Lying is a Sin, A Sin Hanagaki Takemichi Commits Too Often

Perfectly Fine - The Wedding

The ceremony was set to begin in about thirty minutes, both of the brides were in their separate preparation rooms. Takemichi had spoken with several friends and even held a somewhat normal conversation with Hina's father. Mr Tachibana was more than happy to let his beloved daughter marry such a sweet girl over the silly delinquent that Takemichi was. Takemichi didn't bother reminding him that he kinda like gave up that life over ten years ago.

He hadn't run into Mikey, but since he also hadn't seen Izana or Shinichiro since they first got here either, he assumed they were all with Emma. Naoto had a quick conversation with him, checking up on how he was in which Takemichi just smiled and told him to go off to his sister.

As of now, everyone was moving into their seats for the ceremony, as the brides would be coming out soon. There was no clear division between each of the sides since most of the people who knew one of the brides, also knew the other quite well. Takemichi, decidedly sat on Hina's side, Yuzuha, Senju and the Mizo Crew all around him. He saw Shinichiro and Mikey come back and sit on Emma's side, he tried to keep his eyes away from the latter, he couldn't think about Mikey. Instead he took note of the fact that Izana would be the one to walk Emma down the aisle. Naoto joined his side a few minutes later, Takemichi looked at him on confusion,

"I thought you were walking Hina down the aisle," he whispered.

"So did I, but now Dad suddenly decided to be a fatherly figure," Naoto whispered back.

Takemichi didn't know how to respond so he kept quiet, gentle music had begun to play anyway, it was about to begin.

People awed and cooed when Luna and Mana walked down the aisle first, wearing beautiful dresses Mitsuya made himself, gently scattering flowers as they walked. The two were no longer the little girls they used to be, Luna fresh out of highschool and Mana in her second last year, but nevertheless, adorable they were.

Everyone stood in their seats when they caught sight of Emma near the entrance, Shinichiro was already sobbing, Takeomi awkwardly rubbing his back. Mikey was smiling wide at his sister, who looked so beautiful. Takemichi had never seen her dress, it was a different style to Hina's, with it being more close fitting, flowers adorned her purposefully messy bun, her bright honey coloured eyes shining. Izana stood proudly next to her as he walked her down the aisle, arm linked with hers.

They soon reached the altar, Izana pulled her into a tight hug, kissed her forehead before pulling away and joining his brothers in the front seats. A bright smile stretched across Emma's face as she looked straight forward, to the entrance where Hina now stood. Her dress looked even better than when Takemichi had saw it last, a flowy bottom half with intricate flower designs sewn in, an open back and lace front, she truly was breathtaking. Naoto gasped quietly next to him, whispering under his breath what Takemichi could only make out to be how proud of his big sister he was.

Mr Tachibana, once they had reached the altar, smiled gently down at Hina, before turning to Emma, bowing slightly, offering a tight smile and mumbled what Takemichi assumed to be, 'take care of her'.

.

The service had been lovely, both Hina and Emma had written their own vows which made all those around jealous about why couldn't they have such pure love like them. Now, people were talking amongst each other, congratulating the brides, presenting gifts, drinking and eating nibbleies until the main meal was ready.

Takemichi had been drinking wine but when a sharp pain in his head almost made him spill his drink, he switched to water. Takemichi had been talking with Chifuyu and Kazutora when he felt someone latch onto his arm.

"Ah! Mikey-kun!" he yelped in surprise. Mikey smiled up at him teasingly and booped his nose as if he was a small child.

"Takemitchy, it feels like I haven't seen you in forever! I felt like I was going to die if you I went one more day without seeing you," Mikey exclaimed dramatically.

Chifuyu and Kazutora exchanged a look at Mikey's clear love in his eyes and Takemichi's forced oblivious expression. It was so painful to see the two of them react, they had half the mind to just push the two's lips together so that magically all the dancing around each other would just stop and they could be happy together.

Mikey poked his tongue out at Kazutora and Chifuyu from the look they were sending him and dragged Takemichi away. Takemichi just sent them a frantic look, hoping one of them would save him.

.

"Come on Takemitchy, eat it, you're so thin!" Mikey pushed the small sweet to Takemichi's lip, but he shook his head in refusal.

"I'm fine, really Mikey-kun, I don't want to eat too much before dinner."

"Mikey, leave the poor guy alone," Draken mumbled.

Inui chuckled beside him, tucking a loose strand of sunflower blonde hair behind his ear, honestly Takemichi thought this wedding was secretly a meeting to gather literally everyone in his life who could be models. He felt out of place.

"At least have something to drink then Takemichi, you've been so stressed lately," Inui offered.

"I'd rather not make a fool of myself at my best friend's wedding," Takemichi replied.

Mikey gaped, "I thought I was your best friend."

"Mikey-kun, I'm not even your best friend, Draken-kun is. And I have several best friends anyway; Hina, Chifuyu, even though he still calls us partners which when you're adults, sounds like you're in a relationship, but anyway. Uh, Akkun, yeah...Kaku-chan, Kazutora...hmm yeah, but I don't really like to label the level of friendship I have with people. I'm just close with a lot of people."

Draken patted him on the shoulder in a comforting manner which confused him, "You really shoulda just told him he's your best friend, look at him, he looks like a kicked puppy."

'Ah jeez Takemichi, you're hurting him, you're not supposed to be doing that!'

Takemichi smiled at Mikey and took the sweet Mikey had offered him, "Of course, Mikey-kun, you are definitely one of my best friends as well. And I'll have something to eat, since this is so delicious."

It was obvious Takemichi was well, being very obvious to cheer Mikey up, but it worked nonetheless and Mikey perked and once again, latched onto Takemichi, dragging him over to where the appetizers were. All this sudden movement made him feel sick, he definitely needed to make a visit to the bathroom soon before he ended up puking all over the floor.

The lights are too bright, his head feels like it's splitting apart, his stomach is turning in itself and his skin is burning up, but it's alright. Just smile and wave for the rest of the night and everything will be fine.

It will be fine.

It will be fine. Because he's fine.

There's nothing wrong with him.

He doesn't feel as if the tumour is swallowing him inside out.

He doesn't keep having spots of black fill his vision.

He doesn't keep stumbling.

He doesn't feel like he's seeing someone who's not really there, watching him from the corner.

None of that is happening because he's perfectly fine.

Hanagaki Takemichi was, when the times called for it, an excellent liar. Now, was not one of those times.