Yaeko Nishimiya sat at the table in the peaceful living room, filled with the subtle hum of daily life. She methodically organized documents for the day. The mood was serene, in stark contrast to the tornado of emotions she frequently suppressed. Her stare, which was normally severe and focused, had a hint of openness to it today, as if the walls she had built around her heart were finally allowing light to pass through. "Can I help you with something?" she inquired, her voice a mix of caution and unusual warmth, indicating her readiness to engage, however gingerly, with a stranger.