I first met Reiko, an acquaintance of my wife, at a home party my wife had insisted I attend. At the party, Reiko stood out as a gentle, calm woman, completely different from my wife. Though I wasn't enthusiastic at first, I found myself drawn in by her kindness and decided to participate. From the moment we met, I was captivated by her warmth and elegant demeanor, and after that, I couldn't stop thinking about her. One day, I accidentally ended up carrying her belongings home. She thanked me on the spot and invited me in for tea. My heart started racing when she mentioned my wife would be working late. Noticing I was sweating, she kindly offered me a spare shirt to change into. As we chatted, I sensed a shift in her—once I began changing, she seemed distant, as if her mind had wandered elsewhere. Thinking it best to leave, I headed for the door, but realized I'd forgotten my things and turned back. I called out lightly at the entrance, stepping inside, only to find her gone. Then, from deeper in the house, I heard her voice. Quietly moving toward the sound, I found her alone, lost in thought, as if caught in some private longing.