"Some storms don't arrive with thunder. They come in quiet signatures and sealed envelopes."
---
Scene One — The Letter on the Desk
Monday began with a sealed envelope on Mio's homeroom desk.
Elegant handwriting. Her mother's.
Inside:
A printed notice from a legal firm.
Subject: Minor Guardianship Oversight and Education Rights.
At the bottom, one sentence:
> "You may be 18, but you are still mine."
Mio folded the paper slowly, hands trembling.
Hana noticed. "What is it?"
Mio didn't speak. She simply slid the letter into her bag and looked out the window.
"She's not giving up," she whispered. "She's changing tactics."
---
Scene Two — The Meeting Called for Hana
That afternoon, Hana was called into a sudden meeting with the archery club director, a guidance counselor, and her mother — who had been summoned without warning.
"What's going on?" Hana asked, cautious but calm.
The club director cleared his throat. "There are concerns about your recent conduct. Your absences. Emotional instability affecting performance."
Hana's mother blinked. "Emotional instability?"
The guidance counselor smiled too politely. "Watanabe-san, your daughter has become entangled in… a complicated situation. We believe a break from extracurriculars may be beneficial."
"You're suspending her?" her mother asked, voice rising.
"It's not disciplinary," the director said quickly. "Just… protective."
Hana's mother turned to her daughter. "Hana?"
But Hana wasn't shaken.
She looked straight at the counselor and said, "This isn't about archery. This is about who I love."
Silence.
Her mother's eyes widened.
The counselor tried to backtrack. "Watanabe-san, we're not here to judge—"
"Yes," Hana interrupted. "You are. You just won't say it out loud."
---
Scene Three — The Unexpected Ally
The next day, after class, a quiet voice called out.
"Katagiri-san."
Mio turned.
It was Ms. Fujimoto — the literature teacher. Early thirties. Always gentle, but rarely involved.
"I read your essay," she said. "The one you submitted for the university portfolio."
Mio nodded slowly.
Ms. Fujimoto held up the paper, corners folded and loved.
> "The hardest part of surviving isn't the wounds. It's convincing yourself you're allowed to heal."
"You wrote this," the teacher said, "and still thought you were alone?"
Mio's lips parted, stunned.
"I can't stop what's happening," Ms. Fujimoto added. "But if you need someone in the room, someone watching, I'll be there."
She placed her card in Mio's hand and walked away.
No fanfare.
Just belief.
---
Scene Four — Breathing Between Battles
That evening, Mio and Hana sat at their usual park bench, wrapped in scarves, watching a few stubborn petals still clinging to branches above.
Mio leaned her head on Hana's shoulder. "They're all trying to tear us apart."
"I know."
"Do you regret it?"
"No."
A pause.
"Do you ever wonder what it would be like if we met in a different life? One where no one cared who we loved?"
Hana smiled faintly. "I think I'd still fall for you."
"Why?"
"Because even in another life, I think you'd still look at me like I was the first person who ever saw you."
Mio's throat tightened.
"You're the first person who stayed."
They didn't kiss.
They didn't cry.
They just sat — side by side — while the world tried to rearrange itself without them.
---
End of Chapter 14
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