Chapter Text
The moon shone brightly that night, casting a mesmerizing light over the city of Tokyo. Ryuzaki Sakuno sat in her dimly lit room, the soft glow from her desk lamp illuminating her anxious expression. At twenty-three, she was no longer the timid girl anymore. Instead, she had transformed into a determined young woman, her long brown hair tied elegantly to the side with soft pink scrunchies, She clasped her hands tightly, eyes closed as if praying, anxiously awaiting news that could change her life.
"Tonight, I, Ryuzaki Sakuno, am in quite a pinch," she murmured to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. This was already the sixth company she had applied to after graduating, and the minutes stretched before her like an unending horizon. The ping of her phone shattered the silence, and she gasped, her heart skipping a beat.
With trembling fingers, she unlocked her screen. "Congratulations! Your application for an interview at YY Company has been approved. Please come to the company tomorrow at 10 AM."
Joy surged through her, more radiant than the morning sun breaking through clouds, and she leaped from her chair, dashing out of her room. “Obaa-chan!” she called, bursting into the small living room where her grandmother, Sumire, held a delicate cup of tea. The elderly woman nearly dropped her drink in shock, her wide eyes shimmering with surprise.
“Must you shout like that? I’m not as spry as I used to be. You’ll send me to an early grave!” Sumire laughed, a mixture of feigned exasperation and genuine fondness dancing on her aged features. Sakuno rushed over, wrapping her arms around her grandmother's neck in an embrace filled with sheer happiness.
“I’m sorry! I am just too happy. Look! The company I applied to wants to interview me.” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling like stars in a night sky.
Her grandmother chuckled, warmth spreading in her chest. “Oh my! That is wonderful news. I always believed you’d make it. Congratulations, Sakuno.”
Sakuno smiled and laughed softly as she heard the compliment and encouragement from her grandmother.
The next day dawned brightly, an omen of possibilities swirling in the air. Sakuno stood before her mirror, adjusting her blazer, attempting to present the confident professional she wanted to be. Yet, nerves danced in her stomach like fluttering butterflies as she entered YY Company, surrounded by others in crisp suits and polished shoes.
As she waited for her turn, she fiddled with the hem of her skirt, glaring at the floor while her mind raced with self-doubt.
“Ryuzaki Sakuno,” the secretary called, and the name shot through the room, echoing in her ears. It was time.
Taking a deep breath, she walked into the interview room, her heart nearly thumping out of her chest. But what she found made her heart stop completely. Seated in front of her was a familiar face that sent a rush of memories flooding back, a guy with light yellow hair who had once filled her days with affection. Tanaka Yuto, now an HR manager, was hers to confront in this high-stakes arena.
Sakuno's gaze flickered away, a swirl of emotions racing within her that she hadn’t anticipated. She pondered, recalling the years since their paths had diverged after university.
“Please introduce yourself, Miss Ryuzaki,” urged the woman beside Yuto. Sakuno swallowed hard and smiled, albeit subdued.
"My name is Ryuzaki Sakuno. I'm so delighted to be here today. I recently completed my degree in Human Resource Management and have been finishing my internship at CC Company." Each word felt like stepping onto a tightrope, balancing between the past and the present.
The woman’s brow raised slightly. “CC Company? You do realize that’s our competitor, don’t you?”
“Yes, I’m aware,” Sakuno replied, determination mingling with her nerves. “However, my role there was quite minor, so I haven’t encountered your company’s workings.”
“And why didn’t you choose to stay at CC Company for experience?” she probed further.
Sakuno hesitated, remembering the disappointment of not being offered a position. “Unfortunately, they aren’t hiring anyone right now.”
The woman checked the paper in her hand, flipping through the pages. She looked up, her gaze shifting to the person beside her, "you have anything to add, Tanaka-san?"
Yuto leaned forward, his piercing gaze locking onto Sakuno with intensity. “Are you sure you can separate personal feelings from work matters?” he asked, the question laden with unspoken history.
“Yes, I can.” The words came out almost defiantly, even as her heart whispered for her to look away. All she could think of was running away as she was not ready to meet him again.
“Then how can you work here when you can’t even look at your future leader properly?” Yuto pressed, his brow furrowed as he searched her eyes for sincerity.
“I-I’ll try to be better,” she stammered, feeling the heat creeping up her cheeks, each second threatening to eat away at her confidence.
“Alright, you may go now, Miss Ryuzaki. We will notify you of our decision shortly,” Yuto concluded, breaking the tension like a fine thread.
As Sakuno exited the room, disappointment settled in her chest like a stone. The thrill of joy she'd felt just the night before dimmed into uncertainty. She closed the door behind her and let out a soft sigh, leaning against it for support. A sad smile creeping onto her lips.
---
Echizen Ryoma strode along the sunlit promenade, the faint hum of life buzzing around him. At twenty-three, he had shed the boyish looks of his twelve-year-old self, standing tall in a red sweat jacket that gleamed under the morning sun. His tennis bag swung lightly on his shoulder, an extension of his dedication to the sport that was both a passion and a relentless pursuit.
Behind him, a young woman with cascading blonde hair struggled to keep pace, her heels clicking rhythmically against the pavement. She was trying her best to appear composed, but the glint of frustration danced in her hazel eyes. “Ryoma!” she called, her voice slicing through the air.
He paused for a brief moment, his gaze flickering back at her, his expression stoic and unreadable. “What is it?” he replied, unfazed.
“I’m tired! How long do we have to walk? Where are you going actually?” she exclaimed, exasperation flushing her cheeks.
With a calm, pointed gesture, Ryoma indicated the tennis center ahead, a structure not too close, yet not impossibly far. “I’m going there,” he stated simply, as if the matter was settled.
Her brows knitted together in disbelief. “That’s far! Why don’t you just ride in a car?”
He shrugged, a slight frown forming on his lips. “Didn’t you say you wanted to walk?”
The girl’s jaw dropped in shock. “Yes, I want to walk, but not like this! I meant more leisurely, maybe at the park or something.”
Contemplating her words, Ryoma’s patience began to thin. “I have no time for that. You can go alone or with your friend. The park is right over there.”
“Why are you always like this?” she shot back, frustration spilling over.
“What now?” he questioned, genuinely perplexed.
“I’m tired!” she repeated, her voice tinged with desperation. “Aren’t we a couple? But all you think about is tennis, tennis, tennis!”
A sigh escaped Ryoma’s lips, heavy with the weight of truth. “Look here, you were the one who decided that. I never said I was agree to that.” He looked away, starting to turn down the path again. “I’m going now.”
Frustrated, she planted her hands on her hips. “We are breaking up.”
He paused, glancing over his shoulder. “Okay,” he replied, seemingly indifferent, and began to walk again.
“Okay? Just like that?” she echoed, incredulous. “I just asked you out yesterday!”
“Yeah, so don’t follow me again. You’re annoying,” Ryoma said bluntly, continuing his stride.
The girl felt her heart sink as his words hung in the air. “W-wait, Ryoma! I want to take it back!” she shouted after him, her voice laced with regret. However, he was already walking ahead, ignoring everything other than his destination.
As Ryoma drifted further away while looking at the clear sky, the girl stood frozen, shock coursing through her veins. She couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that engulfed her, despite Ryoma’s wealth and fame. “I shouldn’t have said that,” she whispered to herself. “Although he never gave me anything...”
At the same time; in Japan, Sakuno was staring up at the same sky from her home in Japan. The sun was setting, painting the horizon in hues of orange and purple, mirroring the tumult in her heart.
Unbeknownst to both Ryoma and Sakuno, a red thread woven seamlessly through distance and time, entwined around their finger and held firm.