One day, in the capital. A man called Kazuma Miyamoto continues his life as an employee in a company.
He works as an analyst. He has to analyze the company's growth, employment conditions, etc.
He is a common and straight man. Even in a situation where he could wear anything he likes, he will still wear plain light blue colored shirts and light-brown pants, except in formal conditions.
So, that day. As usual, the office gives a feeling of pressure due to its plain color. It's not the moment where everyone can't even smile or talk. But, it feels like everyone is trying to hide something as they talk.
Their profiles change every time they stop talking. They change their face from smiley faces to gloomy ones. Well, it's natural since they're serious about their work. Except, they seem can't talk to each other as there's no time for it.
None of them are even trying to say anything besides work-related things. One can say it's a good thing. Or maybe, is it?
According to the annual report about companies in Japan, the company is acclaimed as one of the best companies that work in dedication. It's written in the record that the employees are very dedicated to their success. So, the company has collected more than hundreds of honors for its achievements.
Then, why all the employees are so serious about working there? As the analyst, Kazuma has all the data he needs for the answer. The experiences he has with the company will also lead to it.
Kazuma works in a room that is near the center of the building. So, there's almost no window there. Even if there's one, it won't show any sunlight or something.
He is placed there due to his importance. There are other analysts, the ones who analyze different things, and several people from other fields.
At the moment, he has to analyze the latest employees' thoughts on the company. They conducted a survey last week, and now the company has the data they need.
The data will be distributed later to be worked by different workers. There were many questions in the survey, including their experiences, accidents, harassment, the future of the company, etc.
The questions were provided by the government in order to monitor and prevent the growth of so-called 'black companies'
His job now is to analyze the data that has been collected. He then will compare it with the other data. The result will be the comparison and trends. So the company can predict the best strategy in the future, as well as fulfilling the government's orders.
Then, Kazuma starts his work. He has worked as an analyst for more than eight years and five years in the company. So, it's an easy task for him. He already knew all the steps and who he has worked with as there's been no change in position in the last two years.
He has his own steps to work. He will get done the tasks he can do alone first. He will ask his co-workers later, even if it's very necessary. But, he will proceed to ask them if they are talking or asking him.
Additional to his communication style, he will ask his co-workers, not in order of importance but in order of their absences. He knows well all of their daily schedules. He even writes it in a note he placed near his computer.
It's normal for an employee to have a different schedule than usual. To keep track, he always asks about his co-workers' schedules during the day.
He only asks the one which potentially will be needed by him. There are usually eleven to twenty workers that he asked. He writes it on the same note as before, so he will not forget it.
Just like it's said before, the task is easy. So, it was he who thought everything written in the previous paragraphs in his head. He often narrates something on his mind while working with easy tasks.
In that easy task, he finds the most troubling thing. He needs some data. He has to ask one of his female co-workers called Yuki Satō.
"Following his habit, Kazuma, the analyst, stops his work due to the inevitable wall. Letting his co-worker, Yuki focuses on his work. Kazuma tries to find some entertainment on his computer," Says Kazuma to himself as it's the most common thing he does.
"Evading problems that may occur, he decides not to do it. He pretends to be busy and just sees his monitor while keeping to make some imagination on his head," Says him, pretending it's a cool thing.
Suddenly, Yuki comes to him to ask about something. She brings her chair there and approaches him. Realizing it, he stops his imagination and sees her eyes.
Yuki: Seeing your monitor meaninglessly again, huh? Have many times will you keep doing that?
Kazuma: (Whispering) How about we stop talking about it and prevent problems will occur? (Normal voice) By the way, I need your help again this time.
Yuki: I mean. We have been working together since five years ago. Don't you think I know your habit?
Kazuma: ...
Yuki: You know, that habit, where you need help from someone, but instead of asking the person, you just endlessly do something meaningless until the person seems not to be busy.
Kazuma: Well...
Yuki: C'mon! You should expect that someone will eventually know your habit! Besides, you always ask everyone you need about their schedules. It's just strange, you know.
Because of the conversation, everyone starts to see both of them. It seems they are worried about something related to that. Yet, nobody says a word and just continues their job while watching them.
As she feels enormous pressure, she changes her mind and moves the conversation to another topic.
Yuki: What could I do for you?
Kazuma: Well, I just need some data and information from your computer.
Yuki: (Whispering) We continue that talk later. (Normal voice) Which data do you need?
After getting the data and information he needs, he continues doing his work. While Yuki also does the same thing. They are sweaty after the conversation. Several times, they look at each other.
Then, their boss 'M' comes there with a serious face. "I heard a conversation and noisy voices for more than two minutes. I have the right to know the contents and the reason behind it!"
Everyone is surprised by his sudden visit. Shinsuke Kimura, the man in charge of the room, stands up to answer his question.
"There were several conversations in succession. So it was both noisy and long. We are working at a job that needs teamwork," Says him while using several gestures respecting his position.
'M' the boss seems to understand the reason. He then walks to see their works. Then, he approaches Kazuma.
M: (While grasping his shoulder) I know we can trust you on this work. There's no need to worry. You're safe as so we.
Kazuma: Yes, I understand.
M: Good, keep up the great work!
Everyone looks at them as if they know what the thing their boss trusts him.
He then leaves after thinking that they are working while meeting the standards. Everyone then says a greeting to him.
It's unknown what the boss is trusting him. So, it maybe can be looked at on his computer screen.
Well, it's obvious that one can see data and information on the screen. But, there's one interesting there. He is working on two questionnaires. Usually, a company only needs one survey for such data.
He only opened the second survey for a while. All of them were the same. There's one place where it's different. The first survey stated it's for the company and government, while the other stated it's for the company's growth.
Kazuma then looks back at his schedule. It's written there that he has to work on the first one, while he can do the second one tomorrow.
Looking at his face and eyes, it seems Kazuma has returned to his imagination mode. As always, he moves his hands move skillfully to complete the work.
Later, at night. All the work has been done already. Everyone starts to tidy their stuff up. Yet, there's no sound at all. Everyone seems to be tired.
Suddenly, Shinsuke comes there to tell them one piece of information. "Due to some changes, we will work overtime tonight, again," says him calmly.
Quickly, they rearrange their stuff and start to turn on their computers.
"Our task is to continue the work on the second survey. 20% of completion is our goal tonight. We can expect that we will come home at 11 PM. We will get the overtime salary, so there's no worry," says him in a higher tone, while it seems he still has much energy left for work.
As everyone starts working, Yuki opens his phone and texts something. It's a message for Kazuma. She asks him if he doesn't mind meeting her even after 11 PM. He texted back telling her he was okay with her request.
After that, he opens the second one. There are many differences between them. The one that stands out is the points.
So, the survey will ask the employees how they will score the company on several aspects. There are colors to represent the score.
Using the standard, green shows a good score, while the color red represents a low score. All the scores in the first one are green, but oppositely for the second one.
Then, he opens the statistics that show the comparations from year to year. Same as before, the first one and its predecessor are positive, but the second one and its predecessor are negative.
Since the data are anonymous, he cannot know which answers are who's. He then opens his answers. Unlike the others or the majority, he answers positively on both sides.
He later looks at the trends. It tells that the answers for the first one are getting better, while the second is getting worsen.
Due to his skill, he can complete the job at 10 PM. And yes, since it's teamwork. It also means all of them have done the work already.
Yet, everyone still sits there as if they still have any works left. Even Shinsuke does the same thing.
Ten minutes later, 'M' comes back to check them. Somehow, he seems to had a party before. He looks very drunk there.
Instead of telling him the truth, they just pretend to be working on something else. Without any suspicions, he only tells them they are doing a good job and leaves.
After that, everyone seems to be continuing their work. Nobody looks at each other or things like that.
Finally, their shifts are over. Calmly, they pick their stuff up and clean everything they can. Then, they formally leave the office.
Under the moonlight, Kazuma waits for her in the park. It's very silent there, especially to think that he's in the world's most populous city.
He consumes several snacks and drinks while waiting for her. He looks around him and sees nothing but the green color of plants. He opens his smartphone occasionally.
The watch tells it's 11:30 PM already. He has done eating all of his snacks. There's no sign of her coming.
He is not even sleepy at the time. For a reason, his looks don't show that he's in his imagination mode. He just stared at the night in emptiness.
He then decides to talk for a walk. As he gets farther, he hears a crying voice of a girl. He then walks closer to the sound.
He tries to walk, but he tries not to make any sounds. As he gets closer, he can see a girl figure on the other side of the park.
He then finds the girl crying while sitting in the park. He seems to be scared to approach her. But, to make everything sure, he starts to take more steps closer.