About Love: Chapter 2

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From deep within the examination room, the sound of a child crying echoed once again. It was truly a wretched wail. Across from him, Sasagawa gently placed a hand on his right cheek and let out a small sigh.

"Going to the dentist is unpleasant no matter how old you get, isn't it?"

"It really is. I've been coming here for three months now, but not once have I ever looked forward to it."

Sasagawa’s eyes widened in surprise. Unsure why he had elicited such a reaction, Asaka tilted his head.

"…That sounds rough, having to go for so long."

Only after hearing those words did it finally dawn on him—most people don’t spend three whole months visiting the dentist.

"I just have a lot of cavities. My upper teeth, my lower teeth, and even my wisdom teeth... People always laugh at me for it. They say, 'What are you, some kid who doesn’t know how to brush his teeth properly?'"

As he spoke, Sasagawa brought a hand to his mouth, his shoulders shaking slightly with laughter. The corners of his eyes drooped just a little more than before.

"Ah, no, I’m sorry for laughing. It’s just… Back when you were handling our wedding, you were always so impeccably dressed in a suit, and the contrast is just—"

If possible, Asaka would have preferred for Sasagawa to remember only that polished, professional version of himself. But it was far too late for that now.

The cuckoo clock on the waiting room wall let out a single bong. It was already 8:30p.m. Perhaps the child’s treatment was taking longer than expected—his turn was slightly delayed.

"If you’re home late, won’t your wife be lonely?"

At Asaka’s words, Sasagawa looked momentarily caught off guard.

"Ah… well, yes, I suppose so."

"You mentioned she’s good at cooking, didn’t you? As someone who still survives on convenience store meals, I can’t help but be envious."

"That’s true. Compared to when I was single, I probably eat a much more balanced diet now."

As Sasagawa spoke, he gently rubbed the wedding ring on his left ring finger. A small, absentminded gesture—but to Asaka, it felt like a glimpse into the quiet affection Sasagawa held for his wife.

"Actually, Haruka and I talked about going to thank you together sometime. But we just never found the right opportunity."

"Oh, please, you don’t need to go out of your way for that. If anything, I should be the one apologizing… for making such a huge blunder."

The moment he said it, the nightmare of stepping on the bride’s dress flashed through his mind.

Sasagawa tilted his head slightly and gave a small smile.

"Even if it was work, you treated us with sincerity. My wife and I still appreciate that."

The examination room door swung open. A child emerged, crying loudly, and in exchange, Asaka’s name was called.

"Ah, well then, if you’ll excuse me."

He stepped into the room and settled into the treatment chair. Asaka found himself recalling the day, three years ago, when he had started working at Dragée.

His mother had tearfully protested, "A job like that—it’s for women…!" His father had refused to speak to him for a while. His older sister hadn’t said anything outright, but she certainly hadn’t raised her hands in approval, either.

He had pushed through their opposition and chosen this path. Not once had he regretted it. Even after making a catastrophic mistake at the wedding, there were still people who expressed their gratitude to him. A warmth spread in his chest, trickling all the way to his fingertips.

By the time Asaka finished his treatment and stepped out of the examination room, Sasagawa was sitting in one of the chairs further inside. He recognized him instantly—his feet, larger than most, stuck out noticeably from the chair.

After settling his bill, Asaka found himself checking the schedule with the receptionist as he arranged his next appointment. On impulse, he asked:

"When will Sasagawa-san be coming in next?"

The receptionist blinked. "Oh, is he an acquaintance of yours?"

He nodded.

"Let’s see… Sasagawa-san booked his last two appointments for Wednesdays at eight, so he’ll probably come around the same time next week."

With that in mind, Asaka scheduled his next appointment for Wednesday at 7:30 before stepping out of the clinic.

During the day, the asphalt had been so hot it felt as if it might melt—but at night, the air was unexpectedly cool, a quiet reminder that September had arrived.

A faint breeze drifted through the office district. For a moment, he thought he heard the soft chime of wind bells.

Turning his head slightly, he glanced back. Then, alone on the street, he let himself hum a tune, his steps light as he made his way toward the station.

◇:-:◆:-:◇

That morning, Asaka had spent time speaking with two young clients—one nineteen, the other twenty-two. By the time he returned from the consultation room to the office, having run slightly over the scheduled time, it was exactly noon.

His next appointment wasn’t until 1:30 in the afternoon. Figuring he should take the opportunity to grab lunch now, he reached for his wallet from the bag beside his desk—just as Kohara returned from outside.

"Oh my, Asaka. Are you heading out for lunch?"

"Yes."

"I’ll come with you. There’s something I want to talk about, too."

With his boss—an "angel" in front of clients, a "demon" in the workplace—by his side, Asaka stepped out of the office.

The air was dry, yet the harsh sunlight stung his eyes. He hadn’t even walked a few meters before beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

They entered a small restaurant nearby. The moment they sat down, Kohara let out a long sigh.

"Seriously, it’s almost October, and it’s still this hot. It’s unbearable."

She ran a hand through her long, straight hair, furrowing her brows in irritation. Reaching for the glass of water that had just been set down, she took a sip before speaking again.

"By the way, how were the clients this morning?"

Asaka recalled the girl with dyed brown hair, her face darkened from the sun except for the area around her eyes, and the young man wearing a bold-patterned shirt with a piercing in his lip.

"Well… Neither of them seem to have a solid grasp of reality yet. I don’t think they have a clear image in their minds. But depending on how things go, it could turn into something interesting."

Kohara chuckled. When she laughed, fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes, suited to her age.

Dressed in a sleek, well-fitted suit, she carried an air of sophistication. She was undeniably beautiful. Looking at her now, it was hard to believe she was approaching forty. The fact that she was also a mother of two elementary school children made it all the more surprising.

"I was debating whether to assign them to Takahashi-chan or you," she said. "But I’m glad I chose you. Some staff get put off by clients with a… unique vibe, but you tend to find them entertaining."

Their lunch—hot sandwiches—arrived.

Kohara was particularly fond of the hot sandwiches at this restaurant, and she bit into hers with obvious delight.

"Maybe it’s the difference between men and women. We tend to plan things in meticulous detail from the bride’s perspective, but you, Asaka, you’re bold. You come up with ideas no one’s ever thought of before and actually make them happen. When you get clients who want something unconventional, you really get to showcase your strengths."

Being praised felt good. Maybe she had some expectations for him after all.

"Oh, that reminds me—I ran into Sasagawa-sama at the dentist last week," Asaka said.

Kohara paused, setting her fork down after taking a bite of salad.

"Sasagawa-sama… You mean the first client you ever organized? The one whose bride’s dress you stepped on—"

Asaka gave a wry smile, and Kohara quickly apologized.

"Ah, sorry. You still think about it, don’t you?"

"It’s fine. I actually consider it a valuable learning experience now. I only saw the husband, but he seemed to be doing well. Since I’ll probably see him again this Wednesday, I was thinking of sending them flowers. Their anniversary is coming up, after all..."

Kohara’s expression immediately darkened.

"That’s… not something I’d recommend."

Her tone was unusually strict.

"You know the rule—unless the client reaches out to us first, we don’t get involved. One in two marriages ends in divorce these days. Just because they were at the peak of happiness last year doesn’t mean they still are now. If a couple whose love has cooled suddenly receives a ‘congratulations’ from us, all we’re doing is making them uncomfortable."

Kohara was right. Asaka understood that well enough.

"We only talked briefly, but they seemed to be doing fine. I’d never send a gift if I thought it was a bad idea," he said, standing his ground.

Still, Kohara’s stern expression didn’t waver.

"I don’t have the right to tell you not to do it," she said at last, though her tone remained disapproving.

From that point on, the meal became awkward. Conversation dwindled, and Asaka pretended to focus on his food.

As she sipped her post-meal coffee, Kohara murmured, almost to herself, "Sasagawa-sama, huh…"

"Sasagawa-sama left an impression on me too. Not just because of the trouble, but… how should I put it? There was something about those two that felt off to me."

From Asaka’s perspective, they had seemed like the ideal married couple—considerate of each other, affectionate, perfectly in sync. That was why, if anything, Kohara’s words felt out of place.

"Of course, this is just my personal impression," she continued. "They were both kind and gentle people. But the bride… she didn’t seem enthusiastic about the wedding. Almost indifferent. That always stuck with me. At the same time, I didn’t get the sense that she lacked love for her husband. That’s what made them such a strange couple to me."

The planning had gone almost too smoothly for a first-time project. If her lack of strong preferences had simply been due to her indifference, that would make sense. But Asaka didn’t want to believe that was the case.

Kohara finished the last of her coffee.

"It’s all just speculation, of course. The only way to know the truth would be to ask them directly. But if they’re still doing well as a couple, then that’s good. Sasagawa-sama was a special client for you, after all. Do as you like. Just make sure this is the only time."

◇:-:◆:-:◇

Asaka never caught sight of Sasagawa in the waiting room. When he finished his treatment and went to pay, he asked the receptionist, "Is Sasagawa-sama here today?"

"He's in the middle of treatment right now," the receptionist replied.

Asaka stepped out of the dental clinic and descended the stairs. Outside, the rain was relentless, pounding down as if trying to drown the world. He peeked into the bag in his hand—a small bouquet, arranged by a florist he often worked with. When he mentioned that it was a wedding anniversary gift and that he intended to give it to the husband first, she had thoughtfully placed the bouquet in a washi paper bag. “Some men don’t like carrying flowers around,” she had said.

Now, Asaka stood in front of a closed-down mobile phone shop on the first floor, waiting for Sasagawa to come out. He watched the downpour, wondering if Sasagawa would mind carrying the bouquet home in this weather. Every time he heard footsteps descending the stairs, he looked up—only to find it wasn’t him.

He had been waiting for nearly thirty minutes when another set of footsteps echoed down. A long, broad shadow stretched across the floor. Sasagawa, slightly hunched forward and holding an umbrella in one hand, reached the bottom of the stairs and stopped when he spotted Asaka standing in front of the shuttered store.

"We meet again," he said with a friendly smile. "Are you here for an appointment, Asaka-san?"

"No, I’ve already finished my treatment."

Sasagawa glanced briefly outside at the heavy rain.

"Are you waiting for someone to pick you up?"

"No..."

He tilted his head slightly but didn’t press further.

"Actually, I just finished my dental treatment today," Asaka said.

"That’s great," Sasagawa replied. Despite the torrential rain, his expression looked strangely refreshed.

They exchanged a few casual words while Sasagawa’s gaze, set higher than Asaka’s, kept checking the rain outside. Asaka stole another glance into the paper bag in his hands. Would giving flowers on a day like this just be a nuisance? His fingers hesitated, fidgeting with the handle. But he knew there was no point in taking them back home—and he would probably regret it if he didn’t give them now.

Thinking of him as someone he would never meet again cleared his doubts. Asaka suddenly held out the paper bag to Sasagawa.

"It might be an inconvenience on a day like this, but please accept this."

Sasagawa took the bag, peeked inside, and then looked at Asaka with a curious expression.

"If I remember correctly, this Sunday is your wedding anniversary. Please accept this as a small token."

His eyes widened in surprise, then gradually narrowed, until his entire face lit up with a smile.

"That’s right... You actually remembered. Thank you. I’m sure my wife will be happy."

He bowed deeply.

"Please don’t worry about it. It was just something I wanted to do. Well then..."

Overcome by embarrassment, Asaka turned and stepped forward without thinking.

"Asaka-san, watch out—"

He barely registered Sasagawa’s words before it was too late. He collided head-on with a stout middle-aged woman entering from outside.

Due to the weight difference, Asaka was the one who bounced back, landing squarely on his rear.

"What on earth? You startled me!"

The woman placed a hand on her chest and spoke in an irritated tone.

"I-I’m terribly sorry!"

Asaka scrambled to his feet and bowed reflexively—apologizing had become second nature from his work in customer service. The woman gave him a sharp glare before dramatically turning away with a huff, stomping up the stairs with heavy footsteps.

"Are you alright?"

Even Sasagawa’s concern only deepened Asaka’s humiliation. He had planned to simply hand over the flowers and leave discreetly, yet here he was, making a complete fool of himself.

"I apologize for the embarrassing scene," he said with a forced smile, his voice barely above a whisper.

Unable to bear the awkwardness any longer, he finally turned to leave—only for Sasagawa to stop him with a hesitant, "Um..."

"If you don’t mind, could I have your business card again? You gave me one last year, but I seem to have misplaced it."

The unexpected request caught Asaka off guard. He had no idea why Sasagawa would want his business card now, after all this time.

"Am I troubling you?"

Sasagawa’s expression turned slightly uncertain at Asaka’s lack of response.

"Ah, no, not at all."

He hurriedly fished a business card from his bag. Sasagawa handed him his own in return. Even as they exchanged cards, Asaka knew it was nothing more than a polite gesture. He would never contact him, and Asaka wouldn’t reach out either. Yet, he felt certain that he would never forget the name printed on the card—Sasagawa Yoshirou.

"This might be a strange thing to say after all this time, but... Sasagawa-sama, you were my first client when I became a bridal coordinator."

His gaze met Asaka’s directly.

"It was my very first job, and I knew I couldn’t afford to fail. But I made a huge mistake. Back then, I seriously thought about quitting. But you and your wife never blamed me—not even once. Instead, you showed me kindness and gratitude. Because of that, I found the resolve to keep going, to work harder."

As his words trailed off, the sound of the relentless rain seemed even louder.

And suddenly, he wondered—perhaps to this man, his personal struggles meant nothing at all. As long as the wedding went well, it didn’t matter whether the coordinator was a rookie or a veteran. It was only now that he truly realized it.

"We were the ones who were grateful. You took care of us with such kindness and dedication. Thank you."

With those words, he extended his right hand.

The moment Asaka grasped it, a deep warmth spread through his chest, trembling like a quiet flame.

Even after Sasagawa disappeared into the rain, that warmth refused to fade.

As Asaka stepped into the downpour, his heart felt weightless. A fragment of an old song surfaced in his mind, and he hummed it softly. He wasn’t elegant enough to say he was enjoying the rain—but in his heart, the sky was as clear and blue as a perfect sunny day.

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