6 PM. The ninth floor of the Akatsuki Tower's Sales Department II was wrapped in a light sense of anticipation as work wound down. "Today's the monthly drinking party. Anyone who can make it, gather at Tsukuyomi in Shinbashi," Department Director Toyama's voice echoed across the open floor. The director was 54 years old, known for his stern features. He had overseen Sales Department II for six years. His orders were absolute commands that everyone obeyed. Aoi Yuki looked up from his desk. The monthly drinking party. A regular event held every month to relieve work stress and deepen camaraderie among department members. The venue was Tsukuyomi, an izakaya in Shinbashi—a hidden gem of a shop tucked away in an alley that retained Showa-era charm. (Guess I'm going again.) Yuki hesitated inwardly. While he was good at building human relationships, these monthly drinking parties with the same group could be taxing. Especially having to entertain the director was mentally exhausting. But he had no reason to decline. In fact, refusing might create a bad atmosphere in the department. "I'll participate," Yuki replied politely. A gentle smile of consideration crossed his mild-mannered face. "I'm going too." A woman's voice came from the adjacent row. Amemiya Reika. A sales colleague from the same cohort. Standing up with her 162 cm frame in a white blouse and navy skirt, she had a neat appearance. Her face wore a pleased smile. (Together again.) That's what Yuki thought inwardly. Reika always acted in sync with him. Perhaps it was because they were from the same cohort, but sometimes it felt intentional. Still, he couldn't point that out. He should interpret it as consideration between colleagues. 6:30 PM. Yuki and Reika headed toward Shinbashi Station's Karasumorihigashi exit with several other colleagues. Four minutes on foot from the station. One step back from the bustling district into an alley. A wooden nameplate reading "Tsukuyomi" hung on the storefront. It occupied the first and second floors of a mixed-use building. The exterior showed its age, but there was a deep charm hidden within. When they opened the door, the shop owner Kishida Shogo greeted them. A 62-year-old man with a background as a former sushi chef, his face bore the warmth and depth of experience. "Welcome. You're back again, boy," Kishida said to Yuki with affection. "Boy" was a nickname for Yuki. Since he'd started frequenting this shop, he'd been recognized as a regular. "Good evening. We're here for the monthly drinking party today," Yuki replied. Kishida nodded. "I see. Then the Oboro room on the second floor. The usual seats okay?" "Please." The group headed upstairs. At the top of the stairs was a six-mat tatami room. A sunken kotatsu-style table was set up. Department Director Toyama and other colleagues were already seated. When Yuki took his seat, Reika naturally sat beside him. While maintaining a respectful distance, it was clearly an intentional choice on her part. "Welcome. Shall we start with draft beer?" Director Toyama called out. Everyone agreed, and a server brought large mugs. "Then, cheers," Toyama said. Beer was poured, glasses clinked. Then Kishida appeared and explained, "Tonight's specials are chicken broth oden and my marinated mackerel. The oden is 180 yen per item. The mackerel is 780 yen." These were the shop's signature dishes. As the drinking party progressed, the atmosphere relaxed. "Yuki, you're really serious. You should learn to have more fun," the director said in his drunken state. There was no malice in his words—rather, they carried the tone of a boss concerned for his subordinate. "Sorry. It's just my nature," Yuki replied with a wry smile. He was vaguely aware that his seriousness was sometimes seen as "boring." That's when it happened. From downstairs, a bright, cheerful voice rang out. "Oh, there are so many people!" A woman's voice. Someone heading from the first floor to the second. Footsteps climbing the stairs. Soon, a woman appeared at the entrance to the second floor. Light brown short bob hair. A petite frame around 155 cm tall. White shirt and casual jeans. Her features held a mix of freshness and approachability. As she looked around the room, her gaze suddenly stopped. "Senior Yuki!?" At that voice, Yuki reflexively turned around. "Huh...?" For a moment, he couldn't identify who she was. But her features and voice triggered a distant memory. "Misaki...?" Hoshino Misaki. 25 years old. A junior he'd met through the volunteer circle "Akari no Kai" at Satsumei University. When Yuki was serving as vice president during his third year, she had joined as a first-year student. The group's main activity was providing academic support to children at foster care facilities. After graduating, they'd had almost no contact. "It's been so long! What a coincidence!" Misaki rushed over happily. Her movements showed no hesitation, pure joy radiating from her. "Oh, uh..." Yuki was flustered. He hadn't expected to run into a university junior in a situation like this. "Actually, I came here with friends too. Downstairs on the first floor. Oh, Senior Yuki!" Misaki naturally took his hand. Her hand was warm, trembling slightly. "It's been a while! How have you been?" Yuki asked. Misaki nodded. "I'm good! Senior Yuki looks well too. You still seem serious as ever." As she spoke, she gazed at him observantly. Her eyes were full of affection—the straightforward fondness one feels toward someone from the past. "I'm doing sales at a trading company. Same company as Reika," Yuki explained the situation. Misaki's eyes lit up. "Really! That's so like you, Senior! You always seemed so dependable back then." At that moment, a gaze flew from the second floor window. From the second floor, looking down at the stairs to the first floor. A woman was about to descend them. Amemiya Reika. She must have been returning from the restroom. Reika stopped midway down the stairs. From there, she could see Yuki and Misaki continuing their conversation on the first floor. With Misaki still holding his hand, smiling as she spoke, Reika watched in silence. Her expression was colder than anything he'd ever seen before. "Oh, uh..." When Yuki noticed and turned around, Reika descended the stairs and walked toward them. Her footsteps were slower than usual. "Yuki, you were taking so long at the restroom, I got worried..." Reika's voice had lost its usual softness. It was short, cold. When Misaki noticed Reika, she was still holding Yuki's hand. "Oh, hello," Misaki greeted lightly. Her innocence showed she wasn't reading the situation. Reika glanced at Misaki. Her gaze was filled with wariness and calculation. "...Hello," she replied, her tone polite but cold, as if measuring distance from a stranger. "Oh, Reika, she's a junior from my university days..." Yuki tried to introduce her. The moment he spoke, Reika cut him off. "I see. Well, I'll head back first." Her words were unilateral. Without waiting for a response, Reika climbed the stairs and disappeared to the second floor. Her back clearly concealed dissatisfaction and some strong emotion. "Senior's girlfriend...?" Misaki asked uncertainly. "No. A colleague. Work colleague," Yuki quickly denied. But something strange lingered in his mind. Reika was kind enough as a colleague. But that reaction was different somehow. "Oh, good," Misaki's smile returned. It was innocent and pure. "How's work been lately? Nothing too difficult?" For a while, the two continued talking where they stood. Misaki's work. Yuki's current situation. Time passed. "Oh, that's right. Senior, you're at a drinking party today. I'm sorry for interrupting," Misaki realized. "No, it's fine. But let's stay in touch. Let's exchange contact information." Yuki took out his smartphone. They exchanged numbers. Misaki made him promise with a smile: "You have to contact me!" After that, Yuki returned to the second floor. When he sat at the table, Reika was sipping her beer. Her expression had lost its usual gentleness, replaced by something cold and contemplative. "Reika, about earlier..." Yuki tried to speak. "It's nothing," she replied curtly, dismissively. The drinking party ended at 10 PM. Yuki parted with his colleagues at Shinbashi Station and headed to Sendagi on the Chiyoda Line. He arrived at his apartment at 11:15 PM. After showering, he lay in bed. He picked up his smartphone. He confirmed the contact exchange with Misaki. Then he noticed a message from her. "Senior Yuki, thank you for today. I was so happy to see you after so long. I'll contact you again!" Her message radiated genuine joy. Yuki replied. "Same here. Let's talk more next time." Yuki stared at the smartphone screen for a while. But then he thought. (That reaction from Reika...) A reunion with a university junior. Somehow, it had made his work colleague unhappy. He couldn't understand why. Outside the window. The night in Sendagi was quiet. Streetlights cast a pale glow. An ordinary, unremarkable scene. But then it happened. Someone stopped near the vending machine in front of the apartment. Blending into the darkness of night. A map was displayed on the smartphone screen. The location of Corpo Sendagi, 2nd floor. Confirming those coordinates, the person murmured. "Hoshino Misaki..." It was a woman's voice. Long black hair reflected the light from the smartphone. That face was— Amemiya Reika. On the smartphone screen, a location-sharing app was displayed. There, Misaki's name and coordinates were recorded. Reika had been investigating something. "A junior from university, huh..." The murmur dissolved into the silence. Reika looked at her smartphone again. The screen displayed Aoi Yuki's current location—Corpo Sendagi, 2nd floor. "He made it home safely today. Good." As she said this, her expression remained unchanged. Cold, calculating, filled with some intense obsession. Was this what could be called love? Or was it something else? The night wind blew. The town of Sendagi quietly drifted toward sleep.