The three of them chatted for a while longer, the atmosphere at the dining table relaxed and pleasant.
The afternoon sunlight streamed through the dining room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, casting mottled shadows across the pristine white tablecloth.
Chinatsu Ayase checked the time and glanced at the hesitant, lingering atmosphere between Aina Saiten and Kaoru Hoshitani.
Being quite perceptive, she set down her napkin.
“I should probably head back to the company.” She stood up with a slight smile.
“You two take your time chatting, no rush. It’s still early before the afternoon shift starts.”
She waved to them and turned to leave, her slender figure quickly disappearing into the crowd at the restaurant’s entrance.
Aina Saiten watched the direction Chinatsu Ayase had gone.
The knot of complex emotions in her heart hadn’t completely dissipated, but she took a deep breath and turned to look at her boyfriend beside her.
Kaoru Hoshitani was also looking at her, his little deer eyes carrying a hint of cautious pleasing and expectation.
“Let’s go.” Aina Saiten stood up and took his hand. “Let’s go for a walk outside.”
The two of them walked out of the restaurant and strolled slowly along the street.
The early winter breeze carried a touch of chill, but it wasn’t biting against the skin.
Instead, it provided a sense of refreshing comfort.
The ginkgo trees lining the street had already lost all their leaves, their bare branches tracing simple lines against the deep blue sky.
Aina Saiten led Kaoru Hoshitani into a small park near the company.
The park wasn’t large, but it was very quiet.
Several tall camphor trees still held their emerald leaves, rustling in the wind.
A pebble path wound its way into the depths, flanked by neatly trimmed bushes.
In the center of the park was an artificial lake.
The water was clear, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and surrounding trees.
A few ducks swam leisurely on the surface, occasionally dipping their heads into the water to search for food.
Aina Saiten led Kaoru Hoshitani to the lakeside and sat down on a long stone bench.
The stone had been warmed by the sun, making it very comfortable to sit on.
She reached out and interlaced her fingers with Kaoru Hoshitani’s, their joined hands resting quietly on her lap.
The afternoon sun shone warmly on Kaoru Hoshitani, casting a soft golden halo around him.
A breeze drifted by, fluttering the stray hairs on his forehead and bringing with it the faint scent of water from the lake.
He turned slightly and gently leaned his head against his girlfriend’s shoulder.
The movement was natural and intimate, carrying a sense of deep reliance and attachment.
“Aina…” he spoke softly, his voice tender and filled with emotion and satisfaction.
“Being able to stay with Aina like this every day at noon is truly wonderful…”
His voice was very light, yet every word sounded like it came from the bottom of his heart.
Until today, until this very moment, the giant stone that had been weighing on Kaoru Hoshitani’s heart was finally lifted.
He no longer had to worry about that yellow-haired woman threatening him with those photographs and the video.
Those points of leverage that had kept him awake at night and caused him such humiliation had now lost their power.
After all, if Rika Kawasaki dared to release those things, it would affect the company.
Her mother would absolutely never allow it.
And that woman had now been transferred to Osaka.
She could no longer appear, harass, or force him whenever and wherever she pleased like before.
He could completely sever his relationship with her and return to the plain yet peaceful life he had once known.
At that thought, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved into a small, satisfied arc.
Hearing her boyfriend’s words, a wave of warmth rose in Aina Saiten’s heart.
She could feel the deep attachment and satisfaction in Kazune’s voice—a kind of inexplicable cherished feeling, as if something lost had been regained.
The faint itch from her boyfriend’s breath against her neck and the warm, gentle sensation of his touch made her feel a tingle of excitement.
She turned her head slightly, her gaze meeting Kaoru Hoshitani’s sparkling deer eyes.
Those eyes looked exceptionally clear and bright in the afternoon sun, their pupils reflecting her shadow and the shimmering light of the lake.
That gaze was filled with reliance and love for her, along with some deeper emotions she couldn’t quite read.
She looked at him quietly, and he looked back at her just as silently. Time seemed to stand still in that moment.
Everything around them became distant and blurred, leaving only the reflection of the other person in their eyes.
After a long while, Aina Saiten slowly leaned forward.
Kaoru Hoshitani also tilted his head up slightly.
Their lips met, pressing together gently and tenderly.
The kiss was very light and soft, like the brush of a feather, yet it felt like a silent promise.
The sun shone down on them while the lake shimmered. A few ducks swam leisurely in the distance.
Everything seemed so beautiful and serene, as if all the shadows had passed, leaving only the warmth and peace of the moment.
…
When the afternoon shift was about to start, the two of them had to part.
To prevent their colleagues from discovering their relationship, Kaoru Hoshitani specifically asked Aina Saiten to return to the company first.
Kaoru Hoshitani sat for another two or three minutes to create some distance before standing up, taking a deep breath, and heading toward the office.
In the office that afternoon, Kaoru Hoshitani was still alone.
The President, who was away on a business trip, had not yet returned.
In the corner, several colorful tropical fish swam leisurely in the large aquarium, occasionally chasing each other or pausing by the aquatic plants.
Kaoru Hoshitani sat on the sofa for a while, looking around.
The coffee machine sat quietly in the corner, the printer stood silently against the wall, and the pile of documents on the desk remained exactly as it had been that morning.
He thought he would have to sit there blankly again all afternoon until it was time to clock out at 5:00 PM.
However, less than half an hour later, there was a gentle knock on the office door.
“Come in.” Kaoru Hoshitani quickly sat up straight.
The door was pushed open, and Chinatsu Ayase peeked her head inside.
Seeing that Kaoru Hoshitani was the only one in the office, a faint, imperceptible glint flashed in her grey eyes before she stepped inside.
“Oh? Has Mother not come back yet?” She tilted her head, asking with feigned confusion.
Kaoru Hoshitani assumed Chinatsu Ayase was looking for the President, so he answered honestly, “The President hasn’t returned yet.”
“I see—” Chinatsu Ayase drew out the word. Then, as if exhausted, she lay down on the large sofa without the slightest hint of reservation.
She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling, her tone carrying a hint of spoiled casualness.
“Since Mother isn’t here, it should be fine if I slack off for a bit, right?”
Looking at her behavior, Kaoru Hoshitani couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
Technically, this young woman was a year or two younger than him, having only recently turned 18.
Although she always acted mature and poised at the company, this lazy and casual demeanor finally revealed a bit of the girlish aura appropriate for her age.
Looking at her, Kaoru Hoshitani suddenly thought of his own 18th birthday.
That day, Aina had held a small birthday party for him at home; there were only the two of them.
After he blew out the candles and made a wish, just as he was about to cut the cake, Aina suddenly grabbed his hand.
Her cheeks were red and her eyes were bright as she spoke.
‘Kazune, I like you. Will you be my boyfriend?’
He had been completely dazed at the time, and the cake knife almost slipped from his hand.
They had stared at each other for several seconds before he nodded blankly.
Then, Aina had lunged forward to hug him, crying and laughing all at once.
At the memory, a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on Kaoru Hoshitani’s face.
“Miss Ayase, let me go make a cup of coffee for you,” he said, standing up.
Since he was bored anyway, he could finally practice one of the only two skills he had learned after becoming a secretary.
He walked to the pantry in the corner of the office where the sophisticated, high-end coffee machine was located.
Taking a deep breath, he recalled the steps Mr. Sato had taught him that morning—first, turn on the power to preheat, then take out the coffee beans to grind, tamp the coffee powder, attach the portafilter, and press the extraction button…
He performed every step with great care, fearing he might make a mistake.
The coffee machine emitted a low hum, and a dark brown liquid slowly flowed out, filling the air with a rich aroma.
He prepared an exquisite bone china cup, poured the extracted coffee into it, and placed a few sugar cubes and a small pitcher of milk on the side.
Then, carrying the coffee, he walked back to the sofa and handed it to Chinatsu Ayase, who was still lying there.
“The coffee is ready. Miss Ayase, why don’t you try it and see how it is?”
Chinatsu Ayase sat up and took the cup. She smelled it first, then took a small sip.
The next second, her grey eyes widened instantly.
“Wow!” she let out an exaggerated cry of surprise.
“This cup of coffee is simply the best I’ve ever had in my life! Mr. Hoshitani, is this really your first time making coffee? This is too amazing!”
Her expression was as exaggerated as if she had discovered some incredible treasure, and her eyes were full of sincere praise.
“Pfft… It’s not that exaggerated.” Kaoru Hoshitani chuckled, a smile blooming on his face like the brightest spring sunshine.
He said it dismissively, but his eyes and brows were filled with the joy and shyness of being complimented.
Looking at him, a very deep light flashed in the depths of Chinatsu Ayase’s eyes, yet on the surface, she remained the picture of a lively and cute young woman.
For the next half an hour, Chinatsu Ayase sat on the sofa, drinking coffee and chatting with Kaoru Hoshitani.
She seemed to have an endless supply of interesting topics—from office gossip to funny experiences at her university, to interesting movies and books she had recently seen.
Her emotional intelligence was extremely high.
She could always keenly capture what Kaoru Hoshitani was interested in and dive deeper into the conversation.
Her words were sweet, and she always offered the right praise at the right moment, making Kaoru Hoshitani feel warm inside.
The curve of his smile never faded.
Kaoru Hoshitani found that chatting with Chinatsu Ayase was truly easy and enjoyable.
She wasn’t like Rika Kawasaki, who made him feel fear and pressure.
She was like a warm breeze, carrying just the right amount of comfort, making one unconsciously relax and want to talk more with her.
Before he knew it, more than thirty minutes had passed.
Chinatsu Ayase raised her left hand and glanced at the exquisite watch on her wrist.
Feeling that the time was right, she stood up, a trace of lingering reluctance on her face.
“Alright, I have to go back to work. If I get caught slacking off for this long, I’m doomed.”
She stuck her tongue out at Kaoru Hoshitani and made a playful face.
“I’ll find another chance to come back next time.”
“Alright…” Kaoru Hoshitani stood up, watching her walk toward the door with some reluctance.
After all, it wasn’t easy to find someone to keep him company and chat, making his boring afternoon interesting.
Now that she was leaving, he could only stay in this empty office by himself again, staring blankly at the fish.
Chinatsu Ayase reached the door and looked back at him, her gaze carrying a hint of inexplicable depth.
Then she smiled slightly, pulled the door open, and walked out.
The office door closed gently with a faint click.
Kaoru Hoshitani sat back on the sofa and looked at the large aquarium in the corner.
Several tropical fish were still swimming leisurely, occasionally chasing each other or stopping by the aquatic plants.
The sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, refracting into tiny flecks of light on the water’s surface.
He watched quietly, his gaze gradually becoming hollow as his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
He didn’t know that the pleasant half hour of chatting he just had was actually a carefully designed “chance encounter.”
Even more so, he didn’t know that he had only just escaped that yellow-haired woman’s control, only to be on the verge of falling into another woman’s trap…