Sazuki Nagihara, a 24-year-old sales representative at an advertising firm, lives in fear of her boss—the infamous department head Masato Watase, known for his ruthless perfectionism and cold demeanor. Every day he scolds her more harshly than anyone else, earning them a reputation as a disaster pairing.
But everything changes one night when Nagihara receives a mysterious message. "You did your best today." "You're doing just fine." The sender is Watase himself—her tyrannical boss hides a gentl
Friday afternoon, the streets of Akasaka were bathed in early summer sunlight.
The Cosmo Flora headquarters building stood in a prime location in Shibuya. In the conference room on the 14th floor, Nagihara Satsuki and Kashiwagi Kohei had just finished their presentation for the new product 'Luminache.'
"That's a wonderful proposal."
The client's marketing manager nodded with satisfaction. Nagihara had carefully explained everything—data analysis, target demographic psychology, the deeper layers of purchasing motivation. And Kashiwagi had delivered that information to the client's representatives in a bright, approachable manner. The two of them were perfectly in sync.
"If you could polish it up by next time and present it again, we would be most grateful."
The client company's director stood up and offered his hand for a handshake. Nagihara responded with some nervousness, but followed her training. She met his gaze and formed a smile. It was basic protocol for a sales professional.
Leaving the conference room, they boarded the elevator in the hallway. Nagihara's heart was still beating rapidly.
"Man, that went well," Kashiwagi said, his bright voice echoing in the enclosed space. His amber-colored eyes were genuinely gleaming with joy.
"Your data analysis was really great, Nagihara. Especially how you broke down the target demographic's desire for 'self-improvement' by psychological stages. I wouldn't have thought of that."
"No, it was because you were there, Kashiwagi..."
Nagihara answered quietly in the elevator. Kashiwagi always praised others' work. It wasn't calculated—it was a genuine habit of trying to find the good in people.
By the time they returned to the Akasaka Tōei Building, it was already past 4 PM. The sales department floor was wrapped in its usual bustle.
"Good work today," Kashiwagi said, standing beside Nagihara's desk. The silver piercing in his right ear reflected the evening light.
"Let's celebrate tonight. Your first project went great. Let's go out for drinks."
Nagihara hesitated for a moment. Seeing her expression, Kashiwagi immediately understood.
"Oh, right. You're busy?"
"I'm sorry. I still have to organize the documents..."
She made that excuse. But the real reason was different. Deep in Nagihara's heart, something was nagging at her—the nighttime messages.
Messages from 'yoru_no_niwa.' Mysterious, gentle words that arrived every evening. Last night, it said: "I want to see your smile more." And that person was watching her. From somewhere in this company.
*(I want to go home. I need to check if there's a message.)*
That feeling occupied Nagihara's mind.
"I understand. I'll take you up on that offer another time," she said, but her gaze was already drifting toward her computer.
"Got it. No problem," Kashiwagi laughed—that usual bright, warm smile of his.
"See you then. Good work."
After watching Kashiwagi leave, Nagihara turned to her desk. Report writing. Project progress management for the day. Ordinary sales work. But her concentration was scattered.
7 PM.
The office was nearly empty. Fluorescent lights hummed quietly. In that white light, Nagihara sat alone, organizing documents.
9 PM.
She looked up suddenly.
The light was still on in Watase's private office.
Watase Yuto, the sales department director. 32 years old. Nagihara's former boss and the most intimidating man in the company. The fact that his office light was on meant—he was still here too.
*(I need to submit my daily report.)*
She stood up. The daily report on yesterday's sales results. Every day, sales staff had to submit this document.
She knocked on the office door.
"Excuse me."
She spoke in a small voice.
"Come in."
That single word. Short. Cold. Watase's voice.
Opening the door, Watase was facing his desk. His suit jacket was removed, his tie loosened. This appearance was vastly different from the perfect sales director image she saw during the day. There was something almost human, something soft about him.
"I'm submitting my daily report," Nagihara said, extending the documents.
"Just leave it there."
Watase didn't even look up, his eyes fixed on his computer screen. His profile was cold, perfect—exactly the "Sales Director Watase Yuto" she encountered every day.
As Nagihara moved to place the documents on his desk, Watase suddenly stood up.
"Ah—"
His arm knocked against a coffee cup. The one filled with hot coffee tilted.
It spilled. Across the desk. Onto the documents.
Instinctively, Nagihara reached out.
"Watch out!"
The words escaped her lips as her hand caught the cup. Watase simultaneously reached out and grabbed it.
The liquid from the cup flowed over both their hands. Warm.
Their hands overlapped.
The cup was somehow saved. But—Nagihara's consciousness wasn't on that.
"Ah..."
Slowly, she looked up.
Watase was looking at her. At close range.
His eyes—those cold gray eyes. But now, something complex seemed to dwell within them. Surprise. Confusion. And something else. Something Nagihara couldn't understand.
*(This person... is looking at me...)*
Her heart leaped violently.
And in that moment, her gaze drifted to Watase's desk.
A smartphone was placed there. On its screen—
The Liite app icon was displayed.
'yoru_no_niwa.' That mysterious account. The person who sent her messages every night. The app used by that person.
Her heart stopped for an instant.
*(Could it be... this person...?)*
No, that couldn't be. This person was so cold during the day, so harsh. The person sending messages was kind, warm.
They couldn't be the same person.
But—reality was right in front of her. The smartphone. The Liite icon.
Watase's movements froze. He had noticed where her gaze was directed.
"Oh, I'm sorry!"
Nagihara hastily pulled her hand away.
"Excuse me!"
She fled the office. Walking, then running.
Behind her, she thought she heard Watase say something. But Nagihara didn't look back.
Her heart was pounding wildly.
Her breathing was ragged.
When she reached her desk, Nagihara collapsed into her chair. Everything was confused. Her head and heart were in complete chaos.
*(I want to see your smile more.)*
Those words from the message floated through her mind.
Was it that person—the one who looked at her with those eyes—who was sending her gentle messages at night?
Or was it someone else?
She wanted an answer.
But she was afraid.
If she found out, this gentleness might disappear.
11 PM.
Nagihara had returned to her room at Maison Harukaze. A one-room apartment on the third floor. She collapsed onto her bed and gripped her smartphone.
She opened the screen.
Liite.
A message from 'yoru_no_niwa' had arrived.
"Did I surprise you? Sorry. But your reaction was cute, and I was a little happy."
Nagihara held her breath.
This person—they had been watching.
At the company. In the office. The moment she noticed Watase's smartphone.
Her heart leaped violently again.
With trembling fingers, she typed a reply.
"Who... are you?"
She waited. No reply came.
Maybe they wouldn't answer after all.
Just as she thought that, a notification sounded.
"I've known you for a very long time."
Tears welled up in Nagihara's eyes.
This mysterious reply. The identity of this gentleness.
Was it Watase? Or—
The answer was still shrouded in mist.
But one thing was certain: this story had begun to move.
Messages from the night garden. The touch of hands in the office. The brush of fingers.
Everything was intertwining, shaking Nagihara Satsuki's world.
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