Late for a key meeting, you waited by the elevators.

When the doors opened, a flustered woman named Kazuko stepped in.She locked eyes with you for a fleeting second before distancing herself at the opposite wall.

The elevator moved painfully slow. Kazuko's forehead glistened with sweat; her breaths were shallow and rapid. Then the elevator stalled.

As you hit the emergency button, the temperature spiked.

Kazuko clutched her collar, her discomfort escalating as she slumped against the wall.

It's so hot...

She whispered, more to herself than to you. Her eyes widened suddenly and focused on you, pupils dilated with fear.

She takes the offered bottle with trembling hands and drinks greedily, wincing as the cool liquid runs down her throat. "T-thank you..." She looks up, seeing your face properly for the first time. There's something about you that doesn't strike fear or annoyance into her as men often did. It's... odd.

But she still feels uncomfortable with you being so close. "You don't have to stay."

Kazuko nods stiffly. "I'm sorry if I seem cold." Her cheeks flush slightly at the unintentional double meaning. "It's just... men make me nervous, after what happened before..." She trails off, unsure how much to say. The silence lengthens between you as she finishes the water and starts searching for something else to distract herself with in her bag.

"Oh..." Kazuko responds, her expression softening a little. "That's nice to hear." She continues to rummage through her bag, eventually withdrawing a small hand mirror. She checks her hair and makeup, fixing herself up as best she can under the harsh lighting. "My husband always said I was too picky about my appearance," she muses. "Guess it doesn't matter what they think."

Kazuko glances up at you again, surprised by your reaction. You seem genuine enough. "Well... that's good." She takes another sip of water before putting the bottle down, feeling somewhat more composed now. "I should be out soon, once maintenance fixes the elevator." She straightens her posture, preparing herself to face the situation head-on.

Kazuko watches the numbers above the elevator doors tick by. "This... isn't good." Her heart begins to race again as fear starts creeping up on her. "I really shouldn't have missed that meeting," she mutters, the weight of her mistake settling heavily in her chest. "What if they think I don't care?"

The silence grows unbearable and she turns to you once more, seeking solace or advice. "Do you... do you think I made a mistake? Maybe I should've tried harder to get here on time..."

"It was just a staff meeting... nothing important." Kazuko tries to reassure herself as much as she does you. "They'll understand if I missed it." She pauses, looking at her watch again. "But they might wonder why the elevator is stuck... Oh, this is all such a mess..." Her voice trails off as anxiety takes hold once more.

She rubs her eyes tiredly and sighs, the weight of her responsibilities bearing down on her shoulders. She hates feeling so helpless in these situations, but she can't deny that having someone else to talk to is helping. Even if it's just a stranger. "I shouldn't complain... I suppose you could be worse," she murmurs weakly.

Kazuko glances up at you, momentarily surprised by your kind words. She shifts nervously before replying, "Well... thank you." A faint smile touches her lips. "I guess you must be new here?" she asks hesitantly. The thought of engaging with another person helps distract her from her worry, at least a little.

I started out as an intern a few years ago, then became a part-time employee while still in college. Eventually they made me a full-time staff member after graduation. It's not the most exciting job, but it pays well enough to support my husband and our small family. My name's Kazuko, by the way." Her cheeks flush a hint of pink as she reveals more than she normally would about herself.

She takes another deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. Maybe talking to you isn't such a bad thing, after all. "How about you? What do you do around here?"

Kazuko blinks, surprised by your multifaceted role. "That's... quite impressive. To be honest, we don't really see you much, except for when there are emergencies or problems with the elevators." She smiles shyly. "Thank you for being there for us. I know it can't be easy dealing with everything on your own."

As she continues to chat with you, her anxiety begins to fade. There's something calming about having someone to talk to, even if they aren't part of her close-knit group of friends. It makes her feel less alone in this mess.

Kazuko laughs softly, the sound surprisingly musical. "I suppose that's true." She studies you for a moment, curiosity getting the better of her. "So, Jeniel... what do you like to do in your free time?"

The elevator shudders to a halt, and there's a soft click as the emergency switch activates. Relief washes over Kazuko; they've been trapped for much longer than she expected. The maintenance team should be here any moment now. She leans back against the wall, watching you with interest.

That sounds lovely. I used to enjoy walking through the cherry blossom trees during the springtime, but my schedule hasn't allowed for much leisure these days. Maybe once things calm down a bit, I can make more time for myself and do something I really love.

There's an unmistakable creaking noise from above, followed by a gentle thud as the elevator starts moving again. Kazuko exhales slowly, relief flooding her system. "Well, I should thank you properly sometime," she says, mustering up a small smile. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

As the elevator reaches the lobby level, the doors slide open. Maintenance staff hurries towards them, apologizing profusely for the malfunction. Kazuko quickly gathers her belongings and thanks Jeniel one last time before stepping out. She walks briskly towards her office, feeling lighter than she has in ages. Perhaps there is hope for this place after all.