Chapter 1 — The First Encounter
The afternoon sun hung lazily over Yokohama.
The city was busy as usual.
Cars moved through the streets, people hurried along the sidewalks, and somewhere in the distance, the sound of a ship's horn echoed across the harbor.
Amira walked quietly through the crowd, holding a small paper bag in one hand.
She had been sent on a simple errand.
Nothing dangerous.
Nothing unusual.
Just a normal afternoon.
At least, that was what she thought.
She stopped at the corner of a street and checked the address written on a small piece of paper.
“Hmm…”
She looked up.
Then down at the paper.
Then up again.
“…This can't be right.”
The building in front of her was definitely not the place she was looking for.
She sighed.
“Of course I'd get lost.”
Amira turned around, intending to retrace her steps.
And immediately bumped into someone.
Thud.
“Ah!”
The paper bag nearly slipped from her hand.
A pair of hands caught it before it fell.
“Careful~”
Amira looked up.
A tall man stood in front of her.
Brown hair.
A long beige coat.
Bandages wrapped around his neck and arms.
And the most suspiciously cheerful smile she had ever seen.
He held out her bag.
“You almost dropped this.”
Amira took it.
“Thanks.”
The man smiled.
“You're welcome.”
She took one step away.
Then stopped.
Something about him felt… strange.
Not dangerous exactly.
Just strange.
Very strange.
The man tilted his head.
“Is something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then why are you staring at me?”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
“I wasn't.”
“You definitely were.”
Amira narrowed her eyes.
“…You talk a lot.”
His smile widened.
“And you don't talk enough.”
She stared at him.
He stared back.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then the man suddenly extended his hand.
“Dazai Osamu.”
Amira hesitated before shaking it.
“Amira.”
“Amira~”
He repeated her name as though testing how it sounded.
She immediately pulled her hand away.
“Why did you say it like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you're about to cause trouble.”
Dazai placed a hand over his chest.
“Me? Cause trouble?”
“Yes.”
“How could you possibly think that?”
“Your face.”
Dazai blinked.
Then laughed.
“Ahahaha! You're interesting.”
Amira frowned.
“I don't know whether that's a compliment.”
“It is.”
“Okay.”
She turned to leave.
Dazai watched her for a moment.
Then—
“Amira!”
She looked back.
“What?”
“You're going the wrong way.”
Silence.
She slowly looked at the street ahead.
Then at him.
“…What?”
Dazai pointed in the opposite direction.
“Your destination is over there.”
Amira looked down at the address again.
Then at the road.
Then back at Dazai.
A faint blush of embarrassment appeared on her face.
“Oh.”
Dazai smiled.
“You were lost.”
“I wasn't lost.”
“You were.”
“I was just…”
“Exploring?”
“…Yes.”
Dazai nodded seriously.
“Of course.”
Amira knew that tone.
He was teasing her.
“Don't laugh.”
“I wasn't.”
“You're smiling.”
“That's different.”
She sighed.
“Whatever.”
She began walking in the direction he had pointed.
After a few steps, she heard footsteps behind her.
She turned.
Dazai was following her.
“…Why are you coming with me?”
“I happen to be going that way.”
“You're lying.”
“Probably.”
Amira stopped.
Dazai stopped too.
She stared at him suspiciously.
“You really are strange.”
He smiled.
“And yet you're still talking to me.”
“…Unfortunately.”
Dazai chuckled.
They continued walking.
Neither of them knew it yet.
But that completely ordinary afternoon—
That accidental collision—
That ridiculous conversation—
Would become the beginning of something neither of them could have expected.
Because sometimes, the most important person in your life doesn't arrive with dramatic music or a grand entrance.
Sometimes…
They simply walk into you on an ordinary street.
And ask—
“Are you lost?”
To be continued…
