As we made our way along the tranquil trails of Okutama, my eyes were captivated by the natural beauty that surrounded us. The landscape offered a visual symphony of lush greenery, sparkling reflections on the calm waters of the lake, and majestic mountains that seemed to touch the sky. It was a breathtaking sight, and for a moment I felt a deep admiration for nature's splendor.
However, my surprise came not only from the beauty of the place, but also from the fact that such exceptional places existed on earth. It was as if Okutama was unveiling a hidden treasure, an escape from everyday reality into a world of serenity and wonder.
Saé, observing my reaction, made a perceptive remark. "It's normal that for someone like you, used to staying cooped up at home, this discovery seems extraordinary." A hint of humor crept into his voice, but I couldn't help but recognize the accuracy of his words. Perhaps this adventure still had many surprises in store for us, both in terms of enigmas and unexpected discoveries.
Edano, returning to the conversation, asked me about my daily life. Curious to know more about my world, he asked what I did for a living. Without hesitation, I revealed that I worked in a bookshop, surrounded by books and stories.
His reaction was intriguing. Edano, with a hint of understanding in his eyes, confided that he was beginning to discern the kind of person I was. He suggested that I was probably one of those individuals immersed in fiction, seeking refuge and escape from reality through stories.
A smile spread across my face, acknowledging Edano's insight. "In a way, you could say that I am indeed that type of person," I replied, "An assiduous traveler between fiction and reality."
Saé, without restraint, asserted, "He's clearly that type of person!"
Edano, in his usual cold tone, advised me not to waver too much between fiction and reality.「180°」
"While this may be an escape for you, you should avoid doing this in the future." 「180°」
His words sounded like a warning, perhaps underscoring the need to strike a balance between these two contrasting worlds.
"You talk as if we're going to make it in this new world," I retorted to Edano, expressing my concern about our uncertain fate.
He then reminded me that Saé and I had seen the film, pointing out that we were perhaps better prepared than the others to face the challenges ahead. However, his words also seemed to carry a tinge of skepticism, as if he doubted the film's ability to fully guide us through this ordeal.
"We've only seen thirty minutes of the film," I explained to Edano, emphasizing the limit of our cinematic knowledge. "We don't know how the story unfolds afterwards, or how it ends."
Edano seemed to take this information on board, pondering the total length of the film. Saé replied.
"To the best of my recollection, the film had a total running time of two hours and eleven minutes."
"So you only watched about 22.9% of the film. That's relatively little compared to the total running time," Edano declared gravely. He seemed well aware of the abrupt transition from fiction to reality.
Curious to understand how I had deduced that we were in the projection, Edano asked me: "How did you know we were in the film?" he asked.
I replied with an enigmatic smile. "I rather think it was the film that came to us. Our world hadn't yet been impacted by recent events, whereas the one in the film was already dilapidated. Surely to reinforce the apocalypse theme."
Edano nodded, understanding the logic that had led us to this troubling conclusion. We continued our walk through Okutama's picturesque landscape, with the weight of the unknown weighing on our shoulders.
After a few minutes' walk, we came upon a small convenience store. As we stepped inside, it became clear that something was amiss. There was no human presence, not even store staff. The atmosphere was strangely quiet, accentuating the sense of isolation that had accompanied us since our arrival.
Saé made a pertinent remark: "Since we arrived here, we still haven't found a human." His observation underlined the strangeness of the situation. We were alone, surrounded by enigmas and dangers, with no sign of the daily life we'd left behind.
Edano hypothesized that the absence of humans in the convenience store could be blamed on the hunter. Observing our surroundings closely, it became clear that the small village seemed to have been hastily deserted. Hints of a collective flight were evident in discreet signs, as if the inhabitants were trying to escape from something that frightened them.
"Let's take advantage of the calm to stock up on provisions," suggested Edano, a sensible idea in this now mysterious and dangerous world.
As Edano's footsteps gradually faded away, Saé and I found ourselves momentarily alone, immersed in the unsettling silence that enveloped the deserted place. It was in this suspended space that Saé decided to share with me a secret she had kept buried deep inside herself.
She stared at the ground for a moment, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes, before raising her gaze to mine. "Bun, I need to tell you something," she whispered in a voice both fearful and resolute. "I heard that strange voice at the subway station too. I didn't say anything because I was afraid of Edano's reaction, but I couldn't keep it to myself any longer."
I was slightly surprised by this unexpected revelation, but I could understand his reservations. "Why didn't you say something earlier?" I asked, trying to grasp the magnitude of this mystery.
Saé lowered her eyes for a moment, before answering sincerely: "I was afraid it would complicate things with Edano. We don't really know who we can trust here, do we?"
I gave him a reassuring smile, sympathizing with his concerns. "You've done well to tell me now. We'll try to figure out what's going on together. And maybe Edano has something to reveal too."
After what Saé had just told me, it seemed obvious that Edano Takeo was hiding something important.