Chapter 5 : Scent of sunlight

The morning air was cool, carrying the faint scent of rain and exhaust as Ayase stepped out of the taxi. She looked up at the hotel where the Eclipse campaign shoot would take place — a towering glass building that shimmered in the sunlight like a cut diamond.
She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, inhaled, and muttered to herself, “Don’t mess this up.”
It wasn’t every day a junior designer got to supervise a high-profile shoot, especially one starring Ren Ichinose. Her hands were still shaking from rereading the email that confirmed it.
Inside the lobby, chaos reigned. Crew members hurried past with lighting rigs and makeup kits, staff shouted instructions, and a production assistant nearly collided with her, apologizing breathlessly before running off again.
“Ayase Fujimoto!” called a cheerful voice. “You made it!”
Ayase turned to see a woman in her mid-thirties approaching — purple heels, purple blazer, and a wide, sunny smile. Her hair was curled perfectly, and her perfume carried a faint citrus sweetness.
“I’m Yui Asano, the creator of Eclipse.” She extended her hand. “I’ve heard a lot about your redesign — I love it! You gave the brand a soul.”
Ayase blinked, taken aback by her warmth. “Ah, thank you, Ms. Asano—”
“Oh please, call me Yui! Everyone does. Ms. Asano makes me sound like a tax auditor.”She laughed, and the tension in Ayase’s shoulders eased instantly.
Yui had that rare kind of energy — genuine, unfiltered, like Kana’s. She radiated confidence and kindness, commanding the room without ever raising her voice. Within minutes, she was joking with the camera crew and helping an assistant tape down a power cable.
“Come on, let me show you around,” she said, looping her arm through Ayase’s. “You should see what your design inspired.”
The rooftop had been transformed into a dreamscape — soft white curtains fluttering in the wind, golden reflectors bouncing sunlight across the set. The city skyline glittered behind it all.
Ren stood near the edge, dressed in a pale suit that caught the light. He was reviewing the script with Takeshi, calm and precise as always. Even from a distance, he looked like he belonged in another world.
“He’s something, isn’t he?” Yui whispered. “Half the staff’s been holding their breath since he arrived.”
Ayase swallowed. “He’s… very professional.”
Yui grinned knowingly. “That’s one way to put it.”
As if sensing their gaze, Ren turned. For a heartbeat, their eyes met. His expression didn’t change, but he gave a small nod before returning to his notes. Ayase quickly looked away, pretending to adjust her clipboard.
The shoot began under the blazing mid-morning sun. Every detail mattered — the way the fabric caught the breeze, the reflection of the light on Ren’s jawline, the rhythm of his steps.
“Wind machine to level two!” the photographer shouted.“Hold that pose — perfect!”
Ayase watched from behind the monitor, trying to focus on the layout and not on how effortlessly Ren seemed to move. He wasn’t acting — he was inhabiting the ad, as if Eclipse was made for him.
And yet, every so often, she noticed it — the faint weariness in his eyes when the cameras stopped. He’d smile for the lens, but when the flashes faded, his expression fell quiet, almost guarded.
During a short break, Yui joined Ayase by the refreshments table.“So,” she said lightly, “you’ve met Ren before, right? What’s he like when the cameras are off?”
Ayase hesitated. “Honest. Maybe too honest.”Yui laughed. “That sounds about right. He’s a good man, but he built walls early. Fame can do that to people.”
Her tone softened. “first time I launched a brand, I was terrified of disappointing everyone. But sometimes, you have to stop thinking about the crowd and start creating for yourself.”
Ayase smiled faintly. “I’ll try to remember that.”
“Do. You’ve got something special, I can feel that”
The afternoon sun dipped lower, turning gold to amber. The final sequence of the shoot was set up — Ren walking through curtains of light, wind stirring the air as he turned toward the camera.
“Let’s get one more take!” the director shouted.
Ren moved through the shot gracefully, but halfway through, a gust of wind sent one of the curtains tumbling off its rigging — straight toward him.
“Watch out!” Ayase cried, darting forward instinctively.
She grabbed the edge of the curtain before it hit the lighting equipment, nearly tripping in the process. Ren caught her wrist at the last second, steadying her. For a brief moment, their faces were inches apart, both caught in the flickering golden light.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice lower than usual.Ayase blinked, her heart pounding. “Y-yeah. Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”“You rarely do,” he said — but there was a hint of amusement in his tone.
The director’s voice broke the moment. “Cut! That was great — everyone take five!”
Ayase quickly stepped back, face flushed. Yui, watching from the sidelines, gave her a smile.
When the shoot wrapped, the crew applauded. The final images looked breathtaking — Ren framed by wind and sunlight, his expression soft yet distant. Exactly the mood Ayase had envisioned.
“Beautiful work,” Yui said, resting a hand on her shoulder. “You should be proud.”
Ayase’s chest warmed with quiet satisfaction. For once, she wasn’t just the tired office worker or the big sister — she was part of something beautiful.
As the staff began packing up, Takeshi approached. “Ren wants to thank you for saving the equipment — and his hair.”Ayase blinked. “What?”“His words, not mine.”
She wasn’t sure if she felt relieved or disappointed.
Later that evening, as the city lights came alive, Ayase and Yui shared a quiet moment outside the hotel. The streets below glimmered like a sea of stars.
“Today felt unreal,” Ayase said softly.“That’s the entertainment world for you,” Yui replied, smiling. “It sparkles — but it can also swallow you whole if you forget who you are.”
Ayase looked up at the glowing billboard across the street — the test version of the Eclipse poster shining against the night sky. Ren’s face illuminated the darkness, the tagline glinting below: Breathe in what’s real.
She exhaled slowly. “Then I’ll just have to hold onto what’s real.”
Yui grinned. “That’s the spirit, Fujimoto.”
As they walked toward the taxi stand, Ayase felt something unfamiliar stir in her chest — not admiration or awe, but a quiet sense of belonging. For the first time in a long while, she wasn’t just surviving.
She was part of the light.
End of Chapter 5