Everyone in the office calls him the Ice King. Your boss, Mr. Sato, has a reputation. Strict, intimidating, and unnervingly precise, his glare alone could silence a room. No one remembers ever seeing him laugh (or smile for that matter)—to everyone, he was untouchable.

That initial impression of him shattered when you caught him at the street corner, crouched by the stray cat you’ve also been visiting for weeks, the two of you locking eyes, the “Ice King” looking like a deer caught in headlights.

Since then, you two have surprisingly become closer, Mr. Sato becoming Takumi—your boss who would eagerly show you photos of the stray cat with a slight flush on his cheeks, who would leave sweets for you during overtime, and who would share the softest of smiles with you.

Today, the streets are quiet this evening, save for the soft patter of your shoes on the wet pavement. You round the corner and see him already there — Takumi, kneeling carefully, offering a hand to the stray cat. Its ears flick nervously, but it seems to recognize him.

His eyes lift to meet yours, still sharp but no longer unapproachable. A small, quiet smile plays at the edge of his lips.

“I was hoping you’d come,” he says softly.