As the bus pulled away from the station, Luck settled into his seat, trying to relax, but his mind was still racing.
He leaned back and let out a deep breath. Then he wiped his forehead. That's when he noticed—his fingers were damp with sweat.
"What the hell?" he muttered under his breath.
The air conditioning was on, humming softly overhead, and the cool breeze should have been enough to keep anyone comfortable. But here he was, sweating like he'd just sprinted to catch the bus.
He absentmindedly wiped his brow again, glancing around to see if anyone had noticed.
Luck glanced over again, expecting to see the girl with her earbuds in, tapping on her phone as casually as before—but the seat was unoccupied.
'Wait… where did she go? '
'Did she get off when I was sleeping? '
Luck exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. The more he thought about it, the fuzzier everything became.
'Yeah, that's it. It was just a dream. A weird, vivid dream. '
With that thought, he pushed himself up from his seat.
The doors opened with a hiss, and he stepped out, letting the cool air hit his face.
It felt refreshing, like a breath of fresh air.
The city was a bit quieter now because of how late it was.
'Should I find a place to stay first?' He checked the time, and it was already 10:00 PM.
Going to that place at this hour was risky. The smartest thing to do was to find a motel and go there first thing in the morning.
He began searching his phone for the closest and cheapest hotel available. After a moment of scrolling, he found one that fit the bill.
Just as he was about to walk away, a yellow taxi crept up beside him, its headlights cutting through the night.
He stopped in his tracks, and the taxi came to a halt, the driver's gaze fixed on him through the window.
It was another woman, but this time she looked mature, around the age of 30 to 35, and all her body proportions were quite enticing despite her wearing a taxi uniform.
In Japan, drivers were required to wear a uniform that included a crisp white shirt, a dark blazer, a hat, and a matching skirt or pants, which accentuated her figure while maintaining a professional appearance .
"Where to?" the woman asked, her tone friendly and inviting.
Luck hesitated .But before he could answer, she added, "Don't worry, I won't charge you too much; it's metered. You don't look like you're from around here, and it's unsafe to be walking at this hour."
Her words broke the tension, and he relaxed a bit. "Yeah, you're right. I'm just looking for a motel nearby."
"Hop in," she said with a smile. "I know a good one close by."
He contemplated his options carefully.
But as he looked at the woman—her friendly demeanor and genuine smile—he felt a bit reassured.
What was the worst thing she could do to him? Eat him ? Well, he thought, that didn't seem like such a bad idea.
As he climbed into the back seat, the warmth of the taxi enveloped him, providing a comforting escape from the cool night air.
The taxi began to move, and he leaned back against the headrest, feeling the fatigue of his travels wash over him. The gentle rhythm of the ride lulled him, and he didn't realize he was already dozing.
Up front, the woman driver reached up to remove her hat, letting her jet-black hair fall freely around her shoulders.
If he could see her now, he would notice that she resembled a more mature version of the girl in the cemetery.