Think Of Us Inside After The Wedding

by carrymewithyou

Summary:

Yashiro Nene ends up in a dream she doesn’t want to wake up from.

Notes:

Hi! This is my first fanfic in years. I’m not all that great at writing, but I got inspired so I hope you enjoy it :)!

Nene woke to the sound of rustling fabric.

The world seemed fuzzy for a moment—everything was too white, too bright, as if she woke up on a cloud. Rows of silk and lace adorned the room, it smelt like flowers. Her clothes felt too tight, nothing like her school uniform. Her eyes widen as she looks down.

A wedding dress.

How did she end up in this position? She couldn’t really remember. She wasn’t given time to think either, as a familiar, yet more mature voice flowed through the room.

“Nene-chan, this dress looks so pretty on you!” Aoi clasped her hands together in joy, only to slightly falter after seeing Nene’s indifferent expression. “Nene-chan… do you not like it?”

That finally brought her to her senses, “Wh-what? Oh, I think it’s…” she looked in the mirror, she was taller, her face looked more mature, like she’s grown into her features, “it’s… nice?” 

“Hmm…”

Now that she thinks about it, Aoi also looked different. Her hair was longer, jawline slightly more prominent. Yeah. Okay. She was definitely not in high school anymore. Right, she was in a boundary before this, but there was no water on the floor. Was she in a dream…?

“Oh! What about this one?” Aoi held out a silk dress with star embroidery flowing down into a trail. The hems were completed with lace, it was beautiful. “I think Amane-kun would love seeing this on you.”

Amane… Amane?!

“Eeeh?!” Nene shrieks, causing Aoi to jolt a little in return.

“What, do you not like it? Or do you want something more traditional?” Aoi frowns, putting the dress back up on the hanger.

“Wait!” Aoi looks at her, slightly confused, “what do you mean ‘Amane-kun would like it?’”

Aoi laughs a little bit, “Nene-chan, look at the embroidery,” she pulls the dress off the rack again, holding it out to Nene, “it’s embroidered with star patterns— look! Isn’t that a constellation?”

“…Maybe…?”

“Think about it, Amane-kun would totally pass out if he saw you walk the aisle in this—his two most favourite things together in one place on his special day!”

“Walk the aisle?!” Nene doesn’t even know how wide her eyes widen, it causes Aoi to giggle again.

“Oh Nene-chan, don’t tell me you still can’t believe you’re getting married!” She takes Nene’s hand, holding it up, “I wouldn’t blame you, your engagement ring is to die for.”

A thin silver band, simple and unpolished, with a small moonstone at its center. The gem catches light in pale blues and whites. Around it, tiny engravings of flowers—hydrangeas, subtle and almost invisible unless you look closely—curl along the metal. It’s modest, but soft.

Nene’s face is as red as it could be right now. So she’s getting married to Hanako? Yeah, she was definitely in a dream. But… it felt… nice. Maybe she’ll play along until she wakes up.

“Aha, yeah! He knows me so well…” does he? She doesn’t even know. 

Aoi squeezes her hand, “I’m so happy for you, Nene-chan.” Her heart skips a beat, she really is getting married to Hanako… “But! I think you’re getting tired, maybe we should come back tomorrow?”

“Are you sure, Aoi-chan? You don’t have any plans?” 

“I’d cancel all my plans if it meant helping my best friend prepare for her special day.” She smiles, so softly, like she always does.

“Okay, I’ll meet you here tomorrow then.”

 

---

 

She arrives at an apartment door, unfamiliar but her body led her there. She fumbled with her keys before the door finally unlocked.

“I-I’m home.”

Silence filled the air as she found herself walking into the apartment. It was nice, was this her future? She wouldn’t mind it. It wasn’t until she walked into the bedroom when she finally saw him. 

Amane had fallen asleep on the desk, papers and booklets scattered around him, he looked tired.

He looked older.

Nene froze, not really knowing what to do. Should she sleep on the couch? Should she wake him up? What do they usually do? She thought about it way too much, maybe she was too into this dream. Her thoughts were broken by the sound of a chair moving.

“…Yashiro?” Amane groaned, his mind still half asleep, “you’re home.”

“Hana- Amane! I’m sorry, did I wake you up?” She moved towards him.

“Nah, and I wouldn’t mind if you did.” 

Nene felt her face heat up, she never interacted with Hanako like this. It felt so soft and… nice. 

“A-anyways! Have you eaten yet? You look like you’ve been up all week.” She huffed.

Amane got up and stretched, “Sorry, I still needed to grade these papers.” He looks at her, “I can cook though, if you want.”

“Yeah… I’d like that.”

 

She found herself sitting on the couch, freshly showered, waiting for her fiancé to finish cooking dinner. It’s strange, everything felt so domestic, like it was something they always do. It was straight out of her fantasies—a nice, slow life with a loving partner. She decided to walk over and join him in the kitchen, to indulge herself a bit.

“What are you making?” She peeked over Amane’s shoulder.

“Fried rice, it’s not much, sorry honey.”

Honey?

“E-eh?! No! It’s fine, I don’t mind.” She felt her face heat up like crazy, she was convinced if Amane threw an egg at her it would land on the floor perfectly cooked. “I’m… I’m happy to eat anything you make, Amane.”

He looked at her blankly for a second before landing into a smile, “That’s good then.”

She hovered over him as he continued cooking, her eyes switching between the pan and him. Amane seemed so at peace, nothing like the other versions of him she’s seen before, nothing like Hanako. He didn’t look like he was hiding something, or carrying the weight of two worlds on his shoulders. It made her happy, knowing at least this Amane is living happily. 

“Yashiro? The food’s ready.”

“Oh, right!”

She sat across from him, the fried rice did look really good, who knew he was good at cooking?

“Hmm, you’re not sitting next to me… do you not like the food? Are you mad at me?” Amane frowned.

“H-huh? Of course not!” Nene waves her hands frantically, “what makes you say that?”

“Well…” he looks down at his plate, “you always sit next to me… you say it makes ‘us feel closer.’”

“I do?” Nene tilts her head, “I-I mean, yeah, I just wanted to see your face better today, that’s all.”

Amane nodded slowly as he continued eating his food.

 

Nene was laying in bed now, Amane was sitting next to her, fiddling with some items in his drawer. She watched him, how his face looked serene in the moonlight. She couldn’t help but smile to herself, to look at her ring and back at him. 

“Hey, Yashiro?”

“Hmm?”

He suddenly positions himself on top of her, both hands beside her head. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, Nene thought he looked really, really hot. She tried not to think about how much she was probably blushing right now.

“What’s wrong, Yashiro?”

“H-huh? What do you mean?”

“You seem off today.”

Shit.

Nene gulped, “No… It’s nothing! Seriously.”

Amane didn’t look the slightest bit convinced, “Are you sure?”

“Amaneeeeee…” she broke eye contact, “why do you think I’m upset? I’m fine.”

“Do you want to know why?”

“Yes!” Nene blurts out way too quickly.

“Well…” Amane sits back up, “you didn’t hug me when I woke up, usually you come in screaming ‘baby, I’m home!’ loud enough to wake me up, you didn’t immediately start flaunting about your day, and…”

Nene looks up at him, “…you didn’t kiss me. At all.”

If she wasn’t blushing before, she sure was now. What if he realises she’s not his Yashiro? She needed to think fast.

“U-Uhm well…” Amane stared at her, like he was desperately waiting for an answer, “I just… I went shopping for wedding dresses with Aoi-chan, but I didn't find anything I liked… I guess I’m just upset about that.”

He blinked once, then twice, “Ohh… I see.” He pulls her into a hug, “That must suck a lot, I’m sorry for pushing you so much.”

“Eh? No! It’s fine… and besides…” Nene bit her lip, “if you were so upset about the kiss, you could… Kiss me now.”

She swears she could see him turn red, but the moonlight from the curtains could only help her so much. Before she could even think, she tugged him down onto her lips.

He was warm, so warm. She’s never felt the heat of his body, let alone the warmth of his kiss. Almost on instinct, she parted her lips slightly to let him in. The smell of his shampoo made everything feel real, her heart tightened up as she let the kiss consume her. He held her face in his hands, gently rubbing circles on her cheek as if he was grounding her in place. She opened her eyes slightly, Amane looked peaceful, it only made her fall even more.

His mouth was so soft, she didn’t want this dream to end. But it was only a matter of time before he pulled back to catch his breath. All she could do was smile, “Better?”

“So much better.”

Nene giggled, opening her arms to allow himself in. She really loved how warm he was.

“I’m sure you’ll find the perfect dress soon baby,” Amane said softly, “but I love you no matter what you wear.”

She looked away, “Oh don’t say that.”

“It’s true though!” He smiled, his hands softly guiding her face towards his. She stayed silent, letting herself enjoy the moment. She just hoped he didn’t notice her hugging him harder.

“I want to stay like this forever…” She muttered.

“Well forever is soon, isn’t it?” Amane held up her hand and placed a small kiss on her knuckles, “This ring is a promise from me to you.”

Those words made her heart feel warm, though it stung just a little bit.

 

---

 

Nene woke up to an empty bed, the room was much more minimalistic than what she fell asleep to. Where was she?

There was a frantic knock at her door, “Nene-chan? Are you awake? We have to get you ready!”

“Ah sorry!” She bolted out of bed to unlock the door, after a quick glimpse she realised she’s in a hotel room.

Aoi leaped in to hug her, Nene swore she saw her tear up a bit, “It’s your big day Nene-chan, I’m so so happy for you!”

“Eh?” She tilted her head, was she in a different part of the dream? It must be her—

“Anyways, we have to get you ready for the wedding! Come on!” Aoi grabbed her hand and headed out.

“Ah! Okay, okay!”

 

Her wedding dress somewhat resembled what Aoi recommended at the boutique. The sleeves were longer and so was the trail. It incorporated more lace than the other one, but it still had stars and constellations embroidered onto it, Amane would love this, she thought.

Aoi tapped her shoulder and pointed to the mirror, “How are you feeling, Nene-chan? Nervous? Excited?” She smiled.

Nene couldn’t keep her eyes off the mirror, it was the prettiest she’s ever felt. If this is how she would look in the future, then she could only hope she could see the day again. 

“I feel great, Aoi-chan,” she grinned, “I can’t wait for the ceremony…”

“Don’t worry, you won’t have to wait any longer,” Aoi opened the curtains just a bit, “look, there’s so many people here!”

There were a lot of people, some familiar faces, some Nene had never seen. Maybe they were her future self’s friends, or Amane’s, she wouldn’t know. She got nervous at the thought of talking to them though, how would she pretend to know them even though she doesn’t?

Nevertheless, she was getting married! It’s her big day! Even if it was fake, she should at least enjoy herself. 

 

A bouquet in hand, she gathered the strength to stand behind the door. The ceremony would be starting soon, she could already hear the guests quiet down and the music ring. She tried to calm herself down, breathing in and out to the sounds of the bells. 

When the doors opened, everyone’s eyes were on her. The decorations were lovely, as if handpicked straight from her daydreams. She walked down the aisle slowly, her eyes landing on her fiancé. Amane looked… she couldn’t even find the words for it. He looked so proper, and grown. His suit was perfectly tailored, also having embroidery around his sleeves. She could almost cry.

Before she could reach him, a familiar voice rang from behind her.

“I finally found you.”

Before she could even think, she was being carried. The guests gasped, she could only catch a glimpse of Amane, who looked at her in horror. It was when she finally looked up when she realised—

“Sorry everyone, the weddings called off.” Hanako yelled out, he looked down at Nene, “Sorry I took so long.”

“H-Hanako-kun!” She couldn’t believe it. Nene thought she would at least get to enjoy the wedding a bit more. Right, it was still a dream. It could’ve been a trap. She bit back the tears as best as she could.

 

---

 

Her eyesight was blurry, but it all felt familiar. The cold floor of the bathroom brought her back to consciousness.

“Yashiro! You’re awake!” Hanako sighed in relief, “You’re not hurt in any way, right?”

“N-no…” She looked down, she was somehow still in her wedding dress, but it didn’t fit her like it did before. Her body was back to normal, the dress wasn’t tailored for her high school self.

“That’s good, I was worried you’d get married off!” He laughed, “It’s silly isn’t it?”

Nene could only stare at him, gripping at her dress hard. Yeah, maybe it was silly… but she enjoyed it a lot.

“Anyways you probably have to change out of that dress, don’t worry, I’ll close my eyes!” He covered his eyes, but when he was met with silence, he slowly put his hands down and took a peek.

Nene was crying.

He didn’t know what to do, he just stared at her, opening and closing his mouth afraid to say anything.

“Hanako-kun…” she sniffled, “You couldn’t have waited until the ceremony was over…?”

“Yashiro! I- we don’t know what’s going on, they could’ve hurt you!”

“I know that!” That silenced him. “I-I knew it was going to end… I knew that it was all a dream… but I wanted to get married! If that was the only possible way I’d get married in this life… I would’ve been happy!”

Hanako shuffled closer to her, “You really wanted to get married to me?”

She stopped her sobbing, shooting her eyes towards his, “W-what?”

“Jeez Yashiro, if you wanted to get married so badly, you could’ve asked.”

“Hanako-kun!” She smacked his arm, her voice cracking, “Stop making a joke out of me!”

He pulls back slightly, looking down, fiddling with something. Nene wiped her tears with her palm, afraid to stain her only proof of her almost-wedding. 

Hanako held out his hand to her cheek, brushing his fingers in circles just like Amane did, “I’m sorry Yashiro… I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then how did you mean it?”

He took her hand and slid a ring onto her finger. The ring Amane had given her.

“How did you get that?” Nene said through her sniffles.

“Figured you’d still want it, so I kept it safe for you.”

Nene stared at him. This time, she could really see his face go red. The warmth of the sunlight doing her a favour. It felt close to what she felt with Amane.

“Yashiro…” he started, “I’m sorry for ruining your wedding.”

Her eyes go wide, “N-no, it’s okay! You’re right… it could’ve been dangerous… I should’ve known…”

Hanako pressed his lips onto her knuckles, her palm, kissing her hand as much as he could. It caught Nene off guard.

“Maybe I could… make it up to you…?” He said, almost sheepishly.

Her face goes completely red, “A-and how would you do that?”

Hanako smiled, a faint, boyish smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He shifted closer, their knees bumping on the cold tile floor. The light from the windows casted shadows across the walls, softening the place into something almost warm.

“Well,” he murmured, “I could marry you. Right here. If you want.”

Nene’s breath caught in her throat. For a moment, she could only stare at him. Hanako, the boy who was supposed to be long gone—whose cold hand was only against hers because the dead had their ways of cheating time—had the keys to her heart.

“Th-that’s ridiculous…” she tried to laugh it off, “You’re a ghost, Hanako-kun.”

“I know,” he ducked his head, pressing another quick kiss to her knuckles, “but do you want it, Yashiro?”

“…do you?”

“What if I do?”

Nene’s cheeks burned, she covered her face with her free hand. “…Then I wouldn’t mind it.”

Hanako grinned, the kind of grin that lit up his face and made him look alive. He held her hand against his chest, where she swore she could feel the faintest echo of a heartbeat.

“Okay then,” he whispered, “Yashiro Nene… do you take me—even like this, even if it hurts?”

Nene’s throat tightened, her face burned up. But with all the energy she could muster up, she slipped it out.

“…I do.”

For a second, the two stared at each other, almost in disbelief. Then Hanako leaned his forehead against hers, his smile trembling.

“Then I do too.”

Nene laughed, but it was warm, Hanako could almost feel it.

“Hey, Yashiro?”

“Mm?”

“This is the part where we kiss, right?”

She stares at him, then at his lips, her heart racing too fast. “I guess it is.”

Hanako smiled, leaning up slightly to meet her lips. He was cold, ghosts don’t have any body heat, but Nene doesn’t care. For as long as her heart beats, her heart will be his too.