Chapter 669

In early December, "God's Hand SP: Grim Reaper? No, It's the Blessing of Hachiman Daibosatsu!" officially aired on Fuji TV's prime Sunday 7 p. m. slot.

The program personally supervised by Fuji Television President Kameyama indeed knew the way of traffic; he didn't start with a straightforward narrative, but instead led with Uesugi Muneyuki's repeated appearances in various major cases and a compilation reel, supplemented by various sensational case summaries and footage of the Metropolitan Police Department's surprise raids, after which Fuji TV's main anchor Tobu Television narrated emotionally: "He is the Metropolitan Police Department's ace, the translator of silent spirits, hailed as the 'Legendary Forensic Doctor,' the 'Grim Reaper with a Scalpel,' the 'Sakurada Gate Guardian.' But tonight, we will unveil for you another warm and sacred identity beneath the 'God's Hand' mask......"

Subsequently, the footage transitioned into carefully selected and edited clips of the Imperial Hotel wedding.

First to strike like lightning was National Goddess Shirakawa Mai's twelve-layered ceremonial robe photos; her stunning beauty and solemn bearing, like a muse descended to earth, were mesmerizing, especially since this National Goddess had never been photographed in any street snaps or private life, and rarely attended public events, yet she appeared at Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami's (now Uesugi Minami) wedding wearing the twelve-layered robe as officiant, instantly captivating countless female and male fans, adding infinite legendary color to this wedding.

Next was Watanabe Minami, clad in pure white "shiromuku" and wearing a "tsunokakushi," slowly walking toward the altar led by her father Watanabe Eiji, that bearing blending the bride's gentle beauty with the police elite's resilience, displayed to the fullest by close-up lenses.

Especially since Minami's figure was relatively petite, her height barely reaching 160 cm, and although she carried the bearing of a high-level public servant, her own appearance and temperament still leaned toward the intelligent, gentle, and cute type, especially her unique wise yet traditional eyes and her cute apple-shaped face, instantly attracting countless gazes.

"Metropolitan Police Department's Princess!" "Yamato Nadeshiko beautiful as a celestial maiden!" "She is a daimyo's legitimate daughter! She is a daimyo's legitimate daughter!" "Temperament comparable to Furina's IP value!"

Minami got a small surge of popularity, but unfortunately neither she nor Uesugi Muneyuki had any plans to appear on the show and transition into entertainment figures; Uesugi Muneyuki was somewhat better off since he was essentially a University of Tokyo doctorate and academic, while Minami, as a serving mid-level Superintendent at the Metropolitan Police Department, could not casually participate in the entertainment industry. As for Uesugi Muneyuki, at the wedding he wore standard black montsuki haori hakama, his tall figure waiting at the altar in profile making even Tobu Television herself watch entranced, fully satisfying all of society's imagination of the "Aristocratic Young Noble" and "Elite Scholar." The program editing focused on retaining the simplified but core "san-san-kudo" sake-sharing ritual, the two reading personalized vows, Tohoku's Li-ge Nishikawa Chief Prosecutor's singing, and the precious detail of Muneyuki bowing slightly when exchanging rings and Minami's firm handclasp in response.

The production team even cleverly inserted one or two previously unnoticed sweet interactions — such as Uesugi Muneyuki's whisper to Minami upon entering the hall, and the brief, tacit, affectionate exchange of gazes between the two during a pause in the ceremony.

Background music alternating between solemn elegance and gentle romance, plus the professional announcer's emotional explanation of the wedding proceedings' symbolic meanings, and finally the Kobe Hyakuban and Old Kyoto Band's "Ayo Feeding Chickens" "Celestial Sphere musica," the entire God's Hand program was packaged into a condensed version of a dreamlike "Century Wedding" possessing sacredness, luxury, and sweetness.

A whole "Unforgettable Tonight."

Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Odana Cabinet Onoda's plan succeeded; his half-coercive, half-pleading method forced Watanabe Eiji to agree to use this wedding to divert the entire nation's attention, and indeed the former minister murder case and Bunkyo Ward kidnapping case soon had no one mentioning them.

No helping it, famous band drummer Yutenji Wakame once told keyboardist Toyokawa Shoko: "Shoko-kaka, have you ever raised a dog? Dogs are different from humans, they're very simple; give them a new ball and they can play all day, forming a band is the same principle, appropriately loosening the red lines of personal relationships within the band, the members' attention will shift to other things."

Vocalist Hatsuka: "To be honest, true."

The program ratings exploded without suspense.

Peak instantaneous ratings surged to an astonishing 38.7%, average ratings also reaching 32.1%, setting another record since the "God's Hand" series began airing, even crushing all variety shows and dramas in the same timeslot. Social media discussion about the program grew exponentially during the broadcast. The next day, not only entertainment sections, but mainstream social news sections also followed suit:

"Fuji Evening News": Legendary Forensic Doctor's Sacred Wedding! "God's Hand" Special Episode Sparks Nationwide Emotional Frenzy!

"Daily Sports": Shirakawa Mai Officiates! Watanabe Minami's Shiromuku Stuns! Uesugi Muneyuki's Wedding Becomes Aesthetic Paradigm!

"Women's Self" Magazine Official Site: Exclusive Analysis! Ten Heart-Fluttering Details at the Police Elite Couple's Wedding! Reading Their Love Philosophy from the Vows! "Tokyo Fashion Guide": Perfect Balance of Tradition and Fashion!! In-Depth Interpretation of Watanabe Minami's Wedding Attire Coordination Wisdom!

Fuji TV's information program "Divine Hand Information Room" also began airing highlights of the wedding clips and revealing various behind-the-scenes secrets of this wedding, as well as the love history between Uesugi Minami, also gaining 18% ratings.

NHK even invited so-called "Wedding Experts," "Traditional Culture Scholars," "Image Stylists" for multi-angle interpretation, from how to wear shiromuku to montsuki haori hakama etiquette, from verification of Shirakawa Mai's twelve-layered robe to the bride's bouquet flower language...... a single wedding was deconstructed into countless "knowledge points" and "aesthetic symbols" available for public consumption and imitation.

And if traditional media still maintained a certain reserve and tone of praise, then social media, especially platforms dominated by young female users, completely fell into a boiling ocean of "envy, jealousy, hate."

#Uesugi Doctor's Wedding, #Watanabe Minami Shiromuku, #Ideal Wedding, #Someone Else's Husband topics swept all major social platforms! "Aaaah I'm dead! What kind of divine wedding is this! The shiromuku is too beautiful!! Truly violent inhalation super ultimate absolutely zettai-ko pleasure to curling toes!" — a certain famous 2D cosplayer blogger Shiny Rabbit Youko

"Uesugi Doctor's gaze when kneeling to put on the ring! I saw it! It's cherishing! It's a promise! It's deep affection! This kind of cool-headed man when gentle is truly fatal!" — a certain fashion brand older unmarried female designer.

"Shirakawa Mai-sama's twelve-layered robe...... beautiful to speechlessness. Officiated by National Goddess and Shrine Chief Seat, what level of face is this! As expected, outstanding people are surrounded by gods!" — "Mai-sama All-the-Way Fan Club"

"The wedding simplified the process but didn't simplify the style one bit! Imperial Hotel, Shinto ceremony, Peerage descendants, Superintendent General's daughter, Chief Forensic Expert...... too many elements, every frame is a movie scene!"

"This is the wedding of my dreams! Not that vulgar kind stacking banknotes, but one with tradition, story, emotion, and god-tier looks! Saved with one-click triple-like, to show the wedding planner later!"

However, with the surging discussion, a whole narrative also began rapidly shifting in a strange direction.

The "high standard" displayed by this wedding rapidly became a "new yardstick" for countless young women to measure their own partners and future weddings. Thus, a massive "@" movement began.

"@Want to add (boyfriend's name) to learn! Look what a wedding is! I don't want an island resort or balloons, I just want this kind of sacredness and ritual! Budget negotiable, feeling can't lose!" — an unmarried OL very excitedly demanded her boyfriend swear on social media.

"Dear @Invisible Sky, I know we're ordinary, but at least the heart has to be there, right? Uesugi Chief even knelt for his wife! What about you? Too lazy to even look at wedding planning?" — a bride-to-be about to marry scolding away.

"Just sent the video to fiancé @Vulgar Sanrin, he only replied 'oh'. Good, the kill line has arrived, wedding postponed, re-evaluation! Such a man is not fit to be a husband!"

From then on, the "kill line" meme began to appear.

"#Kill Line Arrived sisters! When your man is indifferent to this wedding or even thinks it's a waste of money, it's time to consider switching! No basic longing for happiness at all, why marry!" — a woman started a "MeToo" movement, pointing directly at her own boyfriend or husband. "I made my boyfriend @Bruno Fernandes watch, he said 'They're peerage plus police wealthy family, we can't compare.' Can't compare means can't put heart into it? Attitude! I'm not asking for money, I just want an attitude! #Kill Line Flashing"

"Kill Line Arrived" this slightly teasing and threatening new internet meme rapidly spread, symbolizing Japanese women's ultimate judgment on whether their partners "measure up" in dating attitudes and wedding expectations, behind which lies the massive social comparison psychology and dating anxiety triggered by this televised wedding. Similar social topics began sweeping the entire social network.

"Mina-san, please calm down...... this wedding looks beautiful, but behind it is the marriage alliance of two huge families, the former Peerage Yonezawa Uesugi clan and former Minister of Japanese National Railways Watanabe Kazuo's son current Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji prepared this wedding for their daughter, can ordinary people imitate it? Just watch, don't give yourself and your boyfriend too much pressure." — "Tokushima Prefecture Jimmy Butler" replied.

"Right, am I the only one who noticed Watanabe Management Official's father is the Superintendent General? Is Uesugi Doctor under a lot of pressure? (doge)" — "Kamen Rider Shibara Dislocation"

"Over, nobody will want to marry after this, this cost at least 100 million yen, right?" — "Saracen's Pale Grim Reaper"

This "wedding storm" orchestrated by official "instigation," media boost, and public spontaneous revelry, indeed successfully diluted much of the blood and panic brought by the "Hikawa Restoration Army."

The Japanese public's attention was effectively guided toward romantic, beautiful topics tinged with a religion-of-love hue.

The Metropolitan Police Department and the Uesugi couple's public image also greatly improved, especially Watanabe Minami, who gained the gentle label of "Minami Bride" in addition to "Minami Management Officer," inspiring both envy and admiration within the Metropolitan Police Department, congratulations all around, congratulations all around.

Late December, aboard the Shinkansen bullet train heading to Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture.

Date Nagamune, a Patrol Officer of the Metropolitan Police Department Criminal Investigation Bureau Investigation Division 1 Special Mission Unit, suddenly woke from a doze, he trembled in his seat, opened his eyes, and saw Uesugi Muneyuki sitting next to him.

"What time is it now, Uesugi-san?" Date Nagamune wiped his face.

"Now? This is Vancouver, now it's TI8 Finals Game 4, PSG. LGD leading 2-1 OG, look, Old Dendi leading by over 10k net worth preparing to push high ground and end the game in one wave!" Uesugi Muneyuki laughed: "Prepare to pop the champagne!"

"Huh?"