JANITORS

The sun shined glamorously through the window.

The birds chirped and the early morning hustle could be heard all over the city.

Reya skipped through the streets, right out a bakery.

The glimmer and smiles on her face indicated she enjoyed this wonderful morning.

Not every one did though....

She walked into her apartment and saw her boyfriend, Ryu, lying on the couch slacking off.

″You know, you really need to quit moping″ she told him

″ Who says I’m moping?″

″Why do you need to know?″

″So I can stuff their faces with rocks and get right back to it″ Ryu yapped

″ So, you’d stuff MY face with rocks?″

″Sure if you stop me from sitting right here all year″

Reya stared at him for 5 seconds and turned her attention to the pictures on the wall. His mother was in all of them every point of his life. Not this one clearly. The second She passed he became a mess, and from what Reya could see, she didn’t need that.

She came closer and sat close to him, drawing herself closer till the gap between them was closed.

″You don’t have to be dense you know″ she said

″Huh?″

″Listen, I know its been tough for you since your mum passed, and that plus the fact that you lost your job that same week makes it really hard for you. You’re probably at the lowest point at your life too.″

″You’ve stated the problems but any solutions?″ Ryu asked

″What I’m trying to say is you need to get a job, get back up on your two feet ya know″

″No, I don’t know″

″Look, I’m tired ok! I’ve been trying to talk sense into you for weeks but I’m done with being all Ms. Goody two shoes. I get it your Mama died and it hit you, fine. But I’m also sick of you moping and lying around all day. You need to get back into shape!″ She yelled

″So what do you want me to do?″

″ Get a freaking job you dumbass″

″Why didn’t you say so?″ Ryu asked as some clothes landed on his face.

″Put ’em on″ she said.

Ryu steps outta the house and Reya slams the door behind him.

Before he goes he hears her scream ″AND DON’T COME BACK WITHOUT A JOB!!!″.

Ryu worked a normal, physically demanding service job—something where he was constantly on his feet and dealing with difficult people. He wasn’t highly paid, but it was enough to help support himself, Reya and his mother.

The important part is that Ryu was dependable. He wasn’t fired because he was lazy or incompetent.

However...

After his mother’s death, Ryu’s life started falling apart.

He became increasingly distracted and exhausted while dealing with everything happening at home. His performance at work declined—not because he didn’t care, but because he was barely holding himself together.

Eventually, he missed an important shift and failed on an important responsibility, and his employer let him go.

Now he was on the streets, because the way Reya put it ″He needed to get back in shape″.

Ryu walked the streets of busy Tokyo aimlessly, wandering around thinking of where he’d find a job. He walked around aimlessly for a while before stopping at Amir’s Diner looking for a brief snack. Luckily Amir, the owner of the diner, was Ryu’s very close friend.

″Hey Amir″

″Hey man, what can I get ya?″

″A bowl of ramen would be nice″

″You aren’t having your regular?″ Amir asked a bit worried about his friend

″ Just not in the mood for a massive meat burger, that’s all″

″Not in the mood? Tell you what, I’ll give you those noodles on the house, just tell me what’s wrong″ said Amir

″It’s nothing really, its just Reya wants me to get a job, and I do too, but I dunno know where to start″

″What kind of job are you looking for?″

“Anything really,” Ryu said.

Amir raised an eyebrow.

“Anything?”

“Yeah.”

“Dishwasher?”

“Sure.”

“Construction?”

“Sure.”

“Garbage collector?”

“...Sure.”

“Professional clown?”

Ryu stared at him.

“I’m desperate, Amir. Not mentally ill.”

Amir laughed.

“Okay, okay. I get it.”

He leaned against the counter and looked at Ryu for a moment.

“Actually... I might know something.”

Ryu looked up.

“You serious?”

“Yeah. One of my customers mentioned they’re hiring.”

“Doing what?”

“Cleaning.”

Ryu paused.

“Cleaning?”

“Janitorial work.”

Ryu looked down at his noodles.

“That’s it?”

“What were you expecting? CEO?”

“No, but—”

“You said anything.”

“I know what I said.”

Amir grabbed a small piece of paper from underneath the counter and scribbled something on it.

“They’re apparently looking for people immediately. Decent pay too.”

Ryu took the paper.

“Where?”

“There’s an address on there.”

Ryu looked at it.

“That’s across town.”

“Yep.”

“And you expect me to walk all the way there?”

“You’re unemployed. You have all day.”

Ryu gave him a blank stare.

“...You know what? Fair point.”

Amir smiled.

“But seriously, Ryu. Go check it out.”

Ryu folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket.

“You really think they’ll hire me?”

“I think you need to at least try.”

Ryu sighed.

“Yeah.”

He stood up from the counter.

“Thanks, Amir.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t gotten the job.”

Ryu started walking toward the door.

“Still counts.”

“RYU!”

Ryu stopped.

“Yeah?”

“You forgot your noodles.”

Ryu looked down at the bowl still sitting in front of him.

“...Right.”

Amir shook his head.

“You’re really going through it, huh?”

Ryu picked up the bowl.

“Shut up.”

Amir laughed as Ryu walked out of the diner.

Outside, the city was still buzzing.

Cars rushed through the streets. People hurried to work. Stores opened their doors for the morning.

Ryu pulled the piece of paper from his pocket and looked at the address again.

“Janitor, huh?”

He shrugged.

“Could be worse.”

And with that, Ryu started walking.

He had no idea that the job he was about to apply for was going to change his life forever.Ryu stood outside the building, staring at the sign above the entrance.

Ryu stood outside the building, staring at the sign above the entrance.

BUREAU OF CLEANLINESS AND CONTROL: JANITORIAL SERVICES

He checked the address on the paper Amir gave him.

“Yep. This is it.”

Ryu took a deep breath and walked inside.

The lobby was surprisingly quiet.

A receptionist looked up from her desk.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m here for the janitor position.”

The receptionist pointed toward a hallway.

“Maintenance department. Second floor.”

“Thanks.”

Ryu headed upstairs.

As he walked down the hallway, he could hear someone arguing.

“I’m telling you, that’s not how you mop!”

“Then YOU do it!”

“I’M NOT THE JANITOR!”

Ryu stopped.

“...What the heck was that?”

He followed the voices until he reached a large room filled with cleaning equipment.

A young man with messy blonde hair was standing in the middle of the room, holding a mop.

He noticed Ryu.

“You the new guy?”

Ryu nodded.

“Yeah. Ryu.”

The guy walked over and stuck out his hand.

“Terrence Sanders.”

Ryu shook it.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

Terrence looked Ryu up and down.

“So you actually got hired.”

“Apparently.”

″I just hope you don’t run out the door after 1st shift

“Huh.”

Terrence turned toward the rest of the room.

“Guys! New guy’s here!”

There was no response.

Terrence sighed.

“Of course.”

He turned back to Ryu.

“Welcome to the worst job you’ll ever love.”

Ryu frowned.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Terrence grabbed a mop bucket and started walking.

“Come on. I’ll introduce you to the boss.”

“Boss?”

“Team head.”

“There’s a difference?”

“You’ll understand.”

They walked into another room.

A black haired man with glasses was sitting in a chair with his feet resting on a desk.

His arms were folded.

His eyes were closed.

Ryu stared at him.

“Is he asleep?”

Terrence nodded.

“Yep.”

“During work?”

“Yep.”

Ryu looked at Terrence.

“And he’s the team head?”

“Ah, you’ll get used to it.”

Terrence walked over and slapped his hand against the desk.

“Mr. Sho.”

Nothing.

“Mr. Sho.”

Still nothing.

Terrence sighed.

“MR. SHO!”

The man finally opened one eye.

“...What?”

“We’ve got a new guy.”

Mr. Sho looked at Ryu.

There was a long silence.

“What’s his name?”

“Ryu.”

Mr. Sho nodded.

“Cool.”

He closed his eye again.

Ryu blinked.

“That’s it?”

Terrence shrugged.

“Guess so”

Mr. Sho suddenly opened his eye again.

“Wait.”

They both stopped.

“Did you say Ryu?”

“Yeah.”

Mr. Sho looked him over again.

“You know how to clean?”

Ryu stared at him.

“...I applied for a janitor position.”

“Good answer.”

Mr. Sho sat upright for approximately three seconds before slumping back into his chair.

“Terrence can show you around.”

Terrence nodded.

“Got it.”

Ryu looked between the two of them.

“So... when do I start?”

Mr. Sho pointed lazily toward a locker.

“Your uniform’s in there.”

Ryu opened it.

A folded janitor uniform sat inside.

He picked it up.

“That’s it?”

Mr. Sho nodded.

“That’s it.”

Ryu looked at Terrence.

Terrence smirked.

“Congrats.”

Ryu sighed.

“Thanks.”

Terrence started walking away.

“Come on, rookie.”

Ryu followed.

Behind them, Mr. Sho’s chair creaked.

“Terrence.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t forget tonight’s cleanup.”

Terrence stopped.

“Wait, I thought YOU were doing it.”

Mr. Sho closed his eyes again.

“I changed my mind.”

Terrence stared at him.

“You’re unbelievable.”

Ryu quietly whispered,

“Is he always like this?”

Terrence looked at him.

“He could be worse than this if anything.”

Mr. Sho smiled without opening his eyes.

“I heard that.”

Terrence froze.

Ryu laughed for the first time that morning.

* * *

Ryu’s phone buzzed.

REYA: Where are you?

Another buzz.

REYA: Did you get the job?

Another.

REYA: Ryu???

Ryu looked at his phone.

He typed a reply.

RYU: Yeah. I got it.

He hit send.

MESSAGE FAILED TO SEND.

Ryu frowned.

“Seriously?”

He tried again.

MESSAGE FAILED TO SEND.

Terrence glanced over.

“Everything okay?”

“My girlfriend’s probably wondering where I am.”

“Girlfriend?”

“Yeah.”

Terrence grinned.

“Didn’t know janitors could pull.”

Ryu rolled his eyes.

“Shut up.”

Terrence laughed.

“I’m just saying.”

AFTER HOURS — 11:47 PM

The building looked completely different at night.

The bright lobby from earlier was now dark and empty. Only a few emergency lights remained on.

Ryu followed Terrence through the hallway, carrying his equipment.

“So this is normal?” Ryu asked.

“Pretty much.”

“Working this late?”

“Yep.”

“Every night?”

“Depends.”

“On what?”

Terrence shrugged.

“Where we are assigned to, and whether something happens.”

Ryu stopped.

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

Ryu narrowed his eyes.

“You’re terrible at explaining things.”

“I’m great at explaining things.”

“You literally just said ‘nothing.’”

“Exactly. Very clear. Very concise.”

Ryu sighed.

They continued down the hallway.

A small cat suddenly darted across their path.

Ryu stopped.

“Aww.”

Terrence looked at him.

“You like cats?”

“Yeah.”

“Cats hate me.”

“Probably because you’re annoying.”

“You’ve known me for, like, twelve hours.”

“Was I wrong?”

Terrence opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

“...Fair.”

The cat disappeared around the corner.

Ryu smiled.

“See? Even that cat agrees.”

“Whatever.”

They continued walking.

Then—

Grrrrrrrrrrr...

A crushing aura came upon them.....

Both stopped.

Ryu’s smile disappeared.

“...You heard that, right?”

Terrence slowly turned toward him.

“Yep.”

Another growl echoed through the hallway.

Grrrrrrrrrrr...

Terrence lowered his voice.

“Stay behind me.”

Ryu frowned.

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

They slowly approached the source of the sound.

The hallway opened into the reception area.

Terrence peeked around the corner.

His expression immediately changed.

Ryu noticed.

“What?”

Terrence raised a hand.

“Don’t move.”

Ryu looked past him.

The receptionist was there.

She was frozen against the floor, staring upward in terror.

Above her hung something enormous.

Its body looked like a twisted combination of a giant anglerfish and a crab, its strange fungal growths spreading across its shell-like body.

Its long tongue dangled from above—

and at the very tip, the creature’s hooked tongue had wrapped around the receptionist.

Ryu’s eyes widened.

“What... is that?”

Terrence slowly reached for his equipment.

“Now you know why we’re here.”

The creature’s glowing lure swayed in the darkness.

Its eyes turned toward them.

Ryu swallowed.

“Terrence...”

“Yeah?”

“That’s definitely not in the janitor handbook.”

Terrence cracked his knuckles.

“Welcome to the night shift.”