On the smartphone screen, a sent message remained. *Thank you for contacting me. Understood. I will be waiting for you at Kasumi Terrace at 8 PM today. —Kiriya Runa* Kiriya Runa had been reading that message over and over. Three days had passed since the meal at Ginrei. For those three days, one sentence from Shirakawa Reina had lodged itself in her mind, refusing to leave. *So you're a commoner.* (Is this really what I should be doing?) Runa called her family home. Kiriya Seiki, located in Shiki City, Saitama Prefecture. Her father, Kiriya Seiichi's voice carried exhaustion even through the phone line. "What's wrong?" Her father's voice. Runa steadied her breathing before speaking. "Um, about Mr. Kujo's offer. I've decided to accept it." Her voice was quiet but resolute. There was a long silence. On the other end of the line, she could hear machinery sounds—her father cutting something in the factory. Then the sound stopped. "Runa... are you serious?" Her father's voice wavered slightly. "I am." She replied firmly. Another silence stretched between them. "I understand. I'm counting on you. For the family's sake... I'm truly sorry." Her father's voice trembled. Runa bit her lip. She couldn't let her father worry any further. "I'll do my best." She said. After hanging up, Runa stared at the wall of her room. Apartment "Corpo Hiiragi" 205, in Kyodo, Setagaya Ward. One room, 25 square meters. Rent: 68,000 yen per month. From this cramped little space, her new life was about to begin. --- The next day, 11 AM. Chiyoda Ward, Marunouchi. The lobby of the Kujo Marunouchi Tower seemed more solemn than usual. IC card authentication. Facial recognition system. Beyond the security checkpoint lay the elevator core at the back of the lobby. Runa steadied her breathing as she stepped into the elevator. The button: 32nd floor. The executive floor. Inside the ascending box, Runa looked at her palms. They were damp with sweat. (Calm down. Just breathe.) The elevator stopped at the 32nd floor. The doors opened. The moment her feet touched the floor, the scenery transformed entirely. Luxurious carpet. Abstract paintings on the walls. A desk made of ebony, or perhaps some other precious wood. A window so expansive it seemed to touch the ceiling. Beyond it, Tokyo Bay gleamed in brilliant blue. A woman who appeared to be a secretary guided her. They walked down a corridor, her footsteps absorbed by the carpet. At a large door, the secretary stopped. "Mr. Kujo is waiting for you." The secretary said. The door opened. An office spanning roughly 40 tsubo. Tokyo Bay spread out in full view from the windows. The sheer scale of it made Runa catch her breath involuntarily. Kujo Toma sat on the far side of the desk. Black suit. Hair of jet black, perfectly arranged. His deep gray eyes captured her gaze. "Thank you for coming. Please, sit." His voice was calm and measured. Runa sank into the sofa across from the desk. Toma reached for a stack of contracts on the desk. The thickness was roughly two centimeters. "I'll explain the contents concisely." He said. He went through it page by page. His voice remained composed, meticulous in every detail. "The compensation is 800,000 yen per month. After taxes. The duration is a maximum of twelve months. During that time, you are to conduct yourself as my fiancée." He explained. "Y-yes, I understand." Runa's voice wavered slightly. "The confidentiality clause extends for five years. Even after this contract concludes, you must not disclose any information about the Kujo family that you've learned. Not to anyone." He continued. "Yes." She nodded. "The penalty for breach is 30 million yen for both parties. Should either of us terminate the contract, that sum must be paid." He stated. Runa's breath caught at the figure. 30 million yen. An astronomical sum. And yet—there was no choice but to do this. "So... if I agree to this, the contract becomes binding, correct?" She asked hesitantly. "That's correct. Do you have any questions?" He asked. Runa shook her head. She didn't have the capacity for further questions. Toma picked up a pen from the desk and extended it toward her. "Then, please sign. Here, and also on this page." He said. Runa took the pen. Her hand trembled slightly. She signed the contract. "Kiriya Runa"—written carefully in both hiragana and kanji. The sound of ink seeping into paper seemed unnaturally loud. In that moment, her ordinary life transformed completely. --- The following week. Kasumi Terrace on the first floor of the Kujo Marunouchi Tower. Runa sat across from Toma. Coffee cups sat on the table between them. "Starting today, I'll teach you the etiquette of high society." He said. Runa nodded, her eyes fixed on the coffee cup before her. "First, posture. Straighten your spine. Eyes forward. Small steps, graceful movement. For a woman of nobility, even walking is a form of art." He instructed. Toma had her stand. He directed her to walk toward the back of the terrace. Runa walked through the center of the café. There were a few customers, but Toma told her not to mind them. "More gracefully. Don't drag your feet. Land on your heel, push off with your toes." He coached. Runa walked, conscious of his corrections. But she quickly lost her balance. "I'm sorry." She apologized. "Don't rush. We'll take this slowly." His voice was gentle—not reproachful, but encouraging. His expression, too, was softer than usual. That afternoon was spent practicing conversation. "Be polite with your language, but not obsequious. Speak with confidence." He said. "Um, well, that is to say..." Runa fumbled. "You're pausing too much. Your listener is waiting for your answer. Don't rush, but speak with conviction." He corrected. Runa practiced repeatedly. Toma was patient, accompanying her through take after take. His sincere dedication gradually opened her heart. --- And then, one day a week later. The practice at Kasumi Terrace had moved on to table manners. "How to drink wine. Hold the glass by the stem. Enjoy the aroma first, then take a sip." He demonstrated. Runa tried to mimic his movements. But her hand slipped. Wine spilled across the tablecloth. "I'm so sorry!" She cried out, jumping up in panic. But Toma was smiling. "It's fine. It happens to everyone." He said, calmly wiping the spill with a napkin himself. The gentleness of his movements made something flutter in Runa's chest—a sensation like weightlessness. (What is this feeling?) "You know, Mr. Toma, you're surprisingly kind." The words escaped her lips before she could stop them. Toma's expression shifted slightly, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face. "Am I?" He asked softly. That subtle expression made warmth bloom across Runa's cheeks. In that moment, the air between them shifted—delicately, almost imperceptibly. --- On the walk back after practice. The two of them stood in front of the building's main entrance. The evening sunlight painted Marunouchi in shades of gold. Runa gathered her courage and asked him a question. "Why me?" She said. "Pardon?" He turned to her. "There must have been more suitable candidates. Why did you choose me?" She pressed. Toma considered for a moment before answering. "Because you're sincere. High society is full of calculating people. But you're different. You're clumsy, perhaps, but you work hard. That earnestness... I found it trustworthy." He said. Warmth bloomed in Runa's chest. Her clumsiness—something she'd always seen as a flaw—had been recognized by someone. Not just as a means to pay off her family's debt, but as a person worthy of being seen. "Thank you. I'll do my best." She smiled. Toma smiled back, his expression peaceful and warm. The distance between them had narrowed, just slightly. The setting sun cast a gentle light across their profiles. Toward Tokyo Bay, evening lights were already beginning to twinkle. Next week, her formal debut into high society awaited. But for now, this quiet moment was enough. (Could it be that he's really... seeing me?) That thought, small and luminous, had begun to glow in the corner of her heart.