Volume 1 – Chapter 11

I woke up earlier than usual.

The room was still quiet. Soft morning light slipped through the curtains, slowly spreading across the walls, the floor – and me.
The blanket had slid down a little, so I instinctively pulled it up to my chin and pressed my face into the pillow. And then I remembered.

He was here. Yesterday. Really here. Holding my hand. Looking at me. Saying things I’d been afraid to believe all my life…
I pressed my palms to my cheeks and rolled a little under the blanket. Silly girl. Happy girl. Loved…? Could it really be…?

My fingers reached for the nightstand. The pendant with the message. The tiny ship keychain. I held them both in my hands and placed them over my heart.
– Good morning, my treasures, – I whispered with a smile.

Sometimes I used to think moments like this were fiction – that they happened to others, but not to me. Because I was too loud. Too strange. Too unreal.
But he… he didn’t just accept it. He made my world even more real. More meaningful.

I unlocked my phone. Empty. No message from him yet.

Maybe… maybe today I’ll text first?
My finger hovered above the keyboard.
Good morning, Senpai – too plain.
I woke up and thought of you again – too direct.
You were in my dream – and he really was, but… I can’t just say that, can I?..
Or maybe I can?..

I buried my face in the pillow and whispered into it:
– What if he’s waiting too?..

Inhale. Exhale. My fingers started typing on their own:

Good morning.
I woke up smiling today.
And thinking how much I want to see you again 💕
Sorry if that’s too direct… but I already miss you.

I stared at the screen… then pressed send.
My heart beat once. Twice. Thrice.
Fear bloomed in my chest – the kind that comes before you jump into the sea. But also joy. Because I didn’t hide. I said what I felt.

…

The reply came almost immediately. He was online. He’d been waiting?

You did it – now I’m smiling too.
I was just thinking about what to write to you.
But you beat me to it.
Mirai…
I miss you too. A lot.

I closed my eyes and pressed the phone to my chest for a moment.
– He missed me… –
– He was waiting… –
I wanted so badly to hug him right then. Not in words. For real.

…

Time passed. I was already in the kitchen, trying to make breakfast – or pretending to. But my thoughts kept circling around one thing: I want to be near him again.
And then it hit me – what if… I invite him over?
To my place. As a guest.

No setup. No show. No role. Just me.
To show him where I live. How I live. Where I stream, where I fall asleep holding a cup of tea.

But… would he want that? Or think it’s too much?..

I set my cup of tea on the table and stared at it.
And realized – that’s not what I’m afraid of.
I’m not afraid of him seeing my room. I’m afraid he won’t.
That he’ll stay there, while I remain here.

I grabbed my phone and opened our chat:

I have a slightly crazy idea…
I don’t want to scare you…
But if you’re free tonight –
Would you like to come over?

The answer came almost instantly.

Crazy?
I’d say it’s the best idea I’ve heard all week.
And I hear the ideas of Japan’s best young writers every day ＾▽＾
Yes, of course. I’d love to.
Should I bring something? Flowers? Chocolate? A cat?..

I laughed out loud. Warmly.
Just bring yourself. That’s enough 💕

…

And now I’m running around my room.
Putting away boxes. Wiping the screen. Pairing the mugs.
Turning on the string lights above my bed – they shimmer softly, as if glowing from within.

He’s coming.
He’ll sit in that chair. On my rug. Drink my tea.
And maybe… maybe he’ll stay a little longer than just a guest.

And all of this – just because I dared to say I missed him. Because he heard it. Because… there’s us.