Three days had passed since Tōichirō's downfall. The president's office on the thirty-eighth floor of Shirogane Tower was wrapped in its usual silence. Beyond the windows, Tokyo's cityscape sprawled out, and the midday sun illuminated the white walls with brightness. Yet, contrary to that view, the air inside the room was thick with tension. Shirogane Toshiya kept his eyes fixed on the documents on his desk. Or rather, he was pretending to. His gaze rested on the letters, but his mind was elsewhere. Three days of unceasing executive meetings, dealing with Tōichirō, quelling the chaos within the group. It should have all been over—and yet something caught in his chest, refusing to let go. "President." At that voice, Toshiya looked up. The secretary's door opened, and Himuro Saya stood there. Long chestnut-colored straight hair, its movement reflecting the light. Her appearance was arranged with the usual perfection, but her expression was different. Her eyes wavered, just slightly. "I sincerely apologize," Himuro Saya said, bowing deeply. That gesture was a complete reversal from her previous arrogance. Her connection to Tōichirō had been exposed, and she had lost everything. Her position within the Shirogane Group. Her proximity to Toshiya. It had all crumbled. Toshiya stared at Saya. His gaze was cold. The coldness of a president. A completely rational judgment, devoid of even a shred of emotion. "There is no second chance. Submit your resignation effective tomorrow," Shirogane Toshiya said. The words were merciless. Short, clear, and leaving no room for escape—a verdict with no appeal. Without lifting her head, Saya answered quietly, "Understood." As Toshiya watched Saya's back disappear into the secretary's office, he thought: (Let this be the end.) That thought repeated in the depths of his heart. The power struggle with Tōichirō was over. His relationship with Saya was over. But the real problem lay ahead. Runa. His contract with her. What lay beyond that— Night deepened. The thirty-second floor of Résidence Platine Shirogane. Runa waited for Toshiya in the living room. Her body, draped in a white one-piece dress, sat at the edge of the sofa. Beyond the window, Tokyo's night view spread out, Skytree glowing coldly in the distance. But her eyes were not on that view. When the clock's hand pointed to eleven at night, the front door unlocked. Toshiya had come home. He removed his shoes and walked toward the living room. His gait was slower than usual. Runa could sense the tension draining from his shoulders. Three days of exhaustion were etched across his entire body. "Welcome home. You must be tired," Kirihara Runa said softly. Her voice was small, careful. She was gauging his reaction while still conveying her concern. Toshiya lowered himself onto the sofa and sighed. That breath carried an exhaustion that words could not express. "Tōichirō has been stripped of his vice-chairman position," Shirogane Toshiya said. The words were brief. But for Runa, they were enough. Tōichirō's conspiracy was over. The man who had tried to destroy her had lost his power. That fact lightened her heart, just a little. "That's... good," Kirihara Runa said. The moment those words left her mouth, Runa herself was startled. How much had her heart been rejoicing in Toshiya's victory? It was not the feeling of a contract partner toward her counterpart. It was something real—a genuine emotion. Toshiya turned his gaze toward Runa. He looked into her eyes, pausing for a breath. "Are you all right?" Shirogane Toshiya asked. A short question. Yet within that brevity lay many meanings. Are you safe? Are you hurt? Are you— "I'm fine," Kirihara Runa answered. The response was automatic. An old habit. Words of consideration meant not to wound the other person. But she herself did not know if those words were true. On the living room table sat a bottle of wine. When it had been prepared, she didn't know, but Toshiya took it in hand and poured it into two glasses. The red liquid filled the glasses. "Let's drink," Shirogane Toshiya said. With that, he drained his first glass in one go. The way he drank was unguarded in a way that was unthinkable for him normally. Runa too sipped the wine gently. A warm, slightly acidic taste spread across her tongue. "You have a year and a half left on the contract, but what do you want?" Shirogane Toshiya asked. The question came suddenly. Runa's heart leaped. What do you want. The phrasing was too simple, yet too profound. Was she being given a choice? Or— The living room's lighting softly illuminated both their faces. The night view beyond the window felt closer than usual. Runa gripped her wine glass tighter. Her hand trembled slightly. Unconsciously, her hand moved to the star-shaped birthmark beneath her left collarbone, but she quickly withdrew it. (I have to say it.) That thought welled up from the depths of her heart. (I can't keep lying anymore.) Runa took a deep breath. And then— "I... I don't care about the contract anymore. I want to be with you," Kirihara Runa said. The words left her mouth. Her voice was small, trembling. But those words reached Toshiya with certainty. Toshiya's expression shifted slightly. Surprise lit his eyes. "...Is that true?" Shirogane Toshiya asked. Runa nodded. Not with words, but with her body. That nod was certain, without hesitation. The next moment, Toshiya pulled Runa into his embrace. The strength of his arms was warm and powerful. Runa's body was pressed against the sofa. Her cheek rested against his chest. What she heard from there was the sound of a heart beating fiercely. Just as fiercely, Runa's own heart pounded. "So do I," Shirogane Toshiya whispered. His voice reached her ear softly. The coldness that usually defined him was gone. What remained was raw emotion. The true voice of this man— "I can't live without you anymore," Shirogane Toshiya said. Those words made Runa's entire body tremble. Her heart throbbed wildly. Heat rose to her face. Her whole being felt enveloped by him. The living room's light gently illuminated their silhouettes. Toshiya lifted Runa's face. His hand rested on her cheek. His eyes were reflected in hers. Their lips drew closer. Thump, thump, thump— Runa's heartbeat seemed to echo through the living room. Her breathing grew shallow. "..." In that moment, their lips met. Soft, warm, and certain contact. Runa's entire body was pierced by a sensation like electricity. This relationship that had begun with the cold word "contract" was transforming in this moment into something warm with genuine feeling. The kiss lasted for several seconds. During that time, Runa forgot even to breathe. Eventually, they parted. "Let's end the contract," Shirogane Toshiya said quietly but with certainty. "From now on, as true husband and wife," Shirogane Toshiya continued. Runa nodded. Not with words—her body said everything. On the sofa, the two remained embraced as time passed. The next morning. Runa was reporting to Chisa over the phone. In the quiet room in Akabane, the high voice of Chisa came through the speaker. "You finally became honest!" Miyazono Chisa said. Chisa's smile floated beyond the voice. Runa wanted to convey her happiness, but embarrassment made her responses awkward. After hanging up, Runa returned to the living room. At the breakfast table, Toshiya was reading the newspaper. His profile maintained its usual composure, yet a faint softness could be felt. Morning sunlight streamed into the living room. The two sat side by side. But then it happened. Toshiya's gaze turned toward the star-shaped birthmark on Runa's left collarbone. He stared at it intently. "...?" Kirihara Runa asked. Runa noticed his gaze and tilted her head. "Is something—" Kirihara Runa began. "No. It's nothing," Shirogane Toshiya said. With that, he returned his gaze to the newspaper. But his expression clearly held something. Contemplation. Certainty. And a faint unease— Runa watched that expression. Something had caught in his heart. Something about that star-shaped birthmark. But she could not bring herself to ask further. (What was he looking at...?) That thought occupied her mind. But it was fleeting. Toshiya reached out and took her hand. That warmth filled her heart. Arc 1 had reached its conclusion. Tōichirō's downfall. The parting with Himuro Saya. And the transformation from contract to something real. But the gaze Toshiya had directed at Runa's collarbone. What lay hidden behind that gaze. It was the beginning of a new mystery. The door to Arc 2 was quietly beginning to open.