That day, the studio exuded a cozy vibe that only occurs when work proceeds without hiccups and laughter fills the room. With their performances now imbued with a familiarity and passion that had only grown stronger over weeks of collaboration, the voice cast was working on the last scenes of the anime's main arc. Emotions were more natural and lines were delivered with more weight. There was depth in every expression.
With his headphones firmly in place, Ren waited for the cue while standing behind the microphone.
"Take four in Scene 18. You're up, Ren," the director said from the booth.
He took a deep breath and spoke with cool accuracy, blending in with the character's feelings with ease. The staff clapped softly as the producers nodded in satisfaction.
Someone called, "Nice one, Ren!"
Ren smiled shyly and took a step back. With a playful grin tugging at her lips, Ayaka walked past him and gave him a gentle shoulder smack. "Stop assuming you're the main attraction."
He laughed. It is too late. I did it already.
Everyone in the vicinity chuckled.
Haruto raised an eyebrow as he looked over his clipboard. "All right, stars. It's break time. Ten minutes."
The group dispersed. A few grabbed some snacks. Others fell to couches. Ayaka had just opened a bottle of water when Ren took a seat close to her. This comfort between them felt natural now. The barriers she had erected had vanished, to be replaced by friendliness, lighthearted banter, and something more subdued—unspoken.
However, that wasn't the case.
At the top of the screen, a straightforward subject line appeared:
[RE]: Opportunity from ASTERIA Talent Inc.
His heart leaped.
His eyes skimmed the lines as he opened the email hastily. His recent work and early demos were seen by ASTERIA, one of the leading idol training agencies in Japan. They were giving him the opportunity to become one of their upcoming trainees. It was not a tryout. It was a request.
"No way…" he muttered.
As he passed by, Haruto saw Ren's face. "What's wrong?"
Ren's unusually stunned silence caused Ayaka to turn her head as well.
Slowly, Ren shook his head. "I received an email just now. from ASTERIA."
Silence for a beat.
Haruto then blinked. "Hold on, the ASTERIA?"
Ren nodded while continuing to hold the phone as if it might vanish.
With wide eyes, Ayaka straightened up. "What were they saying?"
"They want me to enroll in their training course."
Congratulations broke out in the room. Some gave high fives, while others clapped. Haruto grinned with pride. For an instant, Ayaka's face was unreadable, but as she touched his arm tenderly, it softened into a kind grin.
"Well done, Ren. You deserved it."
Still out of breath, he nodded. "Thank you."
The editing room lights had gone down outside the booth, leaving only a warm desk lamp to light Ayaka's desk in the studio's corner. She had also remained behind, going over notes, adjusting scenes, and making minor changes to scripts. Actually, though, she was waiting.
awaiting the departure of everyone.
Awaiting Ren.
The air between them had become softer by now. Shy smiles, light teasing, and spontaneous laughter had replaced the weeks of silence. Ayaka, however, still remembered the night he had risked traffic to kneel in front of her while crying. There was something persistent about it.
She got up from her desk and stretched, her gaze straying to the corridor. Other than herself, only Ren remained in the building. After a brief pause, her hand gently knocked on his door.
"Ren?"
He opened it almost instantly, blinking as though he had just been jolted out of his reverie. "Ayaka-san?"
She smiled, a little awkwardly. "Would you like to join me for dinner? I mean, it's just the two of us here."
Ren's face instantly brightened as he straightened up. "Y-Yeah, of course. That would be pleasant."
His apartment was only a few doors away from Ayaka's. Although their living arrangement had always been sensible—designed to make their jobs easier—there were moments when it seemed as though fate was constantly bringing them together in tiny ways.
The smell of something savory and warm was already filling the hall as she waved him inside. "Earlier, I prepared food. After work, I figured I'd be too lazy, so..."
Nothing fancy, just two plates, a bowl of rice, and a pot of miso soup between them, but the table was set up nicely. Ayaka motioned for him to sit while setting down a plate of karaage chicken.
They savored the simplicity and warmth of the meal as they ate slowly. With each bite, the conversation eased from its initial hesitancy.
"So." As she refilled his rice, Ayaka remarked, "That email... Have you made up your mind about your departure time?"
Ren looked at his phone and briefly lowered his chopsticks. "Tomorrow, I'm going to stop by the agency. Just to see what's going on. However... I doubt I'll get started right away."
She cocked her head. "Why not? This is a huge opportunity, isn't it?"
Ren gave a small smile. "Yes, it is. But first, I want to finish this project. Your undertaking. I can't abandon it. It has too much meaning for me."
The weight in his voice took Ayaka by surprise, causing him to pause in the middle of his sentence. "I don't have to keep you here."
Ren answered, "I'm not staying just because of you. But… it is part of the reason," he continued, smiling softly. "It wouldn't feel right for me to abandon something that you and I have worked so hard on."
Ayaka looked down while fumbling with her spoon. "You've changed a lot."
He laughed. "Hopefully for the better."
"You're now more concentrated. More grown up." She grinned. "Less bothersome."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Ren said with a laugh.
Ayaka switched on the TV after supper and browsed through the selections before choosing a slice-of-life anime. They were near but not touching as they sat on her couch. They talked about everything from work to anime tropes, favorite snacks, and what they would name a cat if they adopted one together as the show went on. It was the easy, silly banter that only occurs between two people who are genuinely at ease with each other.
Ayaka's eyes were half-focused on the screen as she held a pillow to her chest. "Have you ever pondered what your life might have been like had we never crossed paths again?"
Leaning back, Ren stared straight ahead. "At all times."
"And?"
"I believe I would still be lost."
Even though his words were quiet, they struck her like a gentle wind, sweeping aside any remaining barriers. He turned to face her, and she turned to face him.
They looked at each other.
After staring at her for a long time, he looked down. "I still don't believe I'm in the right place. However, this offer is just the beginning.
Before she could stop herself, Ayaka whispered, "You're already enough."
Ren's mouth opened slightly in surprise as he looked up.
Ayaka's cheeks turned red as she blinked. "I mean... Simply put, I don't think you have to prove anything to anyone."
His eyes crinkled slightly as he smiled, a slow, sincere smile. "I'm grateful."
It was no longer awkward, though they still watched in silence. It was the sort of quiet that enveloped them like a shroud.
Ayaka's head started to dip somewhere in the third episode. She struggled against it, waking up a few times, but Ren's peaceful presence, the room's warmth, and the steady rhythm of the rain tapping outside lulled her to sleep.
She laid her head lightly on Ren's shoulder.
He froze.
Not in a panic.
But in awe.
She was very near. His neck felt the warmth of her breath. As she slipped into her dreams, her eyelashes fluttered a little.
Ren slowly swiveled his head to catch a glimpse of her face.
She appeared calm. Calm. As if she had not been constrained by decisions, deadlines, or feelings too complicated to categorize.
He was afraid to move.
didn't dare exhale too loudly.
He merely observed her.
Admired her.
"I'm going to do it," she whispered, barely audible. "I will develop into a person deserving of standing by your side. I swear."
The gentle glow of animated characters eating, laughing, and strolling beneath cherry blossoms persisted on the screen in front of them.
However, the girl dozing on his shoulder was all that mattered to Ren at that precise moment.
To make her feel more at ease against him, he leaned back a little.
And without any big gestures or confessions, something changed in that private, quiet place.
Something lovely.
He allowed the moment to linger as he gently rested his head against hers.
"I'll go," he muttered once more. "I'll put in a lot of effort. I'll develop into someone deserving of you."
His voice was barely audible.
"And I'll come back to you when I come back."
Silently, the night held his promise.
A silent, holy promise in the flickering light of a common room.And Ayaka grinned softly in her slumber while still leaning against him.