19:12
Tokyo's night sky shimmered under a dazzling canopy of neon lights.
A calm yet vibrant evening.
Orange glows spilled from shop windows along the bustling commercial street, dancing with the shadows of passersby on the paved roads.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hayato-kun!"
Yoko Okino's bright, cheerful voice brought a smile to Hayato Masaki's face.
They'd agreed to meet in a quiet alley.
With no one around, Yoko slipped off her sunglasses and mask.
She looked stunning as always.
Her chestnut hair was styled meticulously, her expressive face lightly flushed.
Was it a deliberate disguise?
The white blouse and black OL skirt combo screamed polished office worker, her shapely legs wrapped in black pantyhose, utterly captivating.
"It's from a drama shoot," Yoko said, catching his surprise. "What do you think, Hayato-kun?"
"A little too gorgeous, Yoko."
"…You're exaggerating."
She laughed, shyly hunching her shoulders.
Noticing his smile, she asked, "So, where to now?"
"Gotta fill our stomachs first, right?"
"…Yeah."
Yoko was admittedly hungry.
They stepped out of the alley, Yoko keeping her head low as she put her mask and sunglasses back on.
A hat would've been safer, but she'd spent extra time on her hair today…
Hayato Masaki walked beside her.
No hand-holding.
No talking.
Yoko stayed slightly bowed, wary of being recognized. Her voice was distinctive, so chatting freely wasn't an option.
Suddenly, Hayato Masaki grabbed her hand.
"Red light," he said gently.
Yoko nodded.
Behind her sunglasses, her eyes lingered on his hand—broader, warmer than she'd imagined.
Early summer in June was already heating up.
Pedestrians moved briskly, less leisurely than in cooler weather.
The crosswalk filled with people waiting at the red light.
When the crowd surged forward, Yoko realized the light had changed faster than she'd expected… but Hayato-kun was still holding her hand.
"What kind of food do you usually like?" he asked.
"…Maybe yakiniku or sukiyaki."
"Because you don't get to eat them often?"
"Exactly."
As expected of Hayato-kun.
A faint smile crept beneath Yoko's mask.
Truthfully, she wasn't craving those tonight—grilled meat or hotpot would cling to her clothes and hair.
"What about you, Hayato-kun?"
"Me? Probably McDonald's breakfast menu."
"Huh?"
Yoko was genuinely shocked.
"Surprised?"
"A bit. You seem like the type who'd dine at fancy Western restaurants…"
"I do, sometimes," Hayato Masaki said with a grin.
With people around, Yoko held her mask slightly, muffling her voice. He found it kind of amusing.
As they strolled, they spontaneously decided on sushi.
—Conveyor belt sushi.
"I've always wanted to try a place like this," Yoko said.
"Then let's go in."
"Alright."
Hayato Masaki noticed the restaurant's counter had partitions, offering privacy—a plus for them.
The food was just okay.
He wasn't big on raw fish, sticking mostly to cooked sushi options.
Yoko, though, was thrilled to check it off her list.
"I had no idea conveyor belt places had gacha machines," she said.
"Not exactly common knowledge," he replied.
Leaving the restaurant, he took her hand again, the gesture feeling effortless, natural.
Yoko's heart fluttered.
He glanced at his watch. "Not even eight yet. Plenty of time."
"Yeah."
"Oh, I forgot to ask—long day at work. You tired?"
"Not at all. Today's scenes were light, and I even napped this afternoon."
"Sounds nice."
"What about you, Hayato-kun?"
"Me? Checked out the office, got a new passbook, then spent the rest of the day looking forward to this date."
"…"
His smile caught her off guard, and Yoko held her breath.
Even with sunglasses, she couldn't meet his eyes.
A brief silence fell.
But it wasn't awkward.
They kept walking.
Yoko started noticing their steps, realizing they were out of sync. She paused subtly, adjusting to match his stride.
Hayato Masaki noticed.
"…"
"…"
"The office you mentioned—was that for the detective agency?" she asked.
"Yup. Got people working on the sign and lightbox this afternoon. If they're quick, it'll be up by tomorrow."
"Nice. Oh, speaking of…"
"Hm?"
"The next drama I'm lined up for—heard the director's planning to hire a pro detective as a consultant for the plot and scenes."
"Really?"
Yoko shared a bit about the show.
A mystery drama—detective stuff had mass appeal in this world.
Hayato Masaki figured it was worth considering.
He needed more fame, more clout. Lately, Gin's texts kept pushing him to "handle" people.
Even securing the office was part of Gin's plan—to free up Hayato Masaki's schedule for Organization work.
Tch. Workaholic wants everyone else to be one too.
"Hayato-kun, do you like cats?"
Yoko's question came as they passed a cat café.
"Cats? Yeah, I'd say I like them."
He answered, then noticed her gaze lingering on the café's glass window. "Wanna go in?"
"…I'm not sure."
"Hm?"
"They seem cute, but I've never really been around them…"
Yoko hesitated.
As a famous idol, her agency and manager were paranoid about her getting scratched or hurt, so animals were mostly off-limits.
"Then let's check it out," Hayato Masaki said with a smile.
"Eh…?"
"It's fine. I've got you."
He gently tugged her hand toward the café. After a moment's pause, Yoko followed.
***
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