THE CONVERSATION I WAS NEVER MEANT TO HEAR

“Please don’t hit me, Kageya-kun…!”
Hit her?
Why would I?
I let my expression harden.
“Why wouldn’t I?”“Don’t you understand how important this project is to me?”
“I know, Kageya-kun…”“But if I made that mistake, it could have caused problems for many people.”
“I don’t care about all that.”
I stepped closer.
“There’s only one thing I care about.”
“You need to somehow extend the music project.”
“So that Hikari stays here longer.”
“I’ll try…”
“But if it causes problems for the people involved in this project—”
“Oh.”
I laughed quietly.
“So you’re thinking about other people now?”
Then I leaned down slightly.
“Should I remind you of something?”“That bug incident last year.”
“The one that caused huge damage to our company.”
“I could report the person responsible to the president.”
Rei’s legs trembled.
Tears spilled from her eyes.
“Please…”
“I’ll do whatever you say.”
“I’ll do the work for you.”
“But please don’t tell anyone about that incident.”
“It will destroy me.”“It will destroy my family.”
“Please, Kageya-kun…”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
I smiled.
Then laughed softly.
A laugh with no warmth.
“Good job.”
“Now you understand.”
“I must extend this work.”
“I must make sure Hikari falls in love with me.”
“And after that, I’ll marry her.”
“Once that happens, I’ll be free from all this work.”
“I’ll become a celebrity.”
I continued coldly.
“I’ve been planning all of this since the day I joined this company.”
“When Hikari became famous, I knew it was her.”
“And I knew she would eventually come to me.”
“Because I would be the project manager.”
“It was perfect.”
I looked straight at Rei.
“So make sure it works, Hoshino.”
“And don’t you dare tell anyone about this.”
“I won’t.”“I promise.”
“Please don’t tell anyone about the bug incident.”
“Don’t worry.”
“As long as you do what I say…”
“Your secret is safe.”
---
What… did I just hear…?
Hikari stood frozen on the other side of the door.
Is this really the Sato I know?Hitting someone…Blackmailing her…Setting a trap… for me…?
---
Her vision blurred.
Tears streamed down her face.
She covered her mouth to stop herself from crying out.
Her hand struck the door by accident.
Bang—
“Who’s there?”“Who is listening?”
Oh no—
He knows I’m here.
I have to go.
---
Hikari ran.
Her footsteps echoed through the corridor.
---
“I checked.”
“Hikari has left.”
“We can drop the act now.”
I turned to Rei.
“Hoshino… sorry if you got hurt.”
“I wasn’t hurt at all, Kageya-kun.”
She smiled weakly.
“Thank you.”
“You did a great job.”
“Kageya-kun…”
She noticed my face.
“You’re crying.”
“Oh.”
I wiped my eyes.
“These aren’t tears of sadness.”
“They’re tears of happiness.”
“Hikari is free now.”
“Free from someone like me.”
“Someone who would only become a burden to her.”
“Please calm yourself.”
“You’ve put too much stress on yourself.”
---
Meanwhile....
“Hey, Hikari-san!”
Sora’s voice called out.
“Why are you in such a panic?”
“Oh—”
“I was just lost.”
“I was searching for Kageya.”
“But… are you crying?”
“And did you just say ‘Kageya’ instead of ‘Sato’?”
“Oh no…”
“This isn’t crying.”
“It’s just sweat.”
“And I only said Kageya because everyone here calls him that.”
“I see…”
“Sorry for the inconvenience.”
“I’ll search for him.”
“Please get some rest.”
“You look really tired.”
“Oh…”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll go to Mei-san.”
---
I know you were crying, Hikari-san.
And I know why you said his name.
It wasn’t habit.
It was because your heart was breaking.
But don’t worry.
If this misunderstanding hurts you…
Hoshino and I will fix it.
We’ll make everything normal again.
---
Later
“Hikari.”
“You don’t look well.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing, Mei-san.”
“I was just lost while moving around the building.”
“That’s fine.”
“I’ve finished my calls.”
“Let’s go back to the recording room.”
“…No.”
“I’m not feeling well.”
“I think we should go home and continue the work another day.”
“…Alright.”
“I’ll inform Mr. Kageya—”
“No!”
Mei paused.
“…Hikari?”
“Why did you react like that?”
“I was just calling Mr. Kageya.”
“Umm…”
“Nothing.”
“I just heard something else.”
“Something other than Sato’s name.”
“…Alright.”
“I’ll tell Mr. Kageya that we’re leaving for today.”
---
A Few Moments Later
“Oh, Hikari.”
“Are you not feeling well?”
“It’s nothing, Sato.”
“Just fatigue from the last few days.”
“I’ll be fine tomorrow.”
“No need to worry.”
“I see.”
“Since you’re leaving early today…”
“You may need to come for two extra days.”
“Please manage that.”
“Oh…”
“No problem.”
“Mei-san will arrange it.”
“Mei-san.”
“Please adjust the schedule and inform me.”
“Of course, Mr. Kageya.”
“Bye, Sato.”
“And… thank you for today.”
“Bye, Hikari.”
---
Hikari and Mei left.
---
“She might be heartbroken after what she heard.”
“She might feel deceived.”
“But I don’t think she’ll be completely broken.”
Sora looked at me.
“…Are you really okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“Shut up.”
“Go back to work, Sora.”
---
Hikari…
I’m sorry for making you cry.I’m sorry for deceiving you.
It’s all for your sake.
So why…
Why does it feel like I did something unforgivable?
---
Meanwhile — inside the car..
“Hikari.”
“Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes.”
“A little.”
---
What I heard between Sato and that girl…
It felt real.
But something was wrong.
It felt… staged.
Like it was meant for me to hear.
I need to find the truth.
Which Sato is real?
The one I knew…
Or the one I heard today?
---
TO BE CONTINUED