Chapter 3: Unfinished Conversations

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Letters Episode 3: “Unfinished Conversations”

(Narration)
"Some nights, sleep just isn’t an option. Not because of noise, not because of stress, but because your brain decides to dig up things you don’t want to remember. Memories, voices, regrets—you name it. And last night? My brain threw a damn party."

(Rukasu stares at the ceiling, eyes red from lack of sleep. The letter from Ayane sits on his nightstand, untouched since last night. He hasn’t decided what to do about it yet—pretend it doesn’t exist? Burn it? Frame it? Who knows.)

(His alarm goes off, and he groans, slapping it off like it personally insulted him.)

Rukasu: grumbling Another beautiful morning of disappointment.

(He drags himself out of bed, gets dressed, and heads out. As he locks his door, the old man next door is already there, watching him.)

Old Man: mumbles something incomprehensible

Rukasu: sighs I really need subtitles for you, man.

(The old man just nods sagely, as if he understands everything. Rukasu shakes his head and heads off to work.)

(At the sushi shop, Kyohi is already there, grinning way too much for this early in the morning.)

Kyohi: excited Guess what day it is!

Rukasu: flatly The day I finally quit?

Kyohi: Nope! It’s new hire day!

Rukasu: groaning Kill me now.

(Before Kyohi can tease him, the door chimes as someone walks in. Rukasu doesn’t bother looking up at first, but then he hears a voice. A voice that makes him freeze.)

???: softly …Rukasu?

(He looks up, and his stomach drops. Standing in front of him is Ayane.)

(She hasn’t changed much—same quiet, piercing gaze, same way she holds herself like she’s carrying something heavy but won’t let it show. Except now, she’s here. In front of him. And he has no idea what to say.)

(Kyohi looks between them, raising an eyebrow.)

Kyohi: confused Uh... you two know each other?

(Silence.)

Ayane: softly Yeah. We do.

(Rukasu still hasn’t said a word. He can’t decide if this is a dream, a nightmare, or some cruel joke.)

Kyohi: grinning Oh-ho! This is getting interesting. Someone wanna fill me in?

(More silence. Rukasu finally forces himself to speak.)

Rukasu: quietly What... are you doing here?

(Ayane doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she reaches into her bag and pulls out something—a letter. She hands it to him.)

Ayane: softly Thought you might want to read this first.

(Rukasu stares at it, his fingers twitching. Another letter? What the hell is this, a pen-pal program from the past? But he doesn’t argue. He just takes it, his mind racing.)

(Kyohi watches them with wide eyes, clearly invested now.)

Kyohi: whispering Oh man, this is so dramatic. I love it.

Rukasu: glaring Shut up.

Kyohi: grinning Never.

(Ayane just watches him, waiting. Rukasu tightens his grip on the letter.)

(Guess he’s got more reading to do tonight.)

Submitted: May 07, 2018

Romance romance mystery drama comedy thriller