A few days had passed since Aiko signed the contract with Canvas & Co.
Life had not changed dramatically — not yet. She still woke up in the same room, still drank her mother's tea in the morning, still heard her father's laughter from the kitchen. The same sketchbook lay beside her pillow. The same paintbrushes rested in the corner.
But something inside her had shifted.
There was a quiet anticipation now. A feeling that she was standing at the edge of something big — something she had dreamed of for years.
One morning, her phone buzzed.
It was an email from Canvas & Co.
Subject: Welcome to Canvas & Co. — Onboarding Schedule
Aiko opened it carefully, her heart beating just a little faster.
"Dear Aiko Tanaka,
Welcome to the Canvas & Co. family. We are truly pleased to begin this journey with you. Your talent stood out to us, and we believe you have a bright future ahead.
Below is your schedule for the upcoming weeks:
- Orientation Meeting: Monday, 10:00 AM
- Studio Assignment & Setup
- Introduction to Project Team
- Initial Concept Review
Please arrive at our main office by 9:45 AM on Monday. We look forward to seeing you."
Aiko stared at the email for a long moment.
"It's really starting..." she whispered to herself.
She took a screenshot and sent it to Mika.
Aiko (text): "It's happening 😭"
Within seconds, Mika replied.
Mika (text): "FINALLY!!! OMG I'M SO PROUD OF YOU 😭❤️"
Mika (text): "What are you going to wear???"
Aiko laughed softly.
Aiko (text): "I haven't even thought about that yet 😅"
Mika (text): "Okay I'm coming over after work. We need to plan EVERYTHING."
---
That evening, Mika arrived at Aiko's house with a bag full of snacks and a small notebook.
Mika: "Okay, so. First official day at a real art company. This is a big deal."
Aiko was sitting on her bed, nervously playing with the edge of her blanket.
Aiko: "I know... that's why I'm nervous."
Mika: "Don't be. You've worked so hard for this. You deserve it."
Mika sat beside her and opened the bag of snacks.
Mika: "Now. Outfit planning. Let's go."
They spent the next hour going through Aiko's wardrobe. Nothing too flashy. Nothing too formal. Just something that felt like... Aiko.
A simple cream-colored blouse. Comfortable trousers. A small pendant her mother had given her years ago.
Mika: "Perfect. You look like an artist. Not like you're trying too hard."
Aiko: "You really think so?"
Mika: "I know so."
After Mika left, Aiko sat alone in her room. The house was quiet. Her parents had already gone to sleep.
She looked at her sketchbook again — the one that had been with her through everything.
She opened it to the page where she had written: "Today, I chose to be brave."
She picked up her pencil and added one more line beneath it:
"And tomorrow, I'll choose to be brave again."
She closed the sketchbook, turned off the light, and lay down.
Sleep came slowly. But when it did, it was peaceful.
---
Monday Morning.
Aiko stood outside the Canvas & Co. building.
It was a beautiful structure — not too tall, not too intimidating. Large windows let in natural light. Through the glass, she could see paintings hanging on the walls inside. Soft colors. Warm tones.
She took a deep breath.
"You can do this, Aiko."
She walked inside.
The reception area was calm and inviting. A young woman at the front desk looked up and smiled.
Receptionist: "Good morning. How can I help you?"
Aiko: "Good morning. I'm Aiko Tanaka. I have an orientation meeting today."
Receptionist: "Ah yes, Aiko! Welcome. We've been expecting you. Please take the elevator to the third floor. Someone will meet you there."
Aiko nodded and walked toward the elevator. Her hands were slightly cold, but her heart was steady.
When the elevator doors opened on the third floor, a woman was waiting for her. She had a warm smile and kind eyes.
Woman: "Aiko Tanaka?"
Aiko: "Yes, that's me."
Woman: "I'm Yuna. I'll be guiding you through your first day. Welcome to Canvas & Co."
Aiko: "Thank you so much. It's nice to meet you."
Yuna led her down a bright hallway lined with paintings — each one different, each one telling its own story.
Yuna: "These are works from some of our artists. Past and present."
Aiko's eyes moved from painting to painting, taking in every detail.
Aiko: "They're beautiful..."
Yuna: "One day, your work will be here too."
Aiko felt a warmth spread through her chest.
"One day..."
---
The orientation was simple and welcoming.
Yuna explained how the company worked — how they supported artists, connected them with exhibitions, and helped them grow. There was no pressure. Just guidance.
Then Yuna showed Aiko her studio space.
It was a small room on the fourth floor. A large window faced the city skyline. Natural light poured in, falling gently on an empty canvas stand and a clean wooden desk.
Yuna: "This is your space, Aiko. You can arrange it however you like. Make it your own."
Aiko stepped inside and looked around.
It was simple. Quiet. Perfect.
Aiko: "I love it."
Yuna: "I'm glad. You'll be spending a lot of time here."
Before leaving, Yuna handed her a folder.
Yuna: "This is your first project brief. It's called 'Echoes of Emotion.' Take your time reading it. There's no rush. When you're ready, we'll sit down and discuss your ideas."
Aiko took the folder and held it close to her chest.
Aiko: "Thank you, Yuna. For everything."
Yuna: "You're welcome. And Aiko..."
Aiko: "Yes?"
Yuna: "Welcome home."
---
That afternoon, Aiko sat alone in her new studio.
She opened the folder and began to read.
Project: Echoes of Emotion
Brief: Create a series of three paintings that express the unspoken feelings people carry inside them. These can be personal, universal, or imagined. Let the colors speak what words cannot.
Aiko read the brief three times.
"...unspoken feelings people carry inside them."
She thought about her own unspoken feelings. The fear of failure. The hope that kept her going. The love she felt for her family. The quiet moments with her Dada Ji. The laughter with Mika. The nights she had cried alone, wondering if she was good enough.
She picked up her pencil.
The first image that came to her was simple — a silhouette of a girl standing at a window, looking out at a distant light.
She sketched slowly. Gently. Like she was having a conversation with the paper.
Hours passed without her noticing.
When she finally looked up, the sun was setting outside her window. The sky was painted in soft shades of pink and orange — her favorite colors.
She smiled and looked at her sketch.
It was just a beginning.
But it was hers.
---
That night, Aiko video-called Mika.
Mika: "SO?! How was it?!"
Aiko: "It was... wonderful."
Mika: "Tell me everything!"
Aiko told her about the building, the paintings on the walls, Yuna's kindness, and the studio with the big window.
Mika: "Aiko... I'm so happy for you. Seriously."
Aiko: "Thank you, Mika. I couldn't have done this without you."
Mika: "Yes you could have. But I'm glad I was there anyway."
They both laughed.
Mika: "So what's your first project?"
Aiko: "It's called 'Echoes of Emotion.' I have to create paintings about unspoken feelings."
Mika: "That's so YOU. You're going to nail it."
Aiko: "I hope so."
Mika: "I know so."
After the call ended, Aiko sat quietly in her room.
Her Dada Ji's words echoed in her mind: "You are braver than I was."
She smiled softly.
"I'll make you proud, Dada Ji..."
---
Meanwhile, in another city, in another world...
A young man sat alone in a dance practice room. The lights were dim. The mirrors reflected his tired silhouette.
His name was Ruen — the youngest member of ECLIPSE.
Rehearsal had ended an hour ago. Everyone else had left. But Ruen stayed behind, as he often did.
He was scrolling through his phone, not really looking for anything.
Then he stopped.
A friend of a friend had shared a photo. It was a painting from a small local exhibition — nothing major. Just a small showcase.
The painting showed a girl standing at a window, looking out at a distant light.
Ruen stared at it.
Something about the painting made him pause. It was simple. But it felt... honest.
He scrolled down.
Artist: Aiko Tanaka
He didn't know the name.
But the image stayed with him.
Ruen: (softly, to himself) "...Aiko Tanaka."
He locked his phone and stood up.
Time to go home.
But as he walked out of the practice room, the image lingered in his mind — a quiet echo of something he couldn't yet name.
---
To be continued... ✨