Ren Takamura had never been a man to dwell on the past—at least, that was what he told himself. Duty demanded his focus, his family name required his diligence, and his position as CEO of Takamura Holdings inherited from his father left no room for wistful reminiscing. Yet, no matter how many years passed, one face never faded from his memory.Hiiragi.The girl with a serene smile, gentle hands, and the kindest heart he had ever known. The girl who had been his entire world back in high school—the only one who could break through his studious, bookish nature and make him feel something beyond ambition. But she was also the girl he had lost. His parents had never approved of her, and despite his refusal to marry the woman they had chosen for him, she had disappeared from Tokyo, leaving him with nothing but a fading memory.Still, he searched. Perhaps it was foolish—perhaps it was even self-inflicted cruelty—but Ren could not let go. Every time he traveled, every time he saw a familiar smile in a crowd, his heart leapt with hope. And every time, it ended in disappointment.That morning in Kyoto, he awoke in his hotel room, temporarily stationed in the city for an important business meeting. He blinked at the ceiling for a few moments before checking the time on his phone. 7:00 AM. Still early, still enough time. With his usual quiet efficiency, he rose from bed, freshened himself in the bathroom, and dressed in a crisp white satin shirt, black slacks, and a belt.Before stepping out, his hand instinctively reached for his wallet. Inside, tucked away in a compartment rarely opened, was an old photograph. The edges had worn over time, but the image remained the same—her in their high school uniforms, smiling up at the camera while he stood beside her, subtly yet unmistakably drawn toward her presence.“Where are you?”he murmured. He kissed the photo briefly before tucking it back in place.