I sat on the rickety chair in the corner of the apartment, letting my mind sink into a whirlpool of confusion. The messages on the cell phone kept spinning in my head, as if the terror-filled sentences were deliberately written to press my mind deeper into the abyss. That name-Mei Tanaka-haunted every corner of my brain.
"Who are you?" I muttered, breaking the silence of the apartment. There was no answer, of course. There was only the sound of dripping water from the small bathroom in the corner of the room.
I tried to connect everything I was seeing. The obsessive messages, the name of the young woman in the photo-Akiko Nakamura-and the resident's comments. But nothing made sense. I had no idea who they were, what happened in the past, or why I was in this body.
However, those thoughts were slowly interrupted by something more pressing. My stomach made a soft sound, as if demanding attention. A sudden hunger attacked me, making me realize that this body hadn't had food in a long time.
I stared at the thin hand in front of me, its skin pale and almost transparent. This body... so weak and thin, the bones protruding like there was no flesh covering them.
"How long has this body not eaten?" I muttered, feeling both concerned and annoyed.
I tried to find something I could eat in this apartment, but my efforts were in vain. The kitchen cupboards were empty, containing only stale food wrappers and empty bottles. The stench was overpowering, making me nauseous. I was about to give up until my eyes caught a small bag lying on the table.
With hesitant steps, I walked over to the bag and opened it. The contents were simple-a wallet, some keys, and some worn-out papers. I picked up the wallet and opened it slowly. Inside, there was a good amount of cash enough for a few meals.
I stared at the money in surprise. "Savings, maybe?" I thought. This could be the money Shinichiro saved before everything changed.
I took a deep breath, put the money back into my wallet, then gripped it tightly. No matter what the situation was, I couldn't let this body starve any longer.
I looked at the worn-out apartment door. With heavy steps, I decided to look for food outside, even though I knew I probably wouldn't be welcomed.
I walked out of the small apartment, my steps feeling heavy. The air outside was cold and damp, bringing a small sense of relief after hours inside a room filled with musty odors. The streets around the apartment were narrow and shabby, with cracks in the sidewalks and puddles reflecting the streetlights.
I reached into my pants pocket, grabbing the wallet I'd checked earlier. The money in it was enough to buy something simple, and that gave me a slight sense of relief. "At least I won't have to starve tonight," I muttered under my breath.
I didn't know much about this neighborhood, so I decided to walk following the faint scent of food wafting through the air. It didn't take long before I found a small ramen shop at the end of the street. The place was simple, with a worn wooden signboard and neon lights that flickered like they were about to die.
I stood for a moment in front of the door, surveying the place. From the glass window, I could see a few customers eating, their heads bowed towards their respective bowls. But the atmosphere changed when I pushed the door and the small bell on it rang loudly.
The previously calm atmosphere instantly became silent. I felt their gazes immediately fall on me.
I stepped inside, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling that was slowly creeping up my back. The delicious smell of ramen broth filled the room, making my stomach even hungrier. But the stares of those people made the atmosphere feel heavier than it should.
I walked to the cashier, where an old man stood with a cold face. He was cleaning the bowl, but stopped when I approached.
"What do you want?" he asked, his tone sounding unfriendly.
I swallowed, trying to compose myself before answering. "One bowl of regular ramen," I said as I pulled out some money from my wallet.
He stared at me for a while, his expression unchanged. But finally he took the money and handed me the food coupon with slow movements, as if reluctant to serve.
I took the coupon and looked for a seat. The table in the corner of the room seemed the safest, away from the other customers. As I walked over to it, low murmurs began to be heard.
"There he is..."
"How dare he come out."
"He shouldn't be here."
I tried not to turn my head, though curiosity almost forced me to. The voices kept echoing in my head, making my chest feel tight. I sat with my head bowed, playing with the coupon in my hand, waiting for the order to come.
Every second felt like an hour. I tried to stay calm, but their stares and murmurs were like daggers slowly stabbing me.
A few minutes later, a waiter came by with a bowl of ramen. He placed it on my table without a word, without even looking at me.
"Thank you," I said quietly, though I'm sure he didn't hear.
I picked up my chopsticks and started eating. The ramen was hot and delicious, but the atmosphere around me made it hard for me to enjoy it. The murmurs of other customers could still be heard, making my stomach feel queasy even though I was hungry.
I looked down, trying to finish my meal as quickly as possible. But I knew, this atmosphere wouldn't let me leave without a problem.
Confrontation at the Tavern
I was almost done eating, trying to cover my ears from the murmurs that were becoming increasingly clear around me. Every sentence they uttered felt like a small needle piercing my chest.
"Why is he still here?"
"He should know better."
"People like him don't deserve a normal life."
I ignored them, focusing on the ramen left in my bowl. But this atmosphere made me even more uneasy. Their gazes felt like they were glued to my back, as if they were waiting for something to happen.
Suddenly, I felt a hard push from behind. My bowl almost fell off the table, and I reflexively turned my head.
A young man stood behind me, his face filled with anger. His body was tall and well-built, probably the same age as the body I was occupying now. His eyes were narrowed, full of hatred that he couldn't hide.
"How dare you show yourself here!" he said in a high tone.
I fell silent, at a loss for what to say. But the man didn't stop. He stepped closer, making me move back a little in my seat.
"You think we'll forget what you did?!" He pointed at me with his finger, his voice breaking the silence of the shop. "You don't belong here. You don't deserve to eat in the same place as us!"
I opened my mouth, trying to explain something, but no words came out. I had no idea what Shinichiro had done, or why this man was so angry.
"Have you no shame?!" he shouted again. "After everything you've done, you still dare to go out to eat like this?!"
I could feel all the eyes in the shop on me. They were waiting for my reaction, but I didn't know what to do.
"What do you mean?" I finally managed to say, my voice low and shaky.
The man laughed coldly. "Oh, you're playing dumb now? What a jerk. You think life will just go back to normal? You thought everyone would forget?!"
I could only look down, feeling small in front of his anger.
"I'll make sure you can't live in peace," he said in a low, but threatening voice. He gave me a sharp look before turning around and walking out of the shop, slamming the door loudly.
I froze, trembling hands holding chopsticks. Everyone in the shop was still staring at me, some whispering. I felt like a criminal who had just been tried in public.
I stared at the ramen left in my bowl. My appetite vanished. What exactly was this body doing? What had Shinichiro done that everyone hated him so much?