I Will Never Let Go of Your Hand

When I was still in my twenties, I met the person of my destiny through a friend's introduction.

I was busy with work that day and arrived at the meeting place a little later than the promised time, but she didn't seem to mind at all.

I apologized immediately, saying, "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," and she told me not to worry about it.

When I asked if she was hungry, she replied, "Just a little," so we moved to the downtown area and went into a familiar Kyushu cuisine specialty restaurant I used to frequent back then.

Since I was driving, I ordered an oolong tea, and when I offered her a drink, she ordered a draft beer.

Until the drinks were brought over, we both felt a bit fidgety, and a slightly awkward silence hung in the air.

Before long, the drinks and appetizers arrived, so we started with a toast. When I thanked her for making time for me today, she smiled brightly and said, "Not at all," while taking a delicious-looking gulp of her draft beer.

I felt a little flutter in my heart at the sight of her laughing so innocently, saying, "I guess I was thirsty."

Since she said she liked chicken, we ordered chicken sashimi, yakitori, and a salad.

I also took a breath after drinking my oolong tea and started with my self-introduction—my name, age, and what I do for work—and since she suggested we stop using formal language because it was too stiff, I was able to relax.

She was two years older than me and lived in Tokyo at the time, having returned to her hometown for some business.

Her surname used difficult-to-read kanji, and it was the first time in my life I had ever heard it.

Conversely, my surname is extremely common and found all over Japan, so I said, "See, it's a very ordinary name, isn't it?" and the conversation got off to a pretty smooth start.

Before long, the food arrived.

She served some onto my plate without saying a word, which made my impression of her go up even more.

And it seemed she loved alcohol, especially beer, as she ordered a second glass.

Perhaps because she was getting slightly tipsy in front of the delicious food, her stiff expression gradually began to soften.

We talked at that restaurant for about two hours, but since we still hadn't finished talking, we decided to change locations.

When I asked if there was anywhere she wanted to go, she said she wanted to see the ocean, so we went for a drive to a beach about thirty minutes away by car.

In the car, our conversation about our favorite music and stories from our student days never seemed to end.

We arrived at the sea shortly after, and as I got out of the car, she walked briskly toward the sandy beach.

I followed behind her, and for a while, we both silently gazed at the starry sky and the ocean.

Then, we sat on a bench and happened to start talking about the plays she liked. When I mentioned the name of a theater troupe I liked, she showed me the biggest smile of the day, saying, 'I love them too!', and that really brought us closer.

Even though it was early spring, the night sea was quite chilly since there was nothing to block the wind.

So, we went back to the car, and I happily listened to her chatter while she was a little tipsy.

After doing that for about an hour, it had gotten late, so I drove her home, and as we parted, we exchanged phone numbers and email addresses before saying goodnight.

I was instantly smitten by her charm, and we began exchanging emails frequently, narrowing the distance between us.

We would also talk on the phone twice a week, sharing updates on our lives and laughing for about three hours at a time.

The phone bills back then were quite expensive, but I didn't mind at all.

It didn't take long for me to start thinking, 'I want to see her...'

At that time, I was going to Tokyo for work once every two months, so meeting her was a perfect opportunity.

When I met her in Tokyo for the first time after finishing my business trip, she looked dignified, wearing a sharp suit.

Since the next day was Saturday, I casually asked to see her place. She showed some reluctance, saying it was messy, but I felt I couldn't back down here, so I pushed a bit firmly and got my way.

We walked quite a distance from the station, but our conversation never stopped during that time.

Before long, we arrived at her apartment, and I stepped inside, saying, 'Excuse me.'

The cozy room was tidy, and I could tell she lived her life with care.

While she was saying, 'I'll make some coffee now,' I was fidgeting in the living room, and she told me, 'There's some dirt and dust, so please don't look around too closely.'

The black coffee she served me with a 'Here you go' was delicious.

After finishing the coffee, I sat formally and confessed, 'I like you. Please go out with me.'

I was bowing my head, so I couldn't see her expression.

My heart was pounding, and my throat went dry immediately.

Only the sound of the clock's second hand echoed through the quiet room.

After waiting for some time, she shyly replied that she actually liked me too.

And so, we happily started dating, but it was a long-distance relationship from the start.

From the day I returned from my business trip, the frequency of our emails and phone calls increased significantly.

After about half a year of such days, I began to feel a strong desire to be by her side.

My work was interesting and my seniors were all very helpful, but I wanted to see her face every day, even if it meant throwing it all away.

First, when I told my father I was going to Tokyo to live with her, he accepted it, saying it was my life and I should decide for myself.

Next, though it pained me, I conveyed my intention to resign to my boss.

It was a small company, but I was considered a promising young talent there, so it came as a complete surprise and they were quite shocked.

That evening, I was called in by my boss and, with the promise that he would keep the details confidential, I explained the circumstances.

After listening to the whole story, my boss said, "You're young..." and lit a cigarette with a bitter expression.

I felt I had done the right thing by following protocol, but perhaps because I was valued within the company, higher-ups like the executive director and managing director also tried to persuade me to stay.

The other party knew all about my situation, and I was disillusioned with my loose-lipped boss, so I wrote my resignation letter that night and handed it to him the next day.

Then, my boss called me into a conference room and pressed me, asking if I was really going to quit.

I squeezed out the words from the bottom of my heart, "Yes, this is a very good company, but I have found someone important to me, so please let me resign."

My boss sighed a little and said, "Fifty thousand," spreading his fingers, telling me to reconsider because he would add that much to my monthly salary.

Honestly, I was a little happy to know I was valued that much, but my resolve did not waver even a millimeter.

I bowed my head deeply and said, "I'm sorry, it's not about the money."

Seeing this, my boss clearly acted irritated and told me I would definitely regret it, but it didn't resonate with me at all.

Since the company agreed to let me go, I finished handing over my work in a month, packed a few clothes into a duffel bag, and boarded the Shinkansen to Tokyo in high spirits.

My mother, who saw me off at the station, was completely calm and told me that if I was going to live with someone, I shouldn't come back over just any little thing.

The Shinkansen started moving, pulling away rapidly from my hometown.

The reassurance that there was someone who cared for me blew away any sentimental feelings.

When I arrived at Tokyo Station from my hometown, she was there to meet me.

When I told her I had missed her, she replied that she had missed me too.

Then our life together began, and happy days followed.

We lived smoothly for about a year and a half, but due to unavoidable circumstances at my parents' home, I had to return home in a hurry.

She struggled significantly with whether to continue living in Tokyo or return to my hometown with me, but in the end, she chose to follow me.

After returning home, we managed to overcome the crisis at my parents' house, and once our lives stabilized after I found a new job, we registered our marriage on Christmas Eve and happily became husband and wife.

Twenty years have passed since then; we have had crises that could have led to divorce over trivial matters, but we managed to overcome them somehow to be where we are today.

I feel indebted to that company for valuing me, but I have not a shred of regret for clearly stating that I wanted to be with the woman I honestly loved.

Even now, I love my wife so much I can't stand it.

Being honest with my feelings, and my wife accepting that.

There have been several turning points in my life, but I am full of confidence that I can say for sure that this choice was absolutely not wrong.

To my wife, who always supports me by my side even though I am unreliable, thank you so much; even if we are reborn, I want you to be there smiling by my side again.

I love you forever.