In her final year of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program at BCIT, Hana Ichikawa was focused on finishing her degree and entering the workforce. But a stoic, mysterious classmate in her set caught her eye. His name: Harry Bering.
“When I came back to school, I wasn’t really there to make friends,” explains Harry. “I wanted to get my degree, and start working.”
Harry had taken a two-year break from school, but decided to return, complete his BBA, and ultimately pursue a career in finance.
Wanting help in Economics, Hana reached out to a mutual friend who lay the groundwork and helped set up group study sessions. Due to the intensity of the program, they spend a lot of time together to learn the material and in the process, Hana and Harry started to bond, and Hana grew smitten, but she wasn’t sure how Harry felt about her.
“Although our study sessions got Harry and I talking a bit, he didn’t seem interested in making friends,” admits Hana.
An Unforgettable Midterm Moment
During midterms in a computer lab, wanting to play it cool, Hana chose a seat away from Harry. Eager to sit close to Hana, Harry made up an excuse about the computer keys at his station not working and then moved to a seat next to Hana. Unfortunately for Harry, his excuse was blown when another student sat in the seat he vacated and confirmed that the keys were working perfectly. After the exam, Hana returned to the lab to check the condition of the computer and upon finding that everything was fine, she thought to herself, “I think he likes me too!”
The First Date
After finals, Hana and Harry decided to go mountain biking in Squamish in the middle of winter as their first date. Fortunately, the weather had other plans for them. A huge storm swept in, and they ended up spending the day at Hana’s house instead, talking, laughing, and getting to know each other.
“It wasn’t what we had planned,” recalls Hana. “But the end of the day, we both knew we really liked each other.”
As the weeks passed, their relationship deepened, and though their classmates didn’t realize for a few months that they were together, it was exciting for the new couple.
“Being in a relationship with Hana was overwhelming in a good way,” says Harry. “I was experiencing all these new things with her for the first time.”
The Perfect Proposal
Although they had been discussing marriage, Harry wanted to make the proposal special. With the help of Hana’s sister, he planned to pop the question during a trip to Japan to visit Hana’s family. On a beautiful, bluebird morning with Mt Fuji in the background, and Hana’s family present, Harry asked Hana to marry him.
“We were the first ones there at 6:00am,” recalls Harry, “Hana took some photos with her dad and her sister and when it was my turn, I pulled the ring out of my pocket, got down on one knee, and proposed.”
“We were both so overwhelmed. He even put the ring on the wrong hand!” exclaims Hana. “I guess we were both in shock and emotional, but it was perfect.”
A New Chapter Together
Now, seven years into their relationship, Hana and Harry are moving into their new home and planning their wedding. Despite the years that have passed, they still feel just as strongly for each other.
“Harry has been the best partner in so many ways” gushes Hana. “He has given me more than anything I could ever expect in my dreams.
And what does Harry have to say?
“Hana is my ride or die,” says Harry, “She’s my go to person for everything and I couldn’t ask for like a better partner.”