She Saw Herself Smiling With Pure Tenderness and Love To Him

Shouko quietly stared at the four-story building in front of her. A large and unique signboard was displayed on top of the building, spelling out Fumiko Literature City. The white building with most of its walls emblazoned with glass making its interior appeared spacious.

She was now currently standing in front of this building where she achieved her dreams.

"Young Madam, are you alright?"

Shouko broke out of her stupor. She turned around to look at one of the bodyguards assigned to escort her. She quickly shook her head and smiled, trying to disperse his worry.

"I'm going inside. You guys can just wait here," Shouko waved at them before she quickly walked toward the entrance.

Kyoya wouldn't be at ease if she went out alone so she compromised to have him place a small group of bodyguards with her. From five people, she settled with three. Adding with Old Takashi, there would be four people following her.

Shouko couldn't say a thing to refuse him when she thought of how scared he looked like whenever she was in danger. Still, she was grateful because most of the time the bodyguards would just watch her from behind instead of following her too closely.

"Shouko!"

Shouko was startled, she was in a daze for a moment when a woman in a professional suit ran toward her with a smile. When the woman finally stopped in front of her did she recognize it was her own editor.

"Editor Minagawa!" Shouko was flustered. "Did you wait for me outside?"

To have this woman suddenly appeared from the garden surrounding the building made her surprised. She had just called her when Old Takashi pulled over in front of the building. Did she deliberately wait for her here?

"The weather is nice so that's why," Editor Minagawa replied with an easy smile. "And, since I think you'd be nervous, it's better if we meet as soon as possible. How's your well-being?"

"Oh, I'm fine now," Shouko felt a bit distressed when she thought of her question. It seemed like she had worried quite a lot of people because of her condition. "I'm sorry for worrying you and... I just got the chance to see you now."

"It's good if you're healthy. Your health comes first," Editor Minagawa pointed to the entrance as she added, "Let's go inside. Actually, a lot of people want to meet you."

"What?"

Before Shouko could snap away from her shock, Editor Minagawa had pulled her along to enter the building. They had just stepped inside when tens of voices loudly cheered in front of them.

"Welcome back, Writer Shouko!"

Shouko was frozen stiff. Her mind went blank.

What was with this sudden display of celebration?

A group of people was clapping while smiling widely at her. It was obvious all of them were waiting for her which made Shouko more confused. Editor Minagawa playfully nudged at her, trying to get her attention.

"I know you'd be surprised but these guys were so persistent to come and greet you," The older woman gently tapped her arm, leading Shouko to slowly look at her. "We welcome you back, Writer Shouko."

Shouko pursed her lips, she finally got a gist of the situation.

These unfamiliar faces were the ones who were closed to her. Despite her not remembering them, they still came out to welcome her wholeheartedly. 

"This... I..." Shouko couldn't even say a word. She choked back a sob, her hands clenching the hem of her coat. "I'm sorry, I..."

"We're happy we could finally see you again," A young girl with a ponytail came with a small bouquet of rose. "I'm Anna, Editor Minagawa's assistant. Please take your time to familiarize yourself here."

Shouko blankly accepted the flowers. She was then introduced to the people there. There were the copy editors, literary agents and production editors who she used to work closely with.

"Don't pressure yourself to remember us," Hitomi, one of the copy editors said, "Just take it as you're getting to know us again."

"Thank you..." Aside from saying thanks, Shouko was at a loss of what to say. Fortunately, they didn't make it hard for her.

"Alright, all of you could go to lunch," Editor Minagawa clapped her hands, signaling them to disperse. "I'm going to bring Shouko upstairs."

"Alright~"

The group of people waved at Shouko before they left. Editor Minagawa invited her to her office. Shouko quietly followed the older woman as she occasionally sneaked glances at her surroundings. Since it was lunchtime, the building was quiet.

"I've ordered food for you, I hope you don't mind with what I've ordered," Editor Minagawa pushed open a door. A smile hooked on her lips. "Welcome back, Shouko."

Behind the door, a neat office in black and white interior greeted her sight. Shouko took a step inside, her eyes darted to the left and right looking at every inch of the office.

Somehow, she found this place faintly familiar.

"I must have been here many times before, right?" Shouko turned to look at Editor Minagawa who had walked toward a bookshelf.

"Yes, you're one of my loyal visitors," Editor Minagawa teased as she laughed. She took out a blue file from the bookshelf. "Please sit. I know you've many questions to ask me. Before that, take a look at this. Maybe some of your questions could be answered here."

"What is this?" Shouko accepted the file with both hands as Editor Minagawa handed it to her. She went to sit on the couch before flipping the file open.

"That's your photos as well as articles about you," Editor Minagawa sat opposite of Shouko. She poured a freshly brewed tea into a teacup and pushed it toward her. "You should see them for yourself."

Shouko looked at the first page. Her eyelashes fluttered once she saw herself in the photos.

She was reading a book to a group of children. The little ones were sitting in front of her with concentration and amazement in their beady eyes. Two little boys were clinging on the couch she sat at. Her eyes fell on the small signboard hung on the wall behind.

Aozora Children's Home. 

"That one was when you first published your book five years ago. We went to the orphanage for story-telling and playing games with the children," Editor Minagawa smiled as she recalled the memory. "The children were so happy. You were content too."

 Shouko chewed her lower lip, a hint of sadness tinged her heart. She remembered too well of this place.

This was where she first met Momo, the girl who inspired her writing her first book, Aiko and the Sea. While she modeled Aiko using Momo's image in her mind, unfortunately, the lovely girl didn't even know about it. 

She was gone too soon, to an unreachable place.

Shouko blinked back the tears from falling. She flipped to the next page. They were all the same with a few additions. Aside from story-telling to the children in orphanages, she was seen in book-signing sessions in kindergarten and elementary school too.

This time, the children were accompanied by their parents and teachers.

Shouko browsed through the file until she saw a small news article. The headline of the article mentioned a donation was made to a foundation for children in need. She raised her eyes to look at Editor Minagawa, clearly didn't understand why does this article was placed here. 

"You insisted on getting your first royalty donated to the foundation," Editor Minagawa slowly placed her teacup on the table. "You said to use our company's name instead of yours but I still put a record in the file."

"Oh... okay," Shouko muttered softly.

Afterward, all of the other contents were pretty much the same. Shouko was still marveled at the fact she was really photographed in these photos. So much thing had happened yet she still couldn't recall it even for a bit.

"En, who is this?"

"Who?" Editor Minagawa leaned forward, trying to get a better look at the photo pointed by Shouko.

"This one," Shouko pushed the file toward the woman. Her index finger landed on a corner of the photo.

Inside the photo, Shouko was doing a story-telling to a group of orphans. It was quite similar to the other photos she saw but her attention was directed toward a boy who was talking to her.

She was sitting on a couch with a book in her hands. The boy was facing her so his face wasn't captured in the photo.

When all of the orphans wore old clothes, only the boy dressed neatly in a navy blue shirt and black pants. He seemed so out of place with the other children.

"That... one of the children who joined the event," Editor Minagawa was a bit flustered yet she quickly recovered herself. She was surprised to realize she had almost caused a blunder.

"He must be one of the staff's children?" Shouko made a guess yet she couldn't tear her eyes away from the photo.

She saw herself smiling with pure tenderness and love to the young boy, something that was different from the happy and content smile she showed in the previous photos.

Why did I smile like that?

"Alright, let's eat!"

Her fingers slightly shook when Editor Minagawa suddenly stood up from the couch. She stared blankly at the woman, she was had yet to regain her senses.

Editor Minagawa smiled at her with a hint of guilty. "My bad, I was supposed to let you eat first otherwise the food would turn cold. Come, we could look at the file again after this."

"Oh, alright," Shouko nodded once.

She put the file down on the table. Her eyes lingered on the blue file for a second longer before she followed her editor outside the office, heading to the rest lounge for the employees.

There was a large pantry on a corner of the lounge. A big bowl with a lid was placed on the long table together with two boxes of food. Editor Minagawa opened the lid, letting the content inside the bowl spreading its delicious scent. 

"You've always loved the zosui1 from the store across the street so I have them delivered some," Editor Minagawa placed a food box in front of Shouko who had just taken her seat. "I ordered tempura as well."

"Thank you," Shouko accepted the meal with a grateful smile. "Let's eat."

The rice soup was generously filled with bits of chicken, shiitake mushroom, carrots and fluffy eggs floating on the surface. She saw finely chop scallions and sesame seeds as well. Shouko carefully scooped some and savored the taste of the soup.

Her eyes brightened in an instant.

"It's delicious!"

Editor Minagawa laughed easily. "From the first time you tasted it, you've been ordering the same menu whenever we went there. You might not remember it but I think your taste bud should do."

Shouko chuckled softly while nodding her head. "Yes. This taste feels familiar."

As well as the boy in the photo.