A gentle breeze is shaking the trees in such a way that my whole body shivers with fear. As for the birds in the trees, each of their calls feels no less than something ghostly. It seems as if they are calling less and frightening more.

Walking through all of this has left me exhausted. Still, I kept walking. Nearly thirty minutes had passed. I just kept walking, and my feet began to ache. I have to sit somewhere; otherwise, I won’t manage.

As I walked, I spotted a bench in the distance and quickened my pace. Well, I’ve found a bench. I’ll get a little rest.

When I got closer, I saw that it was a bus stand. Who would even get off a bus in such a strange place? Anyway, there’s no time to think about that. Let me sit first.

As soon as I sat down on the bench, my feet seemed to find relief. The eerie calls of the birds stopped reaching me. That’s good. At least a little peace is returning to my mind. Until now, it felt like I had been fighting a war with ghosts.

No sooner had I sat peacefully for a while than the thought of where I would stay came into my mind. Where will I go? What will I do? Nothing is working in my head right now. I feel deeply restless. There’s no one around to ask for directions or seek help. What a desolate place I’ve ended up in!

I sat with my head lowered, my hands on my head. Everything around me feels empty. My head tells me to go back home, but my heart wants to get lost in some deeper city. I can’t decide whose voice to listen to. Maybe, in the end, I’ll have to go back home. I see no other option.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a bus arriving. It stopped at the bus stand. Someone seemed to get off and, while talking, came and sat on the bench. But I don’t feel like lifting my head to look at them. My mind only tells me to disappear into the darkness behind my closed eyes. There will be no one to frighten or search for me there.

And yet, I hear someone calling my name—

Hiroshike…

Hiroshike…

You’re Hiroshike, aren’t you?

I lifted my head and looked up, stunned for a few moments, staring at the face before me.