courage dear heart | Yuki Ishikawa

62

As Yuki and I entered the grand ballroom, the space immediately overwhelmed me with its elegance.

The room was vast, with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, casting a warm golden glow over everything.

The air was filled with the hum of conversation, the clink of glasses, and soft music playing in the background.

Everywhere we looked, people were dressed in their finest, their faces alight with excitement.

I glanced around, spotting familiar faces. It wasn't long before we saw the group of athletes from the dormitory, all gathered near the corner of the room.

Yuki gave my hand a small squeeze, and we began to make our way toward them.

As we approached, Ayumu was the first to notice us. His eyes lit up and he waved enthusiastically. "Yuki! Nabi! Over here!"

Reira, standing beside him, grinned wide. "Look who finally showed up!"

Reira looked stunning today, with her hair up and a long red satin dress that highlighted her slim waist.

We reached them, and as soon as we did, we were greeted with smiles and excited chatter from the whole group.

Ran gave Yuki a playful shove on the shoulder, clearly in a good mood. "Looking sharp, Yuki-san! And wow, Nabi, you look incredible."

I smiled, feeling a little more at ease now that we were surrounded by friends. "Thank you, Ran, You look absolutely handsome todayas well!" I replied with a wink.

Hiro gave us both a nod.

"Hiro-senpai, you look handsome as always" I smirked at him

Ayumu nudged Reira, giving her a knowing look. "So, what's the story? You two arrived together. Should we take this as official now?"

Before I could respond, Yuki stepped in smoothly, his voice light and teasing. "Well, considering I just introduced her as my girlfriend to a swarm of reporters outside, I'd say it's pretty official."

Reira gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "No way! Finally!" She pulled me into a quick hug. "I'm so happy for you two!"

Ayumu clapped Yuki on the back, his eyes twinkling. "Good for you, man. About time someone made a move."

Yuki chuckled, his hand finding its way back to the small of my back. "Yeah, it was about time, wasn't it?"

The others laughed, their energy contagious. It felt good being around them, especially when they all seemed so genuinely happy for us.

Ran smirked and leaned in, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Well, now we'll see if Yuki's still got the same focus during practice or if he's going to be daydreaming about Nabi."

Reira rolled her eyes playfully. "Please, Ran, like Yuki ever loses focus. But Nabi, keep an eye on him just in case."

I laughed, feeling warmth spread through me. "I'll do my best, but you all know how stubborn he is."

Yuki smirked beside me, his hand resting firmly on my waist. "Don't worry, I can manage both."

As the grand doors to the gala room opened, the lights dimmed slightly, and a spotlight illuminated the entrance. My father, dressed in an elegant black suit, made his way into the room with an air of authority.

The murmurs in the room quieted as all eyes turned to him. He had a commanding presence, as always, and it was clear everyone was waiting for his speech.

Stepping onto the stage, he tapped the microphone, sending a small echo across the room before he began to speak.

"Good evening, everyone. I'm thrilled to see so many familiar faces here tonight, gathered for this special gala that we've organized not only to celebrate but to look forward to the exciting future we all have ahead."