The morning after, Runa stood in the entrance lobby of Residence Platine Shirogane. Through the glass doors, a brilliant blue sky stretched endlessly. The morning sun reflected off the white walls, bathing the entire lobby in a soft golden hue. This was a world entirely separate from the dark six-mat room in Akabane. "You must be the young lady." The voice belonged to Tatsumi Dojima, the building manager. Fifty-eight years old. His background as a former hotel concierge seeped through his posture and bearing. Navy suit, white gloves. Hair perfectly groomed. His smile was professional, yet somehow warm. "Mr. Shirogane has been waiting for you. I'll show you to the 32nd floor." Runa nodded silently. She didn't have the courage to speak. The single small suitcase Dojima pulled was the only one Runa had prepared last night. The other was supposed to arrive by separate truck from the moving company. Thirty million yen worth of her entire life, compressed into this space. She stepped into the private elevator. The interior was the same as before. Mirror-lined walls, marble floor, operation so silent it was almost soundless. When she touched the button, the numbers climbed. 10th floor. 20th floor. 30th floor— It stopped at 32. The doors opened. Runa's breath caught at the sight before her. 220 square meters. Ceiling height of 3.5 meters. Through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Tokyo Tower and Skytree spread out in full view. Two towers floating in the light. Before them, the entire Minato ward sprawled like a miniature diorama. "Magnificent, isn't it?" Dojima's voice seemed to reach her from far away. Runa couldn't answer. The white sofa in the living room, the black furniture, the lustrous flooring. Everything was new, immaculate, and didn't feel like a place where she belonged. "This is the master bedroom." Dojima gestured toward the back. Multiple doors lined the far end of a wide hallway. "Mr. Shirogane's room is there. This is the guest room. Your room, miss." The door Dojima indicated was on the opposite side of the hallway. Directly across from the master bedroom, separated by the corridor. (Of course...) Runa whispered to herself. It was natural given the contract. Being given a separate room was only right. And yet—why did her chest feel so tight? "Here we are." The guest room was a bright space, about eight tatami mats. A bed, a desk, a closet. Simple, and precisely because of that simplicity, utterly devoid of character. Runa opened her suitcase and began organizing her meager possessions. That evening, Shunya came home. Runa, who had been preparing dinner in the living room, heard the front door open and reflexively stood up. "Welcome home." She said it without even looking at his face. "Yeah." Shunya gave a short reply and began removing his suit jacket. His expression was blank. He wasn't looking at Runa. Runa spoke hesitantly. "Um... I made dinner..." On the table sat a traditional Japanese meal: white rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and simmered vegetables. A recipe her mother in Akabane had taught her—she'd done the prep work last night and only needed to reheat it today. Shunya glanced at the table. His eyebrows rose slightly. He looked surprised. But his next words were cold. "That won't be necessary. I'll eat out." With that, he disappeared into the back. The sound of a shower echoed through the hallway. Runa sat down at the table. And ate alone. Grains of white rice, one by one, slid down her throat. They tasted like nothing. (It's because of the contract...) She told herself. (This is right. Just as promised. Nothing is wrong.) She washed the dishes. She bathed. She returned to the guest room and lay down on the bed. The ceiling light glowed gently. A light she'd never seen in the Akabane apartment. A smart light, apparently—something that could change color and brightness freely. Runa didn't touch anything. She simply stared at the light. 2 AM. When Runa got up to use the bathroom, she noticed a faint glow leaking from the living room as she stepped into the hallway. Someone was there. Shunya, perhaps. She walked quietly toward it. The living room door was open. Shunya sat on the sofa. He wore half-pants and a T-shirt—casual home clothes. Silhouetted against the night cityscape beyond the window, he held a wine glass. Dark red wine glowed within it. He hadn't noticed her. Expressionless, he simply gazed out at the view. His shoulders were relaxed, making his title of company president seem like a lie. Runa froze. (Does he always spend his nights alone like this...?) Should she call out to him? But what could she possibly say? She shouldn't intrude. She should quietly return to her room. Thinking this, Runa began to back away. Her foot caught the furniture at the corner of the hallway. A small sound. But in the silence, it rang out clearly. "...Who's there?" Shunya turned. He recognized Runa. Something shifted in his eyes—from wariness to something else. Runa's hand moved reflexively to the place below her left collarbone, where a star-shaped mark lay. "S-sorry... I was just going to the bathroom..." The words tumbled out like an excuse. Shunya said nothing, only looked at her. That gaze was entirely different from the one she'd received in the back streets of Akabane. Not the cold indifference of a company president, but something human—something that, for just an instant, seemed directed at her. "...Please go back to your room." He said that and turned back to the window. Runa returned to her room. Even lying in bed, she couldn't sleep. Shunya's profile as he drank wine in the living room. Expressionless, yet with something smoldering beneath the surface. (Who supports that person...?) The next morning, Runa woke early. The clock read 6 AM. Outside, it was still dim. But Runa's heart was filled with resolve. She began preparing breakfast in the kitchen. She rinsed the rice, made dashi for miso soup. Grilled fish, rolled egg, pickles. Simple Japanese fare. She arranged everything on the table and held her breath. Past 7 AM, Shunya began preparing for work. When he appeared in the living room, he stared at the table. For a moment, his expression filled with surprise. "...I'm eating." Simple words. But to Runa, they meant everything. Shunya sat down and began eating in silence. He scooped rice, bit into the grilled fish, sipped the miso soup. She watched it all. (He's eating it...) Runa sat in the chair across from him. She couldn't speak to him. She simply watched him eat. When Shunya finished, he stood. He headed toward the entrance. Just before opening the door, he turned back. "...Thank you." Those words didn't sound like they came from a company president's mouth. They sounded truly human. "No, I..." As Runa answered, Shunya was already looking away. He left through the door. Runa stood alone in the living room. Beyond the window, Tokyo was waking. Morning light illuminated the towers, and the cityscape began to color. (Maybe... the distance between us narrowed just a little...) With that thought, a small warmth kindled in Runa's chest. She still had no name for what it was.