Our First Morning

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## ACT 2: Colors in the Gray Sky
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Senior year felt different from the moment it began.
The cherry blossoms had long since fallen, replaced by the lush green of early summer. The third-year hallway bustled with students who carried an air of finality—this was it, their last year, their last chance to make high school memories before the real world came calling.
Airi and Ren had spent the spring break attached at the hip, as if storing up moments for the separation they both knew was coming. Tokyo and Kyoto. Four hours apart. Different lives, different dreams, same love.
But they'd promised. Through everything.
Now, on the first day of their final year, Airi woke up to her phone buzzing.
**Ren**: *good morning girlfriend*
**Ren**: *first day of senior year. ready?*
**Airi**: *Ready. Meet at the gates?*
**Ren**: *already here. couldnt sleep*
**Airi**: *Nervous?*
**Ren**: *excited. get to spend a whole year with you before...*
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't have to.
**Airi**: *Before we prove that distance means nothing.*
**Ren**: *exactly. now hurry up. i miss you*
**Airi**: *You just saw me yesterday.*
**Ren**: *and? still miss you*
Airi smiled at her phone, heart full. Some things never changed.
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## 🌸 The Gates
Ren was leaning against the cherry tree by the school gates, watching the sunrise paint the sky in shades of orange and pink. When he saw Airi approaching, his entire face lit up—the same way it had every morning for the past six months.
"Morning, beautiful," he said, pulling her into a hug.
"Morning." She breathed in his familiar scent—soap and something uniquely him. "You really couldn't sleep?"
"Too much on my mind." He pulled back to look at her. "Senior year. Our last year together like this. Wanted to make every second count."
"We have all year, Ren."
"I know. But it feels too short already." He took her hand, intertwining their fingers. "Come on. Let's see what fresh hell awaits us in Class 3-A."
They walked through the gates together, and Airi noticed the looks they got—some admiring, some envious, all acknowledging that they were *that* couple. The perfect student and the reformed troublemaker. The love story everyone had watched unfold.
It should have made her self-conscious. Instead, she felt proud.
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## 📚 Class 3-A
Their new classroom was on the third floor, overlooking the courtyard. Ms. Ito was still their homeroom teacher—she'd moved up with them, much to everyone's relief.
"Sato-san! Kurosawa-kun!" Miki waved them over to seats near the window. "Sit with us!"
Yuki was already there, along with Takeshi and a few other friends they'd accumulated over the year. The desk configuration had changed—now they sat in groups rather than rows.
And somehow, perfectly, Airi and Ren ended up at the same cluster.
"This is going to be a disaster for productivity," Airi observed, watching Ren settle into the seat directly across from her.
"Or the best study setup ever." He grinned, stretching his legs under the table so his foot brushed against hers. "Built-in motivation."
"You're incorrigible."
"And you love it."
"Unfortunately."
Ms. Ito called the class to attention, and everyone settled into their seats. But as the teacher began talking about entrance exams and university preparations and the importance of this final year, Airi felt Ren's hand find hers under the table.
She squeezed back.
Whatever came next, they'd face it together.
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## 🍱 Lunch on the Roof
Lunch found them on their rooftop—their sanctuary, their place. But this time, they weren't alone. Miki, Yuki, Takeshi, and even Tanaka had joined them, turning their private space into something communal.
"I still can't believe you two are going to different universities," Miki said, munching on her bento. "That's going to be so hard."
"We'll manage," Ren said confidently, arm around Airi's shoulders.
"Will you though?" Yuki asked, not unkindly. "My sister tried long-distance. They broke up in three months."
Airi felt Ren tense beside her. She squeezed his hand reassuringly. "We're not your sister."
"No offense, Sato-san, but everyone thinks they're different. Until they're not." Yuki shrugged. "I'm just being realistic."
"Then realistically," Airi said firmly, "we're going to prove everyone wrong."
Tanaka, who'd been quiet until now, spoke up. "For what it's worth, I think you two will make it. You're both stubborn enough to force it to work."
"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to us," Ren said, grinning.
"Don't get used to it."
But there was a smile in Tanaka's eyes, and Airi realized how far they'd all come. From enemies to classmates to something resembling friends.
"To senior year!" Takeshi declared, raising his juice box. "And to Sato and Kurosawa proving that true love conquers all!"
"That's so cheesy," Ren laughed.
"You're literally the cheesiest couple in school," Miki pointed out. "You don't get to complain."
"Fair point."
They all toasted with their drinks, and as Airi looked around at her friends—her actual friends, something she'd never had before Ren—she felt overwhelming gratitude.
This year would be bittersweet. But it would also be beautiful.
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## 💑 After School
Their first after-school study session of senior year felt simultaneously familiar and different. The routine was the same—same classroom, same desks pulled together, same textbooks spread out.
But the weight was different. Every moment now carried the knowledge of its temporariness.
"Stop overthinking," Ren said, watching Airi stare at her notebook without writing.
"I'm not overthinking."
"You have that crinkle between your eyebrows. The one you get when you're worrying." He reached across and smoothed it with his thumb. "Talk to me."
Airi set down her pen. "What if everyone's right? What if distance is too hard?"
"Then we'll figure it out."
"But what if—"
"Airi." He took her hands, forcing her to look at him. "Do you love me?"
"Of course I do."
"Do you want to be with me?"
"More than anything."
"Then we'll make it work. It's that simple."
"It's not that simple—"
"It is." His eyes were intense, certain. "Love isn't easy. But it's simple. We choose each other, every day, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard. That's the deal."
"When did you become so wise?"
"Since I fell in love with a girl who overthinks everything." He smiled. "Your anxiety is showing. It's cute."
"It's not cute, it's exhausting."
"Then let me help carry it." He pulled her chair closer so their knees touched. "From now until September, we have this time together. So let's not waste it worrying about what comes after. Let's just... be here. Together. Now."
Airi took a shaky breath, then nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize for feeling things. Just don't let the fear win." He kissed her forehead. "We're stronger than the fear."
"We're stronger than the fear," she repeated, testing the words.
They felt true.
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## 🌙 Evening Walk
Ren insisted on walking Airi home, as he always did. But tonight, instead of taking the direct route, he led her on a detour through the park.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"You'll see."
The park was quiet in the early evening, painted in the soft colors of sunset. Ren led her to a small pond where ducks swam lazily, unconcerned with the human drama unfolding around them.
"Remember when I told you about wanting to work with rescue animals?" Ren asked, sitting on a bench and pulling Airi down beside him.
"Of course."
"I've been thinking about it more. About what kind of vet I want to be." He watched the ducks, expression thoughtful. "I want to open my own clinic eventually. Small, focused on rescues and animals that other places turn away. The ones everyone's given up on."
"That's perfect for you."
"Yeah?" He looked at her hopefully. "You don't think it's too idealistic?"
"I think it's exactly what the world needs. Someone who doesn't give up on the broken things." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Someone like you."
"What about you? Still thinking psychology?"
"More than ever. I want to work with teenagers specifically. Kids who feel invisible, like I used to feel." She smiled. "Help them find their voices."
"We're going to change the world," Ren said softly.
"One rescue animal and one invisible teenager at a time."
"That's a pretty good legacy."
They sat in comfortable silence, watching the sky turn from orange to pink to purple. Then Ren said, "Can I tell you something?"
"Always."
"I'm scared too. About the distance. About losing you."
Airi lifted her head to look at him, surprised. Ren never admitted fear.
"But," he continued, "I'm more scared of not trying. Of letting fear make our decisions for us." He cupped her face gently. "So I'm going to love you with everything I have, for as long as you'll let me. And if that means four-hour train rides every weekend, then that's what I'll do."
"Every weekend?"
"Every weekend I can afford it. Maybe every other weekend realistically. But the point stands." He smiled. "You're worth every hour of travel time."
Airi's eyes filled with tears. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." He kissed her softly. "And we're going to be okay. I promise."
"Through everything," she whispered against his lips.
"Through everything."
---
## 🏠 That Night
Later, lying in bed, Airi pulled out her journal—something she'd started doing at Ren's suggestion. Writing helped organize her thoughts, he'd said. Helped make sense of the chaos.
She wrote:
*Dear Future Me,*
*Today was the first day of senior year. The first day of our last year together like this. And I'm terrified and excited and so full of love I don't know what to do with it all.*
*Everyone keeps telling us long-distance won't work. That we're too young, too naive, too optimistic. Maybe they're right. Maybe we are naive.*
*But I choose to believe in us anyway.*
*Because Ren taught me something important: love isn't about certainty. It's about choosing someone, over and over, even when the future is uncertain. Especially when the future is uncertain.*
*So that's what I'm going to do. Choose him. Every day. Even when it's hard.*
*Especially when it's hard.*
*Future me, I hope you're still choosing him. I hope the distance made you stronger instead of breaking you. I hope you're happy.*
*Love,**Present Airi*
Her phone buzzed.
**Ren**: *you awake?*
**Airi**: *Can't sleep. You?*
**Ren**: *same. first day jitters*
**Airi**: *It's going to be a good year.*
**Ren**: *the best year*
**Ren**: *because i get to spend it with you*
**Airi**: *Cheesy.*
**Ren**: *you love it*
**Airi**: *I do.*
**Ren**: *goodnight airi. sweet dreams*
**Airi**: *Goodnight Ren. I love you.*
**Ren**: ❤️
Airi set her phone down with a smile. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new worries, new obstacles to overcome.
But tonight, she had this. Had Ren's love and her own courage and the absolute certainty that what they had was worth fighting for.
Senior year had begun.
And they were ready.
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## 🌸 Weekend - Meeting the Families
Saturday brought an invitation that made Airi's stomach twist with anxiety.
**Ren**: *my mom wants to meet you. officially.*
**Airi**: *Officially?*
**Ren**: *like, come to dinner and meet the girlfriend who stole my heart*
**Airi**: *I'm terrified.*
**Ren**: *dont be. shes going to love you*
**Ren**: *almost as much as i do*
**Airi**: *When?*
**Ren**: *tonight? if youre free?*
Airi stared at her phone. Meeting the parents was a big step. A serious step. A "we're thinking about the future" step.
But that's what they were doing, wasn't it? Thinking about the future. Planning for it.
**Airi**: *Okay. What time?*
**Ren**: *6pm. ill pick you up at 530*
**Ren**: *thank you. this means a lot to me*
**Airi**: *You mean a lot to me.*
**Ren**: ❤️
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## 🏡 Meeting Ren's Mom
Ren's apartment was smaller than Airi expected, but warm. Cozy. The walls were covered with photos—young Ren at various ages, always grinning, always in motion.
His mother was younger than Airi had imagined, probably early forties, with tired eyes and a warm smile. She worked as a nurse, Ren had told her. Long shifts, night rotations, but she always made time for him when she could.
"So you're Airi," she said, pulling Airi into an unexpected hug. "The girl who made my son believe in himself again."
"Mom—" Ren's ears turned red.
"What? It's true." She pulled back, studying Airi with kind eyes. "He talks about you constantly. Airi this, Airi that. I was starting to think you were too good to be true."
"I'm very real," Airi said, smiling nervously.
"And very pretty. Good job, Ren."
"Mom!"
Dinner was casual—homemade curry and rice, simple but delicious. Ren's mom asked Airi about school, her plans for university, her family. But the questions never felt intrusive, just genuinely interested.
"Tokyo University," she said, impressed. "That's a wonderful school. You must be very bright."
"I work hard," Airi said modestly.
"She's brilliant," Ren corrected. "Top of our class. Going to change the world."
"And you're going to Kyoto?" his mom asked.
"Yes. The veterinary program there is one of the best."
"Different cities." She looked between them. "That's going to be challenging."
"We know," Ren said, taking Airi's hand. "But we're ready for it."
His mom smiled—sad but proud. "You know, Ren's father and I did long-distance for a while. When we were young."
"What happened?" Airi asked, then immediately regretted the question. She knew Ren's father wasn't in the picture.
"We didn't make it work. But that wasn't because of the distance. That was because..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Because we wanted different things. Different futures. The distance just made it obvious."
"We want the same future," Ren said firmly. "Just getting there from different places."
"Then you'll be fine." She squeezed both their hands. "Love isn't about proximity. It's about commitment. And from what Ren's told me, you two have that in spades."
After dinner, while Ren's mom was in the kitchen, Ren pulled Airi onto the small balcony.
"Sorry if that was overwhelming," he said.
"It was perfect. Your mom is wonderful."
"She likes you. I can tell." He wrapped his arms around her waist. "Thank you for coming. For meeting her. For being part of my life."
"Where else would I be?"
"I don't know. But I'm glad you're here." He kissed her softly. "With me."
From inside, his mom called, "Ren! Stop making out with your girlfriend and come help with dessert!"
They broke apart, laughing.
"She has mother radar," Ren said.
"All moms do."
They went back inside, and Airi thought about how easily she fit into this small apartment, this small family. How natural it felt to be here, to be part of Ren's world.
This was what love was supposed to feel like. Not perfect, but comfortable. Not grand gestures, but small moments of belonging.
And she wanted more of it.
Wanted a lifetime of it.
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## 🌸 End of Chapter 11
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