That night, the sky over Tokyo was draped in a thin layer of gray clouds.
Streetlights cast soft yellow streaks across the quiet apartment courtyard, blurring gently against the tiled ground.
A cold night breeze slipped through Takahashi's collar, making him shiver slightly.
He dragged his feet down the long, empty corridor, the sound of his shoes echoing against the wooden floor.
Each step felt heavy—like it carried the weight of the afternoon's disappointment with it.
Takahashi (sighing hoarsely):
"Where… is she now…?"
The image of Chihiro's empty apartment room still haunted him.
They had only just grown a little closer… and yet she vanished as if she had never existed.
He raised his key and slid it into the lock—
And at that exact moment—
Click.
The sound was soft, but at such close range, it exploded inside his head.
Slowly, Takahashi turned to his right.
And—
The door to the neighboring apartment opened.
Long brown hair, smooth and flowing, a few strands resting against her shoulder.
Brown eyes reflecting the ceiling light.
A face slightly tired—yet quietly beautiful.
Chihiro.
She turned toward him as well, her eyes widening in disbelief.
They stood less than a meter apart, yet it felt as though years separated them.
Chihiro:
"E—ehhh…?"
They stared at each other.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
No one spoke.
Then—
They shouted almost simultaneously:
"Why are you / Why are you here!?"
The sudden confusion made Takahashi step back instinctively, while Chihiro gripped the strap of her bag tightly, as if in self-defense.
Just then, the apartment landlady came up from the stairwell, smiling brightly.
Landlady:
"Oh? You two know each other? That's wonderful. Chihiro just rented this room today."
Chihiro stiffened.
Takahashi froze like a statue.
Takahashi:
"...…"
He turned fully toward Chihiro, forcing himself to act normal despite his ears burning red.
Takahashi:
"Ah—right! Chihiro! I came to return the—"
BAM!!
Chihiro slammed the door shut so hard the wall trembled.
The corridor fell silent.
Outside the window, a dry leaf drifted past, as if laughing at him.
Takahashi (murmuring):
"…It's just a lunch box."
His voice was barely louder than the wind.
---
INSIDE CHIHIRO'S ROOM
The moment the door closed, Chihiro remained frozen in place.
Her back pressed against the door, legs weak.
Her breathing was fast and shallow, heat rising to her face.
She placed a hand over her chest—her heart was pounding as if it might burst free.
Chihiro (whispering, trembling):
"Why… did it have to be such a coincidence…"
She slid down onto the floor, knees pulled to her chest.
Her long dark hair fell forward, hiding half of her flushed face.
Chihiro:
"I… I can't even look at him properly."
No matter how tangled her thoughts were, images of Takahashi from last night kept replaying in her mind—
his worried expression, his shy voice, the way he gently called her name…
She clenched the hem of her shirt tightly, as if her chest were tightening along with it.
Chihiro:
"No. Calm down…"
She took a deep breath—
but the more she breathed, the faster her heart raced.
She knew she was avoiding him.
But why she was avoiding him… even she couldn't fully understand.
---
THE CORRIDOR – TAKAHASHI
Takahashi stood hesitantly in front of Chihiro's door.
He knocked lightly.
Takahashi:
"I… I'll leave your lunch box here. Please take it when you have time."
No response.
Only the steady hum of the apartment's ventilation fan.
He placed the lunch box on the floor, straightening it carefully—
as if even the slightest tilt might throw his heart off balance.
Then he returned to his own room, shoulders slumped.
---
INSIDE TAKAHASHI'S ROOM
He collapsed onto the bed, covering his face with one hand.
Takahashi:
"She was fine this morning… so why is she avoiding me like the plague now…?"
He rolled onto his side.
Takahashi:
"Could it be because of last night…?"
Suddenly, the image of Chihiro's sweat-dampened face, her hazy eyes, her trembling breaths surfaced vividly in his mind.
Takahashi (face burning):
"A—!! Stop thinking about it!!"
He shot upright and lightly slapped his own cheeks.
Takahashi:
"I need a shower. My head's really not right…"
---
CHIHIRO'S ROOM – AFTER HER SHOWER
Steam still clung to her neck, her long hair damp and soft against her shoulders.
Wearing loose pajamas, she walked toward the bed like someone lost in thought.
She picked up her phone.
And unconsciously opened her photo album.
Scroll…
Scroll…
Until an old photo appeared—one taken back in high school.
In the picture, she stood beside a skinny boy with slightly messy hair but a strangely warm smile.
Takahashi—back then.
He looked straight into the camera, while she tilted her head slightly away, shy and reserved.
Just one small photo—
yet memories flooded back like a wave.
---
FLASHBACK – HIGH SCHOOL
The school's back courtyard.
Soft orange sunlight brushed against their shoulders.
Seventeen-year-old Takahashi stood before her, gripping his schoolbag strap tightly.
Takahashi (trembling):
"I… I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Clumsy words—
but so sincere they almost made her cry.
Chihiro remembered the feeling clearly:
her chest tightening, bitterness filling her mouth.
She liked him too—just a little, faint and uncertain.
But she had never known how to accept feelings like that.
She lowered her head.
Chihiro:
"…I'm sorry."
The wind stirred the hem of her skirt.
Takahashi stood there, unmoving, for a long time.
---
BACK TO THE PRESENT
Chihiro set the phone down and clenched her hands.
Chihiro:
"Why… did I want to help him?"
She took a deep breath.
Chihiro:
"Was it because I hurt him back then… so now I want to make up for it…?"
But the emotions growing inside her—
were nothing like a simple sense of "atonement."
She opened the door.
Right outside, her lunch box had been washed, dried, and placed neatly in front of her room.
The hallway light reflected off it, making it look like an unspoken message.
Chihiro bent down and gently touched it.
Chihiro (whispering):
"He really… hasn't changed."
---
THE NEXT MORNING
Takahashi stepped out to go to work, only to find Chihiro's door already closed, the lights inside turned off.
Takahashi:
"She left early… for what, I wonder…"
He suddenly recalled what the bar owner had said—Chihiro was applying for jobs.
Takahashi:
"I hope she finds a place that suits her…"
He tightened his grip on his bag and hurried off.
---
SEIKO COMPANY
The office atmosphere that morning was serious yet calm.
Sunlight streamed through the glass windows onto Takahashi's desk.
He worked as usual, though his movements were slower, his eyes occasionally clouded with sadness.
Naomi approached and placed a stack of documents on his desk.
Naomi:
"Boss Takahashi, you don't look very well. You even have dark circles."
Takahashi (startled):
"Ah… I'm fine. Just… dealing with something."
Naomi:
"What kind of something?"
Takahashi (waving his hands hurriedly):
"No, no, it's nothing serious. Don't worry."
Naomi gave him a suspicious look, then left.
Takahashi sighed and opened the new batch of application files.
Takahashi:
"These resumes today are pretty impressive…"
He flipped through them one by one.
His eyes scanned the information, experience, qualifications.
Then—
He stopped.
His hand trembled slightly.
The file slipped from his grasp and landed on the desk with a soft thud.
On the first page, bold letters read:
Name: Mizuno Chihiro
Position Applied For: Marketing Department Staff — his department.
Takahashi's eyes widened, his heart pounding wildly.
Takahashi:
"C—Chihiro…?!!!!"
---
End of Chapter 4
---