New York never really slept.
Even in the early hours of the morning, the city pulsed with life. Endless streams of cars crawled along crowded streets, their horns blending into the constant murmur of the city. Massive billboards lit the skyline in shifting colors while glass towers stretched upward like steel giants clawing at the clouds.
Amid that endless sea of buildings stood a modest apartment complex, tucked quietly between far taller structures.
Behind one of its windows, a room rested in a much calmer silence.
The room carried a darker tone compared to the bright chaos outside. Black-painted walls were illuminated by thin RGB light strips tracing along the edges of shelves and posters. Sketchbooks were stacked on a desk beside jars of paintbrushes, pencils, pens, and scattered tools of creativity. A powerful gaming PC sat at the center of the workstation, surrounded by the quiet evidence of long nights spent drawing and gaming.
At the corner of the room sat a bed covered in pink sheets.
Curled beneath the blanket, a girl slept peacefully.
Her name was Aira Kurohana.
A freshman in high school, Aira spent most of her time playing games and drawing. Her illustrations were good enough that she even worked as an illustrator.
Granted, she only worked for one person.
But that still counted.
A groan escaped her lips as sunlight slowly crept through the open window and landed directly on her face.
Her eyes opened reluctantly.
"Ugh..."
Still half asleep, she rubbed her eyes and slowly pushed herself upright. Her hair had turned into a chaotic mess during the night.
She stretched lazily before noticing the breeze brushing against her face.
Her gaze shifted toward the window.
"What the... did I not close it last night?"
She shuffled over and leaned slightly outside, looking down at the towering city below.
For a moment, she simply stared at the skyline.
Then she remembered.
Her expression stiffened slightly.
A faint unease settled in her chest as she looked out toward the distant buildings.
But before the thought could fully form, a ringtone suddenly cut through the room.
She turned toward the bed and grabbed her phone.
Caller ID: Mom
She answered immediately.
"H-hello, mom?"
On the other end, an older woman's voice snapped back instantly.
"Hello? I've called you like ten times already! What were you doing?"
Aira scratched the back of her head.
"Sorry... I was sleeping."
"Really? I thought you'd be out with your friends today."
"Yeah... well..."
Aira walked over to her desk and pressed the power button on her PC.
"I'm just not feeling it today."
The computer hummed quietly as it began to boot.
"Anyway," she said, leaning against the desk, "what's the news over there? Did the funeral end?"
There was a pause.
Then her mother sighed quietly.
"It did... but I still can't feel relieved. You should've seen those kids. They were just..."
She trailed off before exhaling slowly.
"Sorry, honey. If you want, you can stay there for another week. You don't have to come here so urgently."
Aira listened silently for a moment.
Then she shook her head.
"No. I want to come."
Her voice softened slightly.
"I... have my reasons."
Her mother hummed quietly.
"Well, call me when you get to the airport, okay?"
"Okay, mom. Love you."
They hung up.
By then, her PC monitor had fully come to life.
Aira sat down and opened her messaging app before clicking the very first contact on her list.
Zero
Their chat history stretched endlessly upward.
And just seeing his name immediately lifted her mood.
Her eyes quickly noticed something new.
He had replied to the message she sent last night.
She had written:
"Y'know, I'm coming to Japan tomorrow."
"You better come see me, okay?"
His response had arrived only minutes ago.
Zero:
"Huh?"
"Why all of a sudden?"
"I don't know if I can do that. I'm kinda busy these next few days."
Aira frowned.
"Is he for real?"
Her fingers immediately began typing.
Hana:
"So much for being best friends. 😒"
"Fuck you. 🖕"
She sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"Whatever. Who cares if he comes... idiot."
But before she could stand up, another message appeared.
Zero:
"C'mon now..."
"I'm serious."
"I'm in the middle of some personal stuff."
"You know I'd come if I wasn't busy."
A small chuckle escaped her.
"Idiot..."
She began typing again.
Hana:
"Whatever..."
"At least come over for dinner."
"I already told my mom you'd be there."
"🤤"
The typing indicator appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Aira squinted at the screen.
"Let me guess..."
She typed again.
Hana:
"You aren't coming? 😒"
She leaned back in her chair.
Zero had always been like this. The type who preferred staying alone rather than going out.
But a moment later, his reply finally came.
Zero:
"I'm really sorry, Hana."
"I'm just a mess right now."
She blinked.
That was unusual.
Her fingers moved again.
Hana:
"What's happening?"
"Is it that bad?"
There was a longer pause this time.
Then:
Zero:
"Just some family stuff."
"Nothing too big."
The way he wrote it made her suspicious immediately.
Something felt off.
Aira leaned forward.
Hana:
"Hey..."
"My mom isn't at her place right now."
"She told me to get a taxi tomorrow."
"I thought it'd be better if we finally met and had some fun."
She hesitated before typing again.
"If you don't want to pick me up, just send me your address. I'll find my way."
The reply came instantly.
Zero:
"No way."
"You'll get lost."
Aira frowned.
Hana:
"I'm not that dumb, you know. 😒"
A few seconds passed.
Then:
Zero:
"No."
"Just call me when you land."
"I'll find a way."
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Good boy~"
She typed again.
Hana:
"Yeah?"
"But I thought you were busy."
His response appeared almost immediately.
Zero:
"Do you want me to come or not?"
She clicked her tongue.
"Man... he's such a party pooper."
Still smiling, she typed:
Hana:
"Okay."
"I'll call you, bestie~"
Zero:
"Fine."
"Travel safe."
Hana:
"Sure buddy."
"Thanks though. 😏"
"Be ready for some chaos."
After a moment, he replied one last time.
Zero:
"Okay."
"Bye."
Hana:
"K. Bye."
The chat fell silent.
Aira stood up and stretched before walking toward the bathroom.
Just before stepping inside, she glanced back at the monitor.
Maybe he had sent another message.
But the screen remained still.
She shrugged and stepped into the bathroom to start her day.
Today, she would finally go to Japan.
And for the first time...
She would meet Zero.
...
Time passed like a breeze. Soon, she found herself outside the airport, suitcase in one hand, backpack slung over her shoulder. Packing had already been done the night before, so there wasn't much left to prepare.
By early evening, she was sitting inside the bustling terminal, her suitcase resting beside her chair. Travelers moved past in a constant tide, some exhausted, some excited. She simply rested, headphones on, an audiobook murmuring softly in her ears.
Announcements echoed overhead, prompting her to lift her headphones for a moment. Her thumb hovered over her phone, checking the chat with Zero. No new messages.
"Still busy, huh... hope he's not in trouble," she murmured.
She resisted typing anything, instead leaning back and opening the small plastic window cover beside her seat to glance at the tarmac. Outside, massive planes stood like metallic beasts, waiting to roar across the sky. She closed the flap and slipped her headphones back on.
The boarding announcement finally echoed through the terminal. Her flight to Tokyo was ready. Aira stood, lifting her suitcase, and joined the slowly moving line of passengers. Passing through security, she felt the familiar mix of anticipation and nerves. Her boarding pass scanned, she stepped onto the jet bridge and into the aircraft. The cabin smelled faintly of new leather and recycled air, engines humming in quiet anticipation.
Sliding into her window seat, she settled in, buckled her seatbelt, and looked out once more at the glowing city behind her. "See you later, New York."
Minutes later, the plane's engines grew louder, vibrations humming through the floor as the aircraft taxied to the runway. Aira felt the subtle pressure in her chest as the plane accelerated, wheels lifting, and the city slowly shrinking beneath her.
Tomorrow... she would finally be in Japan.
Finally meeting him.
A faint smile curved her lips.
"I wonder what kind of face he'll make when he sees me..."
...