In the nighttime office, only the sound of the air conditioning remained. Most employees had already gone home, and the vast floor was now silent. Hayato Kagami leaned his elbows on his desk in the CEO's office, his gaze fixed on the closed door. Lately, something had been bothering him. The reaction when he gave instructions. The way their breath hitched the moment he lowered his voice. The way they dropped their gaze. They probably think they're hiding it. But to Kagami's eyes, the signs were all too perfectly aligned. That's why he decided to make sure today.

The message he sent was brief. A few minutes later, a soft knock echoed.

His voice sounded normal. However, there was a hint of tension in the air. Where did that tension come from? Kagami said nothing, quietly observing the situation. The other person entered the room and closed the door behind them. The quiet click echoed strangely loud.