On the third day after their wedding, once they had completed the customary return visit to Eri's family, Nakayama Takuya and Nakayama Eri finally left behind Tokyo's noise and the watchful eyes of both households. They boarded a flight to Europe, embarking on a honeymoon that belonged to them alone.
Their first stop was Norway.
Rather than staying in a big city like Oslo, Takuya rented a car and drove with Eri along winding roads straight into the embrace of the fjords.
In the crisp Nordic autumn, the air was as clear as crystal—each breath carried a faint, sweet chill that seemed to cleanse the lungs.
Outside the window, towering mountains stood in solemn silence, deep green waters resting peacefully at their feet. Scattered clusters of colorful wooden houses dotted the slopes like pieces from a fairy tale.
Eri leaned in the passenger seat, freed from the constraints of her wedding kimono; a beige cashmere sweater softened her into quiet gentleness. She stared out the window, entranced, and couldn't help murmuring:
"I never knew the world could be this quiet."
Takuya chuckled lightly as he held the steering wheel.
"What's this? Have you stopped liking Tokyo's excitement?"
"It's not that." She turned to him, her eyes shimmering as they lingered on his focused profile. "I just feel… with you, this kind of quiet is perfect."
Gone were the labels of SEGA's golden heir and Tokyo TV's cherished princess. Here, they were simply a young couple traveling together.
Takuya would walk into a tiny roadside diner and, using his half-baked English and a flurry of gestures, order two plates of local meatballs drenched in rich gravy.
Eri would smooth out his collar after the wind tousled it, then laugh with crescent-shaped eyes when he exaggeratedly complained, "These are so salty they could preserve us for an entire winter," handing him a glass of water to rescue his palate.
At night, they stayed in a family-run lodge deep in the fjords.
The crackling fireplace bathed the wooden cabin in warm, golden light.
Wrapped in thick blankets, the two of them sat by the window, watching stars sparkle like diamonds against the deep-blue Nordic night.
"Takuya," Eri said softly, breaking the silence.
"Hm? Thank me for what?" He reached out and gently stroked her hair.
Eri leaned her head on his shoulder.
"For giving me a world that belongs to just the two of us."
Warmth surged through Takuya's chest. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
Yes—this was what a honeymoon should be.
Not rushing through tourist spots.
Not dealing with business obligations.
But giving all their time and space to each other, completely and without reservation.
Leaving Norway behind, they took a boat to Denmark, soaked in the fairy-tale charm of Copenhagen, then continued on into Germany.
The date was October 3rd, 1990.
When they arrived in Berlin, the entire city was erupting in near-feverish celebration.
East and West Germany had officially reunified.
By the broken remains of the Berlin Wall, people waved flags, hugged one another, cried, and sang. The air was filled with the scent of beer and something called hope—raw, powerful, and unforgettable.
Swept up in the tide of history, Takuya and Eri stood beneath the Brandenburg Gate, witnessing the moment firsthand.
The shadow of the Cold War was dissipating—vanishing right before their eyes.
Eri's expression was full of awe; she clutched Takuya's hand tightly, her palm slightly damp.
"An era… has ended."
"Yeah." Takuya watched the crowds, his gaze deep. "And an entirely new one has begun."
Their next stop was Vienna.
In the city of music, they let go completely. They wandered through the Schönbrunn Palace gardens by day, and by night they dressed elegantly and attended a world-class concert in the Golden Hall.
One gentle afternoon, the two lingered in Café Central, savoring the authentic Sacher torte. Eri was sipping her coffee—lost in the blend of sweetness and bitterness—when Takuya's phone rang.
A long-distance call from SEGA headquarters.
Takuya stepped aside to answer it. Eri noticed his brows tighten ever so slightly before he relaxed again.
He spoke only briefly, his voice calm and assured, before hanging up.
"Did something happen?" she asked, concerned.
"Nothing serious." Takuya returned to his seat, picked up his fork as if nothing had occurred, and cut into his cake. "Nintendo has started warming up the publicity for their new console, the SFC."
"SFC?" Eri thought for a moment. "That's the one competing with the Mega Drive?"
"Exactly." Takuya smiled and lifted a chocolate-coated bite of cake toward her lips. "Come on. Open up. We're not letting those Kyoto guys disturb Mrs. Nakayama's afternoon tea."
Eri obeyed, tasting the sweet richness melt on her tongue.
Looking at the confidence in his eyes, any lingering worry melted away.
He always seemed like this—composed, prepared, in complete control.
What she didn't know was that the orders he had issued on the phone were anything but casual:
"Don't panic. Every game project stays on schedule. The SFC can't be stopped—we'll fight it head-on once it launches with our software lineup."
"Have Hardware get several units. I want the architecture and performance thoroughly analyzed."
"Tell Software to quietly check with our third-party contacts about SFC's development environment. See if there's anything worth learning."
Nintendo may not be collapsing anytime soon—but the honeymoon continued unfazed.
Once they entered Italy, where the public security was less stable, Takuya immediately hired two plainclothes bodyguards—a man and a woman.
At the Trevi Fountain in Rome, he didn't make a wish. Instead, he smiled and told Eri, "My wish is already right here beside me."
In Naples, they squeezed into the roaring blue sea of fans inside Stadio San Paolo.
They watched Maradona himself lead Napoli against the mighty AC Milan.
Tens of thousands shouting and chanting in unison—the sheer raw emotion washed over Eri, who had grown up in the sheltered upper class, leaving her exhilarated and stunned.
When Maradona scored a brilliant goal, Takuya cheered like an excited schoolboy, grabbed Eri, and kissed her fiercely amid the deafening roars.
Her cheeks flushed crimson, her heart pounding—but she laughed softly and hugged him back with all her strength.
From Paris's romance,
to Madrid's fiery passion,
to London's genteel charm—
Their long honeymoon became a moving feast of experiences, distilling the essence of Europe into the scenery they traveled through hand in hand.
When their plane finally landed at Narita, they returned with more than stuffed luggage.
They carried hearts broadened by the world
and enriched by each other.
As the car rolled steadily toward the Nakayama estate, Eri looked out at the familiar streets and rested her head on Takuya's shoulder.
"We're home."
Takuya intertwined his fingers with hers, holding tight.
"Mm. We're home."
A new chapter of their lives was only just beginning.
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