Next morning.
"Hah. My lazy ass," Ken muttered, stretching with a groan.
"I've been in this room for three days straight. Haven't even stepped outside. Thank God Mrs. Mayu stocked up some cup noodles for me."
He reached for his guitar and frowned.
"Ah... broken. Damn that drunk driver." He sighed. "Guess it's time I finally stepped out."
But instead, he flopped back onto his bed.
"Ugh. What a boring chore."
Eventually, he made his way to the door. As he stepped out, he noticed the lady next door fumbling with her door lock.
"Ah—Morning, ma'am."
"Morning," she replied flatly, not even looking at him.
"You struggling with the lock? Need help with that?"
"No, it's fine. This damn thing always jams. I can handle it." She kept fumbling with it.
"Oh, okay then."
Ken nodded and walked toward the elevator. The woman—Keiko—kept fiddling with the lock. But something about her changed. Her eyes slowly turned pitch black. Thick, black liquid began dripping from her nose. Startled, she quickly covered it with her hand, trying to stop it. Then she glanced at Ken, with her same pitch black eyes. But she calmed herself, wiped her face with a handkerchief, and returned to the lock.
Ding!
The elevator doors slid open. Inside stood Sae, her phone pressed to her ear.
"I told you to stop asking about me. I'm doing fine here."
Ken stepped into the elevator.
"But, sweety," her mother's voice came through, gentle yet pleading, "why won't you just tell us where you are? Please. We won't say anything about your dreams. We just want to see you."
"No. If I tell you… you'll take me away from here."
"We won't do anything like that, just tell us where you—"
"Sorry, Mom. I can't."
Then a new voice interrupted—her father's, loud and angry.
"Sae! Listen to me. Enough now! You'll get nothing from this climbing nonsense. You'll lose yourself… just like your brother did!"
"Fine! Then I'll lose myself!" she snapped and shoved Ken aside with her shoulder, as she stormed out of the elevator.
"What the hell? Why are all girls like this…" Ken muttered, brushing off his jacket as he stared after her.
The elevator doors opened again. Ken stepped out and walked toward Mrs. Yamamoto's store
The shop door creaked open.
"Good morning, ma'am," he greeted.
Mrs. Yamamoto looked up with a warm smile. "Good morning, son."
Ken smile faintly. 'Son, huh? That's... kinda nice.'
He bought some chocolate, paid for it, and stepped out of the shop.
As he began to unwrap it, a small body collided with his leg—Sora, a little boy running towards the store. Ken stumbled slightly, but the kid didn't cry.
"Whoa, sorry, little guy. You okay?" Ken asked, kneeling to help him up and gently brushing off his clothes.
"Oh, you're a brave boy."
From a short distance, a woman called out, "Sora?" She had been talking with another lady but turned as soon as she noticed.
Sora looked back, smiled, and waved.
"Don't go too far, okay? I'm coming. Wait for me inside Mrs. Kobayashi's store, Okay?"
Sora nodded obediently.
"Oh, she's your mom?" Ken asked.
Sora nodded again.
'Huh? I guess he doesn't talk much.' Ken thought.
"Well, here." he offered, holding out another chocolate. "Be good and listen to her, alright?"
Sora hesitated, then accepted the treat with both hands and bowed politely.
Ken chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Good boy."
He stood up and headed toward the building's entrance.
Across the street, he spotted Haruki Sakai waiting for a taxi, his face bruised and slightly swollen. Nearby stood Yuuto Matsumoto, casually smoking, his expression unreadable.
Ken passed by them both without a word, he unwrapped another chocolate, crossed the road, and disappeared into the city's flow.
__________________________________________
Ken stared at the shuttered door in confusion.
"Huh? The shop's closed? I thought it'd be open by now. Why is it shut?"
Just then, he heard something—wet, sloppy sounds.
"What the...?"
He turned his head, trying to trace it.
"Where's it coming from?"
He followed the sound to a narrow alley, he found a man hunched behind a wall.
"Uh—hello?"
The man slowly turned. Ken's eyes widened in horror. The man's eyes were pitch black, his face smeared with blood, half of it grotesquely distorted—inhuman. He was hunched over the corpse of a stray dog. He was chewing on it's mangled remains.
Ken didn't wait. He ran.
"W-What the hell... was that?! That freak was eating a dog?! This place... I thought it'd be peaceful. But no—it's cursed! I need to get the hell out of here."
Luckily, the half-corrupted man hadn't noticed him. Ken sprinted all the way back to the Maple Home apartments, gasping for breath. He had escaped unnoticed. Lucky.
"Hah—" Ken exhaled sharply, catching his breath.
"Hey, kid." A familiar voice called from behind.
Ken turned. The security guard was standing behind him, staring at him with a chilling intensity.
Ken stepped back nervously.
"Y-Yeah...? Do you... need something?" He asked, voice trembling.
"It's not safe out there these days," the guard said, stepping closer.
"You could end up... somewhere terrifying. Understand?"
Ken nodded quickly, shivering.
"Y-Yes. I understand."
The guard placed a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"Good boy."
A beat. Then in a darker tone:
"Go."
Terrified, Ken hurried toward the elevator with his broken guitar. His thoughts were no longer about the freak in the alley—but about the guard.
'That guy... he's scarier than a demon.'
He glanced back. The guard was still watching him, with a creepy smile on his face. Ken turned away quickly.
'Don't look back, Ken... Don't.'
DING! The elevator opened. He rushed inside, not daring to turn around.
"Hey, wait—!"
A voice called out. It was Shun Ishikawa, followed closely by Renji Tanaka, who was carrying a stack of books in his arms.
But Ken didn't turn around. He didn't even look back.
"He's gone…" Shun muttered, watching the elevator doors close.
Renji adjusted the books in his arms. "Then let's just take the stairs."
As the elevator doors shut and it ascended, he finally exhaled.
"What the fuck is happening to me? Why did I even come to this town?"
__________________________________________
He reached his floor. "Hush—"
The doors opened. Waiting there was Issei.
"Hey Ken! How's your day?"
"You're sweating—are you okay?"
Ken forced a smile.
"Uh—just feeling hot."
"Hot? It's winter!" Issei chuckled.
"You sure you're okay?"
Ken nodded. His voice now clearer.
"Yeah... just a bad day. Again."
"Well, chin up, young man. Things will get better." Issei gave him a reassuring pat before stepping into the elevator.
Ken walked back to his room. He collapsed onto his bed.
After a while.
THUD!
"Ugh..."
THUD!
"Um... What now?"
Another thud.
"Ugh... that neighbour lady again. Why doesn't she just fix her damn door?"
He peeked outside. Her door was already shut.
"Huh? She's in early today. Is she sick or something?"
He scratched his head.
"Whatever... none of my business."
__________________________________________
A while later, Ken stepped onto the roof for some air.
"Eh?"
A girl was already there, smoking. The same one who called him a dumbass three days ago.
'What's she doing up here?' Ken wondered, then shrugged. 'Ah, whatever.'
He walked toward the edge.
"Hey you," she called out from behind.
"Haven't seen you around. What's your name?"
Ken blinked.
'Huh? Haven't seen me? Maybe if she wasn't high all the time, she'd remember people.'
"Are you deaf or mute?"
"Me?" he asked, pointing at himself.
"Is there anyone else here?"
'Tsk, girl.' Then Ken answered. "I'm Ken. You?"
She flicked her cigarette away and walked toward him.
"Name's Himari." A pause. "Want to know anything about me?"
"Sorry? What?"
"About me. Age, height, weight... size?" She whispered the last word.
Ken shifted uncomfortably. 'What she think me... a tailor?' Then Ken replied. "N-No thanks. I'm good."
"Why? Got a problem?"
'What is up with her? Why she is so..."
She stepped closer. Ken took a step back.
"Look, girl. You just want attention—and I'm not the guy to give it."
She stared at him, confused. "Eh?"
Ken walked past her and left the roof.
'Issei was right. People are weird. No—this whole town is weird. I need to get out of here.'
...
Back in his room, Ken lay in bed. Listening to music.
"No internet. No guitar. No fun. No love. Just me... and music."
He glanced at his cup noodles.
"And instant cup noodles."
He fell asleep with the empty cup beside him, earphones in, music still playing.
Then—SCRATCHING sounds.
GRUMBLING.
Ken stirred.
"Ugh..."
He rubbed his eyes.
'Hnn...? What's that noise?'
He checked his phone.
'Battery's dead.'
As he plugged it in, the noises continued.
'What's she doing this late? Should I check?'
'Obviously, story of my life.'
Still half-asleep, Ken opened the door. It was dark, but visible. Standing outside his neighbour's room, he noticed a liquid seeping out.
'Huh? What's this?'
He touched it with his toe.
'Could it be... blood?'
He rubbed it.
'No, too thin. Probably water.'
The noises stopped.
'Guess she left the tap open... or spilled something.'
Yawning, Ken returned to his room and shut the door.
Moments later, the neighbour's door opened. She looked both ways before stepping out. Her clothes were soaked, her skin ghostly pale. In her hand—raw, dripping meat.
She walked to Ken's door. Stared at it.
Inside, Ken slept peacefully.
She grabbed the doorknob.
CLICK.
CLICK.
It was locked.
She bent down, peeking through the keyhole. It was dark, but she could see Ken... breathing softly.
She watched for a long moment.
Then, silently, she stood up, turned, and went back to her room. Silently closed her door behind her.