The light from the police box in front of Chitose Station blurred faintly in the winter darkness. Aya stood there shivering, clutching the collar of her coat tightly. Inside the bag in her hand was the resignation letter she had just finished writing. *(It's all over now.)* The cold wind stung her face, still messy with tears. She hadn't even brought a scarf. She'd been so desperate to flee the house that she hadn't had the presence of mind for that. How long had she waited? From the distance, the headlights of a taxi drew closer. A tall man leaped out of the car as it slid to a stop in the rotary in front of the station. His chestnut hair swayed beneath the streetlights. "[worried] Aya!" Kento's voice shattered the stillness of the night. Aya lifted her face. In that instant, a burning heat surged behind her eyes. "[crying] ...Kento... you..." Her voice wouldn't come out properly. Her throat trembled, and her words dissolved into tears. Without a word, Kento strode over and gently pulled Aya's shoulder toward him. His coat was freezing cold, but the warmth of his body that seeped through from beneath it was the same warmth she'd known since they were children—unchanged in the slightest. "[gentle] It's okay. ...It's going to be okay." Aya buried her face in Kento's chest and cried, stifling her voice. Each time she sobbed, Kento's arms tightened around her. From the police box in front of the station, an officer glanced their way briefly, but quickly averted his eyes. After a while, when Aya's weeping had subsided just a little, Kento quietly spoke. "[serious] ...Aya. You're in love with Shiraishi-san, aren't you." Aya's shoulders jolted. She couldn't lift her face. All she could see, blurred, was the button on Kento's chest. She searched for words of denial. But they caught in the back of her throat, and nothing came out. *(I want to say that's not true.)* But it wasn't not true. She already knew that herself. "[crying] ...I don't know. I just don't know..." All Aya could do was shake her head. Kento gently stroked Aya's hair. She pretended not to notice that his hand was trembling, just a little. "[gentle] That's fine. As long as you're happy, Aya, that's enough for me." Kento's voice was as gentle as ever. But deep within its tone, there was a faint trace of resignation. From Aya's hand, Kento gently extracted the envelope she had been clutching tightly. The white envelope containing her resignation letter. "[gentle] Handing this in is one choice. But—" He placed the envelope back into Aya's hand. Then, he wrapped both of his hands around hers. "[serious] Go lay it all out to that man. Don't run away. Tell him properly. If you can't do that, then don't hand over this envelope." Tears spilled from Aya's eyes again. Kento understood everything. That she was drawn to Rinsuke. That she was trying to run away. "[crying] Kento... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." "[gentle] Don't worry about me. I've been on your side since we were kids. That's the one thing that won't ever change." Kento released Aya's hand and took a step back. Then, he raised a hand to the taxi driver. "[gentle] I'll take you home. It's cold." "[crying] ...No. I'll go back alone. I want to walk for a bit." Kento was silent for a moment, then gave a small nod. "[gentle] Alright. But don't push yourself too hard." He got into the taxi. Just before the door closed, he turned back toward Aya one more time. His gentle green eyes wavered faintly. "[gentle] Aya... be happy." The door closed. The taxi drove off quietly, its red taillights melting into the darkness. Aya crouched down right where she stood. The envelope in her hand crinkled with a soft sound. *(Tomorrow, I'll go and tell him properly.)* Her final words to Rinsuke. --- The next morning. On trembling legs, Aya headed for the thirty-fifth floor of the Sakaki Holdings headquarters building. Inside the elevator, her own face reflected in the mirror was terribly swollen from crying all night. But strangely, her heart was calm. *(I'll end it with this.)* She gripped the resignation letter tightly. She reached the thirty-fifth floor, and the moment she stepped onto the executive floor— A cold voice she recognized echoed through the hallway. The door to the president's office was slightly ajar. "[cold] Rinsuke. It's about time you made a decision." Aya's feet stopped dead. *(Reika-san...)* Through the gap in the door, she could hear Reika's voice clearly. "[sarcastic] Today is the deadline for terminating the deal. My father intends to cancel all contracts with Sakaki by the end of this month if you don't make a decision. A fifteen-billion-yen project will go up in smoke. Do you understand that?" Aya pressed herself against the wall and held her breath. She waited for Rinsuke's reply. Silence. Only a heavy, cold silence leaked into the hallway. "[cold] Fire that woman. If you say you can't do it, I'll take action myself. I still have the photos." Something cold crawled down Aya's back. *(Photos—from that time.)* Noir Étoile. Hotel Arcadia Bay. Reika had everything in her grasp. And yet—Rinsuke said nothing. "[sarcastic] Business is what matters most to you, after all. Make the choice that suits you. If you do, everything will be settled smoothly. The engagement, the contracts, my mood. All of it." Reika's voice was laced with mockery. Rinsuke—still remained silent. That silence was his answer. Aya bit her lip. The taste of blood spread through her mouth. But it didn't hurt. More than that, the deep ache tearing through her chest was unbearable. *(I knew it—there's no way he'd choose me.)* He would take the business. That was his choice. Aya quietly approached the reception counter next to the president's office. There sat the internal document submission box. With trembling hands, she slipped the envelope inside. It made a small, rustling sound. She didn't look back. She jumped into the elevator and punched the button for the first floor. Just as the doors closed, she thought she faintly heard Reika's triumphant laughter from down the hallway. --- After rushing out of the Minato Central building, Aya pulled out her phone with shaking hands. She called Mayuka. She picked up on the third ring. "[excited] Hello? What's up?" "[crying] ...Mayuka, do you have time right now?" She was aware, herself, that her voice was trembling. "[worried] What's wrong, Aya? Where are you right now?" "[crying] I... left the office." "[excited] Huh?! Do you know what day it is today? It's the day before Christmas Eve! This is way too dramatic!" At Mayuka's usual tone, Aya couldn't help but let tears spill over. "[crying] This isn't funny..." "[serious] ...Got it. I'm coming right now. The usual café, okay?" --- Café Orage had few customers, as expected on a weekday morning. Weak winter sunlight streamed in through the large glass windows. The scent of coffee filled the shop, just as it always did. But to Aya, the world looked monochrome. "[serious] So, spill it. Everything." Mayuka took a sip of her cappuccino and looked straight at Aya. Aya began to speak, haltingly. That she had submitted her resignation letter. About Reika's threat to terminate the deal. That Rinsuke hadn't said a single word in response. "[sigh] ...I see. So, are you planning to just end it like that?" Mayuka's voice was unusually serious. "[sad] ...But what else can I do? The company might go under because of me." "[angry] You're an idiot." Mayuka set her cup down a little roughly. "[serious] You've always run away by blaming other people, haven't you? Work mistakes, love—all of it. But this time is different. You're moving on your own two feet properly. Even handing in your resignation—that wasn't running away, that was making a decision, right? That's an amazing thing." Aya lifted her face. Mayuka glanced out the window, looking slightly embarrassed. "[laughing] Well, it's all my fault for taking you to that club in the first place, though." "[surprised] ...Huh?" "[laughing] I mean, I'm the one who took you to Noir Étoile, right? And that's where you met that president. Your life got moving thanks to me, basically." At Mayuka's words, Aya couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "[laughing] Jeez... it's all your fault, Mayuka." "[laughing] I just enriched your life! You should be thanking me." The two of them looked at each other and giggled. The heavy atmosphere lightened, just a little. As they parted, Mayuka patted Aya on the shoulder. "[serious] At the very end, say what you really want to say. Don't come crying to me with regrets." --- Night. The city of Tokyo glittered brilliantly with pre-Christmas illuminations. But that light didn't reach Aya's eyes. Aya stood in front of The Minato Residence. The cold glass wall of the fifty-story building reflected the darkness of the night. She passed through the entrance and got into the elevator. The finger pressing the button for the top floor no longer trembled. *(I have to say goodbye.)* She stood before the penthouse and pressed the intercom. A long silence. Just as she was about to press it again—the heavy door slowly opened. Rinsuke appeared, dressed in a shirt with his suit jacket off. His silver hair was slightly disheveled, and his cold violet eyes lacked their usual sharpness. He looked tired. "[cold] ...What do you want?" His voice was as cold as ever. But somewhere within it—it trembled faintly. Aya took a deep breath. "[serious] Thank you for everything up until now. ...Goodbye." She bowed deeply. Before she could lift her face, her shoulders were grabbed. The grip was so strong that she looked up involuntarily. Rinsuke's face was right there. His usual cold, ruthless expression was gone. His brows were twisted, his lips trembling. "[whispers] ...Don't go." In the next moment, Aya was pulled into a tight embrace. In his arms, so tightly that her bones creaked. "[crying] Let me go... The deal with Reika-san is more important to you, isn't it..." Aya's voice was trembling, more than even she had expected. Still holding her, Rinsuke pulled her into the living room. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the night view of Tokyo Bay spread out before them. Countless lights twinkled like jewels. "[whispers] When I was a child... my father ran off in the night to escape his debts. My mother and I drifted from one facility to another. Wearing ragged clothes, sleeping in a different place every day... I lived my life believing that showing emotion meant losing." Rinsuke's voice trembled in Aya's ear. Aya caught her breath. It was the first time she had ever heard him sound like this. "[sad] I accepted the engagement solely to protect Sakaki. The livelihoods of four hundred employees and their families are at stake. There was no other way." Rinsuke's fingers dug into Aya's back. "[whispers] ...You were the first person I ever let my guard down with. That's why—don't go." He pressed his forehead against Aya's shoulder. In that instant, inside Aya—something broke wide open. Tears overflowed, unstoppable. "[crying] ...I love you too. From the very beginning... it wasn't just physical. I love you... and I was scared, and I couldn't say it..." Rinsuke slowly lifted his face. His violet eyes wavered with a softness she had never seen before. It was an expression mingled with relief, longing, and the shock of disbelief. "[whispers] ...I love you, Aya." Both of his hands cupped Aya's cheeks. And then, slowly, their lips met. It was different from the forceful kisses he'd given her before. As if to make sure—gentle, and again and again. When their lips parted, their breaths mingled. Rinsuke's fingers touched the buttons of Aya's coat. "[whispers] ...You're trembling." Aya placed her hand on Rinsuke's chest. She could feel his heart beating just as fiercely as her ow