Choosing Love, Choosing Dreams
Ruka Sarashina and Kiri Uzaki, two college sweethearts deeply immersed in the vibrant world of East Asian popular culture, embark on a journey to chase their dreams. Ruka aspires to become a KPop idol, while Kiri is determined to make a name for himself as a multilingual writer, crafting captivating stories in Japanese, Korean, and Cantonese.
Their path to success is not an easy one. They face countless challenges and obstacles that test their passion and commitment. Ruka undergoes rigorous vocal training, dance lessons, and auditions while juggling the pressure of maintaining her identity amidst the demanding entertainment industry.
Meanwhile, Kiri dedicates countless hours honing his writing skills, constantly pushing his creative boundaries to captivate readers across different languages. He faces rejections and criticism but remains steadfast in his pursuit of becoming a respected writer.
As they navigate their individual journeys, Ruka and Kiri find themselves making sacrifices for their dreams. Late-night rehearsals lead to sleepless nights; missed social gatherings become a norm as they dedicate every ounce of energy towards their craft. Yet, through it all, they find solace in each other's unwavering support.
Their love serves as an anchor amidst the chaos of pursuing their dreams. Together they celebrate each triumph and console each other during moments of doubt. Their relationship becomes a source of inspiration as they learn to balance ambition with compassion.
Along the way, Ruka and Kiri encounter fellow artists who share similar aspirations and struggles in the East Asian popular culture scene. Friendships are forged, creating a support network filled with camaraderie and understanding.
As time goes on, Ruka's career begins to soar while Kiri's writing gains recognition across different cultures. Their perseverance pays off as they start living their dreams in parallel paths but never losing sight of what truly matters – their love for each other.
Then, the storm hit. Ruka, a cherry blossom on the brink of bloom, received the call - a place in a prestigious K-Pop trainee program back in Japan. For Kiri, a fledgling samurai at the edge of the battlefield, a renowned Korean director summoned him to pitch his screenplay. Joy choked them, bittersweet and heavy. Seoul, their haven, threatened to become a chasm separating their dreams.
Sleepless nights stretched into weary dawns. Conversations, once laced with laughter, echoed with unspoken anxieties. Would their love survive the distance, a flickering flame battling the howling winds of ambition? They traced constellations on rooftop nights, searching for answers in the stars.
Sadly, neither Ruka nor Kiri were ready for whatever carnage happened. They might look like Koreans, but their Japanese accent didn't help at all when conversating with people around the scene..
"I'll fly back every chance I get," Ruka vowed, her voice trembling. "We'll write our own constellations, Kiri, across the sky."
He met her gaze, eyes mirroring the turmoil in her heart. "My words will bridge the ocean, Ruka. Every scene, a whisper of my love carried by the wind."
Their decision, when it came, was a tear on a delicate butterfly wing. Ruka embraced the trainee program, her tears drying on the salty wind of departure. Kiri, armed with his script, boarded the train to Seoul, his heart an anvil in his chest.
Across continents, their love blossomed anew. Ruka's voice, a whispered lullaby across time zones, soothed him through long nights of revising. Kiri's words, penned with the ink of longing, painted her dreams in vibrant hues. Distances became bridges, doubts transformed into fuel.
And then, under a different sky, in a bustling Tokyo cafe, fate played its hand. Mini, ever the catalyst, held two plane tickets - Japan to Korea, return. "Consider it an advance on your wedding gift," she winked, her voice a mischievous melody.
Kiri and Ruka's eyes met, the unspoken question shimmering in the air. Tears, this time of pure joy, welled up. Their dreams, once a chasm, were now interwoven, their love the sturdy rope binding them together.
As they kissed under the cherry blossoms, a promise blossomed on their lips. A love story written in distance, whispered in moonlit rooftops, fueled by shared dreams and unwavering resilience. Ruka, a supernova burning bright, and Kiri, her steadfast samurai, hand in hand, their love a beacon across the continents.
Theirs was a love story woven in starlight, a melody hummed on rooftops, a promise whispered across oceans - a testament to the fact that, sometimes, the greatest journeys begin with a single decision, and the most beautiful constellations are forged in the fires of doubt and the storms of separation.
Rouki (Sasaki) and Hiroya (Miyagi): A Wanderful Night
In the suburbs bordering Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo, Japan.
Sunlight bathed the corner of Cafe Asia in a warm glow, laughter swirling like dandelion fluff on the summer breeze. Kazuya Kinoshita, ever the restless butterfly, perched on the armrest of Chizuru Mizuhara's chair, his eyes twinkling with mischievous intent.
"Akihiko-san's twins... already celebrating their first birthday?" Kazuya mused, disbelief tinging his voice as he nudged Itsuhito Sakaki, the father of the birthday boys. "Remember when little Rouki and Hiroya were just squirming bundles in blankets? Time flies faster than a fastball, wouldn't you agree, Shinichi?"
Shinichi Sakurai, the calm anchor of the group, chuckled from his armchair, his gaze meeting Hana Uzaki's across the room. "Indeed, Kazuya," he replied. "Speaking of speed, did you hear? Roki Sasaki, the four-time Sawamura Award winner, just signed with the Seagulls! Busan Sajik Stadium will erupt."
Excitement buzzed through the room. Shinichi Kudo, his eyes ablaze with curiosity, leaned forward. "Boom, there it is. The Seagulls are back!" The famed detective, better known as Conan Edogawa, cheered for his namesake.
"Oi, Edo-kun," Heiji Hattori's infectious grin crinkled his age-defying face. "Really? Sasaki, Miyagi, and now Franco back in the lineup? Those Lotte teams haven't had this much star power since the days of Kang Min-ho and Lee Dae-ho!"
"And just wait until I snag a 'Rouki and Hiroya' special edition jersey!" Heiji, the former gym teacher turned police superintendent, exclaimed. "Those kids are our lucky charms!"
Kaito Kuroba, a playful glint in his eyes, nudged Hattori with his elbow. "Careful, Heiji," he teased. "Those jerseys might be worth more than my next MMA heist if those twins turn out to be baseball prodigies like their old man!" The playful boxer, better known as "Kaito Kid" for his athleticism on and off the ring, couldn't resist a dry joke.
Hattori chuckled, reminiscing about the days he mercilessly mocked Sakaki's hitting skills during Little League Baseball. "Maybe, maybe," he conceded.
The Days of "Future Past"
Laughter bounced off the cafe walls, mingled with memories of Chizuru's father, Kohei Mizuhara, a former Lotte Giants minor league player. Chizuru's heart brimmed with pride as she joined the conversation.
"Akihiko-san must be over the moon," she said, her voice soft. "Look at him with his grandsons."
"Remember when he told Akihiro-san that 'Mizu-chan will make it big in Korea?' Wild days, huh?"
How Chizuru knew, despite her father's passing at 33, remained a mystery. Except for Kazuya, who often sported an old Lotte Giants jersey with "Mizuhara" in Korean, a gift from Naohiro Hachioji, his father's best friend.
The number: 124. April 12th, the day Kohei and Kasumi passed. A week before Chizuru's fifth birthday.
Hence, the Case Closed quartet, Chizuru's legal guardians, still cheered for both Lotte teams.
Kazuya, nostalgia glinting in his eyes, nodded, smirking at Shinichi. "Wild indeed! Remember when Kudo-san and Hattori-san, those CHIPs wannabes, convinced us to sneak into Sajik Stadium after curfew? Nearly got chased out by grumpy security!"
Saguru Hakuba, ever the observer, raised an eyebrow. "And don't forget, young one, how you managed to trip on your shoelace and face-planted at the mound just before the first pitch? How come? Saburo, yer own deskmate, was mocked by teachers at those Steve O impersonations."
Kazuya scoffed, cheeks pink. "Rogue shoelace, unc! Besides, Dad thought it looked cooler than your groundskeeper act later that night. Shameless old coots."
The banter flowed like a well-played game, each memory a pitch, each laugh a hit. They reminisced about Kohei and Kasumi's wedding, the Mizuhara-Ichinose reconciliation, and even Kogoro and Eri's, which oddly happened in this very cafe, while watching Korean baseball.
Yes, Conan's in-laws were on the brink of divorce again, thanks to a Ponzi scheme. Ran and Shiho lived separately now.
As the sun dipped, casting long shadows, a quiet descended. Shinichi, an arm around Hana, gazed out the window.
"Life comes full circle," he said thoughtfully. "I only met Kohei-san once, but his spirit lives on in those twins, just as our dreams and passions are passed down. His short life lives beyond ours, right here, right now."
Chizuru, her hand in Kazuya's, smiled. "Indeed," she agreed. "And maybe, just maybe, those little Rouki and Hiroya will one day throw shutouts under Busan lights, carrying the legacy of baseball die-hards, along with laughter and joy."
Ami, nursing the baby, blinked at the unexpected humor. "The goal, is, Major League Baseball, of course," she quipped. "No way these gluttony brats are leaving just for the KBO! They're stat-pad kings here!"
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