The next morning, just as promised, I arrived at the building's lobby at nine.
"...You're early."
It was 8:55 AM when Hise-san showed up, almost at the same time as me. As usual, she wore a neatly tailored suit and looked at me with that perfectly composed expression of hers.
"Good morning, Hise-san."
"Good morning. Let's go."
Our conversation was brief. But for some reason, I felt like her voice was a little softer than yesterday.
We took a taxi and visited several wedding venues around Tokyo.
The first stop was a banquet hall at a famous hotel. The ceiling stretched high above us, and the classic chandelier sparkled like a cluster of stars definitely the centerpiece of the room.
"What do you think?" she asked, standing beside me with her hands calmly folded in front of her.
"Umm… the audio system is great, and the guest flow seems smooth too."
"Hmm."
Our second destination was a Japanese-style location with a serene garden. Natural light flooded the space, painting it with the quiet beauty of all four seasons.
"And from an architectural point of view?"
"The wooden beam structure is amazing. It really blends well with the garden. I think it'd be perfect for photos."
"You're surprisingly observant."
"...Eh?"
"Yesterday, I honestly didn't expect much from you. But it turns out you're actually taking this seriously."
I could've sworn she smiled just a little.
Around midday, after leaving the third venue, she suddenly said,
"Let's stop by a café."
"Eh? O-Okay, sure."
We ended up at a small café tucked away on a quiet street. Maybe because it was a weekday, the place was calm and peaceful, with only a couple of customers.
We took our seats by the window, ordered some coffee, and sat in silence for a moment. Then, while gazing out the window, she suddenly asked:
"Arita-kun. Do you believe in love?"
"...Eh?"
The question came so abruptly that it took me a few seconds to process it.
"Love. Affection. Marriage. Do you believe in all that?"
"Umm… well… I'd like to believe in it."
"What a sweet answer."
"...What do you mean?"
"People betray easily. Promises can disappear like they were never made."
"You mean…"
"That's why I don't believe in love. If I get too caught up in emotions, it'll mess with my work."
She lifted her cup and took a slow sip of coffee.
But… I couldn't help feeling like she was forcing herself to sound indifferent.
"But… you help couples find happiness every day, don't you?"
"That's my job. Whether I believe in it or not, my role is to make their dreams come true."
"...That sounds kind of… sad."
She didn't respond.
A quiet stillness fell between us. Then she slowly took a breath.
"...There was someone I loved once. Someone very important to me. We were engaged. We even picked out the venue together. Everything was perfect."
"…"
"But then, it all fell apart. He cheated on me… with my best friend. After that, I stopped believing in emotions."
Her tone remained calm, but I could hear the subtle tremor in her voice like a ripple running beneath still water.
I couldn't say anything. All I could hear was the sound of our coffee slowly going cold.
"I'm talking too much. Just forget it."
When we left the café, she was back to her usual self cool and composed.
"...But, I still want to believe."
"Huh?"
"Love… affection… that there's someone out there we can truly trust. I think that's something beautiful."
"...You're still young."
She gave me a small smile. Her face looked a little lonely, but somehow, also gentler than before.
There was still a wound in her heart one that hadn't healed.
And I realized… I wanted to get to know her better.
We continued our schedule after the café, visiting a few more venues, but the air between us had subtly changed.
She wasn't as cold as before. And I found myself stealing glances at her when she wasn't looking.
She was always composed. Professional. But now, I knew there was something fragile beneath that exterior.
After the last appointment, the sun was already dipping toward the horizon.
"I think we've seen enough for today," she said, checking her schedule on her tablet.
"Yeah…"
She looked at me.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Just… today was more emotional than I expected."
"Because of what I said?"
"A bit. But also… I think I just understand you a little better now."
"You shouldn't try to. People like me are better kept at a distance."
"I don't think so."
She blinked.
"I think… you're strong. Stronger than you realize."
"...That's a strange thing to say."
"It's true. Even after what happened, you didn't run away from your work. You help others find happiness even if you've been hurt yourself. That's strength."
She didn't reply right away. For a moment, I thought she'd dismiss my words.
But instead, she looked away… and muttered softly:
"...You're strange, Arita-kun."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No. Just… unexpected."
We stood in silence on the street as people passed us by. The sky was painted in hues of orange and violet.
"Do you have someone you like?" she asked suddenly.
"Wha uh… why do you ask?"
"Just curious."
I scratched my cheek, feeling my heart beat faster.
"...Maybe. But I don't really understand it myself yet."
"I see."
"Do you?"
"I don't know. I buried that part of me a long time ago."
"But it's still there, right? Somewhere inside you?"
She smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
There was a quiet pause.
Then she turned toward me, her eyes sharp but not unkind.
"If one day… I start to believe again, it'll probably be because of someone annoyingly honest like you."
I froze. My brain scrambled for a response.
"Th-That sounds like a lot of responsibility."
"It is. So be careful."
She walked ahead, her heels clicking softly against the pavement.
And in that moment, I realized something:
This wasn't just work anymore.
Something had begun to change between us.
And I was both terrified… and excited to see where it would lead.