The First Promise: A Budding Love and a Night Spent Side by Side
A few days after Akio and his five wives affirmed their new way of being a family, the plans Sylvia had suggested—“date days” and a nightly rotation—were set to begin. The first to share such a day with him was, naturally, Ayane: she had been the first to meet him, and she was his First Wife. Still, at Akio’s firm insistence, until Ayane turned twenty, the nights would be nothing more than “sleeping together,” not beyond.
On the morning of her turn, Ayane was restless, her heart fluttering. Sylvia and the others sent her off warmly, though not without a touch of teasing.
“Ayane, do your best!”
“Ah, to monopolize Akio-sama for a whole day… how enviable!”
Blushing, Ayane nodded firmly.
“Akio-sama, today… I look forward to being with you.”
“Yeah, me too. Is there somewhere you’d like to go, or something you’d like to do?”
After a moment’s thought, Ayane answered, shyly, “Then… could we visit our very first home, that cabin in the woods? And then… perhaps walk slowly around the Tree of Life together?”
That place held priceless meaning—it was where they had begun, and where the village itself had taken root.
Hand in hand, Akio and Ayane walked through the village. The people they passed gave them warm looks, some even calling out with a smile, “Village Chief, a date with your First Wife? Congratulations!” Each time, Ayane’s face flushed scarlet, but the warmth of Akio’s hand steadied her heart.
In the forest, the little cabin where they had first lived was still carefully tended, sometimes used as a storehouse. Sitting side by side in front of it, they spoke quietly of their first days, of hardships and of the happiness they now shared.
“Back then… every day was a struggle. But because you were with me…”
“No, it was because you and the children were there for me that I could live in this world.”
Few words, yet their hearts reached one another.
Around the Tree of Life, sacred beasts cubs scampered, and flowers bloomed in splendor. Bathed in its sacred aura, they walked slowly, Ayane listening quietly to Akio speak of dreams for the village and memories of Earth. In the sunlight, her profile seemed to glow, and Akio felt anew how she had blossomed into a truly beautiful woman.
As dusk fell, they returned to the central mansion. That night, their private chamber—usually Sylvia’s domain—was prepared specially for Ayane. Dressed in new sleepwear Sylvia had sewn with care, Ayane sat nervously at the edge of the bed. Akio, a little awkward himself, sat down beside her.
“Ayane… thank you. Today was wonderful.”
“I… I feel the same, Akio-sama. It was like a dream. I’m so happy.”
Her voice trembled. Gently, Akio took her hand and guided her toward the bed.
“Tonight, we’ll just sleep like this. Until you’re twenty, I won’t go any further. But you are my beloved wife, always.”
At those words, tears slipped down Ayane’s cheeks—tears of relief, gratitude, and deep love.
“Akio-sama…!”
Unable to hold back, she buried her face in his chest. He embraced her tenderly, stroking her hair, remembering how he once comforted her as a child.
In his arms, Ayane felt his warmth and heartbeat, wrapped in a happiness and security she had never known before. Raising her face, eyes glistening, she whispered, voice shaking,
“To be your wife, Akio-sama… it makes me so, so happy. One day… when I turn twenty… then…”
Her words faltered, her face burning red as she hid again against his chest.
Overcome by her earnestness and purity, Akio’s heart ached with affection. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, then lay down, holding her close.
Together beneath the same covers, they shared each other’s warmth. Ayane soon breathed softly in sleep, and Akio watched her peaceful face, silently vowing to wait with love until the day she came of age.
That night, there was no union of flesh—but their hearts were bound more deeply and warmly than ever before.
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