Different Cities, Same Sky

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## ACT 3: Dreams Under the Same Sky
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Tokyo University was massive.
Airi stood in front of her new dorm building with two suitcases and a knot of anxiety in her stomach. The campus sprawled in every direction—modern buildings mixed with traditional architecture, thousands of students moving with purpose, everyone seeming to know exactly where they were going.
Everyone except her.
"Sato-san?" A cheerful girl with short hair approached. "I'm Tanaka Yumi—your RA. I'll show you to your room!"
Airi followed her inside, up three flights of stairs, down a long hallway. Everything was new and unfamiliar. The sounds were different, the smells were different. Even the air felt different.
Room 304. Her room.
"Your roommate moved in yesterday," Yumi explained, unlocking the door. "She's at orientation right now. I'll leave you to settle in!"
The room was small—two beds, two desks, one window overlooking the campus. Half of it was already decorated with colorful posters and photos. The other half—Airi's half—was blank.
She set down her suitcases and sat on the bare mattress, suddenly overwhelmed.
This was it. Her new life. Without Ren. Without her parents. Without anything familiar.
Her phone buzzed.
**Ren**: *made it to kyoto. dorm is tiny but its mine*
**Ren**: *hows tokyo?*
**Airi**: *Big. Overwhelming. Strange.*
**Ren**: *miss you already*
**Airi**: *Miss you too. So much.*
**Ren**: *we can do this. first day jitters. itll get better*
**Airi**: *I hope so.*
**Ren**: *i know so. love you*
**Airi**: *Love you too.*
She stared at her phone, wishing she could reach through it and touch him. Four hours had never felt so far.
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## 💌 The Letter
That evening, after unpacking and meeting her roommate (Saki, the girl from English class—a pleasant surprise), Airi sat on her bed with Ren's letter.
She'd waited all day for this moment. Wanted to be alone, settled, ready to hear his words.
With trembling hands, she broke the seal.
*Dear Airi,*
*If you're reading this, we made it. We're at our universities. Living our dreams.*
*I bet you're scared right now. Probably overwhelmed by how big everything is, how different, how alone you feel. I bet you're wondering if we made a mistake.*
*We didn't.*
*Airi, you're the bravest person I know. You chose to pursue your dream even though it meant leaving everything familiar. That's not weakness. That's courage.*
*So here's what I need you to remember on this first day:*
*You belong there. You earned your place at Tokyo University. You're not an imposter or a fraud. You're brilliant and capable and exactly where you're supposed to be.*
*You're going to meet amazing people. Some will become friends. Some might become more than friends if I weren't in the picture. Don't feel guilty about that. Feel grateful that you're worth knowing, worth befriending, worth loving.*
*You're going to have days when you want to quit. When the pressure feels too much and you wonder why you chose this path. On those days, remember: you chose it because you have a gift for understanding people. Because you want to help others feel less alone. That's beautiful. That's necessary. The world needs what you have to give.*
*You're going to miss me. I'm going to miss you. There will be nights when the distance feels impossible, when you wonder if love can really survive four years apart. On those nights, look at your compass bracelet. Remember: I'm doing the same thing in Kyoto. We're under the same sky, looking at the same stars, missing each other equally.*
*Here's what I promise you:*
*I promise to call every night, even when I'm exhausted.*
*I promise to visit every other weekend, even when train tickets are expensive.*
*I promise to be honest, even when the truth is scary.*
*I promise to trust you, even when jealousy whispers doubts.*
*I promise to fight for us, even when it's hard.*
*Especially when it's hard.*
*Because Airi, you're not just my girlfriend. You're my best friend, my partner, my home. Distance doesn't change that. Four hours doesn't change that. Nothing changes that.*
*So on this first day, I want you to know: I'm proud of you. I love you. I believe in us.*
*And four years from now, when we're both graduating, when we've achieved everything we set out to achieve—we're going to read these letters again and marvel at how young we were, how scared, how brave.*
*We're going to make it, Airi. I know it in my bones.*
*Welcome to Tokyo. Welcome to your dream. Welcome to the first day of our future.*
*Forever yours,**Ren*
*P.S. - The first month is going to be the hardest. Push through it. I'll be pushing too. We've got this.*
Airi read the letter three times, crying harder with each reading. He knew her so well. Knew exactly what she needed to hear, exactly what fears she'd be facing.
She pulled out her phone and called him immediately.
"Hey," his voice was rough, like he'd been crying too. "You read it?"
"I read it." She wiped her eyes. "Did you read mine?"
"Yeah. Airi, it was... perfect. Everything I needed to hear."
"Yours too." She lay back on her bed, phone pressed to her ear. "I miss you so much it hurts."
"I know. Me too. But we're doing this. We're really doing this."
"We are." She smiled through her tears. "How's Kyoto?"
"Beautiful. Overwhelming. Lonely without you." He paused. "But also exciting. The campus is amazing. My roommate seems cool. The veterinary building is state-of-the-art."
"Tell me everything."
So he did. They talked for two hours—about their dorms, their campuses, their fears, their excitement. It wasn't the same as being together, but it was something. It was connection.
When they finally hung up, Airi felt lighter. Still scared, still lonely, but less alone.
They were doing this. Together but apart, they were doing this.
---
## 🎓 First Week
The first week of university was a blur of orientations, syllabi, and information overload. Airi attended lectures in massive halls with hundreds of students. She joined study groups with people whose names she couldn't remember. She navigated a campus that felt impossibly large.
Every night, she video called Ren. They kept to their schedule religiously—10 PM, no matter what. Those calls became her anchor point, the thing that made everything else bearable.
"Psychology 101 is already kicking my ass," Airi said on their third night call.
"Already? It's been three days."
"The reading load is insane. I have three textbooks to read by next week."
"You'll manage. You always do." Ren smiled at her through the screen. "How's Saki?"
"Good. Really good, actually. We have similar schedules, so we walk to classes together sometimes."
"I'm glad. You need friends there."
"What about you? How's your roommate?"
"Kenji? He's cool. Plays guitar. Stays up too late. But he's respectful of my call times with you, which is all that matters."
They talked until both were falling asleep, phones propped on pillows, just watching each other breathe.
"I should let you sleep," Ren murmured.
"Don't want to hang up."
"Me neither. But we have class tomorrow."
"I know." Airi yawned. "Same time tomorrow?"
"Same time tomorrow. Always."
"I love you."
"I love you too. Sweet dreams, Tokyo girl."
"Sweet dreams, Kyoto boy."
---
## 🍜 Making Friends
By the second week, Airi had fallen into a routine. Classes, library, calls with Ren, sleep. But Saki insisted she needed more.
"You can't just study and call your boyfriend," Saki said, pulling Airi out of the library. "You need a social life."
"I have a social life."
"Video calls don't count. Come on, a bunch of us are getting dinner. You're coming."
Airi found herself at a small restaurant with six other psychology students—Saki, two girls named Hana and Yuki (not the Yuki from high school), and three boys: Daichi, Hiroshi, and Kenji (not Ren's roommate, a different Kenji).
"So Airi," Daichi said, friendly and warm. "Where are you from?"
"A small town about an hour from here. You?"
"Osaka. Big change coming to Tokyo."
They talked about hometowns, high schools, why they'd chosen psychology. It was... nice. Normal. The kind of social interaction Airi had avoided in high school but was learning to appreciate now.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" Hana asked at some point.
"Yes. He's in Kyoto."
"Long distance? That's tough."
"We're managing."
"My cousin tried long distance," Yuki said. "Lasted three months."
Airi's stomach tightened—the same old doubt creeping in. But she pushed it away. "We're not your cousin."
"Fair enough. I hope you guys make it."
"We will."
Daichi smiled at her. "That's some confidence. Good for you."
After dinner, as they walked back to the dorms, Daichi fell into step beside Airi.
"So, psychology. What's your focus?"
"Adolescent mental health. Helping teenagers who feel invisible."
"That's specific. Personal experience?"
"Something like that." She smiled. "What about you?"
"Cognitive behavioral therapy. I like the idea of rewiring thought patterns."
They talked about their interests, their classes, their professors. It was easy conversation, the kind that flowed naturally.
When they reached her dorm, Daichi said, "We should study together sometime. I could use a study partner who actually cares about the material."
"Sure. That would be good."
"Great. See you in class, Airi."
She watched him walk away, then headed up to her room, where she immediately called Ren for their scheduled talk.
"Hey! How was dinner?"
"Good. Made some friends. Talked about classes."
"That's great! See, I told you you'd find your people."
"Yeah." She hesitated. "One of the guys—Daichi—asked if I wanted to study together."
"Okay?" Ren looked confused. "That's... normal, right?"
"Right. I just... wanted to tell you. Transparency."
"I appreciate that. But Airi, you're allowed to have male friends. We talked about this."
"I know. I just don't want you to worry."
"I'm not worried. I trust you." He smiled. "Did you tell them about me?"
"Of course. Mentioned I have a boyfriend in Kyoto."
"Good. Let them know you're taken." His grin was playful. "But seriously, make friends. Have a life there. Don't put everything on hold for me."
"I won't. I promise."
---
## 📚 First Crisis
The third week brought Airi's first real breakdown.
She'd been studying for eight hours straight, had two papers due, and was running on four hours of sleep. When she got back to her room, she found Saki getting ready for a party.
"Want to come?" Saki asked. "You need a break."
"I can't. I have too much work."
"You always have too much work. When's the last time you did something fun?"
"I talked to Ren yesterday—"
"That's not fun, that's maintenance. I mean actual fun. Dancing, drinking, not thinking about school."
"I don't have time for fun."
"That's exactly the problem." Saki sat beside her. "Airi, you're going to burn out. You need balance."
"I'll balance after midterms."
Saki sighed but didn't push. "Okay. But if you change your mind, text me."
After she left, Airi tried to study but couldn't focus. Her eyes burned. Her head pounded. And suddenly, she was crying—ugly, exhausted sobs.
She called Ren without thinking.
"Hey! Early call tonight— Airi, what's wrong?"
"I can't do this," she gasped. "It's too much. The workload, the pressure, being alone, missing you—"
"Okay, breathe. Just breathe with me."
He guided her through breathing exercises, just like he had during her high school breakdown. Slowly, her sobs subsided.
"Talk to me," he said gently. "What's happening?"
"I'm exhausted. I have two papers due. I'm barely sleeping. And everyone here is so confident and brilliant and I feel like I'm drowning."
"You're not drowning. You're adjusting. There's a difference."
"It doesn't feel like adjusting. It feels like failing."
"Airi, listen to me. You've been there three weeks. Three weeks. You're not supposed to have it all figured out yet."
"But everyone else—"
"Everyone else is faking it too. They're just better at hiding it." He leaned closer to the camera. "Remember what you told me when I was struggling with exams? That being overwhelmed means you care. That means you're pushing yourself. That's growth."
"I miss you," she whispered. "I miss you so much."
"I miss you too. But you know what? This weekend I'm coming to Tokyo. Our first visit."
"You are?"
"Of course. It's on the schedule. I bought my train ticket last week."
Relief flooded through her. "I can't wait."
"Me neither. So here's what you're going to do. You're going to finish one paper tonight. Just one. The other can wait. Then you're going to sleep. And tomorrow, you're going to take actual breaks. And Saturday, I'll be there and we'll spend the whole weekend together."
"Okay. I can do that."
"You can do anything. You're Airi Sato. Brilliant, beautiful, stronger than you think."
She smiled through her tears. "When did you become my therapist?"
"When you became mine. We take turns, remember?"
"We take turns."
After hanging up, Airi felt steadier. She finished one paper, set the other aside, and went to sleep. Tomorrow would be better. Saturday would be better.
She just had to hold on until Saturday.
---
## 🚃 The First Visit
Saturday arrived like a gift.
Airi waited at Tokyo Station, bouncing on her toes with nervous energy. The train from Kyoto was arriving in five minutes. Five minutes until she saw Ren for the first time in three weeks.
The longest three weeks of her life.
When the train pulled in and passengers started streaming out, she searched frantically for him. Then—there. His messy dark hair, his bright eyes, his smile that lit up when he saw her.
"Airi!"
"Ren!"
She ran to him, and he dropped his bag to catch her, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around.
"God, I missed you," he breathed into her hair.
"I missed you so much."
They stood there holding each other, oblivious to the crowds flowing around them, just existing in this moment of reunion.
Finally, Ren pulled back enough to kiss her—soft and sweet and full of three weeks of longing.
"Hi," he said, grinning.
"Hi," she replied, unable to stop smiling.
"Show me Tokyo?"
"Show me everything."
They spent the weekend exploring the city, walking through parks and visiting museums and eating at small restaurants. But mostly, they just talked. Really talked. About their classes, their friends, their struggles, their victories.
"I met someone," Ren said on Sunday afternoon as they sat in a park. "A girl in my anatomy class. Yuki."
Airi's stomach tightened, but she kept her voice calm. "Okay. Tell me about her."
"She's smart. Funny. Sits next to me in class. We've studied together a few times." He took Airi's hand. "And I wanted to tell you because transparency, right? Nothing's happening. Nothing will happen. But she's becoming a friend and I didn't want to hide that."
"Thank you for telling me." Airi squeezed his hand. "I appreciate the honesty."
"Your turn. Tell me about Daichi."
"How did you—"
"You mentioned him three times this week. That's how I know he's important."
"He's becoming a friend. That's all. He's brilliant and easy to talk to, but..." She met Ren's eyes. "He's not you. Nobody could be you."
"Good answer." Ren kissed her. "We're going to have friends of the opposite sex. That's healthy. As long as we're honest about it."
"Honest about it," Airi agreed.
Sunday evening came too fast. Suddenly they were back at Tokyo Station, holding each other one more time before Ren's train.
"Two weeks," Airi said.
"Two weeks. Then you come to Kyoto."
"I can't wait to see your campus."
"I can't wait to show you." He cupped her face. "We did it. First visit. Survived the first month. We're actually doing this."
"We are." She kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you too. So much."
The train announcements came. Time to go.
"Text me when you get back?" Airi asked.
"Always."
One more kiss. One more embrace. Then Ren boarded the train, finding a window seat, pressing his hand to the glass just like graduation day.
Airi pressed hers to the outside.
The train pulled away.
And once again, she was alone. But this time, it felt different. Less like an ending and more like a pause. They'd done it once. They could do it again.
Two weeks. Just two weeks.
She could do two weeks.
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