Everyone says life is like a spinning wheel. Sometimes you're on top, and other times you're crushed at the bottom. I know well what it feels like to be at the top, and now, I know exactly how it feels to sink to the bottom. My name is Hidetaka Watanabe, and this is the story of how I lost everything.
I used to be the CEO of one of the largest tech companies in Tokyo, Watanabe Corp. We developed software used in nearly every corner of this country. I built the company from scratch, with sweat, blood, and relentless perseverance. Every decision I made, every strategy I applied, felt perfect.
"Good morning, Mr. Watanabe! Here's today's meeting schedule," my assistant used to say when I walked into the office.
"Thank you, Akira. Get everything ready for the investor meeting at ten," I would respond briefly before closing the door to my grand office.
I remember those days clearly, days when power was in my hands, and every step I took bore fruit. Life felt like a perfect dream.
But that dream turned into a nightmare in an instant.
I was betrayed by the very people I trusted. The shareholders, who once swore loyalty, conspired behind my back. Using dirty tactics, they succeeded in overthrowing me from the position I had worked years to achieve. They took everything from me, my position, my money, and even my dignity.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Watanabe, but this is the board's decision," said Akihiko Saito, a man I once considered a close friend. "There's no longer a place for you here."
His words were sharp, slicing through my pride like shards of glass. I can't forget his face as he delivered the news, filled with arrogance he couldn't hide.
"What do you mean? This is my company! I founded Watanabe Corp!" I shouted, angry and unable to believe what I was hearing.
"And now, this company is no longer yours," he replied coldly, with no trace of mercy in his eyes.
From that day on, my life changed drastically. In an instant, I became a man with nothing. All my assets were frozen, and I was forced to sell my house to pay off the mounting debts.
"Arghh..."
I winced as the pain returned. My head felt heavy, like it was filled with a thousand needles stabbing from within. Every time I remembered the humiliation, the pain felt so real, making me want to hit something.
And now, here I am. Sitting in this small apartment in Shinjuku, alone. This place can't be called a home, just a cramped box with dingy walls and dusty windows. If you saw me now, you wouldn't recognize the man who once stood at the top of the tallest building in Tokyo.
The night grew late, and fatigue began to seep into my body. I stared at my phone, thinking about calling someone, anyone. But who? Everyone had left me. No one was left. Even my family no longer cared.
I got up from the bed and walked to the balcony. The cold night wind brushed against my face, but it all felt the same. Nothing could heal the emptiness inside me. I had lost everything, my dreams, my hopes, and even my will to live.
At that moment, my mind was filled with one thought.
"Is this the end?" I whispered softly, almost inaudibly.
I gazed down at the streets below, the bustling Tokyo, seemingly indifferent to the sadness I was feeling. If I jumped from here, would anyone notice? Would anyone care?
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. One more step, and it would all be over.
But then, my phone rang.
Ding!
I opened my eyes, slightly startled by the sudden sound breaking the silence. A message appeared on my phone screen. An unknown number, no sender name.
I stared at the message with tired eyes, expecting nothing.
"Tomorrow at 14:35, a famous actor will be killed by his manager."
I froze, unable to believe what I was reading. What is this? Who sent this message, and why? My heart started racing, a mix of fear and confusion.
"Who sent this message?" I whispered to myself.
I waited for a while, hoping for a follow-up message, but none came. Just that one message—an absurd and nonsensical prediction.
I sighed deeply and tossed my phone onto the bed. This must be a joke. Maybe someone was trying to mess with me. But who would care about someone like me now?
I returned to the balcony, trying to forget the message. But something nagged at my mind. What if... the message was true?
"Impossible," I muttered again. "It's just a coincidence."
Still, the thought kept swirling in my head. I tried to convince myself it was nonsense, but for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen tomorrow.
I decided to wait. Tomorrow, I would see if this prediction was just a silly game or if something bigger lay behind the mysterious message.
The next day, as the sun began to touch the tall buildings of Tokyo, I woke up, my head still filled with nightmares. Nightmares about the message, about the prediction that had kept waking me up throughout the night. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone with hesitation.
Did I really want to know?
Time passed, and soon it was nearing 14:30. I turned on the TV, feeling a mix of curiosity and fear. The news channels were showing the usual, traffic accidents, politics, and a boring weather report.
At 14:35, a breaking news alert suddenly appeared on the screen. I felt my heart pound.
"A famous Japanese actor, Yuto Nakamura, was found dead in his apartment this morning. Police suspect that his murderer is his personal manager, who has been missing since last night."
I gripped my phone tightly. The message was right. The prediction... was right.
"Impossible..." I whispered, barely audible. I swallowed hard, feeling my chest tighten. This wasn't a joke. This was real. But how? How could someone know about this beforehand?
I got up from my seat and began pacing around my cramped apartment. Cold sweat dripped down my forehead. This didn't make sense. The message came out of nowhere, from an unknown number, without any explanation. And now, its prediction had come true.
Who sent this message? Why was it sent to me? What was I supposed to do now?
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my chaotic thoughts. There was no use panicking. I had to stay calm and think clearly. Maybe there was a logical explanation for all of this. Maybe...
Ding!
My phone rang again.
My hands trembled as I reached for it from the table. Another message from an unknown number. I opened it, my heart still pounding fast.
"The FC Tokyo vs. Urawa Reds match will end 2-1 at the 90th minute."
I frowned. Is this a joke? Soccer, now? I've never been interested in soccer, but curiosity began to take over my mind. The previous message had been proven right, and this time, I couldn't resist seeing if this one would come true as well.
I sat back in my chair and turned on the TV, searching for the channel broadcasting the match. The game was still going on, and the score was currently 1-1. The time showed the 85th minute. My heart beat faster, as if I were the one on the field, waiting for something inevitable to happen.
The 90th minute arrived. And just as predicted, FC Tokyo scored the winning goal. The score changed to 2-1.
I froze in place, unable to believe what had just happened. Twice. Two messages. And both were right.
"What is this? Who's doing this?" I murmured, my eyes glued to the phone screen.
There were no clues. Just another prediction, proven correct once again. My mind was in chaos, trying to make sense of it. How was this possible? Was it a coincidence? Or was something bigger happening here?
I stood up and started pacing around my cramped apartment. In my head, various theories began to form. But none of them made sense. There was no logical explanation for all of this.
Suddenly, my head started to feel heavy again.
"Arghh..."
I clutched my temples as the pain returned with full force. Whatever was happening, my mind was too exhausted to process it all. I felt like I was in the middle of a storm, surrounded by chaos I couldn't understand.
I sat down again, trying to calm myself. My mind was still full of questions, but there were no answers. I picked up my phone, staring at the screen with both fear and curiosity. Would another message come? Was this just the beginning of something bigger?
I didn't know.
That night, I couldn't sleep. My thoughts kept drifting back to the two messages I had received and the truths they held. I tried to think of all the possibilities, but every time I got close to an answer, everything would fall back into confusion.
The next morning, my phone remained silent. No new messages. For the first time, I felt disappointed. Shouldn't I feel relieved? Those messages were driving me crazy, but when they stopped, it felt like something was missing.
I spent the day feeling restless. I walked around Tokyo, trying to forget everything that had happened. But the shadow of those messages kept haunting my thoughts. Would they come again? Would the predictions continue?
When night came, I returned to my apartment. My body felt tired, but my mind was still racing. I threw myself onto the bed, hoping that sleep would free me from all this chaos. But just as I was about to drift off...
Ding!
I woke up with my heart pounding. My phone rang again.
I grabbed it, and once again, a message appeared on the screen.
"Saito Corp.'s stock will rise by 15% tomorrow."
I stared at the message, trying to digest its meaning. Stocks? I had nothing left to invest. But somehow, the urge to prove this prediction right once again overpowered all logic.
I sighed, deciding to think about it the next day. But deep down, I knew I couldn't ignore this message. My mind was full of doubt, but there was something strange, like a sensation that I was getting closer to something I couldn't quite grasp.
The next morning, curiosity took over me once again. I didn't know what was going to happen, but something inside me felt like this wasn't the end of it all. The messages would keep coming, and the longer it went on, the more I felt like my life was no longer under my control.
I headed to a small brokerage firm on the corner of the city. With the last bit of money I had, I bought a few shares of Saito Corp., just to see if the message would be right again.
The day went by, and as predicted, Saito Corp.'s stock rose by 15%.
I smiled bitterly, realizing that once again, the message was correct. But behind this small victory, a growing fear lingered. I didn't know who was sending these messages or what their purpose was. But one thing was certain, I had gone too far to stop now.
These messages were beginning to control me.
And I didn't know how to escape this game.