After the presentation ended, the office gradually returned to the familiar rhythm of after-work hours.
Chihiro gathered the documents on her desk, neatly stacking each sheet into her bag. The fluorescent lights overhead had softened, no longer as harsh as they were during the day. She let out a quiet breath—the tension she'd carried since morning was finally fading.
She glanced at her watch.
6:12 PM.
"Chihiro-san~."
Hana's voice came from behind her.
When Chihiro turned around, she realized it wasn't just her manager—Wakari, Aoi, Kenta, Keisuke, and even Miyuki were all gathered near the aisle, bags already in hand.
"Want to grab dinner?" Hana asked casually.
"Everyone worked hard today."
Chihiro hesitated for a moment. She glanced at her watch again—not because she was busy, but out of habit.
"…Sure."
She nodded at last, offering a gentle smile.
"If everyone doesn't mind, I'd like to join."
"That's the spirit!"
Wakari happily looped her arm around Chihiro's.
"Going straight home on a day like this would be such a waste."
The group chatted as they walked through the office. When they reached the desks near the window, Hana suddenly stopped.
"Oh—let's invite Naomi too."
Naomi was still sitting in front of her screen, fingers tapping at the keyboard, though it was obvious her focus had drifted. Hearing her name, she turned around, slightly surprised.
"Huh? Dinner?"
"Yeah." Hana nodded.
"Let's think of it as an early end-of-year get-together."
Naomi instinctively opened her mouth to decline.
"I still have a few things—"
But then her gaze met Chihiro's, standing quietly behind the others.
Chihiro tilted her head slightly and smiled. She didn't say anything—just a soft, gentle look.
"…Alright. I can go for a bit."
Naomi changed her tone as she stood up and grabbed her coat.
"It is almost the end of the year. Might as well enjoy a good meal."
"Yesss—!"
Kenta raised his fist like he'd just won a bet.
"Finally, someone who decides quickly!"
Laughter rippled through the group.
As they were about to leave, Chihiro suddenly remembered something.
"Ah…"
She turned to the others.
"Shouldn't we invite Takahashi-san too?"
The atmosphere paused—just for a brief moment.
Naomi spoke first, shaking her head lightly.
"Takahashi-senpai probably won't come."
"Yeah," Hana added.
"He almost always stays late to finish up work."
Naomi crossed her arms, her voice calm but familiar.
"It's almost year-end, so the workload's heavier than usual. With his personality, he won't leave things half-done."
Chihiro nodded. She didn't say anything else—but an image surfaced in her mind:
Takahashi standing outside the meeting room earlier, watching so intently he seemed to forget the rest of the world.
"…Let's go, then."
She murmured softly, as if reminding herself.
The office door closed behind them.
Inside, the lights were still on—
somewhere on the top floor, there was likely still someone who hadn't left work yet.
---
That evening, the group chose a popular izakaya on a street near the company.
The place was called Kogane Sakaba—not particularly fancy, but warm and cozy enough for people fresh off work to shed their professional masks.
They gathered around a long table.
Beer was poured continuously, grilled food sent steam curling into the air, and laughter grew louder with every clink of glasses.
"This is how year-end should be!"
Kenta laughed, raising his glass.
"Seriously. Otherwise it's just deadlines all day long,"
Keisuke said, passing dishes around.
Chihiro sat next to Naomi. At first, she was a bit reserved, but little by little, she relaxed.
She laughed more than usual, her eyes shining under the warm yellow lights.
After a few drinks, Wakari's face was already flushed, her voice dragging slightly from the alcohol.
"Heeey… Chihiro-san~"
She propped her chin on her hand, staring at Chihiro.
"Do you… have a boyfriend?"
"—Eh?!"
Chihiro jolted, waving her hands frantically.
"N-no! I don't have a boyfriend!"
"Really?!"
Wakari's eyes widened.
"Mm…"
Chihiro smiled awkwardly.
"I don't really plan on finding one right now. I want to focus on work first."
The moment she finished speaking, the guys at the table burst into an uproar.
"Seriously?!"
"Chihiro-san is pretty and capable, and still single?!"
"Then that means… we still have a chance!"
"—Hey!"
Hana, already a little tipsy, raised her voice.
"Focus on your jobs! Stop daydreaming about flirting!"
The table erupted in laughter.
Miyuki—the girl with glasses sitting across from them—finally spoke.
Her voice was softer and slower than the others'.
"But…"
She looked at Chihiro carefully.
"Lately, it feels like you've been pretty close to Takahashi-san."
"—Huh?"
Chihiro froze.
"When we were leaving the meeting room…"
Miyuki adjusted her glasses.
"I saw you and Takahashi-san standing near the door."
"Really?!"
"Eh?!"
The table buzzed again.
"That's not true!"
Chihiro hurriedly denied it.
"It was just… a coincidence!"
But her gaze drifted away, her voice lacking conviction.
Hana rested her chin on her hand, smiling knowingly.
"But honestly, ever since Chihiro joined, Takahashi-senpai has felt different."
"Yeah,"
Aoi nodded.
"He used to be tense all the time."
"Now…"
Kenta grinned mischievously.
"At least he knows how to stop and look at someone."
Laughter and harmless teasing filled the air.
Chihiro could only lower her head, embarrassed and helpless, her ears burning red.
---
At the same time, back in his office—
Takahashi sneezed.
"Huh… feels like someone's talking about me…"
---
At one corner of the table, Naomi quietly picked at her food.
She didn't join the conversation.
Her eyes lowered, chopsticks pausing briefly mid-air before moving again.
The smile she usually wore was nowhere to be seen.
Laughter echoed all around her.
Yet in that moment, Naomi felt strangely out of sync with the gathering.
She took another small sip of beer, bitterness spreading across her tongue.
"…It's almost the end of the year."
She murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
Across the table, Chihiro was still being teased, laughing as she waved her hands.
That scene—
for some reason—felt distant to Naomi.
"Right now, I want to work on becoming a better version of myself…"
Chihiro's earlier words lingered in her heart.
After the laughter died down, Chihiro noticed Naomi hadn't spoken much.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
She asked gently.
"Ah… no, it's nothing."
Naomi snapped back to herself.
"I was just thinking about something personal."
"I see."
"Is there anything you want to eat?"
Chihiro smiled.
"I can grab some for you."
"Yes, please!"
Naomi brightened and held out her bowl.
---
Scene Change
Crystal chandeliers reflected cold light onto white tablecloths, casting sharp glimmers across the elegant restaurant.
The soft clink of cutlery echoed steadily.
Rei sat upright, suit immaculate, movements refined—
yet his eyes were empty. He ate mechanically, barely looking up.
The young woman sitting across from him looked elegant in a cream-colored dress, her hair carefully curled. She smiled constantly, trying to make conversation in an enthusiastic tone.
"I heard you just signed another big entertainment contract?"
"I really admire talented young people like you…"
Rei didn't reply. He simply nodded, polite but hollow.
The air grew awkward.
After a while, Rei set his knife and fork down.
The sound echoed sharply enough to startle her.
He stood up, his voice calm—like he was stating an obvious fact.
"This blind date is over."
The woman froze.
"I'll take care of the bill."
Without waiting for a response, Rei turned and walked away.
The glass door closed behind him, leaving the young woman sitting frozen in the luxurious restaurant, shock written all over her face.
---
Outside, a black car was already waiting.
Rei got in, settling into the back seat.
The door shut, sealing him off from the outside world.
From the front seat, his trusted assistant spoke, his voice tinged with familiar resignation.
"Looks like… you're as cold as ever, Rei-kun."
"That's none of your concern."
Rei cut him off, his tone sharp.
The car began to move.
Streetlights flashed past the window, dragging along nameless thoughts.
Suddenly, Rei recalled the scene outside the company earlier that day.
"Sometimes admitting defeat is the smarter move."
Musaka's voice echoed softly.
At some point, the old man had been standing beside him.
Both of them waiting for their rides.
Who was that old man…?
What did he mean by that?
Rei's thoughts wavered.
A long silence followed.
"…Who are you, exactly?"
In his mind, Musaka still stood there, disturbingly calm.
"I'm just an old man with one foot in the grave."
"So don't mind me."
Then his voice deepened.
"You're still young. You have plenty of chances."
"Don't throw away your entire career… just for a fleeting desire to win."
Rei let out a dry laugh.
"You sure like lecturing people."
He turned away in thought.
"Whatever. I'm leaving."
---
"Rei-kun."
The assistant's voice pulled him back to reality.
Rei glanced at Hiroshi through the rearview mirror.
"So? What about the investigation I asked you to do?"
Hiroshi was silent for a few seconds before speaking, his tone unusually serious.
"…There's something I need to tell you."
"We probably shouldn't get too deeply involved in this."
"Huh?"
Rei frowned.
Hiroshi tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"The person you asked me to look into… is Takahashi Riku."
"But when I accessed the system, only one line came up."
He swallowed.
> 'This individual's personal information has been locked.'
"Not just detailed files."
"But… even the most basic information can't be retrieved."
Silence filled the car.
Rei's eyes darkened.
A faint smile appeared.
"…Looks like things are about to go beyond my expectations."
END
---