“When You Sketch Me Smiling”

Title: “When You Sketch Me Smiling”

Chapter 6: The Distance Between Hearts

Shizuka’s flight felt like it lasted forever.

It wasn’t the turbulence or the cramped seats—it was the gnawing ache in her chest, the empty space beside her where Jaiko should’ve been. Every hour spent away from her felt like a thousand miles, even though the plane was flying across the globe.

London was everything she dreamed of—exquisite concert halls, grand performances, the hum of international audiences who applauded her music—but none of it filled the void inside her. At night, in her hotel room, she would close her eyes and remember the sound of Jaiko’s voice, the warmth of her hand in hers. The sketchbook. The little moments that were only theirs.

But no amount of practice, no amount of applause could replace what she had left behind.

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Back in Japan, Jaiko spent her days in silence.

She went to school, she sketched, and she passed the time—but everything was different. The days without Shizuka felt long. Too long. Her sketchbook had become a canvas of longing—a page filled with the smallest things: the violin case lying empty in the corner, an unfinished song on the piano, and a girl standing alone under the cherry blossom tree. The image of Shizuka lingered in every stroke.

The phone calls were brief—just enough to hear each other’s voice, to say “I miss you” before hanging up. Jaiko tried not to cry each time, but it was hard.

Every day, the distance between them grew.

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Three months later, Shizuka returned.

The moment the plane touched down in Japan, Shizuka’s heart jumped. She had missed this place—the streets, the familiar faces, and most of all, her.

She rushed to the park, the place where they had spent so many afternoons together. The cherry blossoms were still in bloom, their petals scattering in the wind like confetti. But there was no one waiting for her at the bench. Jaiko wasn’t here yet.

Shizuka took out her phone, her heart pounding. She texted Jaiko:

“I’m here. Waiting. Where are you?”

Seconds felt like hours, and just as Shizuka was about to give up, she saw a figure at the edge of the park—standing beneath a tree.

Jaiko.

Her heart skipped. She stood there, frozen, unsure if it was real, if Jaiko was really there, or if she was imagining it.

Jaiko stood still, her back to Shizuka, clutching something in her hands. Her long hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her shoulders were slightly hunched. For a moment, Shizuka thought she was just a mirage, an illusion from all the days of missing her.

But then Jaiko turned. Their eyes met, and in that moment, the world fell silent.

Shizuka’s breath caught. Jaiko’s expression was unreadable. She was holding a sketchbook—one that looked just like the one Shizuka had left behind.

Jaiko took a slow step forward, her voice soft but steady. “You came back.”

“I told you I would,” Shizuka replied, stepping closer. “I promised.”

Jaiko smiled, the smallest hint of sadness still lingering in her eyes. “I know. But it’s still hard. I didn’t expect it to hurt this much.”

“I didn’t either,” Shizuka whispered. “But I’m here now. And I won’t leave again, Jaiko. I promise.”

Jaiko reached for her sketchbook and held it out. “I… I finished it.”

Shizuka took the book from her hands, her heart pounding again. She opened it slowly.

Inside was a drawing of the two of them. But this time, the scene was different. It wasn’t just a sketch of them sitting under the tree, or of Shizuka playing her violin. This time, they were standing together, side by side, their hands intertwined, eyes locked in a way that told the whole story of their love.

“Together, no matter the distance,” Jaiko had written beneath the drawing.

Shizuka looked up at Jaiko, her eyes glassy with emotion. “I never stopped thinking about you.”

Jaiko smiled through her tears, her voice shaky. “Me neither. I waited… for you to come back.”

They stepped toward each other, and this time, when Shizuka reached for her hand, Jaiko didn’t hesitate. They stood together, their hearts beating as one, the world fading away around them.

“I’ll never leave you again,” Shizuka promised, her voice firm and filled with love.

Jaiko nodded, her smile widening. “I’m not letting you go this time.”

⸻

The weeks that followed were a blur of happiness.

Shizuka and Jaiko were inseparable again. Their days were filled with laughter, quiet afternoons in the art room, and walks under the cherry blossoms. There was no more distance between them—only the closeness they had always dreamed of.

One afternoon, Jaiko gave Shizuka a new drawing. It was simple—just a girl playing a violin under a tree, with a small heart floating above her head. But beside the heart were two intertwined hands.

“Together,” Jaiko had written.

Shizuka held it to her chest, a soft laugh escaping her lips. “I love you, Jaiko.”

Jaiko looked at her, eyes sparkling with happiness. “I love you too, Shizuka.”

And under the cherry blossom tree, they made a new promise. To never let distance, or time, or fear keep them apart again. Their love, like the art they created together, would always be a part of them—growing, evolving, and staying with them, forever.

⸻

The End.

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