The sun dipped behind Gothic spires as the tram rattled through the heart of Vienna. Rika pressed her forehead gently against the glass, watching the foreign city unfold like a dream in motion.

Her suitcase was clunky. Her German? Barely survival level. Her heart? A tangle of nerves, excitement, and silent hope.

Vini fluttered above her shoulder with a tiny Vienna guidebook.

"Don’t worry, you will meet him someday for sure."

Rika smiled and wiped her tears.

"Yes," she whispered. "Let’s make something beautiful out of this."

Her New Life Begins

Rika's apartment was small but charming. Wooden floors, tall windows, and a window box with wilted flowers waiting for revival — just like her.

She placed a photo of her family and her journal beside the bed. Then, from her backpack, she pulled out a small framed sketch — a rough pencil drawing of the singer boy, drawn from a freeze frame of his music video.

"Someday," she whispered, "I’ll tell you everything-not — not just in words, but through my art."

The first few weeks at the museum’s design department were... overwhelming.

"Miss Arisawa, this exhibit must reflect elegance and legacy," her boss told her in accented English.

Rika smiled, nodding.

"Of course, I’ll give it my best."

But inside, she trembled.

Every design felt like walking on eggshells. Every meeting made her feel like a child in a world of giants.

She called her sister one night, tears threatening to spill.

"Nechan, maybe I made a mistake…"

Her sister, older and steady, listened from her New York balcony.

"You didn’t come this far to run back. You’re stronger than you think, Rika. And this is just your first canvas. Don’t give up before the first brushstroke."

Finding Her Flow

With each passing day, Rika grew bolder. She learned to ask questions, pitch ideas, and trust her artistic instincts.

She started drawing again at night. Not just for work, but for herself — pieces full of warmth, memory, colour, and pain.

She even took an online Japanese class.

One day, after work, she watched a new video of the singer boy performing live in Kyoto.

His voice still felt like home.

She smiled.

"I’m coming. Someday. I’ll be there."

The Turning Point

Three months in, her work caught the attention of a visiting curator.

"Are you Rika Arisawa? I saw your artwork on social media. The design was breathtaking," he said after a presentation. "You have a unique eye. Have you ever considered showcasing your personal work?"

Rika blinked.

"My… own work?"

"Yes. Paintings, sketches, whatever comes from you. You have something special. Don’t hide it."

That night, Rika stood by her apartment window, Vienna’s night lights glowing below.

"Vini… I’m scared."

Vini landed gently on her shoulder.

"Growth always feels scary. But this is your chance to finally show the world what Rika Arisawa can do — not just for others, but from her own soul."

The Invitation

One evening, Rika sipping matcha in her studio apartment, her phone buzzed. It was Vance — her best friend from art school, now a successful art promoter based in Vienna.

Vance: "Rika! You won’t believe this. The Tokyo Modern Art Hall wants to feature your ‘Inner Star’ series this weekend. They saw your social media page and they are so impressed by your work..... and they’re inviting local musicians, artists, and many famous celebrities too."

Rika’s stomach fluttered.

Rika: "Wait… local musicians? Like…?"

Vance: "Like many famous Japanese musicians."

Her breath caught.

"It’s okay," she told herself. "I’ve come too far to fall back into fantasy. I’ll go, I’ll smile, and I’ll keep shining—whether he shows up or not."