Monday morning, the 12th floor of Solarium Tower was wrapped in its usual tense atmosphere. Over the weekend, she had received the words: "Please don't rush. Let's take our time and get to know each other slowly." Those words were still breathing warmly in a corner of Ayano's heart. Sitting at her desk, she first checked the correspondence with Nacht Medical. The materials she had submitted last week had earned her a "Well, not bad" from Kurosawaー for him, that was quite high praise. (I hope this week will be a calm one...) That's when it happened. Her smartphone vibrated. An incoming call from Tanaka, the department head at Nacht Medical. Ayano stood up and hurried to the end of the corridor. "[serious]Ms. Rinzaki, about the contract details from the other day" "Yes, is there something unclear...?" "[serious]The management has issued a change request. We need you to handle this urgently." Her mind went blank. A change request. From management. Urgent. After hanging up, her fingers touched the three-strand braid behind her left ear. It was a nervous habit. She took a deep breath and headed toward Kurosawafs private office. Through the glass, she could see gaps in the blinds. She knocked and opened the door. "[serious]Director, I received a call from Tanaka at Nacht Medical—the management has issued a request to change the contract terms" Kurosawa looked up from the documents in front of him. Forty years old. Short, neatly trimmed black hair. Behind his glasses, his eyes narrowed sharply. "[cold]...Why didn't you anticipate such a situation beforehand?" "Um, well—" "[cold]This is a project involving the other party's management. The explanation was insufficient, which is why we're in this situation. If you had taken the initiative, you could have prevented this." She had no words. (I explained it properly. I confirmed it multiple times. But—) "[sad]...I sincerely apologize" "[cold]Put together a revised proposal by today. I'll review it at 5 PM." "[serious]...Yes, understood" As she left the private office, Sato at the next desk looked up. A male employee in his thirties who always looked a bit troubled and sympathetic. "[gentle]...Looks rough, Rinzaki. Want some help?" Ayano shook her head. "[serious]I'm fine. I'll handle it myself. Thank you." She had to do this alone. If she relied on someone here, she felt Kurosawa would never acknowledge her. --- The real work began in the afternoon. She organized the change requests from Nacht Medical, got confirmation from the legal department, recalculated the figures—her hands kept moving while she organized the tasks in her mind. Lunchtime at Cantina Soleil passed. Her stomach growled. She took a bite of a convenience store rice ball at her desk and turned back to the screen. 3 PM. The legal department's response came. The content was complex, and she realized the revisions wouldn't be limited to one place. The numbers changed in a chain reaction. She had to rebuild everything from scratch. (He said 5 PM...will I make it?) The anxiety dulled her movements. She made mistakes. Fixed them. Then something else broke. Exactly 5 PM, Kurosawa's office door opened. "[cold]The revised proposal?" "[scared]...Um, could I have just a bit more time? The legal department's confirmation items changed the figures across the board" Kurosawa glanced at the screen. "[cold]How much longer?" "...Around 9 or 10 PM tonight" "[cold]I'll review it before we send it to them tomorrow morning. Make sure it's finished." With that, he returned to his private office. The floor's employees began leaving in ones and twos. She heard distant voices of "Thanks for today" and "See you." 7 PM. Only Ayano and the light from Kurosawa's office remained on the floor. (The director is still here...what's he doing?) She was curious, but there was no time for that now. She kept working. After 10 PM, the light in Kurosawa's office went out. Ayano instinctively looked up. A figure walked down the hallway. It was Kurosawa. He was heading toward the elevator hall. "[sad]...Thank you for your hard work" She said it quietly. Whether he didn't hear or simply didn't turn around, Kurosawa's back disappeared around the corner of the hallway. She was alone on the floor. Only the computer screen and the night view outside the window glowed. The buildings of Toranomon sparkled in the distance. Ayano looked at them for just a second, then turned back to the screen. (No one's watching...) She immediately pushed that thought away. She wasn't working to be watched. Nacht Medical was her responsibility, and this was her job. Past midnight. The revised proposal was finally taking shape. The basis for the figures, the logical flow—this time it should be fine. 1:30 AM, it was complete. She pressed the print button and picked up the printed materials. A small scar on the back of her hand caught the fluorescent light—a burn mark from a childhood accident. Ayano stared at it for a moment, then placed the materials on Kurosawa's desk. She turned off the computer. Silence. As she pulled back her chair to stand, her legs felt unsteady. (Ah, I'm exhausted...) --- She arrived at Granvia Ebisu Room 303 after 2 AM. She opened the door, locked it, and dropped her bag on the floor. She didn't have the energy to shower. The potted plant by the window was tilted slightly, but she didn't have the strength to fix it. She collapsed onto the bed. Then the tears came. They wouldn't stop. (I can't anymore...I'm no good...I explained it properly, confirmed it multiple times, but I was told my explanation was insufficient, I stayed late into the night alone, but the director didn't say anything to me...) She pressed her face into the pillow. Her voice threatened to escape. It would be embarrassing if the neighbors heard. But she couldn't hold it back. Her shoulders shook. Then her smartphone lit up. She looked at the screen. That anonymous number again. A message had arrived. "You've had a difficult day. But you really did your best. It's okay to cry. In a place where no one is watching, cry as much as you need to. That's not weakness. It's proof that you tried." —It's okay to cry. At that one line, something inside Ayano broke. She cried out loud. Ugly, hiccupping sobs. When was the last time she cried like this? Maybe the night her mother's hospitalization was decided. After crying for a while and calming down a bit, Ayano picked up her smartphone. The screen blurred with tears. "[crying]I'm sorry...I keep complaining" After sending it, she immediately regretted it. This kind of message would only trouble the other person— But the reply came immediately. "It's okay. You're not alone. I'm here. Always, no matter what." Ayano exhaled. (I'm not alone...) She read that line over and over. Even through the screen, it felt like someone was right there. Like they had placed a hand on her shoulder. She knew it was absurd. But that's how it felt. She held her smartphone to her chest and closed her eyes. (Who is this person...?) That question had been in her mind before. But tonight, it was stronger. Maybe because the night was so deep. Maybe because she was so lonely. (Someone from the company? Someone who knows about me? They seemed to know about my overtime today...) Various faces came to mind. Sato. Tanaka. And then— (Could it be...the director?) She laughed at the thought. With tears still on her face, it was a bit funny. (No way. Absolutely not. There's no way that person would send such a kind message) She remembered Kurosawa's cold voice. "Why didn't you anticipate this beforehand?" Impossible. But—what if. (What if it really was the director, what would I do?) There was no answer. --- The next morning. When she woke up, it was past 8 AM. She panicked, got ready, and ran to Ebisu Station. She arrived at Solarium Tower at exactly 9 AM. The elevator to the 12th floor. Kurosawa was already in his office. Ayano went straight there. "[serious]Director, I placed the revised proposal on your desk last night. Could you review it?" Kurosawa already had the materials in hand. He had been reading them. He slowly turned the pages, went back, moved forward again. Ayano waited standing. Her fingers touched the three-strand braid behind her left ear. She tried to stop but couldn't. A long silence. "[cold]...Well, this should work" "[surprised]...Thank you very much" She bowed. Kurosawa's expression remained unchanged. Not "well done" or "thank you for your hard work." Just "this should work." That was all. But—today, that was enough. As she left the office and returned to her desk, Ayano remembered last night's message. "You're not alone. I'm here." (Who is this person?) That question had grown larger. It was now a deeper question than yesterday. Sitting at her desk and turning on her computer, Ayano took out her smartphone. She reviewed last night's exchange. An email from Nacht Medical had arrived, so she opened it. (I have to keep trying) She thought that. But today was a little different from yesterday. The small warmth in her chest—as long as it didn't disappear, she felt she could manage somehow. And at the same time, one thing became clear. (I want to know who this person is) It was no longer just "curious." It had become something more certain, a stronger feeling.