The flight back to Japan was quiet. Yuki and Kanna sat side by side, their hands intertwined as the plane cut through the clouds. Outside the window, the vast sky stretched endlessly, but inside, their thoughts were much more grounded. The peaceful simplicity of the village now felt like a distant dream, but Kanna knew they couldn't avoid reality forever.
As the plane descended over Tokyo, the weight of the world began to settle on Yuki's shoulders again. He sat up straighter, his jaw tightening, and Kanna could feel the tension radiating from him. She squeezed his hand, offering him silent support, and he turned to look at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of determination and uncertainty.
"I don't know how people will react," Yuki said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I disappeared for weeks. The media's going to be all over this."
Kanna leaned her head against his shoulder. "Whatever happens, we'll handle it together."
Yuki nodded, though his expression remained tense. The calm they had found in the village was already slipping away as they approached the noise and chaos of city life.
When they landed at Narita Airport, Kanna and Yuki braced themselves for the inevitable. Sure enough, as soon as they stepped through the arrivals gate, a crowd of reporters, photographers, and curious onlookers gathered. Cameras flashed, and voices shouted out Yuki's name, demanding answers.
Kanna instinctively stepped closer to him, her hand still in his, as they were surrounded by the media frenzy.
"Yuki! Where have you been?" "Why did you leave your team behind?" "Are you planning to return to volleyball?" "Who's this woman with you?"
Yuki's grip on Kanna's hand tightened, but he didn't flinch. He kept walking, his face stoic, until they reached the car waiting for them outside. As soon as they were inside, the doors shut, the world went quiet again, and Yuki let out a long breath.
Kanna watched him carefully, her heart aching for him. She knew how much pressure he was under, how the weight of expectations had always been a heavy burden for him to carry. Now, with the added scrutiny of his disappearance, that weight seemed almost unbearable.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, placing a hand on his arm.
Yuki nodded, but his eyes were distant. "I knew it was going to be like this. I just... I don't know what to say to everyone. The team, the media, the fans. I left without a word."
"You needed time to heal, Yuki," Kanna reminded him. "They'll understand that. And if they don't, then that's on them. You did what you had to do."
Yuki turned to look at her, his expression softening. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Kanna. You've been my rock through all of this."
Kanna smiled, her heart warming at his words. "You don't have to do any of this alone. I'm here. And whatever comes next, we'll figure it out together."
Yuki leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Thank you," he whispered. "For everything."
The next few days were overwhelming, but Yuki faced it all with a quiet strength. He held a press conference where he apologized to his team and the fans, explaining that he had needed time away to recover from the emotional and mental toll of the Olympics. He didn't go into detail about where he had been, but he was honest about his struggles.
The media response was mixed. Some criticized him for leaving, while others expressed sympathy for the immense pressure he had been under. But through it all, Kanna remained by his side, offering him support and reminding him that the most important thing was his well-being.
As Yuki reconnected with his teammates and coaches, Kanna found herself reflecting on how much had changed between them since they left Japan. What had started as a rescue mission to find her best friend had turned into something deeper, more meaningful. Their relationship had shifted from friendship to love, and though it still felt new and fragile, it was also undeniable.
One evening, after a particularly exhausting day of meetings with sponsors and media interviews, Yuki and Kanna retreated to his apartment. The city buzzed with life outside, but inside, it was just the two of them—quiet, peaceful, and together.
They sat on the couch, Yuki's head resting in Kanna's lap as she gently ran her fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes, the tension in his body slowly melting away.
"I missed this," Yuki murmured, his voice low. "The quiet. Just being with you."
Kanna smiled, her fingers tracing soft patterns through his hair. "Me too. It's been a lot these past few days."
Yuki opened his eyes, looking up at her with a soft, tired smile. "I don't think I could've done this without you."
"You don't have to carry everything on your own anymore, Yuki. I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."
He reached up and took her hand, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. "I don't deserve you, Kanna."
Kanna shook her head, her heart swelling with love for him. "You don't have to deserve me. We're in this together."
For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the world around them fading into the background. It didn't matter what the media said or what the public thought. All that mattered was the connection between them—the love they had found in each other after so many years of friendship.
Yuki sat up, turning to face her, his expression serious but full of warmth. "I don't want to lose this, Kanna. No matter what happens, I want you with me. Always."
Kanna's breath caught in her throat as she saw the vulnerability in his eyes. "You won't lose me, Yuki. I'm here, and I'm staying."
Yuki cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing her cheek. "I love you, Kanna. I think I've loved you for a long time, but I was too afraid to admit it."
Tears pricked at Kanna's eyes as she smiled, her heart racing with emotion. "I love you too, Yuki. I always have."
He leaned in and kissed her—a soft, tender kiss that felt like a promise. A promise that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.
And as they sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, Kanna knew that everything they had been through had led them to this moment. The village, the silence, the heartbreak, and the healing—it had all been worth it.
They were home, and they were together.
In the weeks that followed, Yuki slowly began to reintegrate into his volleyball career, but this time, he did it on his terms. He took things one day at a time, no longer letting the pressure consume him. And through it all, Kanna was by his side—his constant, his support, his love.
Their relationship flourished, quietly and steadily, growing stronger with each passing day. The village had given them a foundation, and now, back in the real world, they were building something beautiful together.
And no matter where life took them next, they both knew one thing for certain:
They would never have to face it alone.
