That night still clung to Reina. Shunya's words: "Let's end the contract." Her own confession that spilled from her lips: "I want to be with you." That moment had definitely existed. And yet — the feeling that it might have been a dream refused to fade, even by the next morning. The 32nd floor of Residence Platine Shirogane. Morning light slanted diagonally across the spacious living room. When she cracked open the curtains, the Minato ward cityscape stretched out endlessly before her. The orderly tree-lined streets of Shirogane-dai, the quiet residential neighborhoods. All of it — so different from Akabane, where she'd grown up. (Am I allowed to be here?) That question wouldn't leave her. Even knowing the warmth of last night, she became lost again with the dawn. That was the kind of person Reina was. While brewing coffee in the kitchen, she traced through last night in her mind. Shunya's voice. The feel of his arms. The words "as true husband and wife." It should have all been real. And yet— One pair of shoes was missing from the entryway. Shunya had already left. "...I see." When she spoke it aloud, her voice came out smaller than expected. She wrapped both hands around the coffee cup. It was warm. That was the only thing that felt certain right now. One message. From Shunya. *Left early. I'll be back tonight.* That was all. But there was a time when he wouldn't have messaged at all. Reina smiled a little, then brought the cup to her lips. — 10 a.m. Maruze Foods, 4th floor Sales Administration Department. The usual office in Kuramae. While checking order and shipment data, Reina was performing the work of transforming herself back into "ordinary Reina Kirihara." She wouldn't bring the feeling of Shirogane-dai into this place. That was the rule for maintaining her double life. "Hey, what happened with that thing from yesterday?" Chisa's voice from the next desk. Twenty-six years old, bright and caring best friend. Her voice was always just a little too loud, softening the office atmosphere. "[gentle]...Well, it settled down." "That's it? Your voice was shaking on the phone yesterday." "[whispers]My voice just..." She glanced around and leaned closer to Chisa. "[whispers]We talked properly. ...About various things." Chisa's eyes went wide. A grin spread across her face as she peered at Reina's. "'Various things'? What? Come on, tell me properly." "[whispers]I can't say." She laughed despite herself. Chisa laughed too. These moments mattered to Reina. Time when she could just be a twenty-six-year-old, unrelated to high society or contracts. "...I'm glad, really." Chisa said it softly. Her voice was lower than before. "[gentle]Your face is a little softer. Reina." Reina didn't answer. But that was the answer. — Lunch break. Eating a convenience store sandwich alone, Reina stared at her smartphone. Even though there was nothing particular to see, she kept opening the screen. No new messages from Shunya. That was fine. He was probably at work. On the 38th floor of Shirogane Tower, facing dozens of executives. (And yet, I can't stop thinking about it.) She couldn't help it, even she was troubled by it. The matter with Toshichiro had reached a kind of conclusion. But she still didn't know if it was truly over. She took a bite of the sandwich. Tuna mayo. An ordinary taste. The same taste from when she was growing up in Akabane. (What am I so afraid of?) The fear that last night's happiness wasn't real. The fear that things were going too well, that something might collapse. The fear that a relationship that began with a contract could never truly change. All of it was in her head. It wouldn't disappear. Her hand touched the star-shaped birthmark below her left collarbone. An unconscious gesture. Shunya had been staring at this birthmark intently yesterday morning. She'd said "it's nothing," but his eyes hadn't looked like it was nothing. (What was he looking at?) That question alone kept clinging to her. — 6 p.m. On the return trip on the Toei Mita Line. In the crowded train, Reina gripped the hanging strap. Underground tunnels continued past the window. There was still a little way to the Shirogane-dai station. Her smartphone rang. It wasn't Shunya. An unknown number. After hesitating for a moment, she answered. "[cold]...You're Reina Kirihara, correct?" A man's voice. Calm, but containing something cold. "[scared]...Yes, that's right." "Could I take a moment of your time? I have something I'd like to confirm regarding Toshichiro Shirogane." Reina's hand gripped the strap tightly. Toshichiro. That man who'd been stripped of his vice-chairman position. "[scared]...Who is this?" "I can't give my name yet. But — there are things you don't know. Things that concern you directly." Beyond the train's noise, that voice came through clearly. "[scared]Things that concern... me?" "The star-shaped birthmark on your collarbone." Reina froze. The train's swaying, the murmur of the crowd around her — it all seemed to recede. Her breathing stopped. This voice knew about that birthmark. Why. "[cold]Shunya Shirogane didn't choose you by coincidence. That birthmark has meaning. Shunya himself must know that." "[scared]...What are you talking about?" Her voice trembled. "I can't give you the details right now. But one thing." There was a pause. "[cold]You weren't the one being contracted — you've been the one being targeted all along." The call ended. Just a click remained. Reina kept the phone to her ear for a while. The train had stopped. Shirogane-dai station. The doors opened. People flowed out. But her feet wouldn't move. (Targeted all along.) Those words spun in her head. Shunya hadn't chosen her by chance. The birthmark had meaning. Shunya knew— "Those exiting, please..." The doors were closing. She stumbled out in a panic. The moment her feet touched the platform, they wavered. She braced herself against the wall, taking deep breaths. (Calm down. I have to calm down.) But she couldn't. The words that voice had spoken didn't feel like mere lies or threats. There was no basis for it. Just intuition. But — the way Shunya had looked at that birthmark. That silence. The single word "it's nothing" couldn't account for what she'd sensed there. In the elevator rising to the 32nd floor of the apartment building, Reina thought. Should she ask Shunya? Should she tell him everything about that call? But if she asked. If she learned the answer— "[serious]Did something happen?" The moment she opened the door, Shunya's voice came from the living room. An unusually early return home. His necktie was loosened as he looked up from documents. The instant his gaze fell on Reina's face, his expression shifted subtly. "[serious]...Your color is bad." "[scared]I'm fine, it's nothing..." It was a lie. She was trembling so much she could barely speak. Shunya rose slowly and walked toward her. His eyes fixed on her directly. Those usual composed eyes. But in their depths— "[serious]When you lie, your left hand moves." His voice was quiet. Reina looked at her own left hand. Without realizing it, it had moved toward her collarbone. Directly above the star-shaped birthmark. Silence fell between them. Shunya's gaze was fixed on that hand. In his eyes was something she'd never seen before. Something like pain, like resolve— (I have to ask.) Reina took a deep breath. "[scared]...Do you know about this birthmark?" Shunya's eyes stopped. The silence that followed — one second without an answer — felt unbearably long.