Then... how are you going to get back to being friends?" he then asked, trying to calm himself down. Surely Yoshiki wasn't just going to sit back and accept... well, it was hard to know what caused the split. All he knew they weren't friends... but whatever the reason may be, the two couldn't throw each other away.

Yoshiki didn't look up, his eyes still poised towards the table and his drink. Satoshi was asking him as if he even had a clue, or if there even was a chance of repairing things... If there was, he couldn't see it... "Hell if I know...," he muttered, growing more bitter as the conversation went on, "I doubt there's even a way to fix what I did..."

"I don't know what happened between the two of you..." Satoshi began to say, unable to make-up a case scenario in his head. "But if you haven't talked to her, I would say start there." If they never talked, they would never work through whatever they are going through. It sounded like the relationship couldn't take a worse turn, so simply talking may just let the gates open back up.

Yoshiki shook his head, downing the last of his drink. It stung going down his throat, but he hardly paid any mind to it. "Don't you think I would have if I could?" he asked somewhat sharply, but then retracted it, knowing he didn't need to be agitated with Satoshi. He was only trying to help... and it was his own decision that his friend didn't know how messed up this really was. "Sorry... It's just... I got into something stupid, then said something even worse, so... I can't talk to her...," he attempted to explain in a more calm demeanor. It sounded like he had insulted Ayumi or something, but it couldn't be more the opposite... He didn't want to go into details with that either, though... It would only lead to more questions, ones that couldn't be answered without the full story, which would never be told. It was... something that couldn't be anything but personal.

Satoshi flinched slightly at Yoshiki's sharp tone, not taking personal offense to it but unnerved either way. He frowned slightly, still unsure exactly what they could have gotten into. Or what Yoshiki would have said that would be bad to have the two cut off from one another. "If you two are at such a bad place, then what worse could happen from trying to talk to her?" he questioned with a light frown. Talking was the only way the two could get to a better place... if they were already not friends... well, it couldn't go any worse.

Yoshiki just gave a heavy sigh, really wanting a refresh on his drink, but found it would probably be too rude to just get up and walk away... Despite how much he wanted to. "Nothing better could come from whatever I have to say... Besides, I don't even know where we stand... I only assume we're not friends because it's been... five months? Maybe more... There's still a chance I could make it worse, and I'm not willing to take it," he explained adamantly, finally putting down the cup and refraining from fidgeting with it any longer.

Satoshi watched Yoshiki fidgeting with the cup, hoping he wasn't trying to drown what he was feeling in alcohol. He felt another alarm bell go off in his head as he mentioned the amount of time they have been apart. He's... really not noticed it? Shame burned his ears and cheeks as he realized how self-involved he had been in the past months. "You don't know if something better could happen if you try. And what would happen if it got worse, you two won't talk anymore? You two have known each other too long and have been through too much to just throw it away. Are you so willing to give up without a fight?" he questioned with narrowed eyes. Yoshiki couldn't be willing to quit so easily... it wasn't like him.

"There's no fight to give up in," Yoshiki snapped, but then bit back his anger again, looking away with shame. He was getting much too frustrated with this... Maybe the alcohol was affecting him quicker than usual? He didn't really know... He could just be a ticking time bomb with all this rot inside. "... I can't say anything to fix this... I can't start a 'talk'...," he said persistently, shaking his head.

Satoshi sighed, shaking his head at Yoshiki. "No, you can start a talk," he challenged, not letting Yoshiki's unusual snappiness persuade him from believing the two could find peace. "You mean you won't." He stood out of his chair, knowing he had to get back to everything. "I have to get back, but don't go giving up hope. She's right here... You're not out of chances," Satoshi told him with a stern look. He heard someone call his name, giving Yoshiki one last concerned look before disappearing back into the crowd.

Yoshiki gave Satoshi a small glare, but he really didn't like directing his irritation towards his best friend, especially on his wedding day. He sighed, turning in his seat. "No... Hope's what got me here...," he muttered, glancing down into the empty cup. He picked it up, wanting to just crush it or something, but he couldn't let his bad mood leak too much that it was obvious to everyone around... As if it wasn't obvious with him sitting alone and his painfully obvious fake smiles... He slid a hand through his hair nervously, standing to get another drink. He didn't want to talk... He couldn't change anything... After all, he was the reason this happened. Now it would just be too difficult for a friendship to come back. After all, now she knew... that he loved her, and she didn't feel the same... It couldn't be remedied... He could think no other way after all this turmoil. His heart didn't trust hope anymore.

Ayumi was grateful when she was finally able to slip away out into the hallway. She sat down on the bench, hissing a small curse under her breath as she adjusted her heel. Her feet were killing her, the heel's she was trying to wear were just too tall. She leaned back, blinking tiredly. It was weird how much she was stressing herself out avoiding Yoshiki, yet she took every spare moment in an attempt to find him with her eyes. God, it has been about half a year since they've stopped talking. It felt longer than that... She had never realized the impact Yoshiki made on her life until... well, until he wasn't in it anymore.

The months had ticked by slowly, and she had tried to date. She had been positive her feelings with Yoshiki that night were a fluke triggered by long exposure to each another and a lot of alcohol. Too bad every date she went on never ended up clicking. She had gone out with some very nice young men, who were kind and smart but she didn't feel anything towards them past friendship. Ayumi had found herself staring at her phone, debating if she should call or text him. Yet, it wouldn't be right for her to thrust herself back into his life. He probably hated her at this point for jerking him around so much. She didn't like him, then she did, then she didn't, and now she certainly does.

Yoshiki sort of felt like going home at this point... He never really got drunk, so he couldn't fully hide from his hurt. That's how it always had been, these past months. He'd down drinks within an hour or so, but he wouldn't be able to get to the point he wanted to... Though, this was his best friend's wedding, he couldn't leave until it was totally finished... He could slip away for a minute though, right?... Satoshi was busy, so he probably wouldn't even notice... He was probably also upset with him because he had never talked to Ayumi through the course of the night. He moved into the hall with a sigh, thankful he hadn't been stopped by anyone, but he paused as he looked forward. Of all places, Ayumi was here... He couldn't really turn tail and leave, since he... wanted to see Ayumi, but he was somewhat frozen in fear. She didn't want to see him... But he couldn't turn away... He was almost like a deer caught in headlights.

Ayumi was letting herself zone out when she heard footsteps. It was easy to assume it was any party goer heading towards the restrooms or just leaving the party, but she found it reactionary to look. Her expression mirrored his, surprise jolting her by his sudden appearance. She hadn't seen him in so long. Not even a glimpse, since it wasn't like they ran in the same circles. Despite campus and his apartment being moderately close, they just never crossed paths. There was a part of her that just wanted to run, because she was ashamed of how she had acted and treated him. She had just left... no words, no conversations, not even a damn written note. But, she had ran before and regretted it, so she should at least try with this moment. After this wedding... she didn't know why the two would ever see each other again. It made her stomach uneasy. "Kishinuma..." she greeted with a small, polite smile. It felt forced, but just keeping her entire composure was being forced."How have you been?" It was a generic, safe question, at least she believed so. She didn't know what else to say... 'Hey, sorry about ditching you the morning after pledging my undying devotion'? No, she was too scared to even approach that or the entire issues surrounding what has happened. She was sticking to safe questions... He'll be polite, answer... and he'll just move on.

Yoshiki still felt pretty frozen, but then Ayumi talked. She... actually spoke. He blinked at her, trying to find the ground to act normally. He took a quiet breath before moving his hands into his pockets, stepping close enough to actually have a normal conversation. "Ah... fine, I guess...," he answered, fighting to keep eye contact instead of glancing away. He would've put on another fake smile, but he didn't really see the point of it if it could be seen through so easily."What about you?" he asked, stretching the generic conversation. He didn't want to leave... He want to make this last as long as it could.

Ayumi felt herself calm down a little as he spoke normally back. Honestly, she had always envisioned her next meeting with Yoshiki to have a lot of yelling or something. He had to be angry how she left it, but he didn't seem hostile at all. "I've been okay...," she answered simply, finding herself hard-pressed into fluffing the answer up. There wasn't much to say... she got a job for the summer and is staying at her parent's again until the new term starts up. His short answer made her reluctant to try going for another generic topic, since he probably didn't want to get wrapped in conversation. Yet... he had come closer and didn't seem fidgety to get away. She didn't know what the right course of action was.

Yoshiki nodded sightly at her answer, finally unable to keep from glancing away for a second. He quickly corrected himself though, worried that their conversation was dead. She probably didn't want a full blown discussion about everything... But he was terrified that this was the last time he'd ever get to talk to Ayumi. That jolt to his heart made him feel incredibly pressed to... try and at least fix what they had before... To be close friends. "Shinozaki... I really don't like this...," he started, finding his need for her outweighed his fear, "I... miss being friends..."

Ayumi looked at him in alarm as he began to speak again. Her chest feeling tight at his words. She wanted to tell him how much she missed him, but... she had to stop being so selfish. "How... could you still want me in your life after everything I've done?" she asked him in a hushed voice. She couldn't look at him anymore, her eyes drifted down to her hands folded in her lap. She had a lot of time to think when they separated, and she eventually came to the conclusion... she has been a very terrible friend to Yoshiki. To manipulate his emotions to sleep with her, to keep tugging him along despite knowing he already felt more, and even back as far as Heavenly Host. She had always been sharp and rude to him. He'd be better off detaching from her and finding someone who could treat him right. Even just being friends... it felt wrong to inject herself back into his life.

Yoshiki fell silent at her question, unsure of the right way to answer. He knew he did... but putting it into words was difficult. "I guess it's the same reason that I... Ah, anyways... You're... the reason I'm were I am, and the reason I have what I have," he said vaguely at first, still unsure of how to voice his feelings. It was something that had puzzled him for years... After all this time, he didn't have a speech prepared like he would've liked, but even if he had put something together before now, he would've taken four more years to get the courage to say it, if he mustered it at all. "I mean... when you believed in me when no one else would... You even thought that I could make it in college, and I have... because of your support," he attempted to elaborate, but wasn't certain he was doing a good job. He glanced towards the wall, finding it impossible to keep looking at her, especially when she was avoiding his eyes.

Ayumi would occasionally glance up at him, but it was too hard to keep any type of eye contact. She couldn't find any comfort in his words... after all, sure she may have been the first to tell him to fly straight, but he had Naomi and Satoshi now."But my support doesn't even compare to how cruel I've been to you," she said slowly and carefully. She didn't want her emotions making her fly off the handle. "Maybe I was necessary during those times, but you've found your footing. You'd be better off just letting these ties stayed cut," she told him frankly, her voice threatening to tighten but she fought it away. She didn't want them to never talk or see each other again, but it felt like the only thing she could do. She was glad her words had impact on him, but she had a feeling her abandonment of him left a much greater one.

Yoshiki glanced at her, a little disheartened that Ayumi was sounding like she didn't want to be friends anymore... He guessed he could see where the guilt was coming from, but she was a good friend. He had always really enjoyed her company... The good times far outweighed the bad, especially now that she was torturing herself for stuff she did in the past. Yeah, a part of him was always bitter, but he knew better than to blame her. Her true personality wasn't how she pictured herself... "That's not true... I still need you... and I still want you in my life. You are a good friend, you're just torturing yourself over what happened... Really, it's my fault too. This whole mess couldn't be created by just one person... Technically... I was using you to indulge my own desires that were otherwise impossible to fulfill. And then... I got sucked into being so convinced by the stuff you said when you were drunk... It was stupid, and it put you on the spot," he said somewhat urgently, not wanting their ties to be cut at all, "I don't want our ties to be cut... Isn't that the important part? That I don't want separation?"

Ayumi's eyes slowly drifted up to look at him as he spoke. She was conflicted on what to say, there was so much. She didn't want the separation either... so, should that be it? But, what he said just wasn't sitting right with her. Yes, it took two, but the idea he used her was ridiculous. "You never used me, Kishinuma. I was the one who initiated that and made it become what it did. And..." Her hand grasped over the other tightly. "I knew how you felt before getting into it... or rather, I had an idea. I manipulated you. Of course you were going to be sucked into what I was doing and saying. I should have backed off after that first night when I realized... but I didn't." She felt disgusted with herself. He claimed he used her, but he's never done anything of the sort.

"And I knew you didn't feel the same way. I knew what I was getting into. Feelings or not, I'm still responsible for agreeing to the whole thing," Yoshiki insisted, not liking how his choice was being overwritten just because he liked her. Yeah, it did fog his judgement... But he let that happen. It was his own fault, and he wouldn't let her shoulder his choice as well as her own. It wasn't fair, and didn't match up with how he thought. He was responsible for everything he did and said... He had known the whole time she didn't like him back, until that stupid drunken night. No one but him would take ownership of his actions.

Ayumi couldn't help but feel she had forced him into those choices. She just felt like she had a power over Yoshiki that she had abused, but she guess she may be giving herself too much credit. She still had a hard time believing he wasn't angry at her or just wanted her to stay out of his life. He wanted her back, after she had abandoned him. "Kishinuma... I don't feel like I deserve you," she said, because she had no other argument than how she felt. Yes, they were two adults who agreed to a certain type of relationship, but she was the one who crossed all the lines. She had broken most the rules she had created...

Yoshiki waited for her answer, but was only met with a new road block. She had been avoiding him all this time because she felt ashamed... He guessed he could relate... but she shouldn't be running herself in the mud. When she spoke again, he frowned, glancing up to meet her eyes again. "This isn't about 'deserving'...," he told her, his look growing more solemn than irritated, "I was a misfit who didn't even have faith in myself. I wasn't even looking for help, because I thought like everyone else did. I was ready to break Tsubota's nose before you came. So... I'd say I didn't deserve you in the first place... But... you still helped me, right? You told me I could make it past high school, and then later college... I'm still a pathetic delinquent that doesn't deserve help... but that doesn't matter, as long as someone cares enough to help... Deserving doesn't matter. Deserving is based on the past, and that's not important anymore..."

Ayumi stared at Yoshiki in disbelief, unsure if she followed his logic correctly. He was so willing to just forget everything that went on between them, at least, that's how it sounded to her. Maybe the concept of 'deserving' someone was inherently flawed. She let out a shaky breath, shaking her head lightly at him. "I really... don't understand you," she frowned, her eyes narrowed. She never understood him. Yoshiki was an enigma to her. No matter how poorly she treated him, he kept coming back. "I never have, and I don't think I ever will." Anyone else would have bailed by now. He had to be completely nuts to still want anything to do with her. Keitaro knew to bail when her nasty side started to show up, yet Yoshiki doesn't even care what she's done. He just wants them to have some sort of relationship again.

Yoshiki stared at her, at first he didn't know how to respond. Well... he guessed he wasn't all that easy to understand... Especially when he could clearly vocalize how he felt... But, it was another detail he didn't care about. "Maybe not... But do you really have to?" he asked with a small shrug, still trying to get her to say they could at least be friends again. He didn't like being apart from her... It was killing his spirit.

Ayumi felt nervous, her stomach fluttering as they made eye contact. She couldn't believe they've lost half a year... though, she wasn't sure how she would keep up a friendship so well with these new feelings. "I suppose not," she agreed lightly. She wasn't sure if anybody could really understand another person fully. "But..." she mumbled, looking aside as her cheeks warmed, "I would like to." It felt embarrassing to say, but she didn't think it was overly revealing... Well, she didn't know how he'd interpret her. All she knew was, if Yoshiki was so willing to let her back into his life, she would take the chance.

Yoshiki smiled softly as she seemed give up her ridiculous idea of deserving. So... were they friends again? Neither one held any ill will towards the other... so he didn't see why not... His mood was already heightened immensely, his smiles no longer fake or forced. But as her head turned and she spoke again, his mind stalled. He thought he saw red on her cheeks, too... No!... No, that stupid hope is what started all this. He'd just take it as a verbal confirmation that their relationship was fixed. "Mm, me too... At least, know you better," he replied, not really believing that he could fully understand anyone, especially Ayumi.

Ayumi looked up at him with a soft smile, feeling a weight finally lift off of her from the past half year. She was beginning to wish they had spoken sooner... but the time had probably been good for her. Because, she figured something out. She suddenly felt conflicted, unsure if she should even force this ruse. She's never felt so strongly for anyone before... Not her schoolgirl crush on Satoshi or long-standing relationship with Keitaro even compared to what he could do to her heart. Her smile flickered away, a solemn expression taking its place. Did he even feel the same way anymore? "If we're going to rekindle our friendship... we should be honest with each another, right?" she suddenly questioned. Though, the honesty could destroy the little progress they made... No, no matter the outcome, they'd still find a way to be in other's lives. As friends or lovers, she wasn't sure, but she knew they wouldn't allow distance to form again.

Yoshiki instantly became alert at her switch of expression, his own smile flickering away with concern. As she finally spoke, his brow furrowed lightly. He didn't know what she would have to share... But, if she wanted to tell him, she could. "I guess... if you want... I mean, friends can have secrets, but if you want to say something I'll listen," he told her, a little confused. But, now that they were okay again, his demeanor was more normal and his tone was more relaxed. He felt as if the last half year had just been a bad dream... And that's all he could see it as. He couldn't let the past weigh him down.

Ayumi was amazed at how easily Yoshiki slid back into how they had been. It felt like he had hardly changed in their lost time, which was a great relief. Maybe that meant his past feelings for her were still in tact. She nodded slightly, trying to muster the strength and courage to just confess. Even if she could keep it a secret, she didn't want to. "I didn't lie to you that night," she said, looking at him with a controlled expression. She knew she didn't have to specify anything... That night where they confessed and just laid together in bed in blissful warmth. The night before she ran away. Even though she didn't realize her drunken words were the truth at the time, she slowly came to the conclusion that she was being dishonest to herself to deny what had happened.

Yoshiki fell silent, at a loss for words. He could even hardly think. She... didn't lie?... Meaning... they weren't just empty words, that it wasn't just because she was drunk? He would be cautious, but nothing about her demeanor told him she was drunk now, and... she would never joke about this. But he didn't know how to respond... He had that fluttering feeling still, and his heart was excited at the confession, but his mind had been pulled through a lot of corkscrews. After a moment of thought, he took a small, quiet breath to still his heart. "R... Really?" he stuttered out. It wasn't that he doubted her... but then he noticed it sounded like it, and how huge an insult it was. He... just didn't know what to say... He was stuck. "I mean... I...," he mumbled, feeling increasingly nervous, "I didn't... either..."

Ayumi flinched lightly as he questioned her, but he quickly began mumbling and stumbling over his words, so she took it that she took him off guard. She couldn't blame him for the less than articulate response. After all, how she had left, he probably thought what she had said had been the words of the alcohol. She stood off the bench, smiling shyly as she realized she didn't know what to say or do past that. Though, she had to note to herself that a nervous Yoshiki was very cute. "I never thought you did," Ayumi admitted. Yoshiki had been sincere that night. Even with the drunken haziness surrounding the memory, she knew he had been honest with her.

Yoshiki smiled nervously at her, but was unsure of a next step. All of what happened made this so complicated... He knew he wanted to be with her still, though... After all, if her drunk-self had been telling the truth, then all that warmth and happiness wasn't a lie either. Ayumi must have just been panicked... and now she knew how she really felt? It would be a nice change... from his life of being alone. "So... what now?" he asked, since he had no idea what the next step to take was. He was still nervous and awkward, making him fidget a little with his hands in his pockets. After all, he was still new to actual love, so it was easy for his cheeks to warm.

Ayumi felt a similar nervousness, since the relationship has developed... well, oddly. Their first step had been sleeping together, so the progress felt a little off already. Plus, they were jumping into the relationship already in love and already close friends. "Well, uh," she mumbled lightly. Her one hand kept twirling at the ring on her other hand to try and rid herself of some jittery energy. "I guess... maybe we could go on a date?" she suggested with a flushed face. It felt a little weird to suggest, but at the same time, that would be the best place to start, right? She wasn't sure where they should pick up, but honestly whatever they chose to do would be fine with her. Whether they fell back to living together or just started off with a clean slate, she was just glad to be back with Yoshiki.

Yoshiki looked at her, then looked away shyly. "Uh, I guess... But... ahh... Do you... want to move back in?" he asked bluntly, but his eyes were toward the ground, and his foot couldn't help but tap nervously against the ground, "I... still have that key... I-if you're interested..."Their relationship was already all over the place... They could technically start anywhere, and it wouldn't be any weirder than what they've already escalated to. Plus, he didn't mean to jump to sex again... He sort of wanted to hold off on that, but he really liked her company...

Ayumi looked at him curiously, unused to seeing Yoshiki act so shyly. Her eyes widened at his sudden offer, her heart jumping into her throat. While the idea had passed her mind, she hadn't expected him to offer it so quickly. She had enjoyed living with him... it seemed like a better place for them to start than a simple little date, given their feelings for each other. She was just surprised he was willing to share his home with her so quickly, since her previous stay had only been planned as a temporary thing. Either way, no matter the details that jumped around her mind, she found herself very much wanting to do it. She smiled at him, beaming at the idea. "Yes, I'm definitely interested," she told him genuinely, on board with the idea completely.

Yoshiki raised his head at her answer, unable to hold back a smile. He gave a small, nervous life, but was ultimately happy. "Great...," he muttered with a soft smile, then glanced back down the hallway. He then remembered they were technically there for their friends, but here they were worrying all about themselves on their big day... Most would probably call it rude, but he knew Satoshi would've killed him had he not resolved everything with Ayumi. He turned back to Ayumi, stepping closer and grabbing her hand. "C'mon... Today's not our day, now is it?" he asked with a raised brow.

Ayumi felt her entire body react to the simple gesture of holding hands. She smiled at him, her stomach fluttering making her giddy. "It isn't...," she agreed. Now that he was closer, she leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on his lips. She pulled back and smiled at him lovingly. "Our day will come later," she said softly. If he hadn't just asked her to move in, that might have been quickly overstepping a boundary... but, it didn't feel misplaced to say. It felt like a fact that they'd end up here.