The company tour had given Moriko a glimpse into Mariko's busy and successful professional life. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and admiration for her younger twin, recognizing the dedication and hard work that had led to Mariko's achievements.
Despite her lingering doubts about Yuki and the security situation, Moriko decided not to burden her sister with her concerns. She knew that Mariko had an upcoming event and wanted her to focus on that without any distractions.
Finally, the company tour came to an end, darkness had settled outside the Nexus building. Most of the employees had already left for the day, seeking the comfort of their homes. However, inside the boardroom, Mariko and her high-ranked subordinates remained deep in discussion about the upcoming event. Moriko, though present, found herself disinterested in the meeting's proceedings.
The voices of Mariko and her colleagues echoed in the boardroom, discussing the details and logistics of the event. Moriko, seated among them, let her mind wander, perhaps reflecting on the events of the day or her own concerns regarding the stalking incident and her newfound responsibilities.
Despite the important matters being discussed, Moriko couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment from the meeting, her thoughts straying elsewhere as she waited for an opportunity to excuse herself from the room.
She then ventured outside for a quick smoke, only to realize that it might not be the best idea for her sister's image, given their identical appearance. She decided to head back inside, mindful of avoiding any unnecessary rumors or complications.
As Moriko made her way to the company's canteen and pantry, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Her instincts kicked in, and she carefully surveyed her surroundings. She noticed a man who was attempting to avert his gaze, but Moriko's quick reflexes had already caught him in the act.
Moriko turned her attention to the man and spoke assertively, addressing his impolite behavior.
"Hey, didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to stare at people, especially when you're trying to do it discreetly from behind?"
Her words were straightforward and unapologetic, challenging the man who had been watching her to explain himself or back down from his intrusive scrutiny.
The man, caught off guard by Moriko's confrontation, took a moment to process the situation. He quickly realized his mistake and offered an apology, explaining his reason for staring at her. His explanation left Moriko both amazed and somewhat amused.
"I'm sorry; I was staring because you look so much like someone I know. I thought you were a doppelganger or something."
Moriko couldn't help but find the situation intriguing. It was not the first time someone had mistaken her for Mariko's twin, and she had come to expect it. As the man recalled that the Nexus CEO had a twin sister, he extended a friendly gesture, offering to buy her a drink from the nearby vending machine.
"What about I get you a drink as a gesture of my apology? Also, you looked like you were searching for change in your pocket."
Moriko, appreciating the offer and finding the encounter less tense than she initially thought, decided to accept.
"Sure, that would be great. Thanks for the offer."
Kenji Hisatomi, the man who had been staring at Moriko earlier, wasted no time and took out some coins from his coat's pocket. He politely asked her to choose a drink, to which Moriko replied that any option would be fine. As he was about to insert the coins, he noticed something unusual about the vending machine and apologized, explaining that it required two employees to tap their IDs at the same time to function properly.
Moriko found the vending machine's operation interesting but became curious about why Kenji didn't have an ID. She regarded him with some doubt, prompting him to clarify that he wasn't an employee of Nexus. Kenji introduced himself as the CEO of Parasol Affinity, the company working with Nexus. However, Moriko still seemed skeptical.
Kenji, eager to establish his identity, offered to prove it, but Moriko stopped him, showing a willingness to let the matter slide. She simply requested that he get her a drink. Kenji breathed a sigh of relief and suggested that they sit at one of the nearby tables. He excused himself momentarily to make a phone call.
After speaking on the phone, Kenji returned to Moriko and explained that he had asked his assistant to bring snacks for them. As they waited for their snacks to arrive, Moriko took the opportunity to ask Kenji why he wasn't in the boardroom with the rest of the team. Kenji explained that his scheduled meeting with Mariko was not until the next hour, so he had arrived early and decided to explore the canteen in the meantime.
Seemingly satisfied with his answer, Moriko nodded her in agreement and kept silent.
Noticing Moriko's silence, Kenji then began asking her questions, inquiring about her profession and expressing surprise that he had only met her today.
"Your name is Moriko, right? I just remembered now. Again, my apologies. If you don't mind me asking, how come this is the first time I'm seeing you around? I'm shocked that everyone just found out about you today."
Moriko, now more at ease with the situation, decided to engage in the conversation, answering Kenji's questions as she awaited her drink.
"I'm not surprised; I'm usually not around here. And as for my profession, let's just say I'm a jack of all trades, but today, I'm just here to support Mari, my younger sister."
Kenji's eyes gleamed with a hint of curiosity and interest as Moriko described herself as a jack of all trades. He couldn't help but find her intriguing.
"A jack of all trades, huh? Now, I'm really curious, Miss Moriko."
Kenji's remark reflected his genuine interest in learning more about Moriko, who had suddenly appeared in the Nexus scene, bringing an air of mystery with her. He appreciated the support she offered her sister from the shadows, recognizing that while Mariko basked in the limelight and fame, Moriko remained in the background, allowing her sister to shine brightly.
"I must say, it's admirable how you support your sister without seeking the spotlight yourself. It's not often you see such selflessness in this world." Kenji added, his tone was appreciative of Moriko.
Moriko chuckled softly at Kenji's compliments but downplayed her actions, considering them simply what a good sibling should do. She then extended her question to Kenji, asking if he would do the same for his siblings, though she quickly apologized for making the assumption about his family.
"You're giving me too much credit, Kenji. It's just what any good sibling would do, right? Although, I hope I didn't presume too much by assuming you have siblings."
Kenji's brief flash of anger was unnoticed by Moriko as he replied, stating that he did not have any siblings, and thus, he couldn't provide a firsthand perspective on sibling relationships.
Before Moriko could respond, their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Kenji's assistant carrying a box of goods and a tray of drinks. Kenji welcomed their meal with enthusiasm, signaling that their discussion would be temporarily set aside in favor of sharing a meal together.
"Ah, our meal has arrived. Let's enjoy it, shall we?"