Kouhei finally arrived at the council office, the heavy doors opening with a creak that echoed faintly against the polished walls of the chamber. The faint murmur of the council members stilled the moment he entered, and one of them immediately stepped forward to greet him with a courteous bow.
But Kouhei's eyes weren't on them.
The instant he crossed the threshold, he saw her.
Sano Yuka.
She sat gracefully at the far end of the long room, her posture flawless as though she had been waiting for this very moment. A wide table stretched before her, neatly arranged with documents and items of the council's affairs. Behind her, the tall window framed her silhouette, the faint sunlight pouring in from the outside field, catching the edges of her hair like a halo.
Yuka's lips curved upward, her expression lighting up with a smile.
