A Difficult Decision

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The past week had been a welcome reprieve. Kaminari had taken a break from the dangerous missions that had kept him away for so long, choosing instead to focus on Aiko and their relationship. It was exactly what they both needed. Aiko felt more at ease with him around—no longer worrying about whether he would come home injured or worse. Kaminari, in turn, was grateful to have this time with her, helping her search for new job opportunities and making her laugh with his constant jokes.

"What about this one?" Kaminari asked one afternoon, scrolling through job listings on his phone. "'Pet therapist'? You'd be great at it! You love animals."

Aiko chuckled, shaking her head. "I think the kids are enough, Denki."

"Fine, fine. But I'm just saying, I could totally see you giving a pep talk to a golden retriever." He grinned, his heart lightening at the sound of her laughter.

But their playful mood shifted when Aiko's phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen and immediately felt her chest tighten. It was her old boss, Mr. Fujimoto.

Kaminari noticed the sudden change in her expression. "Who is it?"

"It's... it's my old boss," Aiko said softly, hesitating before picking up the phone.

Kaminari gave her an encouraging nod, his brow furrowing slightly in concern but remaining supportive. He leaned back in his chair, listening quietly as she answered the call.

"Hello?" Aiko's voice was tentative as she held the phone to her ear.

"Aiko!" Mr. Fujimoto's voice chirped up on the other end, sounding almost apologetic. "I'm glad I caught you. I've been thinking a lot about what happened, and I wanted to reach out. I know we can't have you back here at the center, but I want to help. You were great at your job, and I'd hate to see your talent go to waste."

Aiko's heart fluttered with hope, but there was still a hint of nervousness. "Thank you," she said quietly, her fingers tightening around the phone. "That means a lot to me."

"Listen," her boss continued, "I made a call on your behalf, and there's an opportunity I think you'd be interested in. It's at a wonderful children's school. They're looking for someone with your experience and skill set, and I recommended you for the position. The only catch is... it's in Sweden. You'd have to relocate."

Aiko's heart dropped at the news. Sweden. It felt like a world away. Her smile faded, and she glanced over at Kaminari, who had been listening in. His face had remained neutral, but Aiko could see the flicker of surprise in his eyes.

"Sweden?" Aiko echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I know it's a big change," Mr. Fujimoto admitted. "But it's a great opportunity, and you'd be fantastic there. I wanted to put in a good word for you because you deserve it. I just thought I'd offer it to you as something to think about."

Aiko swallowed hard, her mind racing. She had spent the past week rebuilding her sense of stability with Kaminari, finding comfort in his presence and the routine they were slowly reestablishing. But now this—Sweden? It felt like too much, too soon.

"I... I need some time to think about it," Aiko said finally, her voice strained.

"Of course, of course. Take all the time you need. Just know that I'm rooting for you, whatever you decide," her boss said warmly before they exchanged goodbyes and hung up.

As the call ended, the silence in the room was thick with tension. Aiko lowered the phone, staring at the screen as if it could somehow provide her with the answers she needed. Her heart was racing, and she could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on her chest.

Kaminari leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he looked at her carefully. "Sweden, huh?" he said softly, though there was no judgment in his voice. Just concern.

Aiko nodded, her gaze still fixed on the phone. "Yeah. It's... it's a great opportunity, but..." She trailed off, not sure how to articulate the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

"But it's far," Kaminari finished for her, his voice gentle.

"Really far," Aiko agreed, her voice barely a whisper. She finally looked up at him, her eyes searching his face for some sign of how he was feeling about all of this. "What do you think?"

Kaminari paused, his expression thoughtful. "I think it's a great opportunity for you," he said slowly, his voice carefully measured. "But I also know it's a huge decision. Sweden's not just a new job, it's... it's a whole new life."

Aiko nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. The opportunity was tempting—Mr. Fujimoto clearly believed in her, and after losing her job, the thought of having something secure again was hard to ignore. But leaving Japan, leaving Kaminari—it felt like an impossible choice.

"I don't want to leave you," Aiko admitted, her voice breaking as she finally let herself express the fear that had been gnawing at her since the moment her boss mentioned Sweden. "We've barely just started to get back on track, and I don't want to throw that all away."

Kaminari stood up, closing the distance between them as he gently took her hands in his. "Hey," he said softly, his thumbs brushing over her knuckles. "You're not throwing anything away. You're just thinking about your future. And whatever happens, we'll figure it out together. You don't have to decide right now."

Aiko looked up at him, her eyes filling with emotion. She felt the pull of the opportunity, the chance to start fresh somewhere new, but she also felt the deep connection to Kaminari, the life they were building together. How could she choose between the two?

"I just... I don't know what to do," Aiko whispered, her voice trembling. "I want this job, but I don't want to lose you."

Kaminari's heart ached at her words. He knew this was an impossible situation for her, and the last thing he wanted was to make her feel guilty for considering her own future. He cupped her face gently, looking into her eyes with nothing but love and understanding.

"You won't loseme, Aiko," he said firmly. "No matter what happens, we'll figure itout. I'm not going anywhere."

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