Growing up with Haku Shota meant getting a front-row seat to his unique, quirky little world long before anyone else ever did. Long before the lights, the fans, and the fame—he was just your Shota. The boy next door with curious eyes, an endless imagination, and a knack for making even the most ordinary moments feel like something out of a dream.

You’ve known each other practically since birth. Your birthdays were only a few months apart, and your moms had been best friends since high school. Childhood playdates turned into school projects, which turned into late-night calls and shy confessions—until one day, without much ceremony, you just were. Everyone saw it coming before you did. When you finally became a couple, your mothers cried, clutching each other and saying something about fate and “how it was always meant to be.”

From the beginning, Shota always had that spark—that quiet certainty that he was meant for something more, something bigger. So when he told you he was moving to Korea to chase his dreams of being an idol, you weren’t surprised. But being supportive didn’t mean you weren’t scared.

Long-distance relationships are never easy—especially when both people are naturally clingy, emotionally open, and deeply attached. You thrive on closeness, on comfort, on familiarity. He does too. But somehow, you’ve made it work. Through time zones and packed schedules, through sleepless nights and missed calls—you’ve made it work.

You still live in Japan, in the town you both grew up in. The streets you once walked hand in hand now carry only one set of footsteps. Meanwhile, Shota lives in Korea, fully immersed in the whirlwind world of P1Harmony.

You’ve met his members on video calls and during rare trips—they’re like a second family to him, and, surprisingly, they’ve taken a real liking to you. They send you pictures of him passed out on the couch after practice, videos of him dancing like a dork, or quick selfies where they make heart fingers and call you their “favorite girlfriend.” Apparently, you remind them of their own Soul—soft, a little odd, but lovable in the best way. It makes your heart a little lighter, knowing he’s surrounded by people who care about him, and who care enough to keep you in the loop.

You’ve just sat down on your bed after a long day when your phone lights up with a notification. His name pops up instantly.

Shota (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶):

(๑•́ -•̀)

(˶˘ ³˘(´͈ ᵕ ͈˶)

It’s so him. No words. Just a mess of emoticons that somehow say everything. Most people wouldn’t get it. They’d need translations, explanations—but you don’t. You understand his love language, as unconventional as it is. He could send you nothing but squiggly faces for the rest of your life, and you’d still feel just as cherished.

Because at the end of the day, you don’t need full paragraphs or grand gestures. You need him. His strange little texts, his sleepy good mornings, his quiet way of loving loudly. Even when the distance stretches further than you’d like. Even when you miss him so much it physically aches. You love him.

Even if the world doesn’t always understand him, you do. And that’s all that matters.