The first client meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at 2 p.m. Location: Special Reception Room at Hyuga Group Headquarters.
The moment I arrived at the office the next morning, Hise-san told me this without preamble.
"I'm getting nervous already…"
"Don't let your guard down. Our client is the heiress of a corporate group the only daughter of the chairman. A simple, formal greeting won't cut it."
"Y-Yes… I'll do my best."
The little progress I thought we'd made yesterday at the café vanished instantly. Today, she was back in her full professional mode.
2 p.m., the next day.
The special reception room at the Hyuga Group Headquarters looked more like a suite in a luxury hotel than a meeting space.
Plush carpet, a massive wooden table with intricate carvings, and paintings that looked like museum-quality art adorned the walls. The air conditioning was so quiet, I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't consciously paid attention.
"Excuse us. We're from Hyuga Wedding Planning. Thank you very much for taking the time to meet with us today."
"Please, come in."
A graceful voice responded, followed by the soft sound of heels as a woman stood up.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Sara Hyuga."
She looked to be about my age, but the way she carried herself was mature and composed like a stage actress performing a lead role.
"It's an honor to meet you, Miss Hyuga. My name is Kazuki Arita. I'm here to assist with venue design and spatial planning."
"Ufufu, pleased to meet you, Arita-san. A student of architecture? That sounds intriguing."
"Ah, yes, I'll do my utmost to support the project."
"Sara-sama, may I confirm the final details of the ceremony date?" Hise-san spoke calmly, keeping the discussion moving along efficiently.
I sat beside her, silently taking notes as fast as I could.
"The wedding will be held on the last Saturday of July. About 120 guests are expected to attend. The dress will be custom-ordered from Paris. We haven't finalized the venue yet, though."
"What kind of atmosphere are you hoping for?" Hise-san asked.
"Hmm… The theme is 'Love that Stays in Memory.' But I don't want it to be stiff or overly formal. I want something that makes people smile something warm."
"I see… In that case, the garden venue we visited yesterday might be a perfect fit."
"You're right, Arita-kun. Let's gather those materials together later, okay?"
"Yes, absolutely!"
The conversation continued smoothly as we discussed decorations, music, invitation design, catering options everything under the sun.
Then, suddenly—
"Hey, Arita-san. Do you believe in love?"
The question came out of nowhere, and I nearly dropped my pen.
"Eh…?"
"Honestly, I'm kind of scared of it. Because of my family… love has always felt more like an arranged marriage than something emotional. But if nothing else, I want my wedding to reflect what I truly feel inside."
"I… I think it's okay to believe in it."
"Hm?"
"I mean… feelings for someone can take all sorts of forms. But when you choose to believe in them, even just a little, they start to grow stronger."
"…That's a beautiful way to put it."
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Hise-san glance toward me, but her expression was unreadable.
The meeting ended as the sun was beginning to dip low in the sky, casting a soft golden glow through the building's tall windows.
"Good work today, Arita-kun."
"Eh? Ah, thank you. You too."
"You were more capable than I expected. You listened closely to the client's words and made appropriate suggestions. Not bad."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. I've revised my impression of you just a little."
She smiled faintly.
It was such a small smile, but so different from her usual cold demeanor that it made my heart skip a beat.
"From here on out is the real challenge, Arita-kun. Let's create a truly wonderful ceremony together."
"Yes! I'll give it my all!"
What I didn't know then was this:
This wedding wasn't going to be just another assignment.
And slowly, the doors to Hise-san's heart were beginning to open.
[Later That Night]
I sat at my small desk back home, flipping through my notes from the meeting. I couldn't stop thinking about the way Sara Hyuga had asked that question: "Do you believe in love?"
It didn't sound rhetorical. It sounded personal. And when I think about it someone in her position, surrounded by expectations and pre-arranged futures maybe believing in love really was a bold act.
"...A love that stays in memory, huh…"
I muttered the theme aloud. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn't just about the couple. It was about everyone who attended. A moment that would live on not because of how grand it was, but because it was real.
My phone buzzed.
Message from Hise-san:
"Can you meet me in the office 30 minutes early tomorrow? We'll go over venue options before the client follow-up."
A professional tone, of course. But still… a little surprised she wanted to prepare with me.
Reply:
"Got it. I'll be there."
I closed my notebook and turned off the light.
There was a strange warmth in my chest that I couldn't quite name.
[The Next Morning]
I arrived early twenty minutes before the time she requested. And yet, there she was already, reviewing material by the window.
"Morning, Hise-san!"
"You're early."
"Didn't want to risk being late."
She gave a faint nod of approval. No smile this time, but she didn't scold me either.
"I looked over the garden venue layout again." I said, placing the folder in front of her. "I think if we shift the guest seating by ten degrees toward the fountain, we'll catch the best natural light around 3 p.m. in July."
She took a look, tapping her finger thoughtfully against her chin.
"Not bad… That also lets us put the string quartet closer to the center without interrupting flow. Good thinking."
I tried not to grin too obviously.
"Also." she continued, "I sent your sketch of the aisle design to the client last night. She liked it."
"She… did?"
"She said it felt 'like a dream you could walk through.' Her words."
I blinked. Something about that phrase hit me harder than expected.
"Let's aim to make that dream a reality."
"Yes, ma'am!"
She raised an eyebrow. "No need to salute."
We both chuckled. It was small, but it felt like a crack in the wall between us, What I realized then was this, Behind every wedding the laughter, the vows, the flowers and the lights there were hearts holding hope.
Some scared, Some cautious, Some bold enough to believe And maybe… just maybe…This project would change more than one person's future. Maybe it would change mine, too.