"Evelyn is in the main presentation room," a conference staff member said, pointing down the glass hallway. Haruki nodded politely, then walked slowly, blending in with the crowd of visitors and observers at the international art conference in Tokyo.

He wore a simple suit—clean black, nothing flashy—and stood near a wooden pillar, his calm gaze fixed on one point: Evelyn.

She was speaking on stage during a small panel on “Emotion as the Language of Design.” Her words were clear, her posture firm, and her eyes lit with confidence. But Haruki knew—the light in her eyes wasn’t just work-driven. It was the shape of freedom—one he never had the chance...