Chapter 10: Breaking Through the Code

The Week After

“Kichiro-san, are you free right now?” Oki’s voice interrupted Haari’s concentration.

“Yeah, do you need something, Habi-san?” Haari replied, looking up from his desk.

“Yes, please take a look at this project,” Oki said, handing over a thick file.

Haari accepted the file, glancing through it briefly. “What’s this project about?”

“I’m not entirely sure myself. It came in a week ago, but I didn’t get the chance to review it,” Oki admitted.

“Alright, I’ll check it out,” Haari said, taking the project file from Oki. He noticed a certain urgency in Oki’s voice, which only added to his curiosity about the project’s nature.

An Hour Later

The office hummed with the usual activity, but Haari seemed preoccupied, his brows furrowed as he pored over the project details. Rafta, noticing Haari’s intense focus, recognized the project file on his desk. He paused, observing Haari’s struggle with concern, but chose not to interrupt and silently returned to his own desk.

A Week Ago

An employee had arrived at Haari’s department to submit the project file but found no one present. Spotting Rafta, who was casually sipping a soft drink, the employee handed over the file.

“Hey Rafta,” the employee said.

“Hmm? Hey, it’s been a while. How are you doing?” Rafta inquired.

“I’m doing fine. I was supposed to deliver this file. Here,” the employee said, handing over the project file.

“I’ll be going now. I have other work to handle,” the employee added, heading back to the elevator.

Rafta looked at the file, his face paling as he realized the complexity of what was inside. The file seemed unusually thick, filled with technical jargon and encrypted data. Taking a deep breath, he placed the file on Oki’s desk. “You’re perfect for this kind of project. Wish you luck and sorry for putting it on you.”

Present Day

Evening had fallen, and the office was winding down as employees packed up to leave.

“You’re not heading home yet?” Oki asked Haari, noticing he was still at his desk.

“I’ll be going later. You head home first,” Haari replied, his eyes still fixed on the screen, reflecting the fatigue and frustration of grappling with the project.

“Is that project still giving you trouble?” Oki asked.

“Yeah,” Haari said, stretching his tired shoulders and glancing at the cluttered desk strewn with notes and code snippets.

“Let me see what you’ve got,” Oki said. Haari handed over the file, and Oki glanced through it. “I understand why it’s taking so long. Projects like these can be a real headache. Don’t worry—I’ll give you some details about it. Just leave it here and go home for today.”

“Okay,” Haari said, grateful for the reprieve. He felt a mix of relief and anxiety about the unresolved issues.

Next Day

As Haari prepared to dive back into the work, his phone buzzed with a new message from Oki.

Message from Oki:

I’ve been called away for an urgent meeting. I left some notes on the project on your desk. Make sure you review them carefully. I’m confident you’ll figure it out. Good luck.

Haari sighed as he reviewed the brief notes left by Oki. They offered some hints about the sensitive nature of the information and highlighted the project’s complexity. The pressure weighed heavily on him, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something critical was at stake.

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Ashi, noticing Haari’s distressed state from her own desk, decided to check in on him. She approached with a concerned expression, sensing the gravity of the situation.

“Kichiro-san,” Ashi said gently, her voice cutting through the quiet hum of the office. “You look like you’ve been working non-stop. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Haari looked up, his tired eyes meeting hers. “Nicawa-san, it’s been rough. This project is more complicated than I thought, and I’m struggling to keep up.”

"We’re friends, Kichiro-san. And friends support each other. Don’t hesitate to ask for help," Ashi said, her words offering a sense of reassurance amidst the stress.

Her words struck a chord with Haari. The strain of handling the project alone was starting to take its toll. He looked at Ashi, realizing that accepting help might be the best course of action.

"Alright," Haari said, finally conceding. "If you’re sure you’re up for it, I could use some assistance. There’s a lot of data here, and I’m having trouble making sense of it all."

Ashi smiled warmly. "Of course! Let’s tackle this together."

Ashi glanced around at Haari’s cluttered desk, then back at him with a sympathetic smile. “Let me take a look. Sometimes a fresh perspective can make a big difference.”

Ashi began examining the project file, her analytical mind quickly identifying patterns and discrepancies that Haari had missed. As she worked, she noticed Haari’s mounting frustration.

“Okay, so this encryption algorithm looks like it’s based on a layered security model,” Ashi said, pointing to a section of the code. “That means each layer of encryption might be masking a different set of information. We need to decode them sequentially.”

Haari’s expression brightened with a glimmer of hope. “Yes, that makes sense. I was trying to crack them all at once, which probably made things more confusing.”

Together, they tackled the layers of encryption. Ashi’s organized approach and keen insights helped to unravel the complex data, making the task much more manageable. Haari’s stress eased as their collaborative effort began to yield results.

As they worked late into the evening, Rafta passed by and noticed their focused collaboration. He paused for a moment, respecting their concentration before quietly continuing on his way.

Ashi looked up, her eyes tired but determined. “Kichiro-san, it’s getting late. Should we call it a night and pick this up tomorrow?”

Haari glanced at the clock and nodded, realizing how late it had become. “Yes, let’s stop for now. We’ve made good progress. I really appreciate your help, Nicawa-san.”

Ashi smiled warmly. “Anytime, Kichiro-san. If you need anything else, just let me know.”

“Will do,” Haari said, packing up his things with a sense of gratitude. “Thank you again.”

As Ashi left, Haari felt a renewed sense of confidence. With her support, the overwhelming project now felt more manageable. He took a deep breath, ready to face the remaining challenges with a clearer perspective and renewed energy.

The Morning After

Haari arrived at the office early, his mind racing with thoughts of the complex project. He reviewed the notes Ashi had left and was eager to make further progress.

As he settled at his desk, Ashi entered the office, yawning but with a determined look. “Good morning, Kichiro-san. Ready to tackle the rest of the project?”

“Good morning, Nicawa-san,” Haari replied, glancing up with a tired smile. “Absolutely. I reviewed the data this morning and we made some significant progress yesterday. Let’s see if we can crack the remaining layers.”

Hours passed as Haari and Ashi worked diligently. The office was quiet, save for the rhythmic tapping of keyboards. Suddenly, Haari’s eyes widened as he noticed an unusual pattern in the encrypted data.

“Nicawa-san, take a look at this,” Haari said, pointing to his screen. “There’s something here that doesn’t match the rest of the encryption layers.”

Ashi peered at the screen, her brow furrowing. “You’re right. This pattern is different. It looks like an additional layer of encryption—or maybe something else entirely.”

Haari’s expression grew serious. “It seems like there’s a hidden layer of data that wasn’t mentioned in the initial notes. This could mean there’s more to this project than we thought.”

Haari quickly dialed Oki’s number. Oki answered after a few rings, his voice tinged with curiosity. “Kichiro-san, what’s the update?”

“We’ve discovered an additional layer of encryption,” Haari said, trying to keep his voice steady. “It appears there might be hidden data that wasn’t included in the initial notes. We’re not sure what it means yet, but it looks like it could be significant.”

There was a brief pause on the other end before Oki responded. “I’m in an important meeting right now, but I’ll come by as soon as I can. Keep the information confidential until I get there. Proceed with caution and don’t attempt to access the hidden data further on your own.”

“Understood,” Haari replied, ending the call with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

Ashi and Haari resumed their work, now more focused and cautious. When Oki arrived, he looked concerned but composed.

“Alright, show me what you’ve found,” Oki said as she settled into a chair beside Haari.

Haari and Ashi demonstrated the newly discovered layer of encryption, pointing out the anomalies and unusual patterns.

Oki’s expression grew graver as she examined the data. “This is troubling. It looks like someone might have embedded additional data within the project, potentially as a security measure or a hidden message.”

“I guess that means we need to proceed carefully,” Haari said, looking at Oki with a determined expression. “We need to figure out the purpose of this hidden data and what it implies for the project.”

“Yes,” Oki agreed. “Let’s continue to investigate, but remember—this could have serious implications. Stay vigilant and keep me updated on any further discoveries.”

As Oki left, Haari and Ashi continued their work, now more focused than ever on unraveling the complex project and uncovering the truth behind the hidden layer of data.

To be continue.........