《Cryptic Life》 Chapter-1 | Cryptic [Chapter-1:A new Life] [14 July 2025:9:20 AM]
The camera pans over a bustling Akihabara, its vibrant streets filled with colorful shop signs, towering arcades, and people moving about with purpose. Among them, Taro Izumi stands, his suitcase beside him, taking in the familiar sights. "It''s sure good to be back in Akihabara," Taro says with a faint smile. "I missed this place so much." He glances around, his gaze landing on a manga shop he frequented years ago. The memories flood back, but they feel distant. Sighs "It doesn''t hit the same anymore, does it? I haven''t been here in so long..." Taro pulls out a small, well-worn diary from his bag. Flipping it open, he skims through his handwritten notes and stops at his To-Do List for the day. "Okay, let''s finish my job here first," he mutters, snapping the diary shut and tucking it away. --- [The Nyan Cat Caf¨¦] Taro approaches the caf¨¦, its quirky neon sign of a cat floating through space catching his eye. He pushes the door open and steps inside, greeted by the warmth of the interior and the soft meows of real cats lounging around. ¡°Hello, my name is Taro Izumi. I¡¯m here for the food quality observation duty from Viktor Chondria University,¡± he announces at the counter. The caf¨¦ owner, a cheerful man in his late 40s, steps forward and greets him warmly. ¡°Oh, Taro-san! I got a call from your professor earlier. She mentioned you¡¯d be here for an observation duty.¡± ¡°Well, yes, I am,¡± Taro replies, adjusting his bag. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°So, Taro-san, shall we begin?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get into it,¡± Taro says, his tone professional. The owner leads him on a tour of the caf¨¦, explaining its concept, food preparation techniques, and their feline-themed branding. Meanwhile, Taro takes notes, occasionally stopping to sample the dishes. The caf¨¦ serves an array of whimsical treats¡ªcat-shaped macarons, latte art of kittens, and paw-printed sandwiches. Taro jots down observations on the food quality, presentation, and customer service. Finally, as they wrap up, Taro looks at his notes. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s about time I gave you a score on behalf of Viktor Chondria University,¡± Taro begins, clearing his throat. ¡°I give you an 8.5 out of 10.¡± The owner smiles, clearly pleased. ¡°Well-deserved, Taro-san. I wouldn¡¯t expect more or less from the great Viktor Chondria University!¡± Taro chuckles softly. ¡°Thank you for your cooperation. It was a pleasure.¡± --- [Outside the Caf¨¦] Taro exits the caf¨¦, stretching slightly as he steps into the bustling streets of Akihabara once more. Suddenly, his phone buzzes in his pocket. ¡°Why is it buzzing now?¡± he murmurs, fishing it out. The screen flashes with Professor Lexi¡¯s name. Taro sighs but accepts the call. ¡°Hello, Professor Lexi. How are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± her sharp voice replies. ¡°How are the observations coming along?¡± ¡°They¡¯re going decent,¡± Taro says, trying to keep it brief. ¡°Good. I¡¯ll expect your full report by next week,¡± she adds curtly. ¡°Understood, Professor.¡± ¡°Alright. Goodbye, Taro.¡± ¡°Goodbye,¡± Taro says, hanging up. He slips his phone back into his pocket and glances around. "Finally, some free time. I think I¡¯ll grab a bite to eat and maybe meet my family." With that thought, Taro picks up his pace, blending back into the vibrant energy of Akihabara. Next chapter-2 Coming soon Chapter-2 | Next steps [14 July:11:24 AM] [Chapter 2-Next steps]
Taro sighed, rubbing his temples. "This professor can''t stop talking nonsense. And what does she mean by checking with me? I¡¯m not bringing her to Japan." He glanced at his phone. [11:24 AM] "I arrived way too early in Japan, but at least I can meet my family now." --- [On the Train] Taro hopped on the subway, moving through Tokyo. From Akihabara to Shinjuku, then finally to Shibuya, he stared out the window, taking in the familiar sights. "So nice being back here," he murmured. "My family moved from the rural area to Shibuya long ago. They should still be around here." After exiting Shibuya Station, he walked through the bustling streets, heading toward Setagaya City. "The house on the left should be my parents'' place," he thought as he approached a cozy, two-story building. --- [At the Doorstep] Taro reached out to ring the bell, his heart pounding with anticipation. The door opened, but instead of his parents, he saw someone unexpected. ¡°Wassup, Taro-san!¡± Taro froze, his eyes widening in shock. Standing in the doorway was Akari Himeno, a childhood friend he hadn¡¯t seen in years. ¡°Oi, Taro, what happened? Why are you frozen?¡± she teased. ¡°Nothing. Uh¡­ Isn¡¯t this my parents¡¯ house?¡± Taro stammered, trying to regain his composure. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Nope, your parents¡¯ house is the one opposite this,¡± Akari replied with a grin. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, turning to leave, but paused. ¡°By the way, Akari, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°Oh, I live here now. My parents died a long time ago in a landslide back in the village, so your parents adopted me.¡± Her words hit Taro like a truck. ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m so sorry to hear that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be,¡± Akari replied, her tone calm. ¡°It happened over a year ago.¡± ¡°A year ago¡­ How disconnected have I become from my own family?¡± Taro thought, guilt washing over him. ¡°What are you thinking about, Taro?¡± Akari asked, tilting her head. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ll catch you later,¡± he said, already stepping away. Before he could leave, he turned back. ¡°By the way, Akari, do you have some free time later this afternoon?¡± ¡°Sure, but why?¡± she asked curiously. ¡°I was thinking of visiting our old hangout spots to refresh some memories. I might bring Kaito along if he¡¯s free.¡± ¡°Kaito? He went to university with you, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s back in Japan for his studies too.¡± ¡°Oh, that sounds fun. It¡¯d be nice to catch up with both of you,¡± Akari said with a smile. Taro nodded, bidding her goodbye before heading to the house next door¡ªhis parents¡¯ home. --- [At His Parents'' Doorstep] Taro stood before the door, his hand hovering over the bell. A wave of uncertainty hit him. ¡°How will they react to me showing up out of nowhere? It¡¯s been so long¡­¡± After taking a deep breath, he finally pressed the button. The sound of the bell echoed faintly, and he waited anxiously for someone to answer. Chapter-3: Choices [Coming soon] Chapter-3 | Choises [14 July:11:30 AM] [Chapter 3-Choices]
Taro stood hesitantly at the door, his hand hovering over the handle. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind. "I didn¡¯t come to Japan for more than two years. I haven¡¯t even contacted them for over a year. Will they accept me?" His hand trembled before he slowly pulled it back, his mind drowning in scenarios¡ªsome warm, some cold, and some devastating. Suddenly, he felt a warm touch on his shoulder. Startled, Taro turned around. It was none other than his mother, her eyes glistening with emotion. ¡°Taro, what are you doing here?¡± she asked, her voice filled with surprise and warmth. ¡°Mom¡­ I returned to Japan for work reasons,¡± Taro replied, frozen in place, unsure of how to react. His mother smiled gently. ¡°Why are you standing there, Taro? It¡¯s rude not to hug your mom.¡± Without hesitation, she pulled him into a warm embrace. Taro, overwhelmed, reached out and hugged her back, his emotions flooding as memories of his childhood rushed to him. ¡°Oh, Taro, how long has it been since I last saw you? You were my little boy then, but now you¡¯ve grown into a man,¡± she said, holding him tightly. ¡°I missed you so much, Mom,¡± Taro whispered, feeling a sense of relief he hadn¡¯t felt in years. His doubts melted away. A mother¡¯s love, he realized, was unbreakable. ¡°Let¡¯s go home, Taro,¡± his mom said, smiling warmly. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Taro replied, nodding. --- [At the Apartment] Taro stepped into the apartment, memories flooding back as he scanned the familiar surroundings. ¡°Remember, Taro? This was your old apartment,¡± his mom said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. ¡°Yes, Mom. I remember everything,¡± Taro replied, his eyes lingering on every corner of the room. He set his bag down and turned to his mother. ¡°Mom, can I have something to eat?¡± ¡°Obviously, Taro,¡± she replied, heading to the kitchen. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. As Taro sat down, he thought about the village food his mom used to make. ¡°This kind of food is rare in the city, especially in the West,¡± he said to himself. ¡°How long has it been since my Taro had good food?¡± his mom asked from the kitchen. ¡°Quite some time, Mom,¡± Taro replied. She soon returned with a steaming plate of food. Taro eagerly started eating, savoring every bite like it was a piece of heaven. ¡°How long are you in Japan this time?¡± his mom asked, watching him eat with a smile. ¡°About a week,¡± Taro replied between bites. ¡°Want to visit the mountain house we still have?¡± she suggested. The mention of the house sent a wave of childhood memories rushing back. ¡°You want to go there?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That house is in the mountains,¡± Taro said hesitantly. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you remember what happened with Dad the last time we were there?¡± ¡°That was a year ago,¡± his mom said calmly. ¡°And so what? Your dad is dead now.¡± Her words struck Taro like a thunderclap. ¡°Dead? How did he die?¡± he asked, his voice trembling. ¡°I killed your dad after the fight we had because of you,¡± she said bluntly. Taro froze, unable to process her words. ¡°Why did you do that?! That¡¯s a crime!¡± ¡°So what? What your dad did was unacceptable,¡± she said coldly. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you kill him!¡± Taro shouted, his voice cracking as he bolted out of the house. --- How could my own mother do that?! How could she? I knew she hated Dad, but not to this level. Taro¡¯s thoughts spiraled as he stumbled down the street. --- [Incoming Call: Kaito] Taro answered the call, trying to steady his voice. ¡°Taro, my guy! I heard you¡¯re in Japan. Where are you right now?¡± ¡°In front of my old apartment,¡± Taro replied. ¡°You free this evening?¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°Like 3:00 PM.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Okay, good. I have something to tell you!¡± ¡°Where are we meeting?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s meet at Nyan Cat Caf¨¦.¡± ¡°Bet.¡± The call ended, and Taro took a deep breath. Kaito¡¯s familiar voice had eased his nerves, if only slightly. --- Just as he felt a moment of peace, his phone buzzed. [New Text from Unknown Number] "The village is a lie." Taro stared at the message, his unease growing. ¡°The village is a lie?¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°What village? What lie?¡±
Next chapter-4 Chapter-4 | Consciquenses [14 July:11:50 AM] [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 Caf¨¦. It¡¯s a one-hour walk anyway.¡± --- Taro finally reached the caf¨¦, 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 caf¨¦ 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. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°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¡ªwhat 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 caf¨¦¡¯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¡ªDO 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.
Next Chapter-5:Memories Chapter-5 | Memories [14 July:2:00 Pm] [Chapter 5-Memories]
[At the hospital] ¡°Why am I in a hospital?¡± Taro asked, his voice groggy with confusion. Kaito rolled his eyes. ¡°Dumbass, you blacked out!¡± ¡°I did?¡± Taro frowned. ¡°Yes, you did. 100%,¡± Kaito said, crossing his arms. ¡°When is my discharge?¡± Taro asked, his head pounding. ¡°Dont know¡± Kaito replied casually. Taro nodded slightly, his mind drifting elsewhere. ¡°Kaito, I have to show you something.¡± ¡°What?¡± Taro hesitated before pulling out his phone and showing Kaito a series of strange texts. Kaito barely reacted. ¡°These look like prank messages.¡± ¡°Yes, they do, but I also dreamt about them when I ¡®blacked out,¡¯ like you said,¡± Taro replied, his tone serious. Kaito sighed. ¡°Let me tell you one thing¡ªyou¡¯re probably going crazy because of all the studying.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Taro protested. ¡°Yes, you are.¡± ¡°Just listen to me for a second!¡± ¡°No.¡± Kaito pushed Taro back onto the hospital bed. ¡°Listen here, I¡¯ll pick you up at 2:20 PM. Until then, take your medicine, talk to the nurses, and sleep.¡± With that, Kaito walked out the door, leaving Taro staring at the ceiling in frustration. ¡°How could it be? It definitely seems real¡ªthe messages, the guy in the black smoke¡ªit all felt real. Why won¡¯t Kaito believe me?¡± Taro¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by his phone vibrating. [Incoming Call] ¡°WHO IS CALLING?!¡± he yelled at the screen. [1 Missed Call: Mom] Taro¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Mom is calling? She has the courage to call me after what happened?¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
(Part-2) *Author''s Note* (This part is from kaito''s prospective) [14th July |11:55AM]
Kaito leaned back in his chair, casually sipping his coffee while eyeing Taro, who sat across the table. Taro seemed unusually quiet, staring blankly at the table. ¡°I think you should think less about the exam. It¡¯s only worth 5.6% of our grade anyway,¡± Kaito said, trying to lighten the mood. Taro didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Taro¡ªTaro¡ªwhy are you not responding?¡± Kaito asked, leaning forward. Taro, without a word, pulled a piece of paper from his bag. He placed it on the table and began writing something, his expression blank, almost lifeless. ¡°What are you doing, Taro?¡± No answer. Kaito furrowed his brows. ¡°Taro, seriously, what are you doing?¡± His voice grew louder, but Taro didn¡¯t even blink. With a frustrated sigh, Kaito slammed his hand on the table. ¡°Is this a prank?!¡± Taro continued writing, seemingly unaffected by Kaito¡¯s outburst. Finally, he finished, setting the pen down. He pushed the paper across the table toward Kaito. ¡°What did you write?!¡± Kaito snatched the paper and stared at the strange symbols scribbled across it: -???¥ê??¥ê?? ??? ¥ê??? ? ? ? ?? ??? ? ? ?? ? ? ?? ??????? ¡°What is this jumble of letters, Taro?¡± Before Kaito could get an answer, Taro¡¯s body went limp, and he fell off his chair. ¡°Taro!¡± Kaito shouted, rushing to his side. But there was no response. ¡°I AM BEYOND CONFUSED!¡± Kaito yelled, panic setting in as he stared at the cryptic symbols on the paper and his unconscious friend.
To be countineud....... Chapter-6 | Downwards Spiral [14 July:2:10 Pm] [Chapter 6-Downwards Spiral] (Taro''s perspective) [This takes place after part 1 of chapter-5]
Taro stared at his phone for a moment before dialing his mother¡¯s number. The phone rang. ¡°Taro! Where have you been?¡± his mother¡¯s voice burst through, filled with concern. ¡°I¡¯ve tried calling you so many times!¡± Taro¡¯s voice was cold and sharp. ¡°Really? Do you even care about me?¡± ¡°Taro, I do,¡± his mother said, her tone soft. ¡°I do, son.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you tell me about Dad?!¡± Taro snapped, his voice rising. ¡°You thought hiding something this big was normal? I always thought Dad was working hard, but no! You put him to sleep way earlier!¡± ¡°Taro, please,¡± she pleaded. ¡°Calm down. I didn¡¯t tell you because it wasn¡¯t the right time.¡± Taro¡¯s laugh was bitter. ¡°The right time? Well, now it¡¯s time for me to hang up¡ªnot for your shenanigans, but for my own sanity.¡± Click. Taro threw his phone onto the bed and ran his hands through his hair, trembling with anger. ¡°She thinks this is normal,¡± he muttered to himself, his thoughts spiraling. ¡°She thinks it¡¯s okay to not tell her son that his beloved father is gone. To her, it¡¯s all just a game. She always used Dad¡ªalways¡ªfor his money.¡± Before he could dwell further, the nurse walked in. ¡°Izumi-san,¡± she said hesitantly. ¡°Uh¡­ Kaito is here to take you home.¡± Taro looked up, startled. ¡°I¡¯m co¡ªcoming.¡± The nurse hesitated, sensing his distress. ¡°Is something wrong, sir?¡± ¡°NO!¡± Taro snapped, his voice sharp. The nurse stepped back, bowing slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir.¡± She turned and left the room. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Taro slumped back into his chair, his thoughts racing. ¡°Home? Hahahaha¡­ home? Do I even have a home? My mother practically sent me to another country, killed my dad while I was gone, and now I¡¯m supposed to return to that? ¡®Home,¡¯ she says? What a joke.¡± --- Kaito walked in, his expression calm but firm. ¡°Taro, come on. It¡¯s time to go.¡± Taro frowned. ¡°Go where?¡± ¡°Home,¡± Kaito replied. Taro scoffed. ¡°Home? What home? I don¡¯t have a home.¡± Kaito looked at him, confused. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? You still have your mother. Go back to her!¡± Taro let out a bitter laugh. ¡°Mother? Mother? That¡¯s a good joke.¡± Kaito frowned. ¡°What joke?¡± ¡°The one you just made,¡± Taro said, still laughing. ¡°It¡¯s hilarious.¡± Kaito¡¯s tone turned serious. ¡°Taro, are you going crazy? First, you give me that weird paper with some cryptic text, and now you¡¯re talking nonsense.¡± ¡°Nonsense?¡± Taro barked, his voice rising. ¡°I¡¯m talking nonsense now?¡± ¡°Yes, you are!¡± Kaito shot back, his patience wearing thin. Taro¡¯s expression darkened, his anger bubbling to the surface. ¡°You don¡¯t even know the full story, but you¡¯re already judging me? You used to be the listen first, act later guy. What happened to you?¡± Kaito¡¯s frustration matched Taro¡¯s now. ¡°And what happened to you, Taro? You¡¯re not yourself anymore. You¡¯re just a fragment of who you used to be.¡± Taro¡¯s eyes blazed. ¡°You want the full story? Fine. You wanna know what happened to me?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Kaito said firmly. Taro¡¯s voice trembled with fury as he shouted, ¡°MY MOTHER KILLED MY DAD!¡± Kaito froze, his eyes widening in shock. ¡°WHAT?!¡± --- To Be Continued... Chapter-7 | Downwards spiral (part-2) 14 July:1:45 Pm] [Chapter 7-Downwards spiral pt-2] (Kaito''s perspective)
*It happens after Kaito admits Taro to the hospital and before Taro wakes up in Hospital* ¡°How is he now?¡± Kaito asked, his voice trembling slightly. The nurse looked at him with a neutral expression. ¡°Not good, but not bad either. He¡¯s... in the middle. It seems his brain shut down after the blackout, but he¡¯s not dead yet.¡± Kaito exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Okay¡­ that¡¯s kind of a relief, I guess.¡± ¡°You should get some fresh air,¡± the nurse suggested. ¡°He won¡¯t be waking up anytime soon. Maybe use the time to inform his family.¡± Kaito nodded. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll do that.¡± As Kaito stepped outside, he pulled out the paper Taro had given him before the incident. His eyes scanned the strange markings on the page. ¡°What does this even mean?¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°It¡¯s got to mean something¡­¡± Suddenly, a thought struck him. His eyes widened. ¡°Wait! I think I¡¯ve seen something like this before. This looks like¡­ an ancient alphabet. Himeno might know what it is!¡± Without wasting another second, Kaito took off toward Himeno¡¯s house. --- Himeno¡¯s house wasn¡¯t far, and Kaito reached it in record time. He rang the doorbell, tapping his foot impatiently as he waited. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± came a familiar voice from inside. ¡°It¡¯s me¡ªKaito!¡± he called out. ¡°Kaito?¡± The door swung open, revealing Himeno. She looked surprised but happy to see him. ¡°Kaito! It¡¯s been so long! How have you been?¡± Kaito gave her a weak smile. ¡°Good¡­ but also not good.¡± Himeno frowned. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Kaito replied, brushing off her concern. ¡°I¡¯ll explain later. Right now, I need your help.¡± ¡°What do you need?¡± Himeno asked, her expression turning serious. Kaito reached into his pocket and handed her the paper. ¡°I need you to help me translate this.¡± Himeno took the paper and studied it. Her brow furrowed. ¡°Hmm¡­ this looks like a galactic alphabet, but¡­¡± She paused, shaking her head. ¡°I stopped learning this a long time ago. I don¡¯t know if I can¡ª¡± ¡°Himeno, please!¡± Kaito interrupted. ¡°This is for Taro¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°Taro?¡± Himeno¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Did you say Taro?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Kaito¡¯s voice was urgent now. ¡°Okay,¡± she said quickly, her determination returning. ¡°Let me see what I can do.¡± ¡°Thank you so much,¡± Kaito said, relief washing over him. --- Ten minutes passed as Himeno studied the paper. Finally, she looked up, her expression grim. ¡°I think I¡¯ve got it,¡± she said. ¡°It roughly translates to: ¡®CONVINCE HIM NOT TO GO TO THE VILLAGE!¡¯¡± ¡°The village?¡± Kaito repeated, confusion etched on his face. ¡°What village?¡± --- To Be Continued... Chapter-8 | Questions [14 July:1:47 Pm] (Note:This chapter takes place after chapter-6) Chapter 8: Questions
Taro clenched his fists, his voice trembling with anger. ¡°My mother killed my dad.¡± Kaito¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°WHAT?!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± Taro snapped, his voice rising. ¡°You¡¯re always so calm, acting like nothing ever fazes you. Do you even understand how others feel?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Kaito said quietly. ¡°No, you don¡¯t!¡± Taro shot back. ¡°You never did.¡± Kaito took a deep breath, steadying himself. ¡°Listen, Taro. I never meant to hurt you. I¡¯ve always wanted you to succeed. If I¡¯ve made you feel otherwise, I¡¯m sorry. Please¡­ come back to your senses.¡± Taro¡¯s shoulders softened as some of the tension left his body. He took a shaky breath. ¡°Thank you,¡± Kaito said softly. Suddenly, Taro broke down, tears streaming down his face. ¡°What do I do now?¡± Kaito placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. ¡°Everything will be alright. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll figure this out.¡± Before either of them could say more, Taro¡¯s phone buzzed. 1 Notification. 1 Missed Call. Kaito glanced at the screen. ¡°Let me see.¡± (Unknown: DON¡¯T GO TO THE VILLAGE.) Kaito¡¯s eyes widened in shock. What? he thought. It¡¯s the same message as before. He scrolled through the unknown number¡¯s profile, trying to piece things together. ¡°Hey, Taro, is this person bothering you?¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Taro sighed. ¡°Kind of. He¡ªor she¡ªhas been messaging me for days, telling me not to ¡®GO TO THE VILLAGE.¡¯¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Kaito muttered, his mind racing. How are these two things connected? Kaito thought. The message on the paper, written in galactic alphabet, also mentioned the village. It¡¯s strange¡­ Kaito turned back to Taro. ¡°Hey, Taro, let me ask you something.¡± Taro frowned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Did you use to live in a village?¡± Taro hesitated. ¡°Uh¡­ yeah. Why?¡± Kaito shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just curious. But where is this village located?¡± ¡°In Hokkaido,¡± Taro replied. ¡°Alright,¡± Kaito said. ¡°By the way, I think you should get some rest.¡± Taro nodded. ¡°Yeah, I think I should.¡± As Kaito left the room, Taro leaned back against the bed, his mind swirling. Things have been wild since I got here, Taro thought. My mother is a murderer, my dad is gone, and now this cryptic message about the village... He sighed heavily. ¡°What does it all mean?¡± --- The nurse walked in, holding a clipboard. ¡°Taro-san, I¡¯ve received a notice about your discharge from the hospital.¡± Taro looked up. ¡°When is it?¡± ¡°Tomorrow at 2:00 PM,¡± she replied. ¡°Thanks,¡± Taro said. The nurse nodded and left the room. Taro stared at the ceiling, his mind racing Thinking "Now there are four questions I need answers to:" 1. What really happened to my mom and dad? 2. What is Kaito planning about the village? 3. What exactly is the village? 4. And who is this unknown person? --- To Be Continued... Chapter-9 | Suspense [15 July 1:00Pm] Cryptic Life | Chapter-9: Suspense
Taro jolted awake, groggily rubbing his eyes. He glanced at the clock on the wall. ¡°Huh? I fell asleep around 11 PM, and now it¡¯s... 1 PM?!¡± he exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. ¡°That means I slept for 13 hours!¡± Just as he was processing this realization, the door creaked open, and a nurse walked in, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. ¡°Taro-san! How are you feeling?¡± she asked, a bright smile on her face. Taro responded calmly, though his tone carried a hint of weariness. ¡°Well, not good, not bad. I still have a bad headache.¡± The nurse softened her voice, trying to reassure him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve prescribed you some medications that you¡¯ll need to take for a week. Oh, and by the way, Kaito-san paid for everything!¡± With that, she exited the room, leaving Taro to his thoughts. ¡°Well, well, well,¡± Taro mused to himself, a slight smirk forming on his face. ¡°We had an argument yesterday, and he still helps me? I really am lucky to have a friend like that.¡± He glanced at the clock again. ¡°It¡¯s already 1:10 PM. I should start getting ready.¡± --- Getting Ready Taro made his way to the washroom, splashing cold water on his face. As he scrubbed away the remnants of sleep, his mind drifted. ¡°This trip to Japan has been... surprising, to say the least,¡± he thought. ¡°First, I find out my dad has died. Then, all this weird stuff starts happening to me. But somehow, I feel calm today. Even after lashing out yesterday, everything feels... normal again.¡± Once dressed in his regular clothes, Taro sighed with relief. ¡°It¡¯s good to be back in my usual outfit. That hospital robe was the worst.¡± He glanced at the clock one last time. ¡°Almost 2 PM. I should get going. They told me to check out at the receptionist¡¯s desk.¡± --- At reciptionist desk Taro approached the receptionist, who greeted him with a warm smile. ¡°Hi, I¡¯d like to check out. The name¡¯s Taro Izumi,¡± he said. ¡°Oh, yes!¡± she replied kindly. ¡°Your check-out time is 2:00 PM.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. After thanking her, Taro found a seat in the waiting lounge, his eyes scanning the room. He tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for Kaito to arrive. --- The Reunion A familiar voice rang out from behind him. ¡°Taroooo!¡± Taro whipped his head around to see Kaito, Himeno, and of all people his mother walking toward him. His expression immediately darkened, visible annoyance replacing any semblance of joy. Kaito stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing. ¡°Taro, what¡¯s wrong? You were happy to see us yesterday. Why do you look so annoyed now?¡± Taro said nothing, his gaze fixed elsewhere. Kaito, clearly frustrated, called out again. ¡°Oi, Taro!¡± Taro sighed heavily. ¡°Let¡¯s just go. I don¡¯t want to spend another hour here arguing,¡± he said curtly, his eyes briefly flicking to his mother. --- The Walk As they exited the hospital, an uneasy silence settled over the group. Kaito glanced at Himeno before leaning closer, whispering, ¡°Taro¡¯s been... different since yesterday. I¡¯m kind of worried about him.¡± Himeno frowned but didn¡¯t reply. Suddenly, Taro¡¯s voice cut through the quiet. ¡°Why did my mom come here?¡± he asked, his tone sharper than usual, as though he was piecing together something that didn¡¯t quite make sense. Kaito blinked, caught off guard. ¡°What? I don¡¯t know. She didn¡¯t say much.¡± Taro stopped walking, glancing back. ¡°Mom, why¡ª¡± His words faltered as his gaze landed on an empty spot behind him. His eyes widened in alarm. ¡°Mom? Mom?!¡± Kaito spun around, his own concern rising. ¡°She was just here a second ago!¡± Taro¡¯s voice grew frantic. ¡°Mom! Where did you go?!¡± Himeno stepped forward, scanning their surroundings, but the street behind them was eerily empty. A strange sensation gripped Taro¡ªsomething between dread and a heavy, unshakable pull deep in his chest. It was like the air had shifted, pressing down on him. His voice wavered as he called out again. ¡°Mom?!¡± Kaito reached out, placing a hand on Taro¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll find her, okay? Don¡¯t panic. She can¡¯t have gone far.¡± But his own voice held a thin edge of worry he couldn¡¯t quite hide. The group stood there, confused and tense, the unanswered question hanging in the air: Where had she gone? --- To Be Continued... Chapter-10 | Absence [15th July | 1:02 Pm] (Cryptic Life) ¡ª¡ª¡ª The air was unnaturally still, the silence pressing down on the trio like an invisible weight. Taro¡¯s voice trembled as he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Mom?¡± His wide, fearful eyes darted toward Kaito, searching for answers. ¡°I¡­ I have no idea,¡± Kaito stammered, his usual calm demeanor shattered. They stood frozen in the middle of an eerily deserted street, the emptiness around them suffocating. ¡°Wait,¡± Himeno said, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might break something fragile. She pointed toward the barren horizon. ¡°Everythings gone¡± A chill ran down their spines as the gravity of the situation sank in. Their hearts felt like they were plunging into a bottomless abyss. ¡°WHAT IS HAPPENING??¡± Taro and Kaito shouted in unison, their voices cracking as panic overtook them. And then, like a flickering light switch, the world shifted. The street transformed in an instant. People and matter reappeared as if they had always been there¡ªwalking, talking, laughing. Cars honked, and life resumed its chaotic hum. The trio stood rooted in place, their faces pale with shock. The sheer abruptness of the change was too much to comprehend. ¡°What¡­ what is happening?!¡± Taro screamed, his voice barely audible over the sudden noise. His legs gave way, and he collapsed onto the cold pavement, unconscious. --- [Scene Shift | Taro in a Void-like Space] Taro found himself surrounded by an endless void, floating aimlessly. Panic gripped his chest. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice trembling. A deep, cryptic voice echoed around him. "You are where you should be, Taro. I brought you here to teach you a lesson. You don¡¯t listen to your elders, do you?" Taro¡¯s confusion deepened. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" he shouted into the void. The voice chuckled ominously. "Taro, Taro, Taro! I messaged you so many times to warn you not to go to the village. You thought it was a prank, didn¡¯t you? But no, it¡¯s not." "WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! YOU SENT THE MESSAGES? YOU MADE THE ANONYMOUS CALLS?" Taro screamed, his voice echoing endlessly. The voice laughed louder. "HAHAHAHA! It seems you grasp concepts easily, Taro." "WHO ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?" Taro demanded. Silence followed. Taro felt a sudden wave of dizziness overtaking him. His vision blurred, and darkness consumed him once again. --- [At the House] If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.[July 15 | 1:30 PM] "OH YES! You¡¯re awake!" said a voice from the corner of the room. "WHO ARE YOU?" Taro exclaimed, still groggy. "What do you mean? It¡¯s me, Kaito," the figure responded. As Taro¡¯s eyes adjusted, he sighed. "Oh, sorry. I was seeing a little blurry." "No problem!" Himeno said, walking into the room with a smile. "Himeno, you¡¯re here too?" Taro asked. "Why wouldn¡¯t I be?" Himeno replied. "By the way, where are we?" Taro asked, still disoriented. "We¡¯re at my old place," Kaito answered casually. Taro furrowed his brow. "Hmm... what happened while I was asleep?" "Nothing much... but I think you should rest some more," Kaito said gently. As Kaito and Himeno left the room, Taro¡¯s mind wandered back to the strange events. --- [Piecing It Together] In the hallway, Himeno spoke in a hushed tone. "Okay, so Taro¡¯s mom was taken away, and you said he received anonymous messages warning him not to go to the village, right?" Kaito nodded. Himeno pressed further. "Don¡¯t you see the pieces coming together?" Kaito shook his head, confusion evident on his face. "How not? Listen," Himeno began, "Taro got the first message on July 14 at 11:50 PM. Then he got another message at the caf¨¦ , right? Both times, the message said the same thing: ¡®DO NOT GO TO THE VILLAGE.¡¯ But why? Why doesn¡¯t someone want him to go there?" --- [A Call from the Police] Himeno¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by Kaito¡¯s phone ringing. "Kaito, someone¡¯s calling you," Himeno said. "It¡¯s the police!" Kaito exclaimed, a mix of relief and anxiety on his face. He answered quickly. "Hello, this is Kaito, Taro¡¯s friend. Taro¡¯s not in a good state to speak right now." The officer on the line spoke gravely. "We found something at Taro¡¯s mother¡¯s home that might be connected to her disappearance." "What is it?" Kaito asked, his heart racing. "It¡¯s a note. It might have been written by her or someone else. I¡¯ll send you a screenshot," the officer said before ending the call. --- [The Note] Kaito¡¯s phone buzzed with a notification. [New Notification] [1 file attached] "Himeno, look at this," Kaito said, showing her the file. The note read: ¡°SHE TRIED TO GO TO THE VILLAGE.¡± "What could this mean?" Kaito and Himeno exclaimed simultaneously, their voices filled with dread. --- To be countineud.....