A Promise Through Tears

After all the time we had spent together...

This sudden development was a shock. But I could understand.

“When are you leaving?” That’s all I could say. I was afraid of the answer, but curiosity got the better of me.

“Next week.” Lyra looked sad. Seeing that face I hadn’t seen in so long…

For some reason, anger flared inside me.

“When will you be back?”

“One, maybe two months.”

It felt like such a long time. Not seeing the person I had spent more than half the week with for three months would leave an ache inside me.

“Why are you telling me this now?” I asked. I tried to hide my anger, but it showed in my voice. I was trembling inside.

“Because I… didn’t want you to be upset.”

It felt like scalding water had been poured over me. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Didn't want me to be upset? When we’ve said we have nothing left to hide from each other, after all this time together, why would you even think such a thing? Why would I make a problem out of it?”

“I...—”

“Lyra, when was this decided?”

“Yuta—”

“When?”

“A-a month ago.”

“So you didn’t say anything all this time, and now you feel compelled to tell me?”

My voice came out so sharp. Without even realizing it...

I had made her cry.

My heart was breaking. I felt like a complete jerk. But I couldn’t accept it.

I was ready to accept her in every way, had accepted every condition, and was growing with her—and yet this is how she treated me? It hurt so much.

“B-because I was scared to say it. I tried to stop the world tour. But it was necessary. I wanted to stay with you, didn’t want to be apart for so long, but I couldn’t do it. Then I was scared to tell you, scared I wouldn’t be able to say it.” Lyra began to sob. “I was afraid this is exactly how it would turn out.” She covered her eyes with her hands and continued to cry.

God...

All my anger disappeared instantly.

It was replaced by sorrow.

My heart was breaking. What had I done this time?

I had jumped to conclusions without listening to her. Had made a one-sided decision, not being my usual self.

I had become the type of person I feared the most.

I was breathing in short gasps. The dread inside me was rising in my throat, suffocating me.

I reached out my hands. Slowly, embraced Lyra, who had withdrawn into herself and was crying in front of me.

I held her tightly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t listen to you. I’m sorry.” Speaking was so difficult that it felt like my eyes would burst from the pressure. Her fragile body felt as light as a feather under my touch.

Lyra pulled her hands away and hugged me back.

“A-actually, I’m... sorry for not telling you.”

It was in that moment that I truly understood. No matter how far apart we might be, there was a resemblance in that distance.

She hadn’t wanted to leave either. Didn’t want to be apart. But that other version of her—“she”—had things she needed to do.

And I knew that too. I couldn’t be mad at her. Couldn’t ask her to stay. Even if I did, she probably would, but I couldn’t do that.

I had promised to do everything I could for her future, for her well-being.

She was both the person I admired most and the one I got along with best.

After holding each other like that for a while, and once we both had calmed down, I slowly let go and held Lyra’s hands.

“It’s okay. After all, we’re in the age of technology, right? We’ll still talk every day.” I said with a smile. Maybe it wasn’t the best time to bring something like that up, but I couldn’t think of anything else.

Lyra looked at me with teary eyes. Her gaze dropped to the ground, her blushing cheeks tensed slightly as she smiled.

“Yes…” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“No matter how far away you are, you know my love for you will never change, right?”

“I know.”

“But I have one request.” Saying it so suddenly surprised Lyra and made her look at me.

“From now on, no matter what happens—good or bad—we won’t lie to each other.”

“O-Okay.”

“So, if one day you find someone else, I want you to tell me openly.” Saying that made me feel even more like a jerk, but I had to say it. Even if this chasm between us prevented our reunion, our voices could still reach each other. I wanted whatever was best for her to come true.

Lyra frowned and looked at me. Suddenly, she pulled her hands away and hit my chest.

“Idiot! Do you think I’m that kind of person?” From her voice, I could tell she was genuinely hurt. I took her hands again.

“You’re not, I know. But I still wanted to say it.” I smiled. Despite everything, I knew there was something between us that remained unchanged: trust.

After a short silence,

“What will we do when I come back?” she asked with a slow smile.

“I don’t know. I guess we’ll wander around all day, then go home and cook or something.”

“Hmm? Look at you getting all domestic.”

“How would I know? You’re still here for another week. Don’t talk like you’re leaving tomorrow!”

“Okay, okay! Sorry. Then let’s make the most of this week.” Lyra laughed and lay down on the grass. I immediately lay down beside her.

“O-okay.”

Her beautiful emerald eyes were once again visible in the sunlight. Thankfully, no one was around. Otherwise, I would’ve been terribly embarrassed in my current state. I wouldn’t want others to be jealous either, because I would’ve been very jealous of someone like me right now.

“What do you want from which country?”

“I don’t know... um... I think a video call from each country would be enough.”

“Hmm, we’ll see.” She smiled with a happy look.

“What do you mean, ‘we’ll see’? Wasn’t this a request?”

I reached out my hands and started tickling Lyra. As she giggled, I looked at her and smiled.

Then I stopped. Lyra turned her sharp gaze toward me.

“My words weren’t enough, huh?”

“Wh—”

Suddenly, Lyra leaned over and kissed me. It was so sudden, I was completely shocked.

I felt like I was blushing like a tomato. My cheeks were burning.

“What was that all of a sudden?”

“I wanted you to know that my love belongs only to you.” Lyra looked at me with a sweet smile.

Did I really deserve this?
Did I really deserve to be with someone this angelic?
At this young age,

I felt more in love and more like a man than I had ever felt before. I was no longer the serious, quiet person who got lost among people for being misunderstood.

Because now, there was someone who understood me.

And as she came and went,

I had already decided on the big surprise I would prepare for her.