The winds of a new season blow ever so slightly through the branches of sleeping trees as they quietly dance under the plentiful clouds.
The weather was the same as yesterday but something about today was different. As the breeze froze his exposed nose while he walks down a lonely sidewalk, Takaro is convinced that he could almost feel the constant changing in the season.
No, he wasn't a psychic. Nor a meteorologist or even a daily newspaper reader, but for some reason he always knew the time of day, what season, and sometimes he could even narrow it down to the exact day it was.
Perhaps it was a sixth sense. A supernatural ability like one of the superheroes he sees on TV.
Takaro laughs at the thought.
"What use would a superhero with the ability to be a good weather reporter fulfill in the battlefield?" He thought to himself.
His footsteps echo through the alleys as he passes each one by on his way to work.
Today marked the beginning of a new life for Takaro. A day that he didn't wake up and immediately think about how much he regrets being alive. A day where he didn't see the face of the girl he was so convinced he killed. A day where he didn't receive another phone call from boss.
Takaro was convinced that today would be the turning point in his journey to move on from the past.
A pair of children pass him as he walks the sidewalk. Their giggles put a smile on his face as he remembers when he used to be a kid.
Instead of drinking coffee that morning, Takaro had a big cup full of nostalgia.
He reaches his workplace and places his hand on the handle of the glass door, lightly pulling it as he steps inside.
A woman at the front desk looks up from her computer screen and greets him with a smile.
She had short brown hair and square shaped glasses that sort of asserted her whole receptionist look. She had freckles that brought out the subtle green tint in her hazel eyes. She wore the typical business attire in accordance with the dress code and brown dress shoes that looked to barely fit her feet.
"Morning, Fukuoka-kun!" She beamed, giving him a small wave.
"Morning, Ashikaga-san," Takaro replied, returning the gesture.
Ashikaga turns her attention back to the desktop and grabs a notepad from a mini-shelf.
"Got any messages for me?" Takaro asked, walking up to the desk and leaning against it.
"I got a couple," Ashikaga said.
She grabs a nearby pencil and writes down a sentence or two, occasionally glancing at the monitor. After she's done, she rips the piece of paper she wrote on from the stack and hands it to Takaro.
"A message from Hayashi," she said.
Takaro holds the paper up to his face and squints at it intently.
"I have no idea what this says," he said, "Your handwriting is illegible."
"Oh give me a break!" Ashikaga said, snatching the note back from Takaro and crumpling it up, "Just meet him in his office at 10:00."
"Got it," Takaro said.
Takaro turns around and starts walking down the hall.
"Fukuoka!" Ashikaga says from behind him.
Takaro turns his head.
"Yeah?"
"Try not to be late this time."
Takaro gives Ashikaga a solid nod before turning back around.
"You know me!" He yells back, waving to her as he disappears down the hall.
Ashikaga's voice fades as Takaro heads down the narrow hallway.
When he reaches the end of the hall, he reaches a large room packed with cubicles, people, and the like.
At the back wall was Hayashi's office and standing by the door was Hayashi himself, staring Takaro down like a pitcher prepared to throw a fastball.
A silence erupts in the office as Takaro makes his entrance.
"Morning, everyone," he said, standing as prideful as he could.
The silence continues.
Takaro nods awkwardly before walking in his office and shutting the door behind him. Once he's gone, the office resumes.
Takaro plunges into his office chair and props his head up with his hands. He spins around a couple times and silently admires his little office.
Suddenly, a knock on the door makes him sit up straight.
"Come in."
The door opens, revealing a teenage girl with long orange hair. Her blouse was unbuttoned, revealing a light cleavage that attracted male eyes from around the office. She had bright green eyes that reflected the ceiling light and shiny pink lips that begged you to kiss them.
Her name was Ishikawa Ami and she was the youngest in the entire office, only working there since she graduated high school roughly a month ago.
Every guy in the office had eyes for her, but they all knew she was virtually off limits.
"Sorry to bother you, Fukuoka-san," she said, bowing her head, "I was told to meet you here before your meeting with Hayashi."
"Then you probably know already, huh?" Takaro said.
"Yeah…"
Ishikawa walks into the office and shuts the door behind her.
"I'm sorry," she said, "Do you remember what I said if we were caught?"
Takaro's head falls to face the ground.
"I pretend you forced yourself onto me and you go along with it."
Ishikawa checks behind her for any witnesses.
"Look, Takaro, we had a good run," she said, "But some things must come to an end."
Takaro looks back up at Ishikawa and shakes his head again.
"Sorry to drag you into this," he said, "I'll make sure you keep your job, Ami."
Ishikawa raises her hand and slaps Takaro.
"Didn't I tell you not to call me by my first name?" She said, pushing a loose hair behind her ear.
"Ami," Takaro pleads, "I love you."
Ishikawa averts her eyes and shakes her head.
"Don't do this to me, Takaro," she said.
"Please, Ami," he said, "Just leave with me. We can live the life you wanted to live."
"Takaro…"
"Remember that night in the hotel?" Takaro pleaded, "I promised to take us places. I swore that we would travel the world."
"Please…"
"You just need to give me some time…"
"Takaro!" Ishikawa yells, "Leave it be."
Takaro's eyes start to tear.
"Look, we all make promises we can't keep," she says, walking around the desk.
Ishikawa mounts Takaro, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I'll miss you, too," she said, "Don't forget me. Okay?"
That day marked the second to last time Takaro had sex with Ishikawa.