Link's POV

I grab my bag and throw it over my shoulder. I'm tired. I don't want to go to work... It's summer break, it should be illegal to have to work.

"Do you have everything?" Zelda asks.

"Yeah. I think so."

"Wait," Zelda stops me on my way out the door. She's taking photos of me again. I think she got one from every angle. "Ready for another thrilling day at work?" She asks me as she spams the shutter button.

"I think you've got enough photos now," I roll my eyes with a smile.

"Miyamoto Link in a suit is a rare sight. I must take advantage of it!"

"It's just an office suit. You've been seeing me in it for the past week," I say. "And I wouldn't call my job thrilling. I'm mainly just sitting around, translating phone calls and e-mails." The pay is pretty good though.

"You're doing an important job and my father said that his employees are impressed with your English skills."

"Well yeah, compared to them I'm pretty fluent I'd say."

"Don't be humble," she says, still taking photos of me in the same pose: hands in my pockets.

"Are you going to be okay staying at the house all day?" I ask.

"I think I'm old enough to stay home alone."

"Yeah but you're not getting bored?"

"Not at all. It gives me time to get to know your sister."

"I'm glad you two are getting along now. I know you were worried about her not liking you."

"I wouldn't call it 'getting along'. I am still worried she doesn't accept me as part of the... I mean... As your girlfriend. But I think she's slowly warming up to me. So far today she hasn't given me the side eye yet!"

"Isn't she still asleep?"

"Don't ruin this for me," she whispers with a smile.

"Well I'm sure she'll come around. I should get going okay? Don't burn the house down while I'm gone," I joke before I leave.

On my way to the train station, I check the time to make sure I'm not running late. 7:45AM. Yaaaawn. It's too early to be going to work. Way too early. But at least I'll be on time. Oversleeping is one thing when it's high school but when you work for your girlfriend's stupid-rich dad who owns the school you're attending and paid for your tuition, you better show up on time.

On the train, I open LINE to read Ruto's chat. She's been asking about a time to hang out but I haven't been the most responsive. Mainly because I don't know what to say. I forgot to ask Zelda if she wanted to meet with Ruto or not. I've been avoiding the topic. I don't like seeing Zelda sad and I don't see a point in talking about exes. But I do feel like I should apologize to Ruto for the way things ended and clear things up.

I scroll through our chat.

Monday: *Hey look! I didn't know we still had this chat! Really takes me back to high school.*

Monday: *When do you want to get drinks?*

Tuesday: *Hey do you want to meet up tonight? I'm off at 6:30 PM if you want to grab dinner.*

Wednesday: *Miya-kun, let's meet at Mister Donut today!*

Wednesday: *Stop ignoring me! I know you're seeing this!*

Yesterday: *Hey are you and Zelda free tomorrow night?*

I should respond to her before she gets mad.

It's a very one-sided conversation... It always has been... I scroll back up to the last time we texted. It was almost three years ago...

Ruto: *You're going to America!?*

Ruto: *Link???*

I was so confused and overwhelmed and thought if I keep to myself all my problems will magically go away... I should've just talked to her back then. I keep reading:

Ruto: *Hello?*

Ruto: *You can't just ghost me!*

Ruto: *When did you think of telling me?*

Me: *I didn't know how to tell you.*

Ruto: *So it's true? You're leaving Japan??*

Ruto: *What about the national team?*

Ruto: *What about your family and friends? Your sister and grandmother?*

Ruto: *What about me..?*

Ruto: *Don't leave!*

Me: *It's final.*

Ruto: *You're a prick! I love you! Don't just leave!*

Ruto: *Answer my calls!*

Ruto: *At least talk to me about it!*

Me: *I'm at practice.*

Ruto: *I'm coming over. I want to talk to you in person.*

Ruto: *Hey where are you?*

Ruto: *Your team is nowhere to be found. Did you already go home?*

Ruto: *Hey I'm outside your house, can we talk?*

Ruto: *Link?*

Ruto: *Please talk to me!*

Me: *I'm not home*

Ruto: *Where are you?*

Reading this chat makes me hate myself. Ignoring her texts was such a dick move.

Ruto: *Rivan said you're sick and can't train with him today and Saria said you're babysitting Aryll today. What's going on? Where are you really?*

Me: *Stop asking my friends about me!*

Ruto: *Stop lying to your friends first! Where are you?*

Ruto: *Are you home?*

Ruto: *Hey, it's getting dark and I'm getting cold, can you just let me in please?*

Me: *I'm not home!*

Ruto: *Then where are you!*

Ruto: *If you're a man, act like one!*

Ruto: *This is it, Link. If you don't talk to me right now, I'm gone. And I'm not coming back.*

Ruto: *Fine. I'll leave you alone. If that's what you want...*

She sent her last message almost a week later:

Ruto: *I could've helped you, you know? I could have supported you in this. But I guess Japan is better off without you. You're doing us a favor by leaving!*

Ugh... I feel so shitty. She had every right to yell at me. I quit the national team and accepted Hyrule's offer to play for their team without ever telling her about any of it. Even though I didn't love her, I should have treated her better. She was sort of my girlfriend after all.

Back then I tried to tell myself that I am doing the right thing by transferring to HU. I thought that they needed me more than Japan but Ruto was right. I let my country down and brought shame to my family. I shouldn't have run from my responsibilities. Sure, it was tough to deal with the pressure and all but moving to America wasn't the right move.

And even if it was... I failed there too. I let down Hyrule just as much as I let down Japan. I feel discouraged. I want to give up. But I know that I have to prove myself now more than ever. I have to do everything I can to make up for my mistakes and immature behavior. I can't help Hyrule right now but I can do right by Ruto.

I scroll back to the bottom. Everything seems so different now. She's happy, I'm happy. She's excited to see me. She doesn't seem angry anymore. I shouldn't ignore her texts any longer.

I reply to her text from yesterday:

*I have work today*

She replies just as I arrive at my stop: *He is alive! About time you reply!*

Me: *sorry, I've been busy with my summer internship*

Ruto: *I've been busy too! I still want to see you before you leave.*

I want to see her too. I want to make things right and make sure she's really doing okay.

I open iMessage to text Zelda first. I learned from my last relationship that keeping to yourself isn't a good idea. Especially when it comes to decisions that affect the girlfriend in any way. Even though I don't want to bring up Ruto to Zelda, if I want to make up for my mistakes, I have to talk to her about my ex. I don't want to mess up what Zelda and I have just because I'm too much of a coward to talk to her. When I finally told her I want to quit sports, she was supportive. Hopefully, she'll be understanding of this too.

*Hey, is the house still intact?* I ask Zelda. She replied pretty instantly.

*There's some damage but the fire department said it could've been worse.*

I send her the "this is fine" meme. She sends me a laughing panda gif. Cutie. She's in a good mood today so I send her another text.

*btw.. Ruto asked if we wanted to hang out with her tonight*

She's typing....

I walk to the office building while I wait for Zelda to reply. When my phone vibrates, her text is much shorter than I expected.

*What did you say?* she asks.

*Nothing yet. Would you be down to go? I know you said you're unsure.*

I stop in front of the doors of the building. I'm a little early which means I can figure this out before work and make plans for tonight. Zelda is typing again and I go back to LINE while I wait... Man, I really didn't know how to communicate back then. Still don't, to be honest. But I'm trying.

*Why do you want to hang out with her in the first place?* Zelda replies.

*We used to be friends. I didn't treat her right and things ended pretty bad. I want to make sure she's okay* Is that a good response? I don't want Zelda to get the wrong idea but I think honesty is good.

*Okay, if you think it's a good idea, I trust you.* Zelda says.

I don't have a clue if it's a good idea but it feels like the right thing to do. Ruto wasn't always the nicest girlfriend, but she loved me and she needed me. She deserves and explanation and an apology.

*Do you want to go alone?* Zelda asks me. This feels like a trap. No way she would want me to meet with my ex alone. It would make things a lot easier and more comfortable but I probably shouldn't.

*No way. I want to spend time with you too, silly* I reply to Zelda.

I open LINE again to text Ruto: *Let's go to Gion Komori.* I heard it's a good bar.

Ruto replies: *What time?*

If my boss leaves on time for once I'll make it by 6PM... But he usually stays longer, which means I have to stay longer.

*7PM* I tell Ruto and put my phone away. I open the doors to the office and head upstairs. Time to focus on paying for tuition.