I returned to the apartment with heavy steps, the old door creaking as I opened it. The damp air and musty odor immediately assaulted my nose, making me nauseous. I held my breath for a moment, trying to get used to it.
This room was still a mess, although it was a little cleaner than before. But it's not enough. The lingering trash, thick dust, and stain marks on the floor still made me feel like I was in the worst place I'd ever seen.
I stood in the center of the room, looking at all this mess. But what bothered me more wasn't just the dirt, it was the voices from outside.
"Abusers don't deserve to live free..."
"Why is he still here?"
Those words kept echoing in my mind, making my chest feel tight.
"Who are you, Shinichiro?" I muttered under my breath.
I walked to the corner of the room, picking up the old broom I found earlier. If I keep thinking about this without doing anything, I'll go crazy. Cleaning this apartment was the only way I could feel a little normal.
I started sweeping the floor, collecting the remnants of the trash that hadn't been touched. Every time the broom touched the floor, dust flew up, making me cough. I tried to hold my breath, but the stench from the corner of the room made me feel even more uncomfortable.
"Why is this body so hated? What is it doing?" my mind kept struggling, trying to find answers. But nothing came. I just felt like I was stuck in the middle of something I didn't understand.
I continued sweeping, transferring the small pile of trash into a large plastic bag I found near the door. Once the floor was clean enough, I grabbed a wet cloth and started mopping.
Every time I saw the dust being wiped away, I felt a little relieved. At least there was something I could control. But disgust and amusement still surfaced every time I found a stain of unclear origin.
"Are you living like this, Shinichiro? Have you really given up on your life?" I muttered again, as if speaking to this body.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Cleaning this apartment took longer than I expected, but I didn't stop. Not just for the cleanliness, but also for my own mind.
As I cleaned the last corner of the room, my mind went back to the words of the residents earlier. Their words kept haunting me, making me wonder deeper:
"What exactly have you done, Shinichiro?"
After hours of cleaning the apartment, my body felt sticky with sweat and dust. The smell of garbage still lingered on my skin, as if it didn't want to leave. I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand and looked around. The apartment was indeed much cleaner now, but my body itself felt like a disaster.
I walked towards the small bathroom in the corner of the room. Dim lights illuminated the narrow space with dull tiles that were partially cracked. The faucet on the sink beeped loudly when I turned it, and cold water began to flow. I washed my hands, feeling a fresh sensation prickle my skin.
I took off the tattered and smelly clothes, letting them fall to the floor. The cold air touched my skin, and I stopped for a moment. For the first time, I saw this body clearly.
Pale, yellowish skin, prominent bones on the chest and arms, and matted black hair with gray hair spreading all over the head. Faint scars were visible in several places-on the elbows, on the knees, and even on the chest. My face that was once handsome, athletic, and full of life was now replaced by something... old.
I moved closer to the small mirror above the sink. The reflection of that face... sunken eyes, dark circles under my eyes, and lines around my lips that made me look much older than my age.
"Oh my..." I held my face, staring intently at the reflection. "What have you done to yourself, Shinichiro?"
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. But the longer I looked at this body, the more upset I became. I was Kenji Takahashi-heir to the family business, the man who had everything. But now I was stuck in this body, in this life, without knowing why.
"I don't deserve this," I muttered softly, almost as a complaint.
I turned on the shower, letting the cold water run over my head. The cold sensation was slightly soothing, washing away the dust and dirt from my body. But I couldn't erase the sense of disappointment and frustration that hit me.
I stared at the bathroom floor, the water flowing down the drain carrying with it the dust and dirt clinging to my body. But I knew, this wasn't enough.
I let out a long sigh, stepping on the cold tile floor with my eyes still fixed on the mirror. This body is not my body. This life is not my life.
I clenched my fists, determination slowly emerging in my mind. If this is the truth, if I really have to live as Shinichiro Ito, I will find out what really happened.
Turning on the Phone and the Haunting Message
After finishing my shower, I felt a little more refreshed, although these thoughts remained heavy. My body might be clean now, but the burden I felt inside didn't disappear in the slightest.
I walked out of the bathroom, drying my body with a worn towel I found in a small cupboard. My steps brought me back to the small table in the corner of the room. The old cell phone was now on, its cracked screen casting a dim light in the gloomy room.
I sat on the rickety chair near the table, watching the phone screen. There were dozens of notifications filling the screen, most of them messages from the same number.
I opened the messaging app, my thumbs moving slowly over the screen. I read the first message that popped up.
"I know you're there, Sensei. You can't get away from me."
My forehead furrowed. This message sounded... creepy. I opened another message.
"You think I forgot? I'll never forget you. You're mine."
My hands started shaking. The messages continued, getting stranger and more obsessive. Some were full of threats, some sounded like pleas, but they all had one thing in common-they were directed at Shinichiro Ito, the body I was now living in.
I scrolled up, wanting to see who was sending these messages. His name appeared on the screen, leaving me transfixed.
"Mei Tanaka."
I read the name over and over again, trying to understand what I had just seen. Mei Tanaka... who was she? What was her relationship with Shinichiro? And why is she so obsessive about this body?
I opened more messages, trying to find clues. But everything only made me more confused and anxious.
"Sensei, I know all your secrets."
"I'll make sure everyone knows who you really are."
"You'll never be able to escape me."
My breathing began to feel heavy. The words seemed to crawl on my skin, making me feel trapped in something bigger than I could imagine.
I put the phone down with trembling hands, staring at the now dim screen. The name still echoed in my mind: Mei Tanaka. Who is she? And what exactly is going on in Shinichiro's life?