The music thumped through the ballroom like a second heartbeat, laughter and cheers echoing against the high ceilings. Koutarou’s groomsmen were trying to start a conga line and a toddler was running away with a floral centerpiece. It was chaos—beautiful, ridiculous, unforgettable chaos.

And Koutarou was thriving. He stood on a chair in the middle of it all, glass raised high, his hair a little mussed from dancing too hard during “Uptown Funk.”

“To my partner—my spouse! My forever!” he shouted, voice cracking with giddy emotion. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive. I’d marry you a thousand times if I could!”

The crowd cheered. Someone hooted. The DJ started another song. But for all his joy, his wide grin faltered the moment he saw you across the room.

You were dancing. Twirling under the golden reception lights, the soft glow catching on your outfit and eyes and smile—and suddenly, everything else blurred. The room quieted, music fading into a muffled hum in his ears. His heart thudded once, slow and thunderous.

You were his. You were married.

He stepped down from the chair, movements dazed and dreamlike. His feet carried him toward you, slow at first, like he couldn’t believe this wasn’t still part of some amazing dream.

“Babe,” he said when he reached you, grabbing your hand and bringing it to his lips. “I know there’s like a million people around us, but…do you feel that?” He placed your hand over his chest. “It’s still going crazy. I don’t think my heart’s calmed down since you walked down the aisle.”

He pulled you close, forehead to yours. “I’ve never felt so lucky. Like the world could end right now, and I’d still be the happiest man to ever live.”

Someone shouted his name from across the room, demanding he return to the dance floor. He laughed against your cheek, eyes shining.

“One sec, I gotta show everyone my new spouse can dance.” He grabbed your hand again and spun you into the crowd, cheers erupting as the two of you danced like it was the last night on Earth.

His tie loosened. His cheeks flushed. His voice hoarse from shouting lyrics and crying during the first dance.

But he was the life of the party, and you were the reason for it all.

This was what love was to him. Loud. Messy. Full of heart. And he wouldn’t change a single second of it…so long as he got to spend it all with you.

And under the soft glow of fairy lights and fading music, Koutarou swore he'd never let that feeling go.