Monsoon Romance

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow over Aiko's room. The usual chirping of birds outside seemed louder today, or perhaps it was just her heightened nerves. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she fidgeted with the hem of her sweater, her heart hammering in her chest. Today was the day. The day she and Haruto would find out if their dreams had taken flight or been grounded before they could even begin.

Aiko reached for her phone, hesitating before dialing Haruto's number. She knew he was just as anxious as she was. The ringing felt like an eternity before a familiar voice answered.

"Hey," Haruto said, his voice slightly hoarse as if he hadn't slept much.

"Hey," Aiko replied, clutching her phone tighter. "Did you check yet?"

There was a pause. "No… I was waiting for you."

She smiled despite the nerves. "Let's check together then?"

A deep breath on the other end. "Okay. On three?"

"Yeah."

Aiko's fingers trembled as she opened her laptop, navigating to the university's website. Haruto was doing the same. The login page appeared, the empty fields staring back at her like a challenge.

"One…"

She typed in her credentials.

"Two…"

She hovered her finger over the enter key.

"Three."

Aiko pressed enter. Her heartbeat roared in her ears as the page loaded. A few agonizing seconds passed before the screen changed, and a single word made her breath hitch.

Congratulations!

Her vision blurred as she read the message again and again, just to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Her hands flew to her mouth, a choked sob escaping as the realization sank in.

"I got in," she whispered, barely able to hear herself.

On the other end, Haruto was silent for a moment. Then, in a rush, he shouted, "I GOT IN TOO!"

Laughter and tears mixed as Aiko wiped her eyes, overwhelmed by the emotions coursing through her. "Haruto, we did it! We're going to Tokyo!"

"I can't believe it," Haruto said, his voice shaking. "We're actually going."

They sat there in stunned silence, letting it sink in. The countless nights spent studying, the stress, the self-doubt—every struggle had led to this moment. Their hard work had paid off.

Aiko's mother knocked softly before stepping into the room. "Sweetheart?"

Aiko turned, her tear-streaked face breaking into the biggest smile. "Mom, I got in."

Her mother's eyes widened before she rushed over, pulling Aiko into a tight embrace. "I'm so proud of you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You worked so hard for this."

Aiko clung to her mother, overwhelmed by the warmth and love surrounding her. She could hear her father's footsteps rushing up the stairs, and moments later, he was there too, beaming with pride.

"I knew you could do it, Aiko," he said, ruffling her hair. "My little artist is heading to Tokyo."

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Haruto stood in his living room, still gripping his phone. His parents, having noticed his reaction, already knew what had happened.

"Haruto…" His mother's voice trembled. "Did you…?"

"I got in, Mom."

His father let out a deep breath, nodding with approval. "Well done, son."

Haruto's mother wiped at her eyes before pulling him into a fierce hug. "I'm so proud of you," she whispered, her voice barely holding together.

Haruto hugged her back, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. This wasn't just his dream—it was theirs, too. They had supported him every step of the way, and now, he could finally give them this moment.

After a whirlwind of emotions, phone calls, and celebration, Haruto and Aiko met up in the evening at their usual spot—the cherry blossom tree near the park. The place where their childhood had been painted with laughter and dreams.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Aiko and Haruto sat side by side on the grass, the acceptance emails open on their phones. The glow from the screens illuminated their faces, reflecting their excitement.

"We're really doing this," Aiko murmured, her fingers tightening around her phone. "It still feels surreal."

Haruto exhaled, leaning back against the tree trunk. "Yeah… We've talked about this moment for so long, but now that it's here, it's kind of terrifying."

Aiko nodded. "New city, new people… It's a fresh start."

He turned his head toward her, his expression softening. "But we'll have each other."

Aiko met his gaze, warmth spreading through her chest. "Yeah. We will."

Silence settled between them, comfortable and full of unspoken promises. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: they weren't facing it alone.

Haruto reached for Aiko's hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. "To our new beginning."

She smiled, squeezing his hand. "To Tokyo."

As the stars began to twinkle above, they sat there, embracing the moment, their hearts beating as one. The next chapter of their lives was about to begin, and together, they would write it beautifully.