Settling into university life meant expanding my social circle. In my literature program, I was spending more time with Ren and Mika, the quiet, insightful poet and the lively, opinionated fiction enthusiast. They were becoming my closest friends in this new city, people I could share my daily experiences and academic interests with.
Ren was a source of calm intelligence. He was deeply passionate about literature, his insights often making me see texts in a new light. We'd spend hours in the library, discussing classic works or sharing our own writing. He was quiet but observant, and his presence was steadying in the sometimes-overwhelming environment of a new university.
Mika was the opposite – energetic, talkative, always ready with a witty comment or a strong opinion. She loved debating literary theories and pushing boundaries. She was outgoing and helped pull me into social events, making the transition less isolating. She was curious about everything, including my personal life.
"So, you got a girlfriend back home?" Mika asked one afternoon, as we were grabbing coffee on campus. Her tone was casual, but her eyes were observant.
My face felt warm. "Uh, yeah. She goes to... Todai."
Mika's eyes widened slightly. Ren, who was quietly sipping his coffee, looked up, a flicker of interest in his usually calm gaze.
"Todai? Wow!" Mika exclaimed. "Sakura Yamato, huh? The school idol, future Todai superstar?" Her knowledge of her was instant, the idol image reaching even this far.
"You know her?" I asked, surprised.
"Everyone knows of Sakura Yamato," Mika laughed. "She's practically a legend. So, you're the high school boyfriend making the long-distance thing work? Impressive!" Her tone was genuinely impressed, not skeptical like some others had been.
"We're... trying," I admitted.
"Trying is all you can do," Ren said quietly, his voice calm. "Long distance is challenging. Requires effort."
Their reactions were unexpectedly positive. They didn't doubt it; they simply acknowledged the difficulty and seemed genuinely interested.
"Must be tough," Mika continued. "Todai is crazy demanding. And being in a new city yourself... finding time must be impossible!"
I told them about our scheduled calls, our shared reading activities, the planning that went into even a short conversation. They listened, seeming to appreciate the effort required.
"That's intense dedication," Mika commented. "You guys are serious!"
Their acceptance of my long-distance relationship, their genuine interest, felt like another small victory. It was easier to talk about Sakura, to keep her a part of my new university life, when my new friends were supportive.
As my social circle at university expanded, filled with people who shared my academic interests and made the new city feel less lonely, a new balance emerged. It was important to build my own life here, to make genuine connections, but it was equally important that these new connections understood and respected the most significant connection in my life – my relationship with Sakura. Meeting Ren and Mika, finding supportive friends in this new world, felt like a crucial step in navigating the long distance, ensuring that building my new life didn't come at the expense of the one I was determined to maintain across the miles.