Tokyo, Haneda International Airport.
Fresh off wrapping all his scenes for King of Espionage, Luke hopped on a flight to Japan.
As the plane touched down on the runway, he noticed the airport was blanketed in a pristine layer of snow.
The weather report had mentioned Japan had been hammered by heavy snow for three straight days, only clearing up today.
The temperature, hovering around 27 or 28°F, wasn't too brutal. Luke bundled up just enough to blend in, going for a low-key disguise.
This trip to Japan was under the radar.
He'd pulled some strings to make sure the airline wouldn't spill his travel plans. As long as no random passersby recognized him, he was golden.
No VIP exit this time—he took the regular passenger route. The second he stepped into the arrivals area, he spotted a girl waiting at the gate.
She'd shot up in height!
In a country where 5'3" was considered tall for a woman, Yui Aragaki, now standing at 5'7", was like a crane among chickens.
Bundled up for winter, she sported a pale yellow knit beanie and a creamy white wool coat. As for her lower half…
Well, everyone knows Japanese girls go bare-legged in winter.
A massive backpack bulged behind her, stuffed to the brim with who-knows-what.
Luke had only told Yui Aragaki about this trip. After all, he still had that system-assigned mission to visit the three major temples.
When GAKKI-chan got the news, she instantly volunteered to be his full-time guide.
Figuring it'd be a hassle to navigate solo, Luke thanked her and accepted the offer.
"Welcome back to Japan, Luke-san."
No disguise could fool GAKKI-chan's sharp eyes. She spotted him right away, walking up with a grin.
"Long time no see. You're looking great."
Luke flashed a smile, returning the greeting.
He caught a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, so he spread his arms with a playful shrug.
"Man, it's awesome to see you!"
GAKKI-chan lit up, practically launching herself into his arms. They shared a quick, tight hug.
Satisfied, she let go and led him toward the exit.
"You got a car lined up?" Luke asked.
"I got my driver's license a while back. I'll drive you to all the spots on your list this time," GAKKI-chan replied.
"Appreciate you going through the trouble," Luke said with a nod.
"Anything for the Source God!"
Her response caught him off guard.
It was a line fans tossed around online as a half-joke. Didn't expect her to pick it up.
Seeing his stunned look, GAKKI-chan laughed. "Online, it's just talk. But I mean it—I'm legit honored to do this."
Luke reached out and ruffled her hair. She leaned into it, eyes fluttering shut like a content cat.
That little gesture melted away any awkwardness from not seeing each other in months.
Sure, they'd kept in touch over the phone, but it'd been a while—since spring, actually. Now it was winter.
"What's in this bag? Let me carry it," Luke said, pointing to the overstuffed backpack.
"Nah, I got it. I'm stronger than I look—not some delicate flower," GAKKI-chan shot back.
Seeing her insistence, he let it go.
This was the girl who could climb to the top of a massive locust tree, after all. Strength and stamina? Not an issue.
They made their way to the parking lot, stopping in front of a red Toyota compact.
"Here's our ride," GAKKI-chan said, tossing her backpack into the back seat with a grin.
"Not springing for something fancier? Makes me feel like I'm shortchanging you, like you're not raking it in," Luke teased as he slid into the passenger seat.
Over the past few months, GAKKI-chan had landed a ton of print ad gigs and even scored some endorsement deals.
Being a celebrity in Japan wasn't a gold mine, but she was probably pulling in a couple hundred grand in USD.
Yet here she was, driving a car worth maybe $15,000—hardly the flashy vibe you'd expect from someone her age.
"It's just for getting around. The agency usually sends a car for work stuff, so no need to splurge. And trust me, you're not shortchanging me—I'm making more money than I ever dreamed of," she said with a laugh.
"You're young, making bank, and not blowing it? Saving up like some frugal grandma—what's the plan?" Luke kept poking, finding her more and more amusing.
"Saving for a house. At this rate, I'll have enough for one in a couple years. Gotta sock away cash while it's coming in. If the gigs dry up later, I'll still be set," she answered, dead serious.
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Luke couldn't believe his ears. She didn't sound like a girl from this generation.
What young woman doesn't splurge on designer bags, fancy clothes, or a pile of sparkly heels she'll wear twice?
GAKKI-chan, hoarding cash like it's the Great Depression? She was like something straight out of his parents' era.
"Don't worry about it. Stick with me, and you'll never go hungry," Luke said with a grin.
"I trust you, but you can't pin all your hopes on someone else. That's how you lose yourself," she replied, her tone firm.
"Let's roll!" With that, she started the car and pulled out, heading for the open road.
"It's a 230-mile drive to Nagoya, about four and a half hours. We'll get there around 10 p.m. I booked a hotel, so we can head to visit Akira Toriyama tomorrow morning," GAKKI-chan said.
"Sounds good. You've got it all planned out, so I'm just along for the ride," Luke replied.
"You must be beat from that long flight. Wanna catch a nap in the car?" she asked.
"Nah, if I sleep now, I'll be up all night. Just throw on some music."
"Got it."
GAKKI-chan flipped on the car stereo, and music filled the cabin.
"I love watching you frown and call me a coward. It feels like bickering with a lover."
"This weird gut feeling, this bad sense of direction, oh man, I'm kinda scared of you…"
A song? Coward?
Luke raised an eyebrow. "You're into music now?"
"Yup. Ever since I met you, I've been super curious about culture. I'm teaching myself Mandarin. Maybe next time we hang out, we can chat in it," GAKKI-chan said with a smile.
Luke nodded, but the lyrics she'd picked… they felt a little pointed, didn't they?
The song ended, and the next one started up:
"That girl told me she wanted me to protect her dreams."
"Said the world doesn't have many like her…"
"That girl told me I'm a thief."
"Stealing her memories, stuffing them into my mind…"
Hearing That Girl Told Me, Luke was pretty sure now—these songs weren't random.
The girl was dropping hints, subtle as a sledgehammer.
But… how was he supposed to respond?