Chapter 7: A Smile That I Never Seen

With a sigh that carried a tinge of resignation, I came to the conclusion that it was time to make my way to the café. Despite my dedicated efforts, my search for job openings related to design or the arts had been fruitless. It was possible that my focus hadn't been entirely on the task, or maybe the opportunities in the field were scarce at the moment. Nevertheless, the afternoon was still young, and I reminded myself that my primary goal wasn't to work side by side with Hiroshi. While I had genuinely tried my best, it appeared that there were no suitable positions available.

As I strolled along, a refreshing and gentle breeze brushed against my skin, offering a momentary relief from the warmth of the day. Sunlight danced through the leaves of the trees, casting playful shadows across the pavement.

With Uncle Toshiro's promised update about the vacant apartment in mind, my thoughts wandered. What kind of apartment could it be? I mused, considering the possibilities. Hiroshi's apartment, where I currently was staying, wasn't too bad. It might be compact, but it was well-arranged and welcoming. It felt strange to contemplate moving to a new place when I had only just started getting used to this one.

I was getting close to the café when I spotted Hiroshi, seemingly heading in the same direction. "Hiroshi!" I called out to him, but it appeared he hadn't heard me. Frowning slightly, I watched him curiously. Who was the woman he was talking to? As he turned in my direction, I quickly sidestepped behind a post, a sudden instinct prompting me to hide. Why was I hiding? The question echoed in my mind as I observed Hiroshi's interaction from my hidden vantage point.

He seemed engrossed in conversation with the woman, his attention solely on her. A pang of unease stirred within me, a feeling I couldn't quite decipher. Despite my confusion, I couldn't bring myself to step out from my hiding spot. Hiroshi turned back toward the woman, and I strained to catch their words from a distance.

Though I couldn't hear their conversation clearly, I could see that Hiroshi was smiling—a smile I had never seen before. It was a smile that held an unfamiliar warmth and genuineness. I couldn't quite grasp the significance of that smile, but a peculiar sensation gnawed at me. Why was he smiling like that, and why did it affect me in such a way?

As Hiroshi continued to talk with the woman, my heart raced inexplicably. I felt a mixture of emotions—curiosity, jealousy, and a tinge of something else I couldn't define. Part of me wanted to approach and join their conversation, but another part hesitated, uncertain about intruding on whatever connection they had.

Eventually, Hiroshi turned away from the woman, his attention momentarily elsewhere. It was my chance to escape from my hiding spot without drawing attention. As I walked back toward the café, I couldn't help but replay Hiroshi's smile in my mind. There was something about that smile, about the genuine happiness it conveyed, that made me question my own emotions and the complexities of our sc.

Lost in my thoughts, I was brought back to reality when Hiroshi called my name. I quickly put on a smile, attempting to appear as though I hadn't been preoccupied. "Hiroshi, how was your investigation?" I inquired, doing my best to maintain a facade of normalcy.

"Are you heading to the café?" Hiroshi countered, steering the conversation in a different direction.

"Yes," I replied, falling into step beside him.

"Let's walk there together. I can fill you in on the investigation along the way," Hiroshi suggested.

As we walked, Hiroshi began recounting the details of his investigation. "It's about a murder case," he began, his tone grave.

Murder. The word hung in the air, sending a chill down my spine. "Who was the victim?" I asked, my curiosity piqued despite the unsettling subject.

Hiroshi's response caught me off guard. "It's a case where a husband was caught cheating on his wife, and the wife ended up murdering him last night."

Cheating. The word echoed in my mind, and suddenly the memory of Hiroshi talking to the woman earlier flashed before my eyes. My heart clenched as I considered the implications. But then again, it wasn't truly cheating; after all, we were just playing roles, acting out a scenario that wasn't real.

"Hanako?" Hiroshi's voice broke through my reverie, and I realized he was looking at me with concern. "Are you okay?"

I blinked, startled by his question. "Y-yes?" I stammered, attempting to gather my thoughts. "I was just... thinking about the situation. Why would the husband cheat on his wife, and why couldn't the wife forgive him? I mean, they both promised to love each other..."

Hiroshi regarded me with a thoughtful expression before he began to speak, his words carrying a weight of wisdom. "I wish I had all the answers. Relationships are incredibly complex. While vows and promises hold significant meaning, life has a way of testing even the strongest bonds. People make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes can have devastating consequences. As for cheating, well, it's often not just about physical attraction. Emotions, desires, external pressures—these things can all play a part. And forgiveness... it's a fragile thing. Trust once broken can be difficult to mend. It's not always about the willingness to forgive, but also about whether both parties can find a way to heal and move forward."

"True," I murmured, my gaze fixed on the ground as we walked.

Hiroshi's eyes held a mixture of empathy and understanding as he looked at me. "We never truly know the struggles that exist behind closed doors, Hanako. Each relationship is a unique journey with its own challenges and triumphs. It's a reminder that appearances can be deceiving."

His words resonated with me, causing a strange mixture of emotions to stir within me. It was as if his insight into relationships had touched a chord deep within my own thoughts and feelings. I couldn't help but wonder if our pretend engagement was a reflection of those complexities he described, albeit in an unconventional way.

"By the way, Hanako, how did your job search go?" Hiroshi's gaze seemed expectant, as if he were already aware of the outcome.

I let out a sigh, my shoulders slumping slightly. "I did my best to find a new job, but unfortunately, it didn't go well. There weren't any suitable openings for me."

Hiroshi's expression remained composed, but a glint of satisfaction sparkled in his eyes, as if he had foreseen this result. "Life often has its own way of guiding us, even when our plans don't go as intended."

Raising an eyebrow, I couldn't help but be intrigued by his response. "What do you mean?"

He looked ahead, his gaze focused on the path before us. "Sometimes, what we desire may not always align with what's destined for us. In such situations, we must adapt and discover new paths."

His words resonated within me, and I pondered their implications. "So, are you suggesting that I should apply to your police headquarters?"

Hiroshi's lips curved into a gentle smile. "It's just a thought. But if you're open to the idea, it might be worth considering. Life often presents us with unexpected opportunities."

As we continued walking, I couldn't shake the feeling that Hiroshi's words held a deeper significance. The memory of his smile with the woman from earlier lingered in my thoughts. Yet, his perspective on adapting to life's changes struck a chord within me.

"Well, I'll strive to secure a job so that we can work together… I mean, work together for the sake of our act to make it more convincing, right?" I stammered, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks.

Hiroshi's attention was on me, his eyes inviting and reassuring. I could feel my heart quickening, making it difficult to maintain direct eye contact. To avoid my nervousness, I looked down, still feeling the image of him smiling at that woman haunting my thoughts. I couldn't bring myself to ask who she was.

"Yes, by working at the same place and headquarters, our act will certainly gain more credibility," Hiroshi replied with a reassuring smile, seemingly unaffected by my momentary lapse.

As we arrived at the café, a gentle chime welcomed us. Hiroshi's friends, including Kazuki, Takuya, Ryo, and Haruki, greeted us warmly upon our entrance. Their friendly faces brought a sense of familiarity and comfort to the situation.