"Oh, look who's here."

Part 1

Chikage I’m home.

Masumi

… *Sigh* Yeah, welcome back.

Chikage

… ?

________________________________

Chikage

Hey, I’m back.

Itaru

Senpai, good job at work. Especially this late into the night.

Chikage

What’s up with Masumi? He was going around looking like the world was about to end.

Itaru

Perceptive as always. That’s cuz director had to go on a trip overseas, which is like a rare limited time event.

Chikage

So that’s why.

I’m going on a business trip the day after tomorrow too, now that I think about it.

Itaru

Wow, talk about a coincidence. Is it gonna be a morning flight? I got a meeting near there, want a ride?

Chikage

Thanks for the offer, but it’s fine. It’s a late-night return flight. I’ll just take a cab.

Itaru

Gotcha.

Izumi

Here we go… Hah. This suitcase is so hard to wheel. Guess cheap stuff are cheap for a reason.

Ah. Chikage-san, you’re back.

Chikage

Yup, I am. That luggage’s pretty huge. You’re going abroad, I hear?

Izumi

Pretty much. I’m getting all ready for it now. It was so sudden so now I’m scrambling all over the place.

You’re really something, Chikage-san. Even when you go on unprompted business trips, you’re always so smart with it. Like you just get it done without a hitch, don’t you?

Chikage

Well, you get used to it. How long’s the trip gonna last?

Izumi

It’s gonna be a 3-day trip at the start of the week.

Chikage Then you’ll be back the same day as me.

Itaru

Director, do you need someone to come pick you up?

Izumi

No, I’m all good. My ETA back is around early evening, so I’ll book an airport limousine bus.

Chikage

You sure are being smart with it.

Izumi

Is that your shot at a compliment?

Chikage

Sure is. Securing a way to-and-fro is important when you’re traveling far.

Izumi

Oh, right. Chikage-san, what do you do to pass time on the plane? I’ve been wondering ‘cause it’s been a while since my last long-haul flight.

Chikage

Not much, really. It’s either I work, or… maybe read a book, I suppose.

Izumi

A book… that sounds great, actually! Maybe I’ll buy something tomorrow.

Itaru If you’re heading there anyway, why not party up with senpai? You two probably got totally different tastes, could be an interesting book trip.

Izumi You’re right… If it’s okay, I’d love to go with you, Chikage-san.

Chikage

Of course. It has to be after work but let’s meet up and go there together. ________________________________

Chikage

So, do you have anything particular in mind, director? Izumi

Hmm… not really. I thought maybe I’d go look for a romance novel.

Chikage

Why a romance novel?

Izumi

Just feels like something that’s easy to get into. How about you, Chikage-san?

Chikage

Hmm… I’d say mystery?

Izumi

You phrase it like a question.

Chikage

I mean… anything works, really… as long as it’s not a romance novel.

Izumi

You say anything works and yet there’s an exception.

Chikage

Not that I can’t read them. But it’s just in our nature to avoid things we’re not good at. You’d wanna avoid investment books or business articles too, right? Izumi

It’s not that I can’t read them either, but… fair point?

Chikage

Exactly.

PART 2

Bookshop owner

If you’re having a hard time picking, why not give this a shot?

Izumi

Um, is this… for gifts?

Bookshop owner

It’s a blind book. The cover’s all hidden under the wrapping paper, so you won’t know the title or synopsis.

You buy and it’s a surprise waiting for you.

Chikage

Hm… you see these overseas often. I didn’t know we had these in Japan too.

But, these blind books don’t even have a single hint or recommendation notes.

Izumi

Hints?

Chikage

As an example, some at least have author names written on them with “For fans of this author.” Or there’d be keywords, or the kinds of mood the content has.

Izumi

Ohh! But yeah, now that you mention it, there’s none of those on these…

Bookshop owner

The only hints you’ll get from my blind books are the book thickness and color of the wrapping paper. I thought that people are more likely to stumble into the kind of books they normally wouldn’t pick this way. Chikage

Talk about a gamble. What’s your move?

Izumi It sounds fun…! I’ll choose from these, I think.

Bookshop owner

Take your time.

Izumi

Oh, since we’re here already, why don’t we pick a book for each other?

Chikage

Now I didn’t say all that about this selection, but… well, it’s not like I had anything in mind anyway, so sure.

Let me take full responsibility on my choice for yours.

________________________________

Chikage

—Director, have you made up your mind?

Izumi

Mhm. How about you, Chikage-san?

Chikage

I have.

Izumi

Okay, let’s do a reveal on a count of three. Ready… go!

Chikage

Blue gradient wrapping… What made you pick this out?

Izumi

It had that mystery novel kinda feel, y’know? And Chikage-san, you picked out a pink and purple gradient for mine. Chikage

Felt like a romance novel vibe. Can’t guarantee what’s inside is gonna match, who knows.

Izumi

Hehe, true. Alright, I’ll go on and pay for this. Thanks for choosing mine!

Chikage

Same here.

Izumi

Ah, oh yeah!

Chikage

There’s more?

Izumi

When we finish these, if we like them, wanna swap? I’m curious about what’s in the one I picked out for you, too.

Chikage

… Sure thing. As long as it isn’t a romance novel, that is.

Izumi

Aww. ________________________________

Chikage

(All right, let’s see what’s in here…)

(The title is “The Blue Hour Whispers Your Name”) (Blue hour… the time after sunset and just before sunrise, when the sky is dyed a deep blue…)

… I see.

(So it’s an anthology series themed around that blue hour.)

(I’ve read some of these before, but it’d be interesting to go back to them with this in mind.)

… Though there are a few autobiographical I-novels mixed in here, they aren’t my kind of thing, but it’s better than a romance novel. *Director, on a different plane.*

Izumi

Oh, wow…! I knew it, Chikage-san!

(A romance fiction anthology, perfect for this stylish and pretty wrapping. But… I wonder what this title means.)

(Right, I’m on Airplane mode. I’ll look it up later, let’s dive into this for now)

PART 3

Chikage

(——I sent my luggage ahead to the dorm, so I’ll just take a cab back.)

(As for tuning in after the trip… It’s already late, I’ll just send a LIME text to Spring Troupe and——)

Izumi

—Ah! Chikage-saaan!

Chikage

… Director? I thought you were back on the evening flight?

Izumi

I was, but my flight got delayed. I arrived just a while ago.

Chikage

It must’ve been rough for you. Welcome home.

Izumi

Ahaha. But I figured since it was gonna be late, you’d probably arrive around the same time. I thought we might as well go back together.

Chikage

I could get behind that. Should we head to the taxi bay, then?

Izumi

Wow… the queue is so long, even this late at night…

Chikage

Looks like other flights were delayed too like yours. Maybe we should’ve summoned Chigasaki regardless of the hour.

Izumi

Should we just join the queue?

Chikage

Hmm…

If we wait a bit, we can take the first train ride of the day. That might actually be faster. Let’s grab some coffee somewhere until then.

Izumi

Sounds like a plan.

Chikage

Hand it over.

Izumi

Huh? Chikage

Your luggage.

Izumi

It’s all good, you have your own bags too… wait, actually, where is your luggage?

Chikage

Had it delivered. Easier that way.

Izumi

Figures, this is your thing.

Chikage

Now you know, so hand it over already. With how you’re wrestling with that suitcase, the first train would’ve gone and went before we even make it to the cafe.

Izumi

I’m not that bad! Ah— Chikage-san, wait up!

________________________________

Izumi

It’s just the two of us in here.

Chikage

Probably because everyone else is waiting for a taxi.

Izumi

Could be, if you hadn’t told me about the first train, I probably would’ve queued too… Speaking of which, did you get to finish the book?

Chikage

Around 80%, but work kept me busier than I thought it would, I couldn’t exactly finish it entirely. Did you?

Izumi Yup! I was completely hooked, read the whole thing.

Chikage

So it must’ve been a romance novel.

Izumi

All thanks to you. You sure know your stuff, Chikage-san!

Chikage

Just a lucky guess.

Izumi Hnn…

Chikage

You can go to sleep if you want, it’s okay.

[ Option 1: I couldn’t ]

Izumi I really couldn’t do that. I’m the one that invited you to come back with me. Chikage … If you’d rather not have me see you asleep, we can get separate cars. Izumi Not that I mind, but… I feel like that would make it harder to sleep.

[ Option 2: Aren’t you tired? ]

Izumi Aren’t you tired, Chikage-san? Chikage Not particularly. I’m used to coming back on late-night flights from overseas trips. Izumi Is that how it is? Chikage Exactly how it is. If I hadn’t run into you, I’d probably be working inside a taxi on the way home.

Chikage

I can just read the rest of the book while you rest.

Izumi

Okay… I’ll take you up on that.

Chikage

Director? I thought you were gonna sleep.

Izumi

I am. But I feel like I’d bother you if I sat next to you, so I’ll be over here.

Chikage

Facing each other feels more distracting, but do as you wish.

Izumi

(…Hm? I can hear someone’s voice)

Chikage ………

Izumi

(It’s Chikage-san, but… maybe it’s because he’s speaking in a foreign language, but his voice sounds different from the usual Chikage-san—)

Chikage

Rise and shine. Are you awake?

Izumi

(There he is… the Chikage-san I know.) (The one from just a moment ago—that must’ve been him in the middle of work he has to keep quiet about.)

Did I sleep for a while?

Chikage

Not too long, but we’re almost at our stop, so it’s best to wake up now.

Izumi

Did you finish the book?

Chikage

Yeah, it’s decent, I suppose. A bunch of dark and moody themes, I don’t think you’d like them, director.

Izumi

Is that so… what’s the title, by the way?

Chikage

Here.

Izumi

“The Blue Hour Whispers Your Name.” Blue Hour?

Chikage

It’s exactly just like now. Night turning into day, day turning to night. That time in-between when light and dark blur together.

Izumi

… It’s kind of like you, Chikage-san.

Chikage

Me?

Izumi

Ah, well… you have a different face when you’re outside MANKAI Company, right? To me, you’re still you no matter what. But… sometimes I wonder which Chikage-san I’m facing.

Chikage

……… Izumi

(Like just earlier, when he was on the phone in a language I don’t recognize…)

Chikage

… I get it. You’re right, that does sound like me.

So, you wanna read it? My book.

Izumi

Mm… only if you read mine in return.

Chikage

“The Gaze of the Venus Belt.”

… Blue hour and Venus belt.* Talk about a match by chance.

Izumi

Do you know what the Venus belt is, Chikage-san?

I wanted to look up the title, but I was so sucked in while reading it that I completely forgot.

I thought I’d figure it out by the time I finished, but the story never described it anywhere.

Chikage

Hm… This kind of thing is more fun when you figure it out yourself.

Izumi

Aww… Okay, I’ll look into it.

Chikage

… Here, it’s dark and can be hard to understand—my Blue Hour.

Izumi

… Then here’s mine, the Venus belt that heals with its warmth and loving affection.

Chikage

Very well said. For someone who doesn’t even know what a Venus belt is.

Izumi

Oh, come on… it’s a romance novel, but please make sure to read it properly! Let’s make a pinky promise.

Chikage

Alright, alright.

Izumi

It’s a promise, okay!

Chikage

More importantly, it’s time to get off now.

Izumi

… Huh? Oh! We’re already at the station! Come on, hurry, Chikage-san!

*Director scurries ahead.*

Chikage

… If I’m the Blue hour, then that might just make you my Venus belt.

Story Clear!

———T/Ns:———

The Belt of Venus is the anti-twilight arch or the soft pink-purple blurry band that appears in the sky opposite the sun during blue hour, which is just above the shadow of the earth. Blue hour and the Venus belt are a joint phenomena that always appear together at dawn and dusk, one dark (Blue Hour) and one glowing warmly above it (Venus Belt.)

this is my first full render work made using csp 5.0 and it's such a blessing.... I can edit colors & liquify on multiple layers, the file size with timelapse record on only reaches 100mb-ish (usually it takes up to 1gb), and smart shape saved a ton of time lining

but the setback I mentioned above is that I had to start all over again when I only had 2 days left. why? because I accidentally made it too similar to banri's bd card 😭

I WAS ALREADY SO FAR IN THE LINING-

this is how it's supposed to look like. I set (?) the 3d models myself with some ideas/references from pinterest without even thinking to check other cards first. it's only waaay later when I looked for outfit reference from the others when I found this out 😭🔫

I consulted a friend and they said it's fine, it's an honest mistake, but I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. what if it'll come across as tracing or heavy referencing? I decided to play it safe and just remake it, knowing I needed to sacrifice details/quality because I had to speedrun it in two days

still, I end up liking the new version o)-( altho I probably over detailed the cakes lol

also the typography behind is my failed attempt on using affinity ehehe 🤸‍♀️ the masking selection was horrible and my laptop almost exploded just from running it so maybe I'll just try using csp, as insane as it sounds

anyway, I'm glad to live long enough to witness another birthdaykage! thank you for existing and making my worst time so far much more bearable. even just looking at the moon gives me reassurance because of you, chikage 😊

I̶'̶m̶ ̶h̶a̶p̶p̶y̶ ̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶w̶a̶t̶c̶h̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶g̶r̶o̶w̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶o̶w̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶s̶e̶l̶f̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶l̶o̶v̶e̶d̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶