[Chapter 4-Consiquenses]
Taro stared at his phone, his fingers tapping calmly yet cautiously.
"What village are you talking about?"
He waited for a response, but none came. Only silence from the mysterious sender.
“It must be a prank,” Taro muttered, trying to shrug it off.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed.
[New Notification]
He opened it, his heart skipping a beat. It was another message from the unknown number.
"Taro, the village is a lie. Don't go there."
Taro frowned, typing quickly.
"Who are you? And what village are you talking about?"
The reply came almost instantly.
"I am an anomaly, hiding here and there, yet no one sees me. They shall only fear me."
“Sorry, sir, but I don’t get your prank,” Taro typed, his patience thinning.
Without waiting for another reply, he blocked the number and sighed deeply.
“People nowadays just want to mess with others for fun.”
He stretched and glanced at the time. “I think I should go for a stroll around the city.”
---
Shibuya buzzed with life as Taro wandered its streets, taking in the sights he hadn’t seen in two years.
“Holy shit! Shibuya has more places to walk around nowadays,” he mused, marveling at the changes.
Checking his watch, he realized it was already 1:00 PM.
“Well, it’s getting late. I should head to the Nyan Cat Café. It’s a one-hour walk anyway.”
---
Taro finally reached the café, a nostalgic smile spreading across his face when he spotted a familiar figure outside.
“Oi, Kaito!”
“Yo, Taro! Wassup?” Kaito greeted, a grin on his face.
“Good. How’ve you been?”
“Not bad, especially now that you’re here,” Kaito replied, clapping Taro on the back.
“Ayy, you’re still the homie, huh?”
“You can call me that,” Kaito chuckled.
The two entered the café and settled into a cozy corner.
---
“So, Taro, how’s your visit to Japan been?” Kaito asked, sipping his coffee.
“Not good, not bad. Do you remember Himeno?”
“Yeah, I do. Don’t you remember how big of a crush I had on her?” Kaito laughed.
“Yeah, you were crazy for her back then,” Taro replied, chuckling.
“Good times,” Kaito said, his eyes distant with nostalgia.
“Yeah. It’s been boring in the U.S. since you left for Japan.”
“It’s been boring here too, but you know how VCU sends us back to our birthplace for food and culture studies,” Kaito replied.
“Yeah, I’m here for that too,” Taro admitted.
“Did you meet your parents?” Kaito asked, his tone softening.
“Kind of,” Taro said, hesitating.
“How did it go? I heard you didn’t have a good relationship with your parents after moving to the U.S.”
“It’s… complicated,” Taro said, lowering his gaze. “They didn’t talk to me much, and I didn’t either. Well, not ‘they.’ Just… her.”
“Her?” Kaito frowned. “What do you mean? Did your dad talk to you?”
“If he was alive,” Taro said quietly.
Kaito froze. “Wha—what do you mean?”
“He died,” Taro admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Died?”
Taro hesitated. Should I tell him the truth?
“How did he die? Was it an accident?” Kaito pressed.
“Kind of… more like a planned accident,” Taro said, his voice trembling.
“WHAT?” Kaito’s voice rose, drawing a few stares from nearby tables.
“Nothing,” Taro said quickly.
“Taro, why are you acting so stressed and messy today?”
“Just… stressed about the coming exam,” Taro lied, forcing a weak smile.
Kaito sighed. “Alright, if you say so.”
---
As Taro’s mind wandered, a sudden, chilling sensation gripped him. The café’s warm atmosphere dimmed, and his surroundings were consumed by a thick black mist.
“Kaito! What’s happening?” Taro called out, panic rising.
Kaito didn’t respond.
“Kaito? Why aren’t you answering?”
He turned to his friend, only to see Kaito’s eyes turn pitch black.
“Kaito, what’s happening to you?” Taro stammered.
“My dear Taro,” Kaito said, his voice eerily calm, “I sincerely ask for the last time—DO NOT GO TO THE VILLAGE.”
Taro jolted upright, gasping for breath.
“Taro! TARO! Wake up!” Kaito’s voice rang out, shaking his shoulder.
“Huh? Kaito, are you okay?” Taro asked, his heart racing.
“I should be asking you that. Are you okay?” Kaito said, his eyes filled with concern.
“What do you mean?” Taro looked around, realizing he was in a hospital bed.
“Why am I in a hospital?” Taro asked, his confusion deepening.
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