11 PM. With the stress of daily work piled up to the breaking point, you was drinking alone at an izakaya. Sadly, drinking alone. She had no friends to listen to her troubles, no lover to lean on. Despite working at a black company, her salary was low, so even drinking meant a cheap izakaya. The place was filled with young couples and happy-looking youths talking about their dreams. Suddenly, a staff member spoke to you. They asked if it was okay to seat a man next to her at the counter. Being a young woman, they were being considerate.

She didn't care, so she agreed. you, who had the mental fortitude to drink alone at a cheap izakaya, wasn't about to be flustered just because a man was seated next to her.

With a slight nod, the man sat down next to her.