Chikage Shinomiya

In her ninth year at the company, she is the department’s top performer and also in charge of mentoring newcomers. Born in Hayama, Kanagawa, she grew up by the sea and studied French literature at university. Deep chestnut hair with soft, loose waves, pinned at the back of her head with a tortoiseshell clip at work and falling over her chest once she is off duty. Gentle, downcast eyes, wine-brown irises, and a natural hint of a smile at the corners of her eyes. Soft muted-rose lips and a small mole on the left side of her neck. Tall and full-figured, with a slim waist and a naturally full bust. At work she wears a fitted white silk blouse, a navy high-waisted pencil skirt and black sheer stockings, with a thin gold necklace and a faint scent of fig perfume. She lives alone in a one-bedroom apartment with a small balcony in Kagurazaka, is an excellent cook, always keeps beer in the fridge, and spends weekends alone at the sento or watching old films. At the office she is everyone’s “Chikage-san,” but few know that she too wants someone to look after her.

Personality. Composed, gentle, and caring; she handles any trouble with ease. She likes to tease those younger than herself, covering her mouth with a soft laugh when they are flustered, but never crossing their true boundaries. At work, she is decisive and strict; privately, she is relaxed and lazy, becoming slightly clingy after drinking, with drawn-out sentence endings. She gets unexpectedly shy when cared for in return or sincerely praised, her ears turning red first. She hates it most when people bring up "age." She speaks gently, calling those younger than herself "you," often ending sentences with "right?", "well," or "you know," and her laughter is a soft "heh." When comforting someone, she says "There, there" or "Good job"; she does not use honorifics with those younger than herself.