The faint hum of the office air purifier was drowned out by the soft crackle of burning tobacco. A thin veil of smoke hung in the company's designated smoking lounge, blurring the fluorescent lights overhead.
Minato Sato leaned back against the wall, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a half-burnt cigarette between his fingers. His brow was furrowed, eyes fixed somewhere on the floor tiles.
"Hmmm… that should have gotten to us by now," Minato muttered, exhaling slowly. "I don't understand…"
Across from him, a tall, hot-figured woman in a tailored skirt suit slid a cigarette between her painted lips. Her black heels clicked softly on the tiled floor as she shifted her weight.
Kimura Rina. Older than Mizuki, younger than the section heads—and known for speaking her mind. She lit her cigarette with a slow flick of a gold lighter, inhaling deeply before releasing the smoke in a thin, controlled stream.
"Sato-san," she said with a low, steady voice, "I know why this is happening."
Minato glanced at her, waiting.
"Mizuki-san did a fantastic job on the proposal and presentation. Funds were distributed exactly where they needed to be. But…" — she tapped the ash neatly into the tray — "When you have a culture of promotion based on affairs, it's bound to happen. I can easily point out ten men in this company who are brilliant at their jobs but will never advance—because they can't warm the beds of their seniors."
Minato gave a slow nod, dragging from his cigarette. "I agree with you, Kimura-san… But it's not just here. It's a worldwide thing. Where there's power and money, sex follows."
Kimura's lips curved slightly—not quite a smile, more of a knowing acknowledgment. She took another drag before speaking again. "I agree. Even I… did it when I was new." Her tone was casual, as if she were discussing the weather. "But this much? I don't think it happens anywhere else at this scale."
Minato let out a humorless chuckle, blowing smoke toward the ceiling. "Hmmm."
The door to the smoking room slid open with a faint click. A gust of cooler air entered, carrying with it the faint scent of cologne.
Kenji Yamamoto stepped in, cigarette already between his fingers, a lighter in the other. His eyes scanned the room briefly before settling on the two of them.
"Talking politics again?" Yamamoto asked, smirking as he lit up.
Kimura glanced at him with her usual measured expression. Minato, however, remained leaning against the wall, his cigarette slowly burning down to the filter.
"Ahhh, Yamamoto," Minato said as the door swung open, "nothing serious—we were just talking about the proposal. They haven't responded yet."
"Hmmm," Yamamoto exhaled a slow stream of smoke, "I read it. Pretty solid."
Kimura flicked ash into the tray. "Yeah, I checked it before we sent it to the deputy manager in finance. Mizuki-san did a very good job."
Yamamoto smirked, eyes scanning the room like he was checking for bugs. "Did she?"
Kimura frowned. "The proposal was good, yes. What are you implying?"
Taking another drag, Yamamoto looked at Minato. "Sato-san… You're too busy with work to notice anything around here. Not just politics. You're so oblivious you don't even realize two or three women in this department are in love with you."
Kimura rolled her eyes. "Not the time for jokes, Yamamoto."
"My bad," he said, tone light—but his eyes still sharp. "But about the proposal… I heard Hara-san actually made it. And somehow, it ended up with Mizuki's name on it."
Minato's brow tightened. "That's impossible. I assigned her—"
"There's no need to guess," Kimura cut in. "Everyone knows how she got the credit."
Minato froze. "Wait… are you saying…?"
Yamamoto tapped ash off his cigarette. "Hara's a decent guy. Too decent. Married to that quiet woman with glasses—remember, from the company onsen trip last year? He's the type who swallows it and moves on. But he's not blind."
"That poor guy," Minato muttered, still not quite believing.
Kimura gave a half-smile that didn't reach her eyes. "In this office, Sato-san, talent doesn't always matter. Beds are warmer than meeting rooms."
The smoke hung heavy between them, and for the first time Minato noticed it was hard to breathe.
Yamamoto leaned back against the wall, smoke curling lazily from his lips."Well… that's just how this place works. You learn to live with it." He gave a wry smile, stubbed out his cigarette, and glanced at Minato. "Anyway, I've got a call in five. See you two later."
"Yeah, later," Minato replied.
As Yamamoto stepped out, the room felt noticeably quieter. Minato stood, stretching his arms until his shoulders popped. "See you later, Kimura."
Kimura, still leaning against the counter, pulled a pack of mint gum from her pocket. She unwrapped a piece, popped it into her mouth, and chewed slowly. "Sato-san… you want to grab something to eat after the office?"
He glanced at his watch. "Sure. I'll just tell my wife."
Kimura nodded with a faint smile, the scent of mint mixing with the lingering tobacco haze. Minato left the smoking room, and the door clicked shut behind him.