LOVE PROMISES

“It seems like you and I can’t be together anymore, and I think this is the end of our love story,” said a girl with shoulder-length hair, narrow eyes, and fair skin as she turned to face a handsome man.

“What are you talking about? Don’t you love me too?” asked the burly, powerful man as he approached the girl, who was gloomily staring out the window.

“I do love you, but you colonized my country. We’re different—you fight for your country, and I fight for the land of my birth. I want you to stop this war,” said the girl, staring sharply into the eyes of the man standing firmly in front of her.

“Fen?!” murmured the man, trying to caress her shoulder lovingly, but the girl quickly pushed his hand away.

“Stop this war, Ryota. Can’t you see how much my country is suffering? Can you imagine if I were oppressed, forced, and abused like them—would you be able to bear seeing me like that?” said the girl, Jiao Fen, her teary eyes locked on the man in front of her.

“It breaks my heart to see them suffering like this. And it’s all because of you. Why did you come to take away my happiness? We never asked for anything from you or your country. All I and my people want is for you to leave our land. Is that too much to ask?” Fen said, her tears now flowing down her pale face. She began to sob. Ryota stood silently, as if he couldn’t believe that his actions were causing others pain and stealing their happiness.

Without a word, the man swiftly embraced the sobbing girl, holding her tightly, as though he too could feel the pain in his heart. He never expected his new position to cause others to live in fear and misery. He had been an ordinary pilot, suddenly appointed as a fighter commander, now part of a force colonizing the city he had once loved. His heart shattered, seeing the tears of the woman he adored.

“Fen, listen to me,” Ryota pleaded, looking into the red, tear-filled eyes of his soulmate. Fen wiped away her tears, lifting her head to meet the gaze of her lover standing proudly before her.

“Fen, I swear on my name, I love you sincerely. I would sacrifice everything for you. I will protect you and your family from my army. Even if my life is at stake, I will be a shield for you. I will never leave you, and I will never allow anyone to harm you like the others out there. This is my vow of love to you,” Ryota said, his eyes locked on the girl standing before him as he kissed her forehead.

It seemed that the conflict between their two nations was a huge barrier for these two hearts in love.

Will fate bring them together, or will their nationalistic differences lead their relationship to a tragic end? This is the love story of Ai No Yakusoku (Love Promise), the vow made by Ryota Yamazaki to his beloved, and the trials their love will face.

“I love you more, but my love cannot erase the fact that you have colonized my homeland. We are different, Ryota. You stand for your country, while I stand for the land of my birth. My heart can never truly be with you as long as this war continues. Please stop, Ryota. Look at the suffering this war has caused. Can you imagine if I were the one oppressed, forced, and tortured like them? Could you bear to see me like that?”