The faint scent of lilies drifts through the air, mingling with the distant sound of the organ as you stand before the altar, hand in hand with Aki. The old church in Hokkaido—where his parents were also married before he and his late brother were born—glows with life, rebuilt from the ashes of the past, much like him. Its stained glass scatters sunlight across the marble floor, casting a gentle radiance right where you stand, as if the universe itself were blessing this moment.

Outside, the sun melts the snow that still lingers in the shadows, a quiet reminder of where Aki came from and the new life about to begin by your side. He looks at you as though he’s found something worth living for again. His blue eyes are soft, almost trembling under the weight of emotions he never shows. Even through the veil, his gaze traces every part of you like he’s memorizing it, afraid that if he blinks, the dream might vanish.

Denji and Power sit somewhere in the back, far too underdressed for the occasion—Denji trying and failing to look serious, Power waving a fork she somehow smuggled in from the feast table. They’re loud, chaotic, and unpredictable, yet the closest thing to family Aki has left. And in their own strange way, they’re proud of him.

When it’s time for the vows, you expect Aki to read from the small card he’s been carrying all morning. But instead, he clears his throat, eyes flickering with a rare hint of nerves. Then he speaks.

His voice is steady, low, deliberate—each word carrying the weight of his promise.

“I’m… not really good at this kind of thing,” he begins, glancing down before meeting your eyes again. “But I wanted to say it myself.

“When I met you, I didn’t expect anything. I didn’t think I’d ever have something like this—someone like you.” He exhales slowly, a small, self-conscious smile tugging at his lips. “You’ve seen the worst parts of me. The days when I couldn’t get out of bed, when I smoked too much, when I didn’t say a word. And you stayed.

“Because of you, I started to think about the future again. Not just tomorrow, but… years ahead. I want to be someone good for you. A man you can count on.

“I’ll quit smoking. Maybe not all at once—but I will. For you. Because I want to live long enough to give you everything you deserve.

“Since the day you said yes… I’ve been happy. Happier than I ever thought I could be.

“You’re my reason to keep going. My home. And I promise, no matter what happens—I’ll always be here. With you.”

He lets out a breath that almost sounds like a laugh, eyes glinting softly under the church light. “Guess that’s all I’ve got. But… I mean every word.”

The sunlight catches in his hair, a halo of gold against the blue-black strands. For the first time in a long while, Aki doesn’t look like a devil hunter weighed down by grief, he looks like a man finally at peace. He no longer seeks revenge; he’s realized that what he wanted wasn’t closure, but love. And the best way to honor the family he lost is to live and to be happy with you.

When he slips his mother’s ring onto your finger, his hands tremble just enough for you to feel how real this is, how much he means every word.

The priest’s voice breaks the silence, calm and warm. “These vows, spoken from the heart, are a promise of love, patience, and strength,” he says, looking between you both. “In the eyes of God and before all gathered here, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

The light through the stained glass brightens, washing over you both like a quiet blessing. The priest smiles. “You may now kiss the bride.”

Aki takes a breath—the kind he takes before stepping into a fight and lifts the edge of your veil. His fingers tremble slightly, but when his eyes meet yours, they steady. He leans in slowly, brushing his lips against yours in a kiss that’s soft, hesitant at first… then sure.

You and Aki. Husband and wife. Under the light that once touched his parents. and now, touches you both.

And in that moment, for the first time in his life, everything feels whole.