Department Chief Oki returned from visiting his wife, who had fallen seriously ill, looking weak and strangely lonely. He confessed to me, "I may have unknowingly started seeking comfort from you, Mari." His words gripped my heart, and while I sympathized with his loneliness, I felt confused about my own emotions. That night, he seized a fleeting moment and forced himself on me. Afterward, tormented by guilt, I continued to give in to his desires. Unable to confide in my husband, my relationship with Oki deepened each day. On the seventh night, I chose to surrender myself to him completely. That night, our bond evolved into something entirely new.