Shibuya, Ebisu.
Saito Luxury Apartments.
The landlord, Saito Masao, was busy "bringing warmth" to the tenant of unit 301. His face wrinkled, the lines seeming to pile up from his broad smile. "Mrs. Akino, I know work has been difficult for you recently. This is a small token of my appreciation; I hope you'll accept it."
As he spoke, he presented a new LV handbag.
Mrs. Akino waved her hands. "I'm sorry, this bag is too valuable. Please take it back."
"Not at all. As the saying goes, designer bags only avoid 'crying' in the hands of a beauty like yourself."
Saito Masao, grinning from ear to ear, didn't take back the offered gift. Instead, he grabbed Mrs. Akino's soft, pale hand, forcibly stuffed the LV bag into it, and closed her fingers around it.
Before Mrs. Akino could refuse again, he waved his hand proactively. "If there's nothing else, I'll be off now."
"Oh..."
A conflicted expression flickered across Mrs. Akino's face.
