It was an unusually crisp Monday morning in Tokyo. Mr. Tanaka and Mr. Sato, two seasoned businessmen, walked into their office, both clutching identical leather briefcases and radiating an air of professional calm. The hum of early workday chatter filled the room as they navigated the labyrinth of cubicles. The office had undergone remodeling over the weekend, and the floor plan had changed. Each man eagerly searched for the new location of his desk.

Reaching the corner desk with a scenic view of the city, they both stopped in their tracks. There it was—one desk, two nameplates. “Tanaka-san” on the left, “Sato-san” on the right.

The two men exchanged perfectly timed bows.

“Good morning, Tanaka-san,” said Sato, smiling politely.

“A splendid morning to you, Sato-san,” replied Tanaka with a slight nod.

They both hesitated, each standing at an equal distance from the chair. Sato gestured subtly toward the desk. “It seems you’ve been allocated a prime spot today, Tanaka-san. A lovely desk.”

“Ah, no, no,” Tanaka countered, his tone impeccably composed. “Surely this fine arrangement has been made in your honor, Sato-san. Such a prestigious location suits someone of your caliber.”

Sato waved his hand dismissively. “You’re too kind. But I must insist, the left side clearly carries the charm of natural sunlight—a spot befitting your hard work and seniority.”

Tanaka chuckled softly, stepping closer but not sitting down. “Your keen eye for detail is unparalleled, Sato-san. You’ve noticed the sunlight’s angle precisely. Yet, the right side allows a commanding view of the room, reflecting your leadership. Truly, it belongs to you.”

For over an hour, their conversation remained unfailingly polite. Compliments were exchanged as fluidly as cups of green tea in a traditional tea ceremony. They discussed the ergonomic merits of the chair, the optimal pen placement for such a desk, and the symbolic meaning of sharing resources. All without once acknowledging the elephant in the room: there was only one desk.

Eventually, their manager walked by, noticing the two standing and smiling serenely beside the unused desk. He paused, then said, “Gentlemen, the workday has begun some time ago. The shareholder meeting is tomorrow, and I expect your completed reports to be submitted by this afternoon. Please do not delay any further.”

The manager walked away, leaving the two men blinking in silent acceptance at the reprimand.

Tanaka and Sato turned to each other with the faintest of resigned smiles. “Ah,” said Sato finally, “a rare opportunity to explore true cooperation, wouldn’t you agree, Tanaka-san?”

“Indeed, Sato-san,” replied Tanaka. “If I may, I would like to propose a suggestion.”

“Indeed, Tanaka-san. What is it that you suggest?”

“Perhaps it would benefit the both of us,” Tanaka-san said with a glint in his eye, “if we switched desks?”