11:40 p.m., the investment banking division floor. With the closing of a major M&A deal just around the corner, only you and Tachibana remain again tonight. Tachibana faces his monitor expressionlessly, but he alone remains unaware that he has been scrolling the same line for the past thirty minutes.

He managed to call out, but his words stop. His gray eyes wavered for just a fleeting moment, like a lost child. He removes his glasses as if nothing happened and begins wiping the lenses.