Under a twilight sky where orange and purple melted into each other, the Asuka II quietly returned to Yokohama Port. After 100 days of voyaging around the world, the passengers, each with a story etched in their hearts, descended the gangway. She, too, with a large bag in hand, slowly stepped onto the ground, each step deliberate and heavy with memories.
As a journalist, she had accompanied this grand voyage, feeling the pulse of the ship as it crossed the vast seas, capturing the subtle moments aboard, and weaving stories of the passengers as they encountered new landscapes and cultures in distant lands. Every moment became a precious, indelible mark on her heart. Yet, even amidst the journey, one light within her never dimmed—a steadfast warmth that assured her of his presence, waiting in the city of Yokohama.
At the edge of Ōsanbashi, there he stood, his gaze fixed on the ship. He, too, had been waiting, holding onto the hope that had kindled within him since the day she departed, eagerly anticipating their reunion. The moment she stepped off the ship, the word “welcome home” naturally rose within his heart, and in the next breath, he found himself rushing to her side.
When their eyes met, it felt as though the long stretch of 100 days and the distance between them vanished in an instant. Without a word, he embraced her, and as she felt his warmth, a single tear slid down her cheek.
“It felt long,” he murmured gently.
“Yes, it truly did. But it was a wonderful journey,” she replied, resting her face against his shoulder. “I traveled to so many places, met so many people, but the one place I longed to return to with all my heart was this city, where you were waiting.”
He gently stroked her hair, smiling softly, and said with tenderness in his eyes, “I’m so happy you’re home safe. I’ve been waiting here for you all along.”
She quietly took his hand, feeling its warmth, and whispered, “I want to share everything I gained on this journey with you.”
He squeezed her hand, confirming the warmth between them, and replied with quiet strength, “I’m looking forward to reading the articles you wrote. But more than anything, I want to hear your voice. Tell me about the sights you saw, the things you felt—everything.”
The two of them walked, shoulders touching, through the port, making their way to the park overlooking Ōsanbashi and the Asuka II. As they paused to take in the view, she began to tell him the stories of her journey, one after another. He listened quietly, sensing that the world she had seen was now being etched into their hearts as a new story, one they would share.
As the night deepened, they talked and laughed, as if reclaiming the time lost during those 100 days. The separation had only deepened the joy of their reunion. Her journey had ended, but now, a new journey for the two of them was quietly beginning.
オレンジと紫が溶け合う黄昏の空の下、飛鳥IIは静かに横浜港へと帰ってきた。100日間の世界一周の旅を終えた乗客たちは、それぞれが心に抱いた物語を胸に、タラップを降りてゆく。彼女もまた、大きなバッグを手に、一歩一歩踏みしめながら、静かに地上へと降り立った。
彼女は記者として、この壮大な旅に同行し、広大な海を渡る船の鼓動を感じ、船内の何気ない瞬間を切り取り、異国の地で新たな風景や文化に触れる乗客たちの姿を記事として紡いできた。すべての瞬間が、彼女の心に深く刻まれたかけがえのない時間となった。しかし、その旅の最中でも、彼女の心の片隅には、いつもひとつの灯火が消えることなく輝いていた。それは、ハマの街で彼が待っているという確かな温もりだった。
大さん橋の端、船を見つめる彼の姿があった。彼もまた、彼女が旅立ったあの日から、心に希望を灯しながら再会の日を待ち続けていた。船から降り立ったその瞬間、彼の心に「おかえり」という言葉が自然と浮かび上がり、次の瞬間には、彼女に向かって駆け寄っていた。
彼女と彼の視線が絡んだ瞬間、100日間という長い時と距離が一瞬にして消え去ったかのように感じられた。言葉もなく、彼は彼女を抱きしめ、その温もりに触れた瞬間、彼女の目からは一筋の涙がこぼれ落ちた。
「長かったね」と、彼が穏やかにささやくように言った。
「本当にね。でも、それは素晴らしい旅だったわ」と、彼女は彼の肩に顔を埋めながら、しみじみと答えた。「たくさんの場所を巡り、たくさんの人々に出会ったけど、最後に戻ってきたいと心から願った場所は、あなたが待っているこの街だった。」
彼は彼女の髪をそっと撫で、微笑みながら、「君が無事に帰ってきてくれて、本当に嬉しいよ。ずっとここで君を待っていたんだ」と、その瞳に優しさを込めて語りかけた。
彼女はそっと彼の手を取り、その温もりを感じながら静かに言った。「この旅で得たすべてのものを、あなたと分かち合いたくて。」
彼は彼女の手を強く握り返し、その温もりを再確認するように、力を込めて答えた。「君が書いた記事を読むのが楽しみだよ。でも、今は何よりも君の声を聞きたいんだ。君が見た景色や、君が感じたこと、すべてを。」
二人は肩を寄せ合いながら港を歩き出し、大さん橋と飛鳥IIを見渡せる公園まで足を運び立ち止まった。お互いを見つめ合うと、彼女の旅の物語が次々と溢れ出す。彼はそのすべてを静かに聞きながら、彼女が見てきた世界が、今、新しい物語として二人の心に刻まれていくのを感じていた。
夜が更け、二人は再び共に過ごす時間を取り戻すかのように語り合い、笑い声が夜の空気に溶け込んでいった。100日間の離別が、再会の喜びをさらに深めていた。彼女の旅は終わったが、二人の新たな旅が、今、静かに幕を開けようとしていた。
