Prologue

The cool glass stung my finger, chilled on the other side by falling slush and winter wind. I grimaced as I started to open my umbrella, the walk to the bar short but still uncomfortable in the cold dark evening air. I hesitated, wanting to hold onto another moment of warm office atmosphere, but I knew that the others were waiting for the two of us.

“Takahashi-san!” The voice crept up on me and I nearly jumped, my enjoyment of the last bit of warmth obliterated by a rush of cold. I frantically puffed up the umbrella the rest of the way as Sato waited, a foot on the threshold, holding the door open for me. “Good work today,” he continued as I ducked past him. My lips pulled uncomfortably as my face was buffeted by the wind, and I fought to keep the umbrella in the raining sleet’s line of fire. “A few more of those and I swear there’s no way that Yama-sama will pass you on for the promotion!”

The air only felt colder as the words sunk in and I flushed slightly at the thought. “Well… I’m trying not to get my hopes too high, Sato-senpai,” I replied with an uneasy chuckle. “You’ve been pulling late nights, too, and I’m sure it hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

“Heh, yeah, yeah.” My senior gave the smallest smirk. “But don’t stress about me, I won’t offer a talented upstart like you any competition. Tell you what, let me buy you the first drink tonight.” He flashed me a smile and before I could respond, a heavy hand clapped me on the back. I stumbled forward, barely catching myself as the mountain of a man seemed to attempt to encourage me, but I swore I could feel the handprint already forming under my clothes.

The bar sat just across the street, closer than the train station or bus stop, which was a small mercy, and so was a common stop after work, familiar to the office employees. We waited in momentary silence right in front of it, only a single street separating the office and bar. The crosswalk light glared at us in bright red, easily visible in the darkness and rain, while cars whizzed by.

“So, I do really appreciate you taking me under your wing, Sato-senpai,” I commented, trying to fill what felt like a suddenly awkward silence.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah.” Sato nodded dismissively, seemingly distracted as his eyes traced along the road. “You’d make a good employee for the company,” he mumbled just loud enough for me to hear. I looked over at him in slight confusion, certain I had merely misheard him. “That one will do,” Sato further muttered.

I followed my senior’s eyes, tracing over to a white truck that appeared to almost be careening down the soaked streets, pushing to make the yellow light. And just as I locked eyes on it, following its reckless pace, a now familiar hand again pressed into my back. I could offer no resistance, unexpectant and unprepared, as it lacked the restraint I now realized it held earlier. I stumbled, losing my balance. My umbrella went flying, ripped away by the wind, as I fell face first in front of the truck, the last sound I heard being the failing squealing of its brakes.