The flight from Madrid to Tokyo gave Aiko hours to process everything that had changed during her six months in Spain. She stared out the airplane window at the clouds below, thinking about how different she felt returning to Japan compared to when she had left.
Her time at the Instituto Superior de Belleza had officially concluded with a certificate of completion and glowing recommendations from her instructors. She had found Javier, said her goodbyes, and started a relationship with Hiroshi. Now she was returning to continue her studies at Stellar Academy as a completely different person.
When the plane finally landed at Narita Airport, Aiko felt the familiar humidity and sounds of Japanese surrounding her. She collected her luggage and made her way toward the train that would take her back to Stellar Academy, texting Hiroshi to let him know she had arrived safely.
The campus looked exactly the same when she walked through the gates, but everything felt different through her changed perspective. Students were moving between buildings, preparing for the new semester that would begin soon.
"Aiko!" Yuki's voice carried across the courtyard as she spotted her friend walking toward the dormitory. "You're back!"
Within moments, Aiko found herself surrounded by Yuki and Kenta, both talking excitedly about her return and eager to hear about her experiences in Spain.
"You look different," Kenta observed, studying her face. "More confident, maybe?"
"Spain was... transformative," Aiko replied, not sure how to summarize everything that had happened.
"Tell us everything!" Yuki demanded, pulling her toward their usual gathering spot. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
Aiko's expression grew more serious for a moment. "I did find him. It was... complicated. But yes, I got the answers I needed."