The departure gate at Narita Airport buzzed with the controlled chaos of international travel, but Aiko barely noticed the usual airport energy as she sat with her four teammates, each absorbed in their own pre-flight rituals. Kenta methodically reorganized his carry-on for the third time, while Yuki reviewed technique notes with the intensity of someone cramming for final exams.
"Boarding announcement in Japanese, then English," Rina observed, looking up from her phone. "Flight's on time."
"Nervous?" Kenji asked, though his own hands betrayed slight trembling as he adjusted his tool case one final time.
"Excited," Aiko replied, surprising herself with how true it felt. The months of preparation, the revelations about her mother's work, the growing understanding that this competition represented something larger than individual achievement—all of it had crystallized into anticipation rather than anxiety.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Javier: "Already in Milan. Checked into the hotel an hour ago. Can't wait to see you tonight. Te amo."
The simple words sent warmth through her chest. After weeks of video calls and long-distance coordination, he was already there waiting for her arrival.
"Message from your Spanish boyfriend?" Yuki asked with a knowing smile.
"He's already in Milan. Beat us there by several hours."
"Makes sense," Kenta said, checking the departure board. "Madrid to Milan is what, two hours? We've got eleven ahead of us."
The boarding call came with the crisp efficiency that characterized international flights. As they gathered their belongings and joined the queue, Aiko felt the familiar flutter of anticipation that accompanied crossing into unknown territory.
"Last chance to turn back," Rina joked as they approached the gate agent.
"Not a chance," Aiko replied firmly. "We've worked too hard to get here."
The eleven-hour flight to Milan passed in a blur of restless sleep, technique review, and growing excitement as they crossed time zones toward their destination. Aiko found herself staring out the airplane window during the final approach, watching the Italian countryside unfold below with its patchwork of ancient cities and modern infrastructure.
"There," Yuki said, pointing toward the sprawling urban landscape ahead. "Milan. Where everything we've trained for finally gets tested."
As their plane touched down at Malpensa Airport, Aiko felt something fundamental shifting inside her. She was now representing Japan at the most prestigious international competition in her field.
The journey from broken to competent was complete. Now it was time to discover what came next.