Taro sighed as he walked home from school, his backpack slung over one shoulder. His entire body ached from today's torment—just another day of being pushed around by the school bullies. But what hurt the most wasn't the bruises on his arms or the humiliation he suffered in front of the whole class. It was the broken phone in his hands.
They had smashed it right in front of him, stomping on it until the screen shattered completely. It wasn't just a phone; it was his connection to the little happiness he had—his mother's calls, the few mobile games he played, and the occasional videos he watched to escape reality.
"Guess I'll have to buy a new one," he muttered, though he knew money was tight at home. His mother worked long shifts just to keep things running, and asking her for a new phone would only add to her burden.
After school, he walked into a second-hand electronics store, scanning the shelves for something cheap. Most of the phones were either too expensive or in terrible condition. Just as he was about to give up, one phone caught his attention. It was sitting alone in a corner, slightly dusty, but the price was shockingly low—almost suspiciously cheap.
Curious, he picked it up. It looked old, but something about it felt… different. The moment he touched it, a strange sensation ran up his arm, like static electricity.
"How much for this one?" he asked the store owner.
The man glanced at it and shrugged. "That? 2,000 yen. No refunds."
Taro hesitated but eventually bought it. It was the only option he could afford.
Later that night, after transferring his SIM card, he decided to test it by calling his mother. He pressed the call button and waited.
Ring… Ring…
Suddenly, everything went black.
Taro gasped, his vision swirling into darkness. He felt like he was falling, weightless and disoriented. Then, as if waking from a deep dream, his eyes snapped open.
Something was wrong.
His body felt strange—weak and unfamiliar. His hands… they weren't his! They were delicate, with neatly trimmed nails. He was holding a phone in his hands, and when he looked at the screen, he saw his own number—his call was still active.
His heart pounded as he looked around. He was in a small apartment, one he recognized immediately. This was his home… but why did everything seem bigger? His gaze fell on a nearby mirror, and when he saw his reflection, his breath hitched.
Staring back at him was not his own face. It was his mother's.
He was in his mother's body.
His mind raced, trying to process what was happening. Had he gone insane? Was he dreaming? He needed to think straight.
With trembling fingers, he pressed the end-call button.
Again, everything went black.
When he opened his eyes, he was back. The crowd around him was blurry at first, but as his vision adjusted, he realized he was standing on the street, his phone in his hands. The call was canceled.
Had anyone seen what just happened? No… everyone was just walking past him as if nothing had occurred.
Taro clenched his phone tightly, his breath shaky.
This phone… it wasn't normal.
Whoever he called—he would switch bodies with them.
And this was just the beginning.
To be continued...