At the dining table of Residence Platine Shirogane, Runa sat facing him. The evening meal arranged on white dishes. Grilled fish, miso soup, white rice, simmered vegetables. The usual set meal. And yet, the simple fact that Toshiya sat across from her shook something deep within Runa's chest. It was unusual. For the past two weeks, Toshiya had never come home by eight in the evening. He always arrived past one, sometimes two in the morning. He'd go straight to his study and work through the night. So the thought of the two of them sharing dinner together had never even crossed her mind. "Welcome home," said quietly. Her voice was small. Smaller than usual. A careful, tentative tone—as if testing the waters. "Mm." A brief reply. Toshiya poured wine. Red wine. The deep crimson liquid filled his glass, catching the light from the city outside the window, glowing darkly. "Today is... is something the matter?" asked hesitantly. Her hand drifted to the star-shaped scar beneath her left collarbone. A sign of tension. An unconscious habit. Toshiya looked at her. His gaze carried something beyond the usual cold detachment of a company president—something else entirely. "I wanted to have dinner with you," said. That was all. And yet the weight of those words was immeasurable. "...Yes," replied. A heavy silence settled over the table. Not an uncomfortable silence—a tense one. Runa ate. She bit into the grilled fish, sipped the miso soup. Everything felt heightened, more acute than usual. His gaze. His presence. "Runa," called out suddenly. Not with honorifics. Her name, bare and direct. The sound of it shook her. "...Yes?" "Would you tell me about your family?" At those words, Runa's chopsticks stilled. Family. Her mother, living in Akabane. Her father, who had died during her second year of high school. An ordinary family. A downtown life. She had never spoken of these things to this man. This was a contract marriage—there was no reason to share such private matters. And yet. "...Is that alright?" asked back. Her voice carried something else with it. Confusion. And the faintest hint of hope. "Of course," said. He drank his wine. The gesture was composed, inviting her to speak. Slowly, Runa began. "My father... died in the winter of my second year of high school. Heart failure. It was sudden," said, her voice growing smaller as she spoke. As the words came, she found herself remembering his face. His gentle smile. His warm hands. And then, the sudden parting. "After that, my mother raised me alone. Working day and night. I was always thinking... I mustn't be a burden," continued. Toshiya listened in silence. His gaze never left her. Straight and unwavering, he looked at her. And that gaze drew more words from her. "So I thought... I have to manage on my own. I can't burden anyone. I always thought that," said. On the table, her hands had clenched into fists. The grip was tight, as if holding herself together. "Even when I went to university, I chose the cheapest school I could. I took out student loans. I did everything I could so my mother wouldn't have to bear any burden," said. Tears began to gather in her eyes. As she spoke, she remembered life in Akabane. They hadn't been poor. But it always felt like she was being chased by something. The thought that she mustn't burden her mother. "To go that far..." murmured. His voice was low, as if something were caught in his throat. "You're a strong person," said. Those words pierced Runa's heart. It wasn't praise—it contained something else. Respect. Not sympathy, but genuine respect. Runa lifted her head and looked at his face. It wasn't the usual expressionless mask. It was something different. What was it? Runa couldn't find the words for it. "...Thank you," said. And as she spoke, warmth bloomed in her chest. His gaze. His words. They were reaching her, truly reaching her. Time passed. Only the finished dishes remained on the table. Toshiya still sipped his wine. Runa found herself beginning to feel at ease in this quiet atmosphere. "But..." said then. In that moment, something caught in her chest. "This marriage too... I'm worrying my mother. I can't tell her it's a contract, so I've been lying. When I think about how I'm burdening her with that..." said, and tears spilled from her eyes. She didn't even understand what she was saying anymore. But from the depths of her heart, she could hear a voice blaming her. "I might just be using you," said. Runa looked up. His expression was more complex than usual. An aura like something smoldering beneath the surface. "If this marriage is hurting you..." began, but he didn't finish. Instead, he simply looked at her. His eyes were a dark chestnut color. Eyes that seemed to hide something. "I have regrets," said. It was the truth. Had accepting this marriage been the right choice? Was obtaining thirty million yen worth lying to her mother? And now—what did she think of this man? "No... I don't have regrets," corrected herself. The truth was, she didn't know. Did she regret it or not? All she knew for certain was that feeling his presence near her had begun to feel... comfortable. "It was my decision. I don't regret it," said. The moment those words left her lips, Toshiya stood from the table. "Thank you," said. And he moved toward her. Runa's breath caught. The distance between them was no longer the businesslike space it had always been. It was something else entirely. (What's about to happen?) That thought had just crossed her mind when— The ringtone of a smartphone cut through the living room. "...Excuse me," said. He immediately reached for his phone. A name appeared on the screen. "Saya." The moment Runa saw that name, her heart turned cold. "Hello. Ah, I see. Understood. I'm heading over now," said into the phone, already moving toward his study. His back carried away all the warmth from moments before. Left alone in the living room, Runa began clearing the table. She carried dishes to the sink. Ran water. Scrubbed with a sponge. The motions were automatic. Her mind was elsewhere. (Saya...) The secretary's face surfaced in her mind. The perfect woman. The capable woman. The woman who stood close to Toshiya. And that hand placed on her shoulder. Runa rinsed the dishes. Her movements were sharper than usual. Returning to the living room, she sat on the sofa. The Tokyo night view outside the window felt colder than before. Tokyo Tower glowed red. Rainbow Bridge shimmered in rainbow hues. Their beauty didn't reach her heart. From the study, she could hear Toshiya and Saya's voices. Talk of work. Business matters. But Runa's ears heard something else. (That person...) Alone in the living room, Runa decided to wait for Toshiya to return. How long she would wait, she didn't even know.