13:02 PM
After having lunch with Hana, Chihiro returned to the company feeling noticeably lighter.
The tangled thoughts in her heart seemed to have loosened a little.
It wasn't that she had found an answer—but at the very least, she no longer felt trapped between the past and the present.
As she sat down at her desk, Chihiro realized she was quietly humming an unnamed melody.
"Something good happen?"
A female coworker named Wakari, sitting beside her, asked with a grin.
"Ah… no, not really."
Chihiro looked slightly flustered, then smiled back.
"Chihiro, can you come here for a moment?"
The voice of Kenta, one of the editors, called out.
"Yes! I'll be right there!"
That afternoon, the atmosphere in the department was relaxed.
The sound of keyboards blended with casual chatter, while the faint aroma of coffee lingered in the air.
---
16:07 PM
Wakari, who sat next to Chihiro, suddenly invited her to grab some coffee.
"Mm… sure, let's go."
As Chihiro stood by the coffee machine with Wakari, she suddenly heard slow footsteps approaching from the hallway.
They didn't sound like the usual office shoes.
Slower.
Heavier.
Measured.
She looked up just in time to hear Hana's voice—unusually formal.
"Yes… Takahashi-senpai is currently on the top floor."
A mature male voice replied, calm and firm:
"Please lead the way."
Chihiro only managed a brief glance.
A tall, slender elderly man in a neatly tailored dark suit.
He leaned on a cane, his sharp eyes sweeping across the lobby as if assessing every detail.
Hana bowed slightly and stepped into the elevator with him.
The doors closed.
"Do you know who that was?"
Wakari whispered.
"I… don't know."
Chihiro replied quietly, then soon returned to her desk.
The presentation at five o'clock was still waiting for her.
---
Scene Change — Top Floor
Takahashi was sitting on the floor, facing a messy tower of stacked wooden blocks.
"This really isn't suited for someone with no patience…"
He muttered, carefully pulling out a block.
Crash—!
The door was slammed open so forcefully that it hit the wall.
The wooden tower collapsed instantly.
"—?!"
Takahashi spun around.
"Mr. Sasaki?!"
"What are you doing here?!"
The elderly man stepped in, leaning on his cane, frowning deeply.
"It's Musaka, you idiot."
Without waiting for a response, he walked straight in, glanced around the room, then snorted.
"So when are you finally going to give up this backwater company of yours?"
Takahashi sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"How many times have I told you already…"
"Please stop interfering in my life."
He turned away, his voice dropping.
"And besides… I don't want to go back there."
Musaka sneered.
"You're already 26, and you can't even take proper care of yourself. And you dare tell me not to interfere?"
"At the very least, you should've found yourself a pretty girlfriend to look after you!"
"A guy who's buried in work all day, hair a mess, thick glasses on his face—only a stray dog would want to marry you!"
After venting his rant, he slammed his cane hard against the floor.
"So how long are you planning to live like this?"
Takahashi lowered his head in silence.
Each word struck him like a blade, merciless and deep.
How could you treat your own eldest grandson like this…?
After a moment, Takahashi softened his tone.
"…Why don't I show you around the company?
It's kind of suffocating in here."
Musaka stared at him for a few seconds, then waved his hand.
"Do whatever you want."
---
17:30 PM
Grandfather and grandson walked slowly down the hallway.
As they walked, Takahashi talked—about the early days of founding the company, about sleepless nights, about decisions he could never turn back from.
Musaka listened without a word.
Only when Takahashi mentioned his father did he speak.
"He still hasn't let it go."
Takahashi smiled bitterly.
"I know."
As they passed by a meeting room, Takahashi suddenly stopped.
Inside, Chihiro stood before the screen, her voice clear, her gaze confident.
"…Based on user feedback data, I propose adjusting the promotional message to feel more approachable…"
The way she explained things, the way she smiled while answering questions—
It made him forget where he was standing.
Memories.
The present.
And an emotion he couldn't quite name—
"—Ow!"
Musaka jabbed his cane straight into Takahashi's leg.
"Hey—! What was that for?!"
Musaka jerked his chin toward the meeting room.
"Is that girl your girlfriend?"
"She's not!"
Takahashi denied it immediately, flustered.
He turned away, muttering under his breath.
"…At least, not right now."
Musaka stared into the meeting room for a few more seconds, then nodded.
"That's good."
He glanced at Takahashi.
"I thought a pretty, capable girl like that was dating a guy like you."
"Grandpa!!"
Takahashi's irritated whisper echoed through the empty hallway.
And yet—
deep in his chest,
a strange feeling stirred—
Embarrassment…
mixed with something he couldn't deny.
---
The presentation ended shortly after.
Applause filled the room.
"Thank you all for taking the time to listen to my presentation."
Chihiro bowed politely as she spoke.
Only after everyone had waved goodbye and left did she finally let out a breath of relief.
"You really surprised me today. Your presentation was incredibly smooth!"
Hana said with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, but… if it weren't for everyone's help, I don't think I'd have had the confidence I do today."
Chihiro shook her head.
Suddenly, Wakari hugged her from behind, her voice playful.
"Oh come on~ Don't be so formal!
If Hana-san praised you, that means you're really amazing, Chihiro-san!"
While they were chatting and laughing, Chihiro suddenly noticed Takahashi standing near the door, talking with the elderly man from earlier in the hallway.
"You should at least give me more time to think…!"
"Takahashi-san!"
Chihiro called out.
"Ehh?!"
She walked closer, looking at Takahashi's grandfather—and then at his expression.
"Um, Takahashi-san… who is this?"
"Ah… um, I forgot to introduce—"
"This is Musaka!"
Before Takahashi could finish, his grandfather announced proudly.
"Grandpa, you can't just say your name like that!"
Takahashi sighed helplessly.
"I'm sorry… this is my grandfather."
Chihiro froze—and dropped the documents she was holding.
She hurriedly bent down to pick them up and bowed deeply.
"P-Please excuse me. My name is Chihiro Mizuno."
"I'm Takahashi-san's coworker."
"I look forward to working with you."
Musaka merely nodded, then asked—in English:
"So… are you close to my grandson?"
Chihiro froze for a second.
She caught only one familiar word.
"…friend?"
Takahashi understood every word and tried to stop her—but it was too late.
"Chihiro! Don't—!"
"Yes."
Chihiro nodded.
Takahashi died on the spot.
Musaka said nothing. He turned and walked away, muttering:
"Young people these days are really hard to understand."
"Grandpa—!"
"It's not like that—please let me explain!"
Takahashi shouted, reaching out desperately, but Musaka was already gone.
Leaving behind—
a clueless Chihiro, unaware she had just fallen into a trap,
and a Takahashi who collapsed to his knees in despair.
---
Outside the Company
Rei stood outside, waiting for someone to pick him up.
"Work?"
"Ah, yeah, today went fine."
"Oh—tell my mom I won't be home tonight."
"What? Another blind date this afternoon?"
"…Fine."
Rei sighed, knowing his mother was worried about him being single for too long.
"Oh, right. I need a favor."
"I want you to look into the founder of Seiko Company."
"Takahashi Riku."
After saying that, Rei hung up, a faint smile forming on his lips.
"Sometimes… admitting defeat is the smarter move."
A mysterious voice echoed.
Rei stiffened.
END
---