"Hikigaya. . .Shiba. . .w-what. . .have you. . .d-done?"
"Hikigaya. . . you. . . you. . ."
"W-why. . . did you. . .do this. . .?"
"Hikigaya. . .Shiba. . .w-what. . .have you. . .d-done?"
"Hikigaya. . .Shiba. . .w-what. . .have you. . .d-done. . . ?"
The woman lying in front of me kept repeating those words, her voice growing weaker with each utterance.
". . ."
Her tears faded away as the light drained from her eyes.
"Haah," I exhaled heavily.
My breathing was labored. How long had I been lying here? Ten minutes? Maybe longer. I realized I had spaced out again. The path was secluded, almost eerily silent. It's been a while since someone called me by my full name.
I stood up, brushing dirt off my clothes, and started walking, trying to leave the path behind.
It's cold.
The night is cold. It's almost as if the very air I breathe is rejecting me. Still, it's the only thing I love. The cold sends shivers down my spine. My blue hoodie really helped me on this snowy night.
It was dark. I hadn't seen a person for ten minutes. But I don't mind being alone.
As I walked, I fiddled with my phone, checking my freelance projects. I still have two works to be completed within a week or so. It's really hard for a 16 year old like me to get a freelancer job—especially when I still have unfinished projects hanging over me.
I raised my arm to check the time. 2:43 AM. I couldn't even remember why I'd come here.
Since it's the age of technology, I can monitor my sleep. Well, it might be useful for others, but it's an utterly useless feature for me.
Due to handling many projects with various business-class people, I could barely sleep each day. When I checked my sleep tracker on my watch, it said I had a total of two hours of sleep this week.
My eyes hurt. It has gotten worse as the days go by. But. . .
I still needed to earn money.
Some might wonder why I needed to earn this much. As I checked my bank account, I still have 10 million yen yet to clear.
I had barely made a dent in these past four years.
Then I shoved my phone into my hoodie pocket to distract myself. Still, I couldn't stop wondering why I had to clear this debt. My parents were the ones who
incurred it, but they passed away, leaving me to face it alone. Even so, I have to do it—to make my parents proud in heaven while I wander through this hell. For now, I should stop thinking about it.
A faint light broke the darkness ahead. The road. Finally, I had reached the end of the path.
Still, there wasn't a single person around. Not surprising—who'd be out here at
2:43 AM? Only people like me, lost in nowhere.
And with that I began to walk, I somewhat could feel the loneliness for no reason. Even though I have a friend with me 24/7.
Thanks.
As I approached my apartment, the wind picked up, hinting at rain. Winter rain was unusual, but fitting.
As I was walking near the café next to my apartment, bang. Someone bumped into me. It was a woman.
"Oh, sorry, my bad." I muttered instinctively, even though it wasn't my fault.
"Oh my... my papers!" the woman said, scrambling to pick up the sheets scattered on the sidewalk.
Her voice was soft, almost too delicate for the cold night air. She appeared to be in her twenties, with long black hair—a black coat over a white shirt and tie. She looked exactly like an office worker—someone who clearly didn't belong out here at 2:43 AM.
I stared at her for a second longer than I should've, and she noticed.
"Um, hey, you've been standing there for a while..." she said, her words sending a weird shiver down my spine.
"Oh! Sorry! I'll help," I blurted, crouching to gather her papers. My hands moved faster than my thoughts.
The papers were a mess but numbered, making it easier for her to sort later. They looked like job applications or some kind of professional records. Should I ask her if they have any vacant jobs?
"Um, I can take it from here," she said, taking the remaining sheets from me.
As I handed her the last of the papers, the wind scattered a few more.
"Hey, watch out." I called, but two or three papers flew out of reach.
"You should be careful, ma'am," I murmured. She didn't respond. One paper landed near my feet. I bent to pick it up and froze.
Wait... isn't this my face?
"What the—? Is this me?" I muttered, confused. I looked closer. This isn't an old photo.
This is me, now. Like this face clearly after my puberty.
I turned to her. She was looking down, pretending not to notice.
"Hey. . . lady" I waited for a response. She took a deep breath, like she was trying to find the right words.
"It's Luna," she said calmly.
So her name is Luna?
"Okay, Luna, why is my face plastered on this resume-looking thing?" I asked, examining the paper. It had my photo in the top right corner, along with my name, age, and everything.
I hadn't applied for any jobs in two years. This information is way too recent. It even had my current age, 16.
Before I could fall into a rabbit hole of overthinking, she called out my name.
"Hikigaya Shiba, right?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
Guess she knows my name from this thing.
"Yes. And you still haven't answered my question," I said, pressing her for an explanation. Then, without thinking, I asked, "Are you a job recruiter?"
"Yes I am a job recruiter." Luna replied after a brief pause.
"But I didn't apply for one and I am too young to be classified for a full-time job." I asked, still I don't believe all these things.
It might be a kidnapping trap, I need to stay alerted.
"It's a bit long to explain here…" Luna said, standing up with the papers in hand. "How about we grab a drink and talk? There's a café nearby."
"Yes." I answered with no regrets. The fastest yes in my lifetime.
Tch-
She raised an eyebrow. "Didn't expect you to agree so quickly."
Yea I just said yes. A normal person would report her to the police, but I just agreed to a café date. Wait... is this a date? We're going to a café, alone. This has to coun—
"Hey, you good?" Luna's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Uh, yeah, just..." I trailed off, unsure how to explain the mess in my head.
"You haven't said a word since agreeing to the café. Thought you zoned out." she teased lightly.
Zoned out? Damn it, how long have I been out this time?
I looked around. We were already in the café. Damn you—
"So, what'll you have? It's on me," Luna said, casually flipping through the menu.
As I was looking through the menu, a thought lingered in my mind. Who is she really? She said she's a recruiter, but what recruiter drinks coffee with a random guy at 2:53 AM like this?
"You like coffee, don't you Shiba?" Luna said.
"Um yes. . . How do you know?" I replied.
"Well it was just a guess," she said with a playful smile.
As she spoke, I couldn't help but feel like something was off. Something about her, something about the way this whole night had unfolded. . .
Then, as if reading my mind, she leaned in and whispered, "Shiba, do you really know why you're here?"
And just like that, the weight of her words hit me like a cold gust of wind.
Should I worry?
No I can handle anything, like she isn't equipped with any lethal things like toothpick.
Your ass is weak...
Yes, but I think I can handle it. It's not a big deal to be honest, afterall I have seen far more intriguing things than this.
"Hey, you still haven't answered my question." I said. I am not leaving that thing hanging even though I almost forgot about it.
"Oh, yes, I will. Just chill out, Shiba-kun," she replied with a soft laugh. And she followed up by saying.
"You must have been pretty broke throughout your life, right?"
As she ended the sentence, it felt strange, like she was pointing out something obvious. Is she talking about my loan? Should I tell her about it?
At that same time, the server placed the coffee beside me. I gave a small nod—a habit, automatic, like my brain hadn't caught up yet.
My fingers brushed the cup's handle, warm and solid, but something felt… off. I didn't order this. The thought lingered, hazy, as the steam curled upward like something alive.
I stared at it for a moment. My eyes were already losing the battle, heavy and sluggish. Maybe that's why I didn't question it. Maybe that's why I lifted the cup anyway.
The clock ticked, each second sharper than the last. I brought the coffee to my lips, the faintest bitterness hitting my tongue.
I'll say something, I thought, after this sip. Just… after this.
"Yes, I have a 10 million yen loan on my name. Sounds crazy, right?" I said that, almost like I am flexing it. I again took another sip while closing my eyes like a majestic king on a throne.
As expected, I waited for the shocked reaction. . . but what I got was. . .
"Isn't it 10,353,473 yen? Shiba-kun."
I choked on my coffee. The words hit me like a sucker punch, knocking the air clean out of my lungs. The cup slipped from my fingers before I could stop it. It hit the floor with a dull clatter, shards skittering across the ground. Not that there was much left in it—I'd already drained nearly every drop, except for the one I'd just choked on.
I stared at her, coughing, my throat burning.
The sharp sound of glass shattering echoed through the café, freezing the air. My jaw started to shiver, the noise ringing in my ears like an alarm I couldn't turn off.
It's something only a few people at the bank know. So how could she possibly know?
The thought clawed at my chest, a sick unease curling around my spine. My eyes locked onto her—steady, calm, as if she hadn't just ripped the ground from under me.
I snapped.
"Wait, how do you know that, Miss Luna?" I said as I slammed the table, it's rare for me to snap.
She remained silent, but I wouldn't be.
"And still, you need to explain—"
"Shut up." Her words slammed into me like a storm, forcing the air to still.
I stayed silent, but she wouldn't let the silence breathe.
"We are currently looking for people to participate in a. . . erm. . ."
Now we both remained silent. She broke the silence by saying.
"Like it's a opportunity where you have a chance to clear your debt"
"Clear my debt?" I muttered.
It would be interesting to say the least…
But…
"Wait, why are you standing up all of a sudden?" Luna asked with a calm tone rather than a confusing tone.
"I would like to say that I am not interested in this shady kinds of thing"
"Oh? Mind telling me why?"
"I have no reason to continue this conversation and…"
"Please don't stalk me, it's creepy to stalk a 16 year old teen"
She remained silent as I began to leave the cafe.
As I reached for the door handle, I expected her to attack from behind. But when I twisted the knob, the rusty metal sound filled the café. I glanced to my side to look at Luna.
She remained silent, sipping her coffee, then spoke. . .
"Are you scared of me Haruto?"
No shit
"Wh- what?" I said, a sudden shiver sent down my spine
"How did you—?" My words fumbled as sweat ran down my neck.
As I was in this state, she calmly stood up and started to walk towards me.
"Who are you really?"I asked, instinctively taking a defensive stance as she closed in.
How does she know that name? . . . Only you know. . .
Wait. . . I don't feel right. . . Something's off.
Control him!
"What now? Trying to kidnap me? Or even. . . kill me?"
"Oh, wow, look at that, you guys" She said with a laughing tone.
It's almost like mocking. . . I dOn' liKe thaT. . .
Calm down. . . Calm down. . .
"It looks like you are having some time deciding whether to accept the path I offered"
She followed up by saying "I guess you are having trouble having control right?"
"What. . . are you saying? . . . , Luna—"
She stood still, about three meters away, then pointed her right index finger towards us.
"I guess you guys do really lose focus whenever I said something only you guys know"
Shiba watch out!
With a bang, the guy behind me—who seemed to be a worker at the cafe—hit me on the head. It was the same guy who had served me coffee.
"Ah—"
A series of black flashes felt through my eyes.
I fell on the ground with a thud, as my eyes began to fade away with darkness, as if I lose control over my body and- I don-'t wai-
"Haah—" I exhaled as a series of black flashes felt through my eyes became normal.
"Wow, you sure are strong," Luna said, standing at the same place where she was a moments ago.
But unlike her everything around me seems to change.
"Can't believe you took on 3 guys by yourself, impressive"
"What the- haah hell am I haah" I gasped, trying to grab hold of my breath.
"It looks like you're lost in the dark, huh?" Luna spoke out rather in a childish way. Luna continued by saying.
"But not gonna lie, that was an amazing fight by you".
"What the hell happened?" I whispered, but Luna heard that and said.
"It seems like you don't remember things when you don't have control"
She followed up by saying.
"Well, 13 stabs on the left eye of this guy, twisted this guy's neck who hit you on your head and stabbed this guy's ear with a fork all in less than 1 minute." She said that as she pulled her stopwatch and it said exactly 43 seconds.
As I checked my watch,She was right.
"I must say you are strong and I couldn't see any reaction on that face"
She's talking about things I don't even remember seeing yet, my hand is covered in blood. Why?
That's not the case, I know the reason why but. . .
"How much do you know about me?"
"A lot, to be honest~" Luna responded with a charm to her face, acting like a little girl.
What a pain. . . if I am not wrong it's her.
Yeah do it I guess.
"I WiLl LiTeRaLLy RiP YoU ApArT LiKe I DiD To ThOsE... YoU SaW ThOsE DiDn'T YoU?"
"Well you seem to walking towards me, I would like you to stay still"
"WhY? ArE y0u ScArEd 0f mE... LUNA AMANO?"
"Oh, wow, you know my name. Have we met before?"
"BeFoRe I AnSwEr... I'd LiKe To KnOw, WhAt Is YoUr FaVoRiTe OrGaN"
"Nope I think it should work hehe~"
"HeY. . . WhAt's WiTh ThAt KiNdErGaRtEn ToNe. . . HuH?"
Wait I don't really feel well
"What— why is my vision blurry?" As I started to breathe heavily.
I grabbed onto the shelf for support.
"Oh, well, I guessed something might happen while trying to kidnap you guys, so I added some special liquid to that drink you had." She said as the clock ticked to 3:03 AM.
I feel like my body is yet again losing control even though I just gripped it.
"Ah–" My leg gave out.
Is it poison? Or some kind of drug to paralyze me? But if so, why is it activating now? It's been 3 minutes since I drank that coffee. But the effects are only kicking in now. . .
"Oh my, look at you, poor soul, laying in the ground unable to move"
She started walking up to me, each step a promise of what was to come. Her presence was suffocating, and as she closed in, I could feel the weight of her words.
"You will be put to sleep now, so have fun with your inner thoughts."
The moment she spoke, my eyes closed of their own accord. The world blurred, spinning, and then. . . nothing. I couldn't feel anything.
It's cold.