"Hurry up, we’re late!" Haruki called out as he glanced at his watch, rushing down the Shinkansen station steps in Osaka.

Evelyn let out a small laugh, adjusting her pace to keep up. “You’re the one who said we had time for a second coffee.”

“That’s because I forgot Osaka taxis run as efficiently as a Swiss watch,” Haruki replied, lifting their work suitcase. He turned to her. “You okay walking to the hotel? It hasn’t started raining yet.”

Evelyn nodded. “It’s only a few blocks, right?”

The Osaka sky hung gray and heavy, clouds low as if threatening to break at any moment. And sure enough, just five minutes...