1.
Sparks flew from Yuto’s hands as steel met steel, glowing red and fusing securely. The piece of metal before him seemed to come alive—shifting shape under his hands, imbued with a new life.
—Yet, the place to give that life might not survive much longer.
“Did you hear? The boss is in trouble with funds.”
“Maybe it’s over… we should look for another job.”
During breaks, the whispers darkened daily. This regional factory had lingered on for decades, squeezed by major companies and automation. Orders had dwindled. Although Yuto faced this reality heavily, he could only keep his hands moving in silence.
Then she appeared.
2.
Misaki—A young woman in coveralls stood at the factory entrance.
“Um… hello. I’m Misaki Saeki, and I’ll be learning here from today!”
As the boss explained, she had come to train to one day take over her father’s factory. But her first day was disastrous: she stumbled over sparks, flopped on her backside, struggled with steel, and dropped tools.
“Maybe she’s not cut out for this,” someone whispered. But Misaki looked squarely at Yuto:
“Please teach me!”
At that moment, Yuto remembered being a novice himself—clumsy, corrected harshly, learning through it all. He saw himself in her.
3.
After weeks of guidance, Misaki slowly improved. Her welding, once awkward, now held substance and form.
“You really seem to enjoy welding, Yuto-san.”
“Huh?”
“At first, I only wanted to continue the family business. But seeing you… welding doesn’t feel like work. It feels… meaningful.”
Those words stirred Yuto’s heart. When did he stop seeing welding as more than just a job?
He once had a dream—to create art only he could make in metalwork. But practicality had buried that dream beneath the need for stability.
That night, Yuto opened his notebook, dusted off his original designs for steel sculptures. A world of dancing sparks and creative joy flooded back to him.
4.
But the factory’s closure was real:
“Next month, we’ll shut this factory down… I’m sorry,” the boss announced, head bowed. The factory fell silent—everyone had expected it, but the reality was heavy. Yuto was lost.
Then Misaki spoke:
“Let’s build something together.”
“…What?”
“At my father’s factory. Let’s make your dream happen—build what you want!”
Her earnest eyes shifted something inside him.
5.
Months later—In a new workshop, Yuto once again sent sparks flying.
“Wow, Yuto-san’s design is amazing!”
Borrowing Misaki’s father’s workshop, they launched a new venture: original steel art using their welding skills. Not yet profitable, but embarking on it left no regrets.
“Sparks are like fragments of dreams,” Misaki murmured.
“Yeah—maybe they are.”
Yuto pulled the weld trigger once more. Sparks scattered, the light illuminating a brand-new future.
