Volume 1
Chapter 1: A one-sided fateful encounter (Part 6)
● The Tsundere Office Lady Gets Broken ●○●
Is there even a point to being alive?
Lately, that’s all I, Seira Mochizuki, can think about.
I graduated university and got a job. My school wasn’t top-tier, but it was decent enough that job hunting went pretty smoothly.
Back in university, I had fun messing around with my girlfriends. Looking back, I think I enjoyed it more than most.
I had a boyfriend… or at least, I thought I did.
The more I think about it, the more I realize he was an absolute nightmare.
“Sigh… I wanna die.”
“Hey, Seira, what if the section chief hears you…!”
“Sorry…”
Another day, another stare-down with my computer. If it were just me and the work, I’d be fine.
The problem is my boss.
And not just any boss—the one I’m stuck in the same room with all day.
“Hey, Mochizuki-san? Didn’t I tell you to add the company name here and here on those documents I gave you earlier? It’s not there.”
“Uh… no, I checked with you, and you said it wasn’t needed…”
“Huh? I never said that. You must’ve misheard me.”
“…”
Every single day. What’s the point of living just to get chewed out by this petty, spiteful little section chief?
“Ugh, seriously. No wonder guys dump you when you keep screwing up like that!”
“…Ugh.”
Murderous intent claws at my throat, but I choke it back with iron willpower. Her loud voice draws whispers from around the room.
“Wait, Mochizuki-san got dumped?”
“That was last year, like a month after she started here. Apparently, the guy didn’t even think they were dating.”
“What? That’s awful.”
It’s exhausting. I silently return to my seat and start redoing the documents as instructed.
Back in university, I had a boyfriend… or so I thought.
My friend group was part of the so-called “popular crowd,” and since everyone else was pairing off, I felt left out. So when I finally got a boyfriend right before graduation, I was over the moon.
My first-ever boyfriend.
And then that jerk shoved me straight into the abyss.
“Huh…? You actually took it seriously? Sorry, no way. I’ve already got two other girlfriends.”
More than anger or hatred, I cursed my own stupidity. How could I have been happy dating a guy like that?
Was I so desperate that any guy would do? The thought made me sick.
We broke up in less than two months, and I cut off all contact. Blocked him on SNS too.
Since then, it’s just been me.
Living alone, coming home to an empty apartment.
On a whim, I open SNS.
Post after post from my university friends—trips to theme parks with their boyfriends, dates at this place or that. The usual.
I don’t even feel jealous anymore.
…Is there really any point to being alive?
“Huh? A boys’ bar?”
“Yeah! We thought you might wanna come, Seira-chan!”
It’s a no-overtime day at the company.
With tomorrow off, I was planning to head straight home, but my senior, Miki-san, stops me.
She’s helped me out tons of times, and I owe her big, but…
Now she’s inviting me to a boys’ bar.
“We go there sometimes, you know, when the next day’s free! They’ve got hot guys—it’s great! Good for your eyes and your health!”
“Uh…”
Honestly, I just want to go home and sleep.
I’ve been drained all day from the section chief’s nonsense—mentally and physically wrecked.
“You’ve been so down lately, Seira-chan… I just thought it might cheer you up a little…”
“…”
I can tell Miki-san, my senior at work, is worried about me.
It feels wrong to brush her off.
“Fine, I’ll go.”
“Really!? Yay! I’m so happy! I bet you’ll love it, Seira-chan!”
She grabs my hands and shakes them up and down excitedly.
Ugh, I’ve never been to a place like that, and I’m not sure I’ll enjoy it.
I know I’m a boring person—honestly, I’m more worried about dragging down everyone else’s fun.
“So, who should we get to hang out with Seira-chan?”
“How about that guy?”
“Eh, but his rate’s pretty high, isn’t it? Might be a bit much for her first time.”
“Wouldn’t someone who doesn’t come on too strong be better for her, though?”
They’re getting all excited without me… Well, whatever. I’ll just chat lightly and head home. Guys working at a place like this are probably pros at handling women anyway. They’ll play along with small talk, I’m sure.
Boys’ Bar Festa—the neon sign glowed so brightly it almost hurt to look at.
A short walk from the station, in a pretty prime spot—that’s apparently our destination tonight.
Miki-san leads the way and swings open the door.
“Welcome~! …Oh, Miki-san! You’re back again!”
“Yusei-kun, I couldn’t stay away~♡”
…Huh?
Okay, I’m cringing right out of the gate.
From the conversation, I can tell Miki-san’s a regular here. Maybe this kind of talk is normal in a place like this, but… that voice? I’ve never heard anything like it—it’s so over-the-top I almost doubted my ears. Still, the boy didn’t seem fazed by my reaction at all and smoothly guided us deeper into the bar.
“Five ladies to Table 3, welcome~!”
“‘Welcome, ladies!’”
Whoa, intense.
The guy at reception calls out, and the entire staff chimes in to greet us.
Every single one of them is drop-dead gorgeous.
…Okay, maybe my mood lifts just a tiny bit.
We take our seats, and they spread us out evenly across a wide sofa, leaving big gaps between us.
Huh? Why? Why so much space?
Curious, I lean toward Miki-san to ask.
“Uh, why are we sitting so far apart?”
“Because the boys sit between us!”
“Between?!”
Apparently, the guys slot themselves between us girls.
Got it—so even though we came as a group, it’s basically one-on-one chats.
Wait, now I’m getting nervous… I thought I could just blend in with the group and coast through this…
“Welcome, Miki! Everyone cool with getting boys assigned tonight?”
“Oh, Yusei-kun, I’ve got a little request…”
Miki-san’s talking to the staff about something.
Probably picking out who’s pairing up with us, I guess?
“Got it, got it. In that case… oh, it’s Friday, so he might be good. …And you, Miki?”
“Eh? You’re asking~? You know I’m all about you, Yusei-kun!”
Ugh, brutal.
I really didn’t need to see this side of my respected senior…
“Pardon me, ladies.”
One by one, the bar boys filter in and pair up with everyone.
Every guy who walks over is stupidly handsome, decked out in dazzling, over-the-top accessories—I can’t help but feel a little intimidated.
No one’s come to my spot yet. But looking at these flashy guys… they’re in this line of work, so they’re probably laughing at us on the inside, right? I catch myself thinking that and immediately hate how cynical I’ve become.
Even if that were true, they’re smiling and chatting without a hint of disdain—there’s no fault in that.
Lately, my thoughts just keep spiraling to the negative.
Next to me, Miki-san’s already flirting with Yusei(?)-san, and the others look like their eyes have turned into heart shapes—probably thrilled their favorites showed up.
Hey, didn’t you say this was supposed to cheer me up?
I let out a small sigh. …Honestly, I’m not feeling this at all.
I can’t imagine hitting it off with guys like this. Guess I really am a boring woman.
“Pardon me, my lady.”
Finally, a voice calls out, and I glance up.
“…”
That day, I met an angel.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Masato. What’s your name, miss…?”
“Oh, uh, Seira Mochizuki.”
“Seira-san! Looking forward to hanging out.”
To be honest, in terms of raw hotness, the other boys who’d come by might’ve had him beat. They were flashier, decked out in all that bling.
But the guy who came to me… he was calm, with this pure, honest vibe. His outfit was nice too.
Not overly dolled up—just a deep navy suit that gave off a quiet, understated charm.
His baby face was a bonus. That slightly awkward “I’m trying to look grown-up in this suit” energy tugged at something protective in me.
“So, are you here after work today?”
“Y-Yeah… tomorrow’s a day off, so…”
He pours ice and liquor into my glass, keeping a warm smile the whole time.
“Right? Days off are the best! There’s just something about Friday nights that gets you pumped, huh?”
“Heh, yeah.”
…Wait, did I just laugh?
Maybe it’s because the guy sitting with me isn’t at all what I expected—he’s younger, and somehow that threw me off. Before I knew it, the tension I’d been carrying had melted away.
“What do you usually do on your days off, Seira-san?”
“Well, uh… lately, I’ve been really into gaming…”
I stopped mid-sentence, realizing what I’d said.
Wait, admitting my hobby’s gaming right off the bat—isn’t that a little too nerdy? I’d never say that at a mixer, but I guess I let my guard down too much.
Maybe I should’ve gone with something safe like “reading.”
“Whoa! That’s awesome! What kind of games do you play?”
But my worries evaporated in an instant.
Seeing him look straight at me without a hint of judgment, I reminded myself I’m here to have fun. Overthinking this stuff is pointless.
He doesn’t show the slightest sign of finding it weird—he’s genuinely into what I’m saying.
“Well, yeah, stuff like RPGs, or those town-building ones…”
“I’m super into RPGs too! When I was a kid, I played Dragon Fantasy—so much fun, right? I’d love to hear your recommendations!”
He’s all smiles, no trace of fakeness.
Maybe he’s just that good at acting and secretly cringing, but I don’t pick up on anything like that. If anything, he seems to be enjoying himself too.
Maybe that’s why.
I get so caught up in the moment that I start knocking back the drink he poured me.
“So that damn boss! She made sure everyone could hear her say I got dumped…”
“That’s seriously awful…”
Wait, when did we get on this topic? The drinks keep flowing, and I’m feeling good.
Masato-kun’s so close, and it’s making my head spin.
At some point, I stop caring and start venting all my pent-up frustration. I might’ve gotten a little too heated.
I take a sip from what’s probably my umpteenth glass and let out a breath.
“…But, you know, I’m the idiot. I was the one who got all giddy thinking he’d actually date me seriously.”
“Huh? But he’s the one who asked you out, right?”
“Yeah, he did…”
And that’s the thing. He’d smirked and asked me out himself—or so I thought.
My first-ever confession had me over the moon, but I should’ve seen through it back then.
“That’s just terrible! You didn’t do anything wrong, Seira-san! No matter how you look at it, he’s the jerk here!”
The boy in front of me is getting mad on my behalf, like it’s his own problem. It makes me weirdly happy.
“But that’s how it is. For women, I mean. In the end, we don’t really get a say.”
I layer on the words with a bitter, self-deprecating edge.
Then—
“I… I don’t buy that at all.”
“Huh?”
He leans in closer, startling me with how near he gets.
“Sure, there might not be many guys around. But does that make them better than us? I can’t stand dudes who get smug about it.”
It’s the first time I’ve ever heard anything like this.
I’ve talked to plenty of guys, but he’s the first to say something like that. While I’m still reeling, he adds, a little sheepishly—
“If I were in his shoes… I’d wanna date someone as beautiful—inside and out—as you, Seira-san.”
—And just like that, something inside me snapped.
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