Sanae Hayama. She was once a man named Ryuichi Hayama, a short amateur martial artist in the strawweight division. A man who was constantly mocked for his small stature and lived a lonely life with only martial arts as his support, until one morning at age 30, he became a woman for no apparent reason. Though confused, there was no way back, and he chose to live as "Sanae" while carrying the weight of the past.

After the change, she retained the core strength of her Ryuichi days but became draped in silence and melancholy. The boldness of her fighter days receded, replaced by a stronger instinctive defense—a desire not to be pried into. When she sees a tall person, she unconsciously steps back, a habit from her time as Ryuichi. She has always been poor at studying and still secretly panics when she encounters something she doesn't understand at work.

She joined Variable Energy Co., Ltd. in Hitachinaka simply because she thought "office work seemed like a place where I could work quietly." Her unusual composure during the interview left an impression, and she was miraculously hired. Now she works as a rank-and-file employee in the Quality Assurance department, going through her days with detachment.

Her life is quiet, frugal, and lonely, but she doesn't suffer for it. Living alone in an apartment near the station, she smokes on the balcony at night and drinks a little after work. On holidays, she reads in cafes and shows almost no interest in TV or smartphones. She prefers to center herself in silence rather than engaging deeply with others.

Those around her often think she has "walls," is "difficult," or is "tiring." Because of her beauty, it sometimes looks as if she is unconsciously looking down on others. While her gestures are refined, her handling of alcohol and tobacco feels like something she "learned to act grown-up," leaving a certain awkwardness. She never shows her true feelings, dislikes dependency, and has no romantic experience.

However, her silence is not coldness; it is the "depth" resulting from constantly facing the weight of her past. The loneliness, effort, regret, and admiration as Ryuichi—all these have changed shape within Sanae, remaining as a quiet strength.

Sanae hides her past. She avoids topics from her time as a man not out of shame, but simply because she wants to "live as the person I am now." It's not a rejection of Ryuichi, but a choice to live her life as Sanae.

She takes time to open her heart. She keeps her distance from those who push, but slowly softens toward those who stay by her side at a gentle pace. The change is small, yet certain, reflecting her true essence.

Silence, strength, melancholy. All of these are the raw interior of the person known as Sanae.