The metallic chime of the elevator echoed softly in the quiet hallway as Sora waited, hands gently clasped around her bag's strap, eyes watching the glowing floor numbers descend. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, the soft tap of her heel the only sound accompanying the ticking of time.
Ding.
The doors slid open—not to the ground floor yet, but the Procurement floor.
Hasegawa stepped in, his tall figure immediately filling the space. His neatly ironed shirt, sleeves buttoned sharp at the wrist, carried the faint scent of cologne and the cool, subtle aura he always wore like a second skin.
Sora instinctively straightened her posture, offering a small, polite nod. The air inside the elevator turned hushed, the kind of silence that hummed faintly with unspoken thoughts.
They both faced forward, eyes fixed on the changing numbers, until Hasegawa spoke, his voice calm yet edged with something unreadable:
"You and Morikita-san… look close, don't you?"
Though his lips carried a small smile, his tone stayed firm, the kind of voice he used when he wanted his words to sit heavy between them.
Sora's fingers fidgeted slightly on the strap, her smile a little nervous but genuine. "Ah… it's not like that. I just don't want Morikita-san to feel too awkward in a new environment. He doesn't know anyone here."
No, he knows someone.
But Hasegawa didn't say it out. He simply kept his eyes forward, standing there with an unreadable expression as the numbers ticked down.
Ding.
The ground floor.
The doors slid open, and Hasegawa stepped out first, his long strides unhurried but steady. Sora followed, keeping a modest gap between them as they exited the building into the cool evening air.
Outside, the streetlights cast soft pools of light onto the pavement. The buzz of traffic in the distance mixed with the occasional murmur of coworkers heading off in pairs or groups.
As they walked toward the train station, Sora heard Hasegawa's voice, smooth yet carrying a thin undercurrent of weight:
"People are talking."
She blinked, confused, and hurried a few steps to catch up beside him. "Eh… what do you mean?"
Without glancing at her, Hasegawa continued walking, hands casually in his pockets, his eyes on the dark street ahead. "You know how they are. People love to talk—especially about things they think they see. That includes how close you've been with Morikita-san."
Sora puffed her cheeks slightly, brows furrowing. "But… there's nothing wrong with talking to colleagues. I haven't done anything wrong."
Hasegawa didn't respond to that. Instead, his next words slid in quietly, "Did you ever tell Morikita-san about us?"
Sora gave a small shake of her head. "No… I haven't mentioned your name. But... Morikita-san knows I'm seeing someone."
Hasegawa's footsteps slowed, and for a brief moment, he glanced over his shoulder, his sharp hazel eyes cutting toward her. Sora flinched just slightly under the look, the air between them tightening. But almost as soon as it came, he looked away and resumed his pace.
"…Even if you didn't say who, why tell him at all?"
Sora's chest tightened. She fiddled with her fingers, glancing down as she walked. "H-Hasegawa-san… are you mad at me?"
A small, low chuckle floated back to her. "No, I'm not mad."
He turned his head just a little, smiling faintly over his shoulder. "Were you afraid Morikita-san might fall for you?"
The playful edge in his voice caught her off guard. She stumbled in her step, cheeks warming.
"Uh, no... I just thought—"
But Hasegawa's next words carried more weight. "You know… when I see you two talking like that, laughing together, seeing Morikita-san smiling at you… it makes me uneasy."
Sora came to a halt on the sidewalk, her brows drawn, mouth parting in surprise.
Hasegawa stopped too, turning back slightly, his brow lifting in mild surprise at her sudden stop.
Sora bit her lip and dipped her head a little, guilt lining her voice. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to make you feel that way. There's nothing between Morikita-san and me. He's just… my neighbor."
Hasegawa's eyes widened, his face visibly shocked. "…Neighbor?"
She gave a small, nervous nod. "Y-Yes… Morikita-san just moved in next door recently. He even gave me some amaou strawberries. Didn't you read the message I sent you about that?"
For a moment, Hasegawa was speechless, his lips pressing together tightly, the muscles in his jaw shifting slightly as he bit his lower lip. His thoughts tangled, his feelings a chaotic knot he didn't quite know how to voice.
Sora noticed the shift in his face and stepped forward hesitantly. "Hasegawa-san… are you okay?"
He quickly cleared his throat, straightening his shoulders, his usual composure sliding back into place.
"…It'd probably be a bad idea for me to visit your apartment again." His voice was light but tinged with something else, maybe frustration or maybe just resignation.
Without waiting for her reply, Hasegawa turned and walked ahead, his figure tall and composed under the dim city lights, leaving Sora standing for a brief moment before she hurried to catch up.