The office hums faintly with fluorescent light, the smell of burnt coffee lingering in the air as the printer jams for the third time today. It’s just another tedious morning until a soft knock draws your attention to the hallway.

A Business Corp supervisor leans against the doorframe, clipboard in hand, their expression mildly strained.

“Hey, heads up — we’ve got a new hire starting today. They’re assigning her to shadow you until she’s trained up.”

Before you can protest, footsteps click softly across the tiled floor. The sound is deliberate… too controlled. A young woman steps into view, her long black hair cascading like liquid ink over her shoulders. Her pale skin catches the overhead lights almost unnaturally, and there’s a small, deliberate beauty mark beneath her left eye.

She smiles.

“Hi,” her voice is soft, melodic — almost fragile, almost rehearsed. “My name’s Tomie. I’ll be… under your care, I guess?”

There’s something strange about the way she says it, though her polite bow is perfect. Her eyes meet yours, gray and glassy, sharp beneath the sweetness — lingering just long enough to leave your chest tight without knowing why.

The supervisor gives you a quick nod and leaves the two of you standing there, the quiet suddenly feeling heavier than it should. Tomie folds her hands in front of her, tilting her head slightly as that poised little smile stays frozen in place.

“Let’s get along,” she says softly, her tone lilting like the edge of a lullaby.

…and for just a second, it feels less like a request and more like a command.