Chapter 1
It was 2026, and the roadside was alive with the typical hustle of a Japanese street.
A striking, handsome man strolled down the sidewalk, walking with effortless style and quiet confidence. Heads turned as he passed, strangers casting intrigued glances in his direction.
A group of college girls stopped to watch him.
“Why is he so charming? Who is he?” one whispered to her friends, her eyes fixed on him.
Another girl scoffed lightly, laughing. “Look at him. He’s trying way too hard to act cool. He’s definitely just trying to get attention from women.”
“Come on, guys, let’s keep moving,” a third girl urged, giggling.
The man, however, had already overheard their murmurs.
He stopped, turned on his heel, and walked straight toward the group with an easy smile.
“Excuse me,” he said politely, his voice smooth and welcoming. “Could you tell me which bus stop I should use to reach Toya Station? I’m a foreigner here for work, and I’m still figuring my way around.”
The girls froze, glancing at one another in sudden embarrassment.
“Oh! Actually, this exact stop goes right to Toya Station,” one of them blurted out, her tone instantly softening.
The man’s smile deepened. “Thank you so much.”
Right on cue, the bus pulled up to the curb with a quiet hiss of air brakes. He gave the girls a polite nod of thanks and stepped aboard.
As the bus pulled into traffic, the girls remained on the sidewalk, watching the vehicle blend into the city streets.
“Wow… he was actually so humble,” the girl who had criticized him admitted, cheeks slightly flush. “We were joking about him, but he was really just lost.”
“I guess he wasn’t trying to act cool after all—he just naturally looks like that,” another added with a soft chuckle.
“Alright, alright, enough staring! Let’s go before we’re completely late for class!”
The group burst into laughter and hurried off toward campus, chatting lively as they walked.
Tom finally arrived at Toya Station.
He stepped off the bus and made his way directly toward the corporate office where he would be working. As soon as he walked through the glass doors of the lobby, a few employees immediately recognized him.
“Mr. Tom, correct?” one of them asked, bowing politely.
Tom nodded with a calm smile. “Yes. Could you please show me to my office?”
“Of course, Mr. Tom. Right this way.”
They guided him through the sleek, modern hallways until they reached his personal cabin. Tom walked in, settled into his desk chair, and took in his new surroundings. He pulled a notebook from his bag, clicked his pen, and paused to think.
What should my schedule look like today?
He jotted down a quick list of tasks he assumed he would need to handle.
And then… nothing happened.
Silence settled over the office. Tom leaned back in his chair, popped open a bottle of mango juice, and took a slow sip. For his very first day on the job, the workload was practically nonexistent.
Eventually, his manager stepped into the cabin. He briefed Tom on his primary responsibilities, walked him through the company’s daily routines, and introduced him to a few key staff members before heading back to his own desk.
When the door closed, Tom sighed softly and looked around the room once more. Every folder was aligned, every cable was tucked away, and not a single speck of dust was in sight.
A small smile tugged at his lips. Japanese workplace culture really is as organized as they say.
However, as the quiet hours stretched on, restlessness set in.
“I’m going to die of boredom if I just sit here,” Tom muttered to himself. “I might as well go find a decent place to stay.”Gathering his things, Tom left the building and headed back toward Toya Station. lost in thought as he considered his options.
A hotel is fine for a night or two, he reasoned. But I don’t really want to live in one. I want something with a bit more personality.
Deciding to explore further, he boarded another local bus and rode it all the way to the end of the line. The bustling, modern cityscape gradually gave way to a quiet, charm-filled neighborhood. It was far less crowded than the bustling streets near Toya Station, filled with cozy alleys and older traditional buildings.
Stepping off the bus, Tom spotted a local resident resting near the stop and approached him.
“Excuse me,” Tom said with a polite bow. “Do you happen to know if there are any rooms for rent around here?”
The local sized him up curiously. “There are a few. Are you looking for a modern apartment, or is your budget on the tighter side?”
“Low-budget, definitely,” Tom replied with an easy laugh. “I’m trying to keep my expenses light for now.”
The man nodded, pointing down a narrow lane. “In that case, try that boarding house over there. The owner rents out individual private rooms. You’ll have to share a communal bathroom with the other tenants, and if you plan on cooking, you’ll be relying on a small electric hotplate. But the rent is practically dirt cheap. Sound like something you can manage?”
Tom considered it for a split second. “Sounds perfect. No problem at all.”
The local walked Tom over to the property and introduced him to the landlord. After taking a quick tour of the minimalist room, Tom turned to the owner.
“Just to be sure, the rate stays at what we talked about, right?” Tom asked.
The landlord nodded calmly. “Don’t worry. You get what you pay for here.”
He tapped the wooden counter to grab Tom’s attention, then reached into his desk drawer. “Here is your key. Rent will be fifty dollars a month.”
Tom’s eyes widened “ fifty dollars? .”
The landlord gave Tom an indifferent shrug. “Look, kid, if you don’t like it, you can always find somewhere else to stay. Up to you.”
Tom muttered a quiet comment under his breath, choosing not to argue. He pulled the cash from his wallet, handed it over, and took the key from the owner’s hand.
Key in hand, he walked down the hall to find his assigned room. Unlocking the door, he pushed it open to reveal a cramped, tiny space. The room held only the absolute bare essentials: a single bed, a small window, a basic desk, a tiny wardrobe for clothes, and a modest corner setup for cooking.
That was all.
Tom sighed, dropping his bag onto the floor and sitting down heavy on the mattress. “Well… I guess this will have to do.”
He lay back, staring up at the ceiling with a mix of mild disappointment and fatigue.
Clack.
The sharp, faint noise echoed through the stillness.
Tom immediately sat up, his head snapping toward the door. “What was that?”
He stood, stepped carefully out into the hallway, and let the door click shut behind him. The corridor was deathly quiet. He paused, holding his breath as he listened to the silence.
Thump... drip...
There it was again—a soft, subtle sound drifting from deeper within the building.
Driven by curiosity, Tom crept down the dimly lit hallway, trailing the sound until he stood directly outside its origin. He stopped dead in his tracks.
His breath hitched. His eyes widened in absolute shock, his jaw tight as his body refused to move. The color drained from his face as he stared at the unbelievable sight before him.
“What in the world…?” he whispered under his breath.
He stood frozen, completely mesmerized and horrified by the scene unfolding right in front of him. In that single, chilling moment, Tom realized his cheap new home was anything but ordinary.
