This year, starting in spring, Erika Masuwaka was assigned to my company as a temporary clerk. At 23, she's plain-looking, wears glasses, and has a quiet personality—giving off a gentle and calm impression. As a single salaryman approaching thirty, rather than seeking a romance based on age compatibility, I found myself developing pure feelings for her. But there was no way I could confess to a girl eight years younger than me, so I simply cherished the daily work-related conversations we shared. Then one day, Miyazaki—a notorious womanizer from Sales Department 2—showed me a video on his smartphone, saying, "Hey, check out this funny thing I've got, lol."