Morning sunlight filtered through the thick curtains of Lia's bedroom. She had woken up earlier than usual, a blend of excitement and nervousness twisting in her stomach. Today was the day she would take a flight to join Ehito in another city—Sendai. A small, improvised trip, initiated by her… or at least, something she had suggested after their messages had grown more frequent, more personal.
But now, alone in her room, suitcase zipped and phone in hand, the creeping tension in her chest grew stronger.
Did I take all my documents? Is this the right time? Where am I supposed to go once I get to the airport?
The taxi dropped her off in front of the vast glass-and-steel structure. Her eyes widened at the sheer scale of it. It was her first time navigating an airport on her own. Just stepping inside, she felt swallowed by the organized chaos. Voices over loudspeakers, rushing footsteps, suitcase wheels rolling, scents of coffee and metal—everything assaulted her senses.
She swallowed hard, fingers tightening on her phone like it was a lifeline.
You can do this, she told herself.
But inside, the maze of gates, counters, and security lines overwhelmed her quickly. She blinked several times, struggling to make sense of the signage. Everyone else seemed to move with purpose, while she hovered, uncertain, like a misplaced puzzle piece.
She moved forward slowly, shoulders hunched, trying to maintain her composure. The cold blast of air conditioning clashed with the sticky warmth clinging to her skin, sending a chill down her back.
Where is he…?
She tapped quickly on her screen.
Lia: I'm here. I think.
Her gaze swept the crowds, heart thumping faster. She hated feeling lost—especially in places like this, full of strangers and unfamiliar sounds.
Then, at the end of a corridor, she spotted him.
Ehito. Standing still near an elevator, leaning casually against the wall. His hands were in his pockets, his eyes quietly fixed on her. He hadn't moved or waved. But their eyes met—and that was enough.
Relief surged through her, warm and grounding. She walked toward him briskly, without running but clearly eager.
"You could've made yourself easier to spot," she said, half-pouting, half-relieved.
He looked away slightly and exhaled, "Sorry."
A real apology. Not a reflex.
She blinked, surprised. Then he added, softer, "About yesterday. I was… cold."
She studied his face for a second before her features softened. "You caught me off guard. But I'm glad you came."
He nodded silently, then reached for her suitcase. That simple gesture said more than words. She felt it.
As they walked through the terminal together, she no longer noticed the crowd. She just followed Ehito's calm steps, feeling shielded in his quiet presence.
They stopped by a vending machine.
"Want something to drink?" he asked.
She nodded, a bit taken aback by this gentler side of him. He handed her a bottle of water, and she sank onto a bench, crossing her legs with a tired sigh.
"I thought I'd get lost forever in this place," she mumbled with a small, weary laugh.
He leaned against the wall beside her. "I was here."
Those words, simple and soft, struck deeper than she expected. She looked away, hiding the shimmer in her eyes.
Silence followed, but it was the good kind. The kind that made you feel understood.
She glanced at him from the side. His profile was calm, focused somewhere in the distance. Not tense, but quietly alert. A strange flutter twisted in her chest—not unpleasant, but new.
"You travel often?" she asked, mostly to hear his voice.
"No. I don't like departures."
She tilted her head.
"But you came. For me."
He turned toward her slowly. "You're not a departure."
The sentence hung between them, fragile and beautiful.
She didn't respond. She didn't have to.
Soon after, they boarded the plane. Lia sat near the window, her fingers slightly curled on the armrest, eyes wide as the aircraft began to move. Her heart raced—not from fear, but from the thrill of it all. She pressed her forehead gently against the cool glass, watching the runway blur past.
Ehito sat beside her, his presence steady, a quiet constant.
As the plane lifted off the ground, Lia felt the strange sensation of rising—not just physically, but emotionally. Like she was entering something new. Something uncertain, but full of promise.
And for the first time in a long while, she didn't feel like she was facing it alone.
They finally passed the last checkpoint. Lia followed Ehito closely, her suitcase rolling behind her on the shiny airport floor. Each step made her more nervous. This was the first time she was getting on a plane alone—or almost. Thankfully, he was there. Even though his words were few, his presence was enough to calm her.
They found the boarding gate and waited in a crowded area filled with passengers. Lia sat by the large window, her gaze fixed on the planes taking off one by one. The roar of engines, the announcements echoing through the speakers, the families chatting in every language… She felt so small in this vast world.
Ehito, sitting beside her, remained calm as always. He had put on his headphones, his eyes half-closed, his head slightly tilted back. He exuded that strange tranquility she had known about him forever. A calmness that, at this precise moment, reassured her as much as it intrigued her.
Boarding began. They stood up together. Lia gripped her bag strap a little tighter, her heart racing. She moved forward in silence, holding her breath at each step: showing her passport, scanning her ticket, walking through the long boarding tunnel to the plane's door.
When she entered the cabin, the smell hit her—plastic, disinfectant, and recycled air. She looked around, feeling a bit lost. The aisles seemed narrow, the seats small, and the people already seated were staring at her as if she were blocking the way.
She turned to Ehito, half-panicked.
"Which seat is ours?" she whispered.
He glanced at his ticket and pointed down the center aisle.
"We're here. Window seat for you."
"Oh… Okay."
She squeezed through to her seat, stowed her bag under the seat in front of her, and sat down awkwardly. The seat was narrower than she had imagined. She didn't dare move much. Her hands were clenched on her knees, and her eyes flicked from the window to the safety instructions.
Ehito sat beside her without a word. He fastened his seatbelt calmly and took out a book, opening it as if he had done this a hundred times.
Lia stole a glance at him.
"Do you fly often?" she asked, her voice a little shaky.
"It happens," he replied simply, not looking up from his page.
She nodded, not knowing what else to say. A voice over the intercom announced the closure of the doors. The plane began to slowly reverse. She felt her heart race.
"Ehito…"
He turned his head toward her this time.
"Yes?"
She hesitated to finish her sentence. Instead, she tightened her seatbelt and whispered, "I'm a little scared."
He looked at her for a moment. Then, softly, without much expression, he placed his hand over hers.
"Look out the window. It helps."
She followed his advice. And indeed, seeing the ground slowly pull away as the plane gained speed was surreal. The aircraft lifted into the air, and a shiver ran down her spine. Her stomach tightened, her breath caught for a moment, but she didn't let go of Ehito's hand.
When the flight finally stabilized, she felt her muscles slowly relax. She let out a long sigh and turned back toward him.
"Thank you… for earlier."
He didn't answer. He merely nodded before returning to his reading. Yet, Lia thought she saw a slight curve at the corner of his lips. Tiny. But real.
So, she turned her gaze back to the window and watched the clouds slowly pass beneath them. The world was vast. But with him by her side, she felt a little less lost.