Chapter 3
A Toast to the Unexpected

A sake, please, she said to the barman.

I ordered another whisky, aware of how singular this encounter was. There was something in her gaze, a depth I could not fathom.

Our glasses arrived. I raised mine. What shall we drink to?

She tilted her head slightly, her calm gaze anchored in mine. To unexpected encounters?

Our glasses clinked. The alcohol warmed my throat.

What brings you to a place like this? she asked, her composed voice contrasting with the bustle of the bar.

I glanced toward Hiro and the others. Friends. But I'm not very good at group evenings.

Her laugh, light and sincere, surprised me. And you? I went on.

I am looking for a little calm. A slight hesitation in her voice, as if she were weighing her words.

My gaze drifted to a free chess table not far away. Do you play?

That was when she really smiled for the first time. The change was striking, as if a light had come on. Sometimes. Japanese chess.

Shōgi. I could not hide a hint of disappointment. A fascinating game.

She turned to face me fully, her attention suddenly complete. And you, what do you do for a living?

The question caught me off guard. My daily life suddenly seemed dull, insignificant before this woman. Her eyes stayed fixed on me, waiting for an answer I struggled to put into words.