Bits of Love, Lines of Code
Chapter 28 - 24: A Future Worth Fighting For

Chapter 28 - 24: A Future Worth Fighting For

Spring sunlight filtered through the windows of Meiyo University's main building, making the polished wooden floors glow. Final evaluations were complete. The capstone projects were submitted. In just a few days, the graduation ceremony would mark the end of one era — and the beginning of another.

Ren sat by the window in the university café, his laptop open in front of him, though his eyes weren't on the screen.

A ping broke his trance. Aoi slid into the seat across from him, her tablet in hand and her eyes wide.

"Ren!" she said, breathless. "The official offer letters just came in."

He quickly clicked through his inbox and opened the email from Tensei Futureworks. His breath caught.

Position: Embedded Systems Developer

Location: Kansai Division

Starting Annual Salary: ¥9,750,000

His heart pounded. Nearly ten million yen a year... straight out of college.

He looked up. Aoi was staring at him, lips parted.

"You too?" he asked.

She turned her screen to him.

Position: UX Design Specialist

Location: Tokyo Headquarters

Starting Annual Salary: ¥5,500,000

There was a moment of stunned silence between them.

Then Aoi burst into laughter. "We're rich!"

Ren laughed too — almost nervously. "I... wasn't expecting that kind of number."

"Neither was I!" She reached across the table and grabbed his hands. "This is it, Ren. It's real now. Everything we worked for..."

"...Everything we dreamed of," he finished.

Preparation and Pride

The next few days flew by in a blur. Gowns were fitted, speeches were written, and the final rehearsal for graduation brought an electric energy to the campus.

Ren stood at the edge of the auditorium with Aoi, watching students bustle around the stage. It felt like the end of a story — and yet the beginning of a bigger one.

"So," Aoi said, bumping her shoulder into his. "Are you nervous?"

"A little."

"About the ceremony?"

"No," Ren said, turning to look into her eyes. "About being without you."

Aoi smiled — bittersweet but sincere. "Same."

"But we'll manage," he added. "With these salaries, we can visit often. Save aggressively. And after a year..."

"We buy that land in the countryside," she said with a grin. "Your crazy secret blueprint plan."

"Our plan now," he corrected.