【Prompt of Happiness】⑧

Chapter 33: Maja's Tears

After returning from Maja's parents' house, going back to Maja's place, taking a shower, and relaxing on the sofa, a pair of warm arms suddenly wrapped around me from behind. "Kaito, you're a mysterious person, aren't you?" Maja said, burying her face in my shoulder.
“What? What’s wrong?” I asked, and Maja let out a deep sigh before answering. “When you’re by my side, I feel so calm.” At those words, I squeezed her arms that were wrapped around my neck and answered quietly. “Is that so? That makes me happy.”
However, the next moment, tears began to spill from her large eyes. “When I think that I have to say goodbye to you again, a year from now feels so lonely.” Her voice trembled, and the same loneliness seeped into my heart. “I don’t want to think about it, but it is lonely, isn’t it?” I gently wiped the tears running down her cheeks with my fingers.
“When I’m with Maja, I feel very at peace. Your parents are so good to me, your sisters are very kind people, the cafe manager is kind, and I’ve become friendly with the staff, too.”
I spoke with deep emotion. At that moment, a flash of inspiration struck my mind like lightning. It was an idea that would become a solid hope to break through this loneliness.
“When my current working holiday visa expires, I will return to Japan once to organize things and prepare. Then, I will return to Sweden on a tourist visa, go through the admission process for the university Maja attends, and get a student visa issued.”
I spoke the plan I had constructed in my head exactly as it was. Hearing my words, Maja was crying and laughing at the same time. That expression, a mix of tears and smiles, looked very precious to me. “What a wonderful idea! You have the ability to execute, so I’m really looking forward to it.” She said that to me. The tears had already vanished from her eyes, and a shining hope resided there instead.

Chapter 34: European Travel Plans

Taking advantage of the long break at Maja's university, we made plans to travel around Europe. We picked out the countries we both wanted to visit, and the travel planning was left entirely to me. We decided to head south from Sweden, first to Spain, then from there to France, and finally to Italy.
Day 1: Barcelona A direct flight from Stockholm to Barcelona. The flight time was about 5 hours, and the flight cost was surprisingly affordable at around 4,000 yen. In Barcelona, I first planned a guided tour set for the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. By applying for a priority tour, we could avoid the long lines and enjoy Gaudí's intricate iconography and the meanings embedded within them while being guided. Park Güell is a special place created by Count Eusebi Güell and Antoni Gaudí, said to have been built between 1900 and 1914. After that, we plan to visit Casa Batlló and Casa Milà to fully enjoy Gaudí's creative architecture.
Day 2: Museums and Sightseeing In the morning, we head to the Picasso Museum. It is a place where many of Picasso's early paintings are exhibited. In the afternoon, we go to the National Art Museum of Catalonia. It is the largest museum in Barcelona, and the Romanesque art from the 11th and 12th centuries is said to be a masterpiece. From the evening, we will stroll down La Rambla and enjoy shopping and dining in the lively atmosphere where cafes and shops line the street. At night, we will watch a Spanish League FC Barcelona match at the Spotify Camp Nou Stadium.
Day 3: Move to Paris The next day, a direct flight from Barcelona to Paris takes about 2 hours. In Paris, we will spend two days immersing ourselves in the treasure trove of art at the Louvre Museum and enjoying the Parisian cityscape from Montmartre. We will spend time relaxing while gazing at the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, and also experience a Seine River Cruise. At night, we plan to admire Chagall's "Bouquet of Dreams" at the Opera Garnier and also visit Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Days 6-10: Rome, Florence, Venice A direct flight from Paris to Rome takes about 2 hours. From there, we planned to travel by train within Italy, sightseeing in Rome, Florence, and Venice. The sights are endless, including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Vatican City, the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, and St. Mark's Square.
When I confirmed this detailed plan with Maja, her eyes sparkled, and she was genuinely happy. We immediately went to a travel agency and conveyed our departure date and travel plan. Later, the travel agency contacted us with details regarding the travel itinerary and costs. They said the 10-day trip would cost 600,000 yen per person.
“I’ll pay for both of our travel expenses.”
When I said that, Maja immediately shook her head. “That’s not right, I’ll pay for my own share.” However, since I wanted to take her on this trip, I didn't give in. “You’ve provided me with a place to stay in Sweden and even let me work at your mother’s cafe. Compared to that, this travel cost is a small amount when you consider living alone.”
When I said that, she reluctantly agreed. Maja, with an expression of curiosity, suddenly opened her mouth. “Hey, how does 18-year-old Kaito have so much money?”
I couldn't help but smile, and looking into her eyes, I answered. “When I was 18, I opened a brokerage account, and my mother told me to earn my own university tuition with this, so she put 200,000 yen into that account for me.” Seeing her expression of disbelief, I continued. “Now the account balance is close to 5 million yen.” “Kaito, you’re amazing!” Maja said, looking genuinely surprised.
I was someone who had failed university entrance exams and was wandering without a path to follow. They were days of groping for what awaited me in the future and what I should do. In the midst of that, I came to Sweden on a working holiday with the sole desire to see Maja. And now, she has even provided me with a place to live and work in an unknown land. The investment I started on my mother's recommendation luckily generated profits, and now it has become an asset approaching 5 million yen. But the future is still invisible. Whether I will succeed or fail, no one knows. However, I certainly have hope in my hands now.

Chapter 35: To Barcelona, Spain

I paid the travel agency and received the travel itinerary, the booked airline tickets, and the optional tour tickets. Everything was ready. We set off on a new 10-day journey.
Our first destination was Spain. Upon arriving in Barcelona, we were overwhelmed by the grandeur of Gaudí's architecture. The solemnity of the Sagrada Familia, the dreamlike colors of Park Güell, the eccentric designs of Casa Batlló and Casa Milà... Each of them gave us an impression far beyond our imagination. At the Picasso Museum, we admired the works painted by a young Picasso and were amazed at the glimpses of his talent. At the National Art Museum of Catalonia, we encountered solemn Romanesque art and felt the depth of history. Walking from Plaça de Catalunya down La Rambla, we were enveloped in its lively atmosphere, and the realization that we had come to Barcelona welled up within us.
And one of the highlights of the trip, watching the official soccer match of Spotify Camp Nou Stadium between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC. We were overwhelmed by the thunderous cheers sent by the capacity crowd. We felt the energy covering the entire stadium with our whole bodies.
“Hey, Kaito, the trip in Spain was really fun, wasn't it?”
Maja said while holding my hand. I answered with a smile. “It was really fun. I was moved by Gaudí's architecture, and I was genuinely surprised by the talent of the young Picasso when I saw his works at the Picasso Museum. Also, the Romanesque art at the National Art Museum of Catalonia was wonderful.”
“When you walk from Plaça de Catalunya down La Rambla, you get the feeling that you’ve come to Barcelona, don't you? I love that place.” Maja said happily.
“That’s right, it was a truly wonderful place. Also, the soccer match at the stadium was the best. I felt the energy of the spectators and was very excited.” I spoke passionately.
After finishing our trip in Spain, on the plane to our next destination, Paris, our fun conversation never ended. Meeting Maja was certainly a coincidence. However, that coincidence led us on this journey together. For me, no matter where we went or what we did, being with Maja was the height of happiness. The time I share with her is full of joy and discovery, and a sense of happiness envelops my heart. When I shared this feeling with her, she said she felt exactly the same way.
Daily life in Sweden is comfortable, and calm and happy times flow by. But seeing the same scenery as her while traveling and sharing the same emotions is something special. While walking through new lands, we share moments full of surprise and emotion. There is a charm there that exceeds the joys of daily life, and I feel it making our bond even deeper and more certain.

To be continued