A Night of Friendship, Soba and a Little Too Much Sake

It had been an ordinary afternoon at work for Fuka, surrounded by documents, photographs and the familiar quiet of her desk. Then her phone began to vibrate. Kyoka and Sayuri were messaging her, making plans for the evening and asking if she wanted to join them. After spending most of the day working, Fuka was happy to accept. A night out with her friends sounded like exactly what she needed. Here is the scene → [view post]

Originally posted on Instagram → [view post]

When she arrived home, however, another important decision had to be made: what to wear. Here is the scene → [view post] Fuka stood in front of her wardrobe, looking through several dresses before finally choosing a beautiful white one decorated with a delicate lemon pattern. It was cheerful, fresh and perfect for a summer evening in Tokyo. Feeling satisfied with her choice, she got ready and went out to meet Kyoka and Sayuri.

The three friends met in the city and quickly slipped into their usual relaxed rhythm, talking and laughing as they walked through the streets. Here is the scene → [view post] After considering several possibilities, they decided to have dinner at a small traditional Japanese restaurant. Here is the scene → [view post] Inside, they ordered soba and yakitori and spent the evening enjoying their food while talking about work, everyday life and all the little things that had happened recently. Here is the scene → [view post]

At some point during the dinner, the conversation became more personal. Fuka had been keeping something to herself for a while, and perhaps the comfortable atmosphere, together with the company of her two closest friends, finally gave her the courage to say it. She confessed that she had started developing feelings for Tetsuya.

Kyoka and Sayuri were immediately delighted. Their reaction was much warmer than Fuka had expected, and before she could even say anything else, the two girls embraced her, celebrating the news with genuine happiness. Fuka could not stop smiling. Saying it aloud somehow made her feelings feel more real, but having her friends support her made the whole thing feel much less frightening. Here is the scene → [view post]

After dinner, none of them wanted the evening to end. They continued walking through the streets of Tokyo, enjoying the lights and the warm night air, until they decided to stop at a small street-side stall for a drink. Here is the scene → [view post] They ordered sake and settled down together, and before long the conversation turned into laughter, jokes and playful teasing. Fuka was happier than she had been in a long time, surrounded by two friends who knew her well and who were clearly excited about the possibility of something happening between her and Tetsuya. Here is the scene → [view post]

The following morning, however, Fuka was forced to face the consequences of that happiness. She woke up in bed with a pounding headache and an unhappy stomach, quickly realizing that perhaps the sake had been a little too generous the night before. Here is the scene → [view post] After slowly getting out of bed, she prepared herself a simple Japanese breakfast of miso soup, rice and salmon. It was exactly what she needed, and little by little she began to feel better.

Originally posted on Instagram → [view post]

Later, she curled up on the sofa with some of her photography albums, quietly turning through the pages while recovering from the previous night’s adventure. Here is the scene → [view post] The photographs brought her mind back to many different moments, but inevitably her thoughts returned to the evening before: the laughter, the dinner, Kyoka and Sayuri’s embrace and, above all, the moment when she had finally admitted how she felt about Tetsuya.

She smiled to herself as she turned another page. It had been an ordinary day that unexpectedly became a very special evening. Sometimes the best memories are not created by extraordinary events, but simply by being with the right people, sharing good food, laughing together and finding the courage to say something that has been quietly waiting inside your heart.

Even if the next morning comes with a headache.

An Unforgettable Evening

At the beginning of April 2026, Fuka‘s life was still filled with quiet days, work, friendships, and small everyday discoveries.

One morning, while on her way to work, her attention was caught by a large advertising poster displayed along a street in Tokyo. The poster announced an upcoming concert by Wednesday Campanella, one of the most original and popular musical groups in Japan.

For the rest of the day, Fuka found herself thinking about the event. The idea of attending intrigued her, but she was not yet sure whether she wanted to go. When she mentioned it to Kyoka and Sayuri, her friends’ reaction was immediate. Both were enthusiastic, and after a brief conversation they easily convinced her. Before long, the three of them had decided to attend together.

When the day of the concert finally arrived, the girls found themselves immersed in a vibrant and colorful atmosphere. Surrounded by lights, music, and energy, they enjoyed an evening unlike their usual routine, swept away by the excitement of the crowd and the performance on stage.

For a few hours, it felt as though nothing else existed beyond that moment.

After the concert ended, Fuka, Kyoka, and Sayuri began their journey home, chatting about their favorite songs and the highlights of the evening. That was when something unexpected happened.

Along a quiet side street, they came across a large mural that none of them remembered seeing before.

さっきまで笑ってたのに、
急に足が止まった。

少し怖いはずなのに、
なぜか目が離せない。

夜って、
不思議だね。🌙

Fuka 😮

Originally posted on Instagram → [view post]

The image was difficult to describe. It did not appear threatening in the traditional sense, yet it carried an unsettling feeling. There was something about the artwork that seemed out of place—something that drew the eye while at the same time encouraging the viewer to look away. The three friends remained silent for a few moments before continuing on their way.

That night, Fuka found it difficult to get the image out of her mind.

The following morning she woke up still troubled. The memory of the mural lingered in her thoughts, as if something hidden behind the drawing was waiting to be understood.

Later that day, through the group chat she shared with Kyoka and Sayuri, she discovered that she was not the only one thinking about it. Her friends remembered the encounter just as clearly.

The conversation soon turned into an exchange of theories and questions. None of them had any answers, but they all agreed on one thing: the mural had left an impression that was difficult to ignore. Here is the conversation → [view post]

Without realizing it, the three friends had just encountered one of the first mysteries that would cross Fuka’s path in the months to come.

Wednesday Campanella has been one of my favorite Japanese music groups for many years. Including them in Fuka’s story was my way of paying tribute to a band whose music has accompanied me on countless occasions and continues to inspire me during the creative process of writing Fuka’s story.

A Weekend with Fuka

The narrative phase began on March 28, 2026, with the publication of a simple sequence portraying a peaceful weekend in Fuka’s life.

On Saturday morning, Fuka met her friends Kyoka and Sayuri in central Tokyo. They did not have any particular plans; they simply wanted to spend a few hours together, strolling through the city and following their curiosity wherever it led them.

The three friends spent the morning browsing colorful shop windows and exploring busy stores. Sayuri, always energetic and spontaneous, was usually the first to stop whenever something caught her attention, while Kyoka carefully observed every detail with her more thoughtful nature. Fuka enjoyed following her friends, sharing laughter and lighthearted conversations along the way.

After several hours of shopping, they decided to stop for a meal together. Sitting around a table, they spent their lunch chatting without any hurry. It was precisely these simple moments, filled with friendship and serenity, that made the day special.

みんなで韓国料理。
笑いながら食べるごはんって、どうしてこんなに美味しいんだろう。
こういう時間が、ずっと続けばいいのに。

Fuka 🌸

Originally posted on Instagram → [view post]

On Sunday, however, Fuka chose to spend some time enjoying a peaceful walk surrounded by nature.

For this reason, she visited Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, one of Tokyo’s most beautiful parks. As soon as she passed through its gates, the fast pace of the city seemed to fade away, replaced by a calm and relaxing atmosphere.

Walking along the garden’s paths, Fuka admired the green trees, the carefully maintained lawns, and the many visitors enjoying the pleasant weather. Some walked slowly through the grounds, while others sat reading or resting beneath the shade of the trees. Everywhere, there was a comforting sense of peace.

During her walk, Fuka decided to take a short break. She found a bench in a quiet area of the garden and sat down to enjoy a simple onigiri she had brought with her. As she watched the scenery and the people passing nearby, she allowed herself to be immersed in the tranquil atmosphere of the park.

With this final moment of quiet reflection, the simple five-image sequence came to an end. It had been created to convey a feeling of happiness, harmony, and tranquility—capturing the beauty of an ordinary weekend in Tokyo.