The nurse's station echoed with animated voices, excitement reverberating through the air. Amidst the squeals and cheers, she couldn't help but wonder if someone's birthday was being celebrated. As far as she could remember, there was no birthday today.

Intrigued, she hurried towards the source of the commotion. Behind the elegant, curved desk, a group of nurses had gathered. They encircled Takeuchi, who blushed under the shower of congratulations.

She joined them with a curious, "What's happening here?"

"Ah, Nishii-san!" Matsuo, a recent addition to the team, gestured her to join the happy crowd. "Takeuchi-san is getting married!"

Hana Takeuchi's face glowed with a rosy hue as she smiled bashfully.

"Congratulations, Takeuchi! That's fantastic news!"

"Thank you, Nishii-san," Takeuchi blushed, a radiant smile gracing her face.

Cheers erupted once more, and a wave of joy swept through the room. Takeuchi, a bright, amiable, and gentle young woman, had always left everyone wondering why she hadn't tied the knot yet. Whispers of rumors surrounding her and Maeda-sensei, a senior doctor in internal medicine, added to the mystery. The fact that Maeda-sensei often entrusted his patients to Takeuchi's care had fueled some nasty speculations. But this news would finally settle the gossip, she thought, feeling relieved.

"Can we all join you at the ceremony?" she asked.

"It'll be in Niigata, my hometown," Takeuchi replied. "I'd be thrilled if all of you could be there."

"Of course! But no one will guard the nurse station here on that day," joked Ichida, a plumpy senior nurse, rather ironically. Laughter filled the room.

"What about the wedding party?" Matsuo continued. "Will that also be in Niigata?"

"Yuta and I – my partner – both work here, in Tokyo," Takeuchi answered with a grin. "Our friends and colleagues mostly live here too, so it only makes sense to have the wedding ceremony in Tokyo."

"We're going!" announced Miura-san. Everybody cheered.

They shared a moment of joy, the bonds of friendship uniting us. Ichida-san playfully chimed in, "You need to book a bigger wedding hall, Takeuchi. We're all gonna be there!"

Laughter echoed once more. Takeuchi's closest friends gave her playful nudges and wrapped their arms around her. Overwhelmed with emotion, Takeuchi shed a tear or two. She cupped his cheeks, blinking in disbelief. "I still can't believe that I'm getting married!"

...

"I can't believe you're getting married!"

Midori squealed and tugged at my hand.

"Me too!" I exclaimed. We both clambered onto the bed, bouncing up and down like giddy teenagers. I swayed and accidentally bumped into Midori, and we both fell onto the bed, erupting into laughter.

"Tell me again how he proposed!" Midori urged. "Did you say that Felix-san knelt in the harbor and proposed to you? That doesn't sound very romantic!"

"I had no idea he would do it like that. I was genuinely surprised because as soon as he stepped off the ship, he immediately knelt in front of me and handed me the ring."

"In front of a crowd?"

"Yes. His first words were, 'Aiko, will you marry me?'"

We both screamed again and rolled around until we tumbled onto the floor. I was filled with happiness. Felix and I had known each other for a year: the first six months were spent as close friends. When he returned to Yokohama six months ago, he asked if I wanted to be his girlfriend, and I said yes. During that period, he stayed for a month before setting sail for India. The next three months were marked by long-distance dating, followed by two brief weeks of reunions in Yokohama, and three months of traveling to Canada.

Despite the distance, we talked almost every day through telephone calls. Thanks to our regular chats, Felix's Japanese had improved. We exchanged letters and photos too. After a few weeks, I was certain he was the right man for me.

"Since you two have decided to tie the knot, does that mean you're going to live together with him in Indonesia?" Midori asked.

"I heard it's really hot there. Felix mentioned it's even hotter than Okinawa. But I've been living in a Japan my whole life. A change of scenery might be a nice, don't you think?"

"Hmm," Midori pouted. "So you're gonna leave me alone, huh! If I hadn't suggested teaching Felix to use chopsticks, you two might not be heading down the aisle!"

"Well, why don't you date someone too?"

"Who? The cash register?"

"Sorry!" I laughed. "You can come with us. Maybe we can settle in Bali."

"Sounds great," Midori sneered. "Or you could just stay in Yokohama."

"We haven't decided on that yet, but don't worry. You're my most trusted advisor, and I'll definitely listen to your opinion!" I playfully hit Midori's face with a pillow, and she responded with a hand fan. "Now, as my advisor, I need your help to choose the perfect dress for tonight."

"Oh?" Midori gaped. "What's the occasion?"

"Felix is coming to my house!" I exclaimed, my excitement evident. "He's going to ask my parents for permission to marry me!"

...

That evening, I wore my finest dress. Midori curled my hair into a more polished look and put on a light layer of makeup. She lent me her stockings and taught me to sit properly.

Felix donned a striking blue shirt, proudly identifying it as a batik, a traditional fabric from his homeland. Intricate cloud motifs adorned the fabric, adding an elegant touch. His face was cleanly shaven and his hair was styled. He was ready.

Midori drove us to my family's residence in Mihocho, West Yokohama. While Father owned a three-story house near Kanagawa University, Midori and I resided in one of our family's smaller apartments around the harbor, managing Father's several supermarkets.

I wondered how my parents would react. I had informed them about this visit, but hadn't told them about the purpose. They remained unaware of my relationship; this would be my first time introducing a man to them. Sensing my apprehension, Felix reassured me that everything would go smoothly. We hadn't done anything crazy; no unexpected news, no impending parenthood, and Felix was certainly not a rogue. With his stable job, he assured me he could contribute to our family's well-being in the future. Our purpose tonight was simple: seeking my parents' blessing for our impending marriage.

"We love each other," Felix said, holding my hand as we approached the house. "That's the most important thing."

I nodded, repeating the sentence to myself. We love each other.

We received a warm welcome. Father and Mother smiled kindly and inviting us straight into the family room. Keiko, my little sister, offered Midori to greet Grandma—a move that was clearly intentional.

We sipped tea and enjoyed snacks. Even though I had only informed them this morning, Mother was well-prepared. She served pudding, steamed bread, and her signature cheesecake.

"So... Felix-san," Father set down his fork after we exchanged pleasantries about how things were going. "What brings us this honor?"

It was Father's way of asking our intention. He belonged to the group of people from the past who never openly expressed their true intentions. Mother did too. Though it was merely a matter of politeness, I feared Felix might not understand it.

"Thank you for hosting me," Felix said politely. "Today, I came to Nishii-sama's house to propose to your daughter, Aiko."

Felix seemed to grasp what Father meant. His Japanese was fluent; he had practiced his words before coming. The use of "sama" was a bit much, but I noticed Father was smiling, seemingly impressed.

"Proposing, I see," Father said slowly. "But Aiko is still a child. She's only twenty-two years old. Being a good housewife requires a long years of training."

What he meant: 'Aiko is too young to get married.' I glanced at Felix.

"We've known each other for a year," Felix stated. "I feel Aiko is the right woman to be my wife."

Mother waved her hand jokingly, then laughed. Father poured more tea into Felix's cup, which he only sipped lightly. I couldn't help but laugh, joining in on this tedious small talk. Our family clung to the intricacies of traditional Japanese manners.

"If Nishii-sama agrees, I intend to marry Aiko," Felix repeated.

Mother looked down and pretended to smooth the ribbon at the edge of her spotless blouse. "But is Felix-san the right husband for Aiko?"

Felix was stunned. He turned to me, waiting for my answer.

"I love Felix with all my heart," I said, looking at Mother. But she continued to avoid my gaze, intentionally or not. "I want to marry him."

"It's best not to rush into decisions," Mother calmly suggested.

Felix swallowed hard, understanding my mother's concern. He looked doubtful for a moment but quickly firmed up his resolve. "I promise I will make Aiko happy."

Father patted the edge of the table. "Aiko, you're happy already, aren't you?"

"Father and Mother have taken good care of me," I said carefully. This conversation seemed to be escalating, and I didn't want to upset my parents. "But I'd be happier if I were allowed to marry Felix."

"Oh, please excuse her! She's a real joker!" Mother looked up and placed her hand on the back of mine, pressing it slightly as a sign to be quiet. "Flowers will die if planted in dry soil. Gold will melt if thrown into the fire. Bringing together two things that don't deserve to be together is a waste. Don't you agree, Felix-san?"

"But Mother—"

"Aiko," interrupted Dad, looking at me sharply after briefly smiling at Felix. "I should have told you earlier, but I've set up a meeting for you with Yugawa-san tomorrow. His first son just returned from New York, he's a banker—"

My anger flared. "I won't marry the man you choose!"

"Children often don't know what the best option is for them," Mother said.

"I understand that I come from a different background," Felix said patiently. "But I love Aiko. I'm sure we can overcome all these differences by being open with each other."

Father and Mother exchanged glances, contemplating the teapot as if considering a refill, but Felix's cup remained untouched. Father bit his lip, his gaze fixed on Felix.

"Will Felix-san take the surname Nishii later?" Father asked bluntly.

It was a trick question. If Felix said he didn't mind, Father would likely label him as a weak man submitting to his wife. In a traditional Japanese family like the mine, it was expected for the wife to submit to her husband, not the other way around. I placed my hand on Felix's knee, signaling him to let me take over.

"Felix doesn't have to be Japanese if he doesn't want to," I answered. "And I won't force him. He can still be Indonesian and use his real name."

"After you get married," Father continued, apparently dissatisfied with Felix's silence, "will Aiko be taken to Indonesia?"

"We haven't decided yet," Felix replied, his hands clenched into fists, a sign he was also holding back. "But we will choose the best place for our future family."

"Japan is a great country," the mocking tone in Father's voice was sickening. "Better healthcare, technology, and safer environment. Better education too. There is no reason for Aiko to leave Japan."

"Oh, forgive me, Felix-san. Don't get us wrong," Mother intervened, trying to lighten the mood by handing Felix a cake. "I mean, look at me and my husband. We've been married for twenty-five years, and our marriage has been joyous because we understand each other easily. We have a lot in common. Having similarities is crucial for couples getting married."

"You guys don't agree because Felix isn't Japanese!" I exclaimed.

Father slammed his cup on the table, his anger visible beneath a forced smile. "Japanese should marry fellow Japanese!"

"Please don't make the mistake of judging us like that, Felix-san" Mother urged, still maintaining her pretentious facade of politeness. "My husband and I just want you both to be happy. An unhappy marriage has no meaning, am I right? Please think about that carefully."

"What about work?" Father continued his interrogation unabated by Mother's words of persuasion. "Felix-san mentioned his job was... a sailor?"

"Yes," Felix confirmed. "The salary is sufficient, Nishii-sama, for both me and Aiko."

"Aiko will inherit eight supermarkets from our family business," Father declared. His tone grew harsher, as if he couldn't bear the pretense of friendliness any longer. "She needs a future husband who understands business, not just someone who... knows how to catch fish."

"Felix works for a cargo company," I countered. "He's the captain of a cargo ship!"

"Sea people have nothing to do in the land," Mother chimed in cheerfully.

"I don't want to inherit the business," I argued. "You can give it to Keiko and her future husband later! If Felix's salary isn't enough, I can also look for work myself."

Mother shook her head. "It is the husband's responsibility to provide for the household. The wife's duty is to look after the children and take care of the house. These are the basic rules of marriage, yet you still don't fully grasp that, Aiko."

Dad took a deep breath until his chest puffed out. He stood up and pointed down the corridor toward the exit. Mother also stood up. "It's late. I think Felix-san needs to rest."

I got up and pulled Felix with me. "So you don't approve of us?"

"There are far better options, Aiko," Father declared with finality.

Felix looked devastated. He could only stare at me blankly. I was devastated too. Behind their friendliness and polite attitude, it turned out that my parents harbored such cruel rejection. "It's fine if you don't approve! We'll go!"

"Aiko," Mother smiled at me, but her eyes betrayed tension. "Grandmother needs your help in the kitchen. Please go and see her, will you?"

I stomped toward the porch, but Father grabbed my hand. "You heard your mother! Go to the kitchen! Now!"

"You two can't separate us!" Felix raised his voice and tried to pull me towards him. "We love each other!"

"Sorry, but we can!" Dad snapped fiercely. "We're her parents!"

Mother held me down, but I struggled to get free. Father grabbed the back of my dress and threw me back to Mother. With a thunderous voice, Father forcibly expelled Felix from the house. All the friendliness and courtesy he had previously shown had vanished completely.