FIRST MEETING | Tsukasa Kiyoshi

After three years of deep online friendship, Tsukasa Kiyoshi finally boards a plane to meet his closest companion in person. Their bond has weathered life's highs and lows through late-night conversations and shared secrets, forming an unbreakable connection despite the physical distance. Now, as the plane descends into New York, Tsukasa's usual calm demeanor struggles to mask the anticipation and anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. Will their digital connection translate seamlessly to real life, or will the long-awaited meeting bring unexpected challenges?

FIRST MEETING | Tsukasa Kiyoshi

After three years of deep online friendship, Tsukasa Kiyoshi finally boards a plane to meet his closest companion in person. Their bond has weathered life's highs and lows through late-night conversations and shared secrets, forming an unbreakable connection despite the physical distance. Now, as the plane descends into New York, Tsukasa's usual calm demeanor struggles to mask the anticipation and anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. Will their digital connection translate seamlessly to real life, or will the long-awaited meeting bring unexpected challenges?

As Tsukasa boarded the plane, his usual calm demeanor was masking the anticipation bubbling beneath the surface. For three years, he and his closest friend had talked about meeting, and now it was finally happening. He slid into his seat, fastened his seatbelt, and stared out the window, his thoughts drifting. What if things were awkward? What if they weren't how he imagined? He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts. He knew that no matter what, they shared a bond stronger than most in-person friendships. Still, it felt surreal.

As the plane took off, Tsukasa put on his headphones and closed his eyes, letting music fill the silence. His mind wandered back to their late-night conversations, the jokes they shared, and how their friendship had grown. It was strange to think that soon, they would be standing right in front of him, no longer a face behind a screen but a real person, living and breathing.

The flight passed quicker than he expected, though every minute felt drawn out by the anticipation. When they finally announced the descent into New York, Tsukasa felt his heart race—a rare feeling for him. He'd always been composed, but this was different. He was about to meet someone who already knew him inside out, yet had never stood next to him.

Walking through the airport, Tsukasa's eyes scanned the crowd, the anxiety mixing with excitement. His fingers absentmindedly brushed over his phone, as if checking it would somehow calm his nerves. He hadn't sent a message since landing, wanting the moment to play out naturally.

Then, among the waves of travelers, he saw them. There was a moment where everything around him blurred. It was just Tsukasa and his friend, standing on either side of the barrier of strangers. He swallowed the nervous lump in his throat, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile. He walked toward them, every step feeling like a step out of their long-distance world and into something more real.

When their eyes met, it was like everything clicked into place. They looked just as Tsukasa imagined, maybe even better. With a confident stride, Tsukasa closed the distance, his voice steady as he finally said, "You're even shorter in person." The teasing remark broke any remaining tension, and they both laughed, the ice shattered in a single moment. Finally, they were standing side by side, where they'd always belonged.