Chapter 5: The Tokyo Trip
285 Words
The flight to Tokyo was long, but Mei-Ling barely noticed. She sat next to Kaito, watching the clouds drift past the window. He kept glancing at her, like he couldn’t believe she was really there.
“You okay?” he asked, handing her a blanket.
“Yeah,” she said, smiling. “Just nervous. Your family… they’re gonna hate me.”
“They won’t,” Kaito said. But his voice wasn’t sure.
When they landed, Hiroshi Tanaka was waiting at the airport. Tall, sharp suit, eyes that missed nothing. He looked Mei-Ling up and down once, then turned to Kaito.
“So this is the artist,” Hiroshi said. His tone was cold. Polite, but cold.
Mei-Ling forced a smile and bowed. “Mr. Tanaka. Thank you for having me.”
Hiroshi didn’t bow back. “We’ll see.”
At the Tanaka estate, everything was tradition. Tatami mats, sliding doors, silence at dinner. Mei-Ling felt out of place, her paint-stained fingers clashing with the perfect porcelain.
After dinner, Hiroshi called Kaito into his study. Mei-Ling heard them through the door.
“She’s not suitable,” Hiroshi said. “You know what’s expected of you. Marry someone from our world. Not… her.”
Kaito’s reply was quiet but firm: “I choose her.”
Mei-Ling’s heart stopped. He chose her.
Later that night, Kaito found her on the balcony, looking at Tokyo’s lights. He slipped the painted stone she’d given him back into her hand.
“I meant what I said,” he whispered. “I choose you. Even if it costs me the empire.”
Mei-Ling leaned into him, scared and hopeful all at once. Tokyo was beautiful. But the real storm was just starting.
- Writer
