Author's notes: This chapter was inspired by the song, "Let-ters", which was composed by Heavenz and sung by Vocaloid IA. You may also want to check out Nayugorou's cover of it because that version is really beautiful. *A* Anyway, chapter 1 is up, enjoy!
The alarm clock set off at exactly 6:00 in the morning. Summoning all her strength, Amu lifted her sluggish arm to slam the alarm clock off. She grumbled as she sat down on her bed for a few seconds before fumbling her way to the bathroom to take a hot shower. As warm water droplets pierced her skin, Amu felt her senses awaken. She felt the energy rushing through her body as she washed herself. After several more minutes, she pulled a folded towel from the tub and covered herself.
It has been two weeks since she moved to Aoyama, Tokyo's high fashion district. She is currently an executive assistant slash protégé of Kurihara Mao, one of the most famous fashion designers in the district. Kurihara owns CDG, a Japanese fashion label firm that is Tokyo-based but has many other concept stores throughout Japan, specifically in Kyoto, Osaka, and Fukuoka. The company is also slowly gaining popularity internationally, with stores recently established in Paris, New York, and Hong Kong. Amu was enamored with the flourishing fashion industry of Japan during her senior high school days, so she decided to enter the renowned Bunka Fashion College in Shibuya and eventually work in Aoyama. This decision was the start of her independence.
Amu wore a cream-colored blouse with butterfly sleeves, a black tiered skirt, reaching two inches above her knees, and brown fur boots with stiletto heels. Since winter has started, she also prepared her winter cardigan and favorite purple shawl. After sufficiently drying her hair and putting on some appropriately light makeup, she carried her long-strapped, black pepe leather bag and headed outside.
CDG's main office was just a few blocks away from Amu's apartment, so it had become a routine for her to wake up early and enjoy the gentle breeze brushing through her hair. Although she was not yet used to the life in the fashion industry, she found inner peace in walking along the streets of Tokyo, reminiscing the times when she was still with her friends and family. Back in college, every once in a while, she would visit her family especially during Golden Week. These were the times when she would reunite with her old childhood friends and hang out with them. Sometimes, Amu's younger sister, Ami, would visit her instead to ask for fashion tips and for some cute dresses along the way. Nevertheless, Amu never forgot to catch up with the most important people in her life, well, with some exceptions.
When she reached the entrance, she inserted a few coins to a nearby vending machine and chose double mocha. She took the cup then went straight ahead to her office, a room away from the main executive office. After taking a sip, she put the cup down on her desk, as well as her bag, then pulled out a notebook and pen from her drawer. She headed out of her room and made her way to the office of her boss.
"Good morning, Kurihara-san," Amu greeted with a smile.
"Morning," Kurihara, who was standing and facing the window, puffed a smoke from her mouth. The suffocating smell of cigarette smoke filled the room instantly.
"I'm here to remind you of your schedule for today," Amu closed the door and went near her boss.
"You're early, Hinamori," Kurihara quickly disposed her cigarette on an ashtray then sat down in a cross-legged position. Amu smiled as a reply to the remark then opened her notebook.
"Since you're currently working for a Spring collection, today will be a relatively free day. At 10 AM, you'll meet with the sales department for the year-end report of the CDG sales. Then at around 2 PM, you'll have to submit a statement to the press about the upcoming runway next month..." Amu paused for a while when she noticed how inattentive her boss was.
"I need to be free by 6 PM," Kurihara sternly announced.
"I'm afraid you can't. You need to meet with someone from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry for consultation at 7 PM," Amu replied immediately. "This is for the mass-market export we're planning to do next year," she continued.
Kurihara winced as if in pain. She then faced Amu with crocodile tears falling down from her face.
"Amu-chaaaaaaan, that's too cruel. It's my boyfriend's birthday todaaaay," Kurihara sniffed. "We're having a romantic dinner. Can you please go to the consultation alone?" she clasped her hands as if begging to a god.
Amu raised an eyebrow. A boyfriend? She stared at her boss who was in her early 40s. She was bewildered by the scene in front of her. The image of a strict, aloof woman that she had on her boss started to crumble one by one.
"My job description clearly said that I only have to set appointments and assist you in those appointments. Who am I going to assist if you're not there?" Amu reminded her boss. "Plus, if your boyfriend truly loves you, I'm sure he'll understand," she declared in a confident tone.
"Amu-chaaaan, don't be so cold-hearted," Right at this moment, Kurihara clung to her assistant. Her eyes pleaded while her lips turned into a pout.
"Okay, fine!" Amu sighed.
"Yaaay! Thank youuu, Amu-chaaan," Kurihara's eyes brightened for a while, but after realizing her shameful actions, she coughed a bit and let Amu go.
"You may go now. I'll call you if I need anything," With this, Amu felt that she was not needed inside the room anymore. She bowed to her boss as a sign of respect and made her way to the door, but before she can open it, Kurihara called her attention again.
"Hinamori," she lit another cigarette. "Prepare a few Spring designs. Be my partner for the next runway show," Kurihara puffed out a smoke again. Upon hearing those words, Amu turned around to face her boss, with eyes widened from surprise.
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"I heard she's dating a college guy!"
"Yeah! And I think she's going to live with him in Europe!"
Tadase slowly awoke from his short slumber. After the pilot's confirmation that they have arrived safely in Narita International Airport, he gently removed his seatbelt and got up from his seat. The airport was as usual crowded, and since he hated the feeling of congestion, he hurried his way to the immigration control then to the baggage claiming, and lastly to the customs clearing. Despite the effort, it still took him at least half an hour to go through all the process. Pulling along his suitcase, he strolled around Narita Nakamise, the largest airport mall in Japan, to search for souvenirs.
It has already been months since Tadase had graduated from university. He entered a joint BA/MA program on International Affairs in Switzerland that allowed him to gain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in just five years. However, this would not have been possible without financial aid. He applied and got accepted to two scholarship programs of the schools he went into, one during intermediate and high school while the other during college. It was his desire to conquer the world that helped him reach the place he was in right now.
Ever since graduation, monochromatic colors had also been the theme of Tadase's fashion. For today, he wore a gray single-breasted suit, custom-tailored and precisely cut to fit his physique well. His body was a slim one, just like what a typical Japanese young adult would look like, yet with well-built muscles. His shoes were sleek and shiny black, enhancing the smart and neat look he had been aiming for. But unfortunately for him, his eyes were too good for glasses.
"I can't believe it. It's really you, Tadase-sama... no... Tadase-kun!" a voice of a woman called out from behind. Tadase looked behind and saw a familiar face. The voice came from a woman he knew from elementary school.
"Yamabuki-san?" he wasn't sure. It had been more than ten years since he saw anyone from his elementary school.
"I'm glad that you can still remember!" Saaya exclaimed. "It's been a long while!"
"Yeah, it's been more than ten years. How are you doing?" Tadase smiled a bit. He knew he would encounter an acquaintance now that he's back in Japan, but he didn't expect it to be this soon.
"Doing great! Right now, I'm waiting for my boyfriend to arrive from Los Angeles," Saaya replied. "How about you? Have you been in touch with our other classmates?"
Tadase hesitated momentarily. He didn't know how to respond to a question that he had been avoiding like a plague. Then he remembered her. He knew it would be better not to inquire about the past anymore, but he tried rationalizing the necessity to ask the question that made him suffer these last ten years by thinking he would have to face that woman someday anyway.
"No, I haven't," Tadase slightly frowned. "Do you have news about them?"
"Oh, I haven't met with them since I migrated to LA after our elementary graduation," Saaya explained. "But... I think I saw Hinamori-san a few days ago," her voice trailed off.
"How is she?" Tadase's heart skipped a beat when those words suddenly came out from his mouth.
"I saw her sitting alone at a café in Aoyama," she responded. "I wonder what happened. I thought for a fact that you two are dating then suddenly, I heard rumors about her dating a college guy and moving somewhere in Europe,"
Tadase felt his heart froze. He could still remember how the rumors of Amu and Ikuto dating spread throughout the campus like a lightning. And like the strike of a lightning, it was rapid and painful at the same time. Unable to reply to Saaya, he thought of ways to change the topic or to just get out of the awkward conversation altogether. Suddenly, he felt his phone rang. Thank god!
"Sorry, I have to take this," Tadase smiled apologetically then held out his phone. "Hello?"
"Hotori-kun, I know you've only arrived, but you have work waiting for you later," his coordinator told him from the other side of the line.
"Immediately? What is it?" he inquired.
"You have to meet with the CDG people at 7 PM. I'll send the details to your e-mail,"
"Noted," Tadase replied. "By the way, where am I going to meet them?"
"In Cicada Restaurant in Aoyama,"
Tadase looked at his watch and realized he was thirty minutes early to the meeting. He was sitting nervously on a reserved seat beside the windows. Of course, he was anxious; after all, he was in Aoyama, the place where Saaya saw Amu. He reminded himself that his coordinator's email clearly indicated that he would meet with a fashion designer named "Kurihara Mao". To further distract himself, he opened his attaché case and checked if he was able to print out and bring the files he needed for the short consultation. After reassuring himself that he was indeed prepared, a sigh of relief was heard from him. When he was about to close the case, he noticed a wrinkled paper stuck between two folders. It was folded in half and had faded into yellow.
I guess I forgot to leave this letter at my apartment, he thought.
He pulled out the letter and felt a mixture of guilt and regret. Deciding it would be better not to read the contents anymore, he kept the letter in his breast pocket then closed the attaché case. He stared against the windows once more, and without even trying, the memories when he wrote that unsent letter flashed through his mind. It was a usual day of heavy academic load, and feeling quite hopeless, he casually took a pen and paper. He wrote and wrote until he could let all of his bottled emotions out. However, he soon realized that he did not have the courage to send the letter. He rationalized this cowardice by believing in the rumors about her. Where would I send it if Amu-chan had already vacated her home address and moved with Ikuto somewhere in Europe? And so he kept the unsent letter in his drawer for more than ten years.
He closed his eyes and listened to the clattering sound of utensils, particularly chopsticks, and soft conversations by the customers. He cherished this moment, the fact that he was back in Japan. He missed his family, friends, and of course, that woman. His realization of how childish and timid he was back then, especially that one time when he admitted only liking Amulet Heart, continued to torment his mind and soul for years, even until now.
Shall I forgive the person that I was back then?
He wanted to forgive himself, but he could not. All his suppressed feelings prevented him from doing so. He blamed himself for his misery and let the past torture him. After selfishly deciding not to see her again for "their" happiness, the thought of seeing her again terrified him now. But at the same time, the thought of Amu forgetting him also frightened him. These complicated feelings however went into a halt when he slowly opened his eyes.
A young woman of about mid-twenties stood from the entrance. Her hair was a sweet color pink while her eyes were elegantly colored with honey gold. Tadase could not believe it. He was completely dumbfounded by what he was seeing. He could only utter the woman's name and the endearing honorific he used to call her.
"Amu-chan…"
Author's notes: I'm not sure if the pacing of the story is a bit slow. As you can see, I'm introducing the characters, so I have to fill the gap of ten years by blocks of text. Also, the places, institutions, and the restaurant I've mentioned are real (but it's not my intention to advertise them haha). I got the names of Kurihara Mao and CDG from real-life fashion designer Kurihara Tao and fashion label Comme des Garçons (the way I portrayed them definitely differs from the reality though). I guess that's it. Don't forget to leave a review, okay? Chapter 2 will be up next week hopefully!
