Friday night, she fled Solarium Tower as if escaping. The moment she stepped out of the elevator and exited the building, Ayano took a deep breath. The night breeze of Toranomon seemed to dissolve just a little of the week's tension from her body. ——This week was rough. Tuesday's project report was completely rejected. Thursday's numerical data was sent back with a single word: "naive." The memory of last night's late-night overtime still clung to her body, and her shoulders felt heavy and aching. "Ayano~! I've been waiting!" In front of the ticket gates at Shinbashi Station, Tanaka Rin, her colleague from the same cohort, was waving her hand enthusiastically. Short black hair, round glasses, that ever-bright smile. Out of the twenty people who entered Solarium together, she was the one Ayano got along with best. "[gentle]Sorry, I had a bit of work left to finish" "It's fine, it's fine. Come on, let's go. Today I'm taking you to the best place" The place Tanaka led her to was a small izakaya tucked down an alley just west of Shinbashi Station. A noren curtain with "Robata Yorimichi" written in ink. When she opened the sliding door, the scent of charcoal and dashi broth mingled in the air. Eight counter seats and two small raised platforms. Twenty-two seats total in this tiny shop. The walls were covered with old movie posters and what looked like doodles from regular customers scrawled on menus. "[serious]Welcome" A man in his late fifties looked up from behind the counter. White chef's coat. Half his head was white hair, with stubble around his mouth. His expression was somewhat blunt, but his eyes were gentle. This must be the shop owner Togawa Genji that Tanaka had mentioned. The moment the two of them sat at the counter, Togawa placed two draft beers down with a thud—without asking. (He didn't ask, but... is that okay...?) As Ayano hesitated, Tanaka whispered, "That's just how this place is." They don't ask before serving—they bring what people need when they arrive. Apparently, that was the style here. Ayano wrapped her hands around the cold mug. (......He's like my dad) The moment she thought that, she found herself smiling. Her father, who had passed away when she was in high school, was quiet but skilled at cooking. He was the kind of person who would serve food without saying a word. "[gentle]He's kind of like my dad, you know?" When she murmured it softly, Tanaka nodded happily. "Right?" They clinked glasses and took a sip. It was cold, just slightly bitter, and delicious. "[laughing]So what did the department head criticize you for this week?" Tanaka dropped the bomb with a smile. Ayano set down her mug. "[serious]......You want to hear?" "I want to hear everything. Tell me everything" The floodgates opened, and her mouth started moving. "First, Monday's project report. Department Head Kurosawa stopped me three sentences into my explanation and said, 'Rinzaki. Do you really intend to call this a proposal?' In this incredibly low voice" "Ah~! That voice!" "[serious]Rinzaki. Do you really intend to call this a proposal?" Ayano mimicked Kurosawa's tone. As low as possible, with all emotion stripped away. Tanaka burst out laughing. "It's so similar!! Scary!!" "Right?! And then it gets even scarier. He doesn't say anything. He just quietly closes the documents and then... stays silent for like thirty seconds" "That's torture" "Exactly! That silence is the worst part! His gaze, it's like it pierces right through my back. Like a laser. Even after I go back to my seat, I keep thinking he's watching through the glass, so I have to stay on edge" "Ah~, but that private office only has the blinds half-drawn anyway. His gaze definitely reaches" "[sad]And then, every time I submit my report, I feel like I die once" "You die?!" "It comes back with red pen corrections, and it feels like... I get killed once and then resurrected" Tanaka burst into laughter again, slapping the counter with her hand. Togawa silently placed appetizers in front of them—grilled salted chicken and a small simmered tofu dish. Ayano was slightly surprised by the timing. "[laughing]I wonder what the department head is even thinking......" She was saying this while looking up at the ceiling when— Garagara. The sliding door opened. Ayano's mouth stopped. A man entered, carrying a black coat over his arm. Short, closely cropped black hair. Behind his glasses, his eyes briefly scanned the interior from the entrance. It was Kurosawa Makoto. (......What?) Ayano's mind went completely blank. Tanaka poked Ayano's arm. Her mouth moved silently: "Do you think he heard?" (I'm gonna die......) She screamed internally. "The department head's gaze is like a laser." "Every time I submit a report, I die once"—he might have heard all of it. The moment she thought that, cold sweat beaded on her back. Kurosawa didn't look at the two of them at the counter at all. He went straight to the opposite end of the counter—away from them—and sat down. He folded his coat and loosened his tie slightly. Even those simple movements looked refined somehow. Togawa placed a draft beer in front of him without a word. (Wait......) Ayano found herself looking at Togawa's face. The beer appeared before Kurosawa even ordered. They don't ask before serving—they bring what people need when they arrive. That was what Tanaka had said about this place's style. (Is this person a regular...?) But that wasn't the issue right now. "[whispers]W-what do we do?" "[whispers]Let's just quietly drink for now" It was completely unhelpful advice, but there were no other options. The two of them fell silent. They sipped their draft beer little by little. They picked at the appetizers. But they couldn't find a moment to leave either. An awkward silence drifted through the middle of the counter. Kurosawa sat alone, quietly drinking his beer. He took out his smartphone, checked the screen for a few seconds, then put it away. That was all. He didn't seem to be communicating with anyone or working. He was just drinking. (......That person) Ayano stole a glance at Kurosawa's profile. It was expressionless. A profile with unreadable emotions. The same face as always at work. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. (The person sending me anonymous messages isn't this person) A kind of certainty descended smoothly into her chest. "You did well today." "You're not alone."—There was no way this person could write such warm words. She simply couldn't imagine this expressionless profile typing out messages of concern for a subordinate in the middle of the night. She remembered that night last week when she'd stayed late working alone and broken down crying. That person had told her it was okay to cry. That it was proof she'd done her best. Words like that could never come from this person. (It's definitely someone else) The moment she thought that, her chest somehow felt a little calmer. Tanaka gave her a meaningful look. "Should we head out soon?" Ayano nodded. She called out to Togawa, "Could we get the check, please?" Togawa brought the bill right away. Two draft beers, appetizers, and some grilled chicken they'd ordered—just over three thousand yen for the two of them. "[gentle]Thank you very much" After paying, the two of them stood up from their seats. They picked up their coats. As they headed toward the sliding door, Ayano turned back once to look at the counter. "......Don't stay out too late" He didn't turn around. Still facing the counter, he said it quietly. "[scared]Y-yes!" Her voice cracked. Tanaka was waiting outside the sliding door. When Ayano came out, Tanaka said softly: "[laughing]......Hey, isn't that kind of sweet?" "[serious]No, it's not. That's just a normal warning" She denied it with all her might. But her ears were burning. --- She got home after ten at night. She opened the door to Granvia Ebisu Room 303, dropped her bag on the floor, and collapsed onto the bed. The sheets were cold and felt good. The potted plant by the window was lit by the dim light of the room. (Today, I......laughed) She couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed out loud while complaining about work since joining Solarium. Tanaka's face when she'd said "Every time I submit a report, I die once." That laughter. The smell of charcoal in the izakaya and the bitter taste of cold beer. She felt a little lighter. Her smartphone lit up. She checked the screen. It was from that anonymous number again. "Were you able to smile a little today?" Ayano froze. Just one line. But those words... Tonight had been the first night she'd truly smiled in the izakaya. Did this person know? They couldn't possibly know—but the words sounded like they did. Was it a coincidence? Or was it someone around her? Ayano stared at the ceiling for a while. (......Who is this person around me?) Various faces floated up and disappeared. And at the very end, the profile of the man sitting quietly at the end of the counter drinking beer flickered through her mind for just a moment. (No way) She shook her head. No, no way. Absolutely not. She'd just convinced herself moments ago that "it's not that person." But. The voice saying "Don't stay out too late" echoed in her ears once more. Something stirred in her chest, and Ayano clutched her smartphone to herself. "[gentle]I was able to smile. I really did smile" She typed out a reply and sent it. Whoever was on the other side of the screen would read these words. Ayano still didn't know who that person was. But the desire to know was definitely stronger than it had been yesterday.