Day 1

After careful considerations, Kibo decided to see if the pills work. There is nothing to lose. If something is wrong she can sue the doctor.

Will it be different? She felt excited.

This whole thing with soulmates is on another level. It seems too good to be true.

As she was preparing to sleep, she took one of the pills out.

It didn’t look special. It was white and round, but it had a strange symbol on them.

“This better work!” She swallowed the pill with water. “And now I’m supposed to sleep, right?”

She turned off the lights.

“Something is not right, why is this so easy?” She fell asleep while thinking about what awaits her.

*****

“MAKE WAY!”

“WAIT FOR ME!”

*honk*

*honk*

Kibo’s eyes opened wide as if she just woke up from a nightmare.

The sun is so bright!

Everyone was being in such a hurry!

Wait, why is Kibo in the middle of an intersection?

“Where the hell am I?”

The last thing she remembers was-

DID IT WORK? Is she in another universe?

The surroundings look like Tokyo but with little differences.

The view was incredible! The street was so tidy and the buildings were pretty tall.

When she turned around she saw a car coming her way fast. Then it hit her.

She was standing on a crosswalk! She was invisible to others, but she still could get hurt.

Kibo was too scared to move. So after all her first day was also her last, huh?

“I’m sorry, Aiko!” She closed her eyes and waited for the impact.

*hoooonk*

When the vehicle was supposed to hit her someone pushed her away.

“ARE YOU AN IDIOT?” The driver screamed after someone.

How is this possible? If she was invisible how come someone saved her?

The heavy body that was standing over her stood up.

It was a young-looking man. He should be around her age. The stranger extended a hand to help her up.

Kibo felt confused but she accepted the help.

“You can see me?” It was a complete shock for her.

“I’m looking at you right now, what do you think?” He replies sarcastically.

“It’s impossible! Doctor Chiba said-“

“I would be more worried about your knee than about the fact that you are not transparent.” He turns his back on her and starts to walk away.

“W-Wait!” When she made a step her right leg felt painful.

She looked down and saw a lot of blood coming from her knee.

“There is nothing I can do!” She searched with her sight for the stranger that helped her.

Kibo ran after him without hesitation. Was he the one she was looking for?

She sees him for a couple of moments and then he disappears into a building. It was huge and on the top was written: Feelings Factory.

“What is this factory?” She looks around. “This city is much bigger than the Tokyo I know.”

Besides that boy from earlier, no one knew about her. What is she going to do? There is no chance to find him inside that building.

“This is not fun! You better move and exit this fabric quick, stranger!” She says grumpily.

The only thing Kibo could do was to wait. She sat on a bench in front of the main entrance and tried to get comfortable. It will take some time.

*****

“Haru, you’re late!” A woman says.

“I’m sorry, Annie! It was a complicated situation!” He replies while rushing to his office.

This day was important for him, but it already started badly.

He arranged his tie in front of the door.

“Now or never!” He says to himself.

*knock*

*knock*

*knock*

“Come in, Haru!” The man seemed a little pissed off.

“Good morning, director Ebina! I’m sorry for being late!” He bows and waits for orders.

“Well, I guess we all have bad days. It’s alright!” The man sighs. “I’m here because of your last report. We looked into that woman's background and you were right. She had emotions of grade 5.”

Beside his neutral expression was anger. He did it again! Because of him, another innocent person got arrested. All he could do now was to bite his tongue and don’t let his feelings control him.

“You did a good job, young man! The higher-ups are very pleased with the way you work! Only if everyone would be as hard-working as you… They will promote you again soon. Congratulations!”

“Thank you but the credits should go to you, director Ebina! Without your guidance, I wouldn’t be able to have success now!”

The man laughed.

“What a sweet talker you are! You are the type of person I like, keep up with the great work and I will assure you place in the government!” He put a hand on Haru’s left shoulder.” I have to go now!”

“Have a nice day!” He watched the man leave and close the door behind him. “A place in the government, huh?”

This is exactly his wish because this is what would make his father proud. But being promoted is also a higher chance to find the truth about this place called Feeling Factory.

He discovered that there may be another floor beneath the main body of the structure. It should be half the size of a normal floor so it is about 2,250,000 sq ft.

The problem is what’s inside.

The workers are not allowed to enter or to leave the fabric between 7 to 8 a.m. and 11 to 12 p.m.

About the number of persons employed here, the number is unknown. But he estimates that there are approximately 200,000,000 workers.

“But we are split in night and day shifts. So I’m left with 100,000,000 people.” He tries to connect these things. “That’s it! I got it! There are people down there. They must also do the same tasks as us, but why are they hidden from the rest? There still is a lot I don’t know.”

It’s frustrating. He lost a lot of time to gain trust and gain information. It’s very dangerous to know more than you are supposed so he tries to be as careful as possible.

He writes down everything he discovered today and then starts his actual work.

Times flies fast and at 9 p.m. his shift was over. He felt tired as always but he could finally go home now.

As he walks by the building a familiar blue shirt with flowers on it enters his sight. It was the same stupid girl like the one from this morning. She was sleeping soundly.

“Are you kidding me?” He gets closer and wakes the girl up.

“Get up already, suicide girl!” He says with a cold tone. ”Did you follow me here?”

She stands up quickly.

“Why did it take you so long? Wait; did you just call me suicide girl?” She frowns.

“I don’t even know you and you act like you’ve been waiting for me!”

What’s wrong with this girl? She must be out of her mind! Where are her bandanas?

Someone was walking their way so the boy tried to cover her arm since she didn’t have the special bandanas on her.

The girl pushed him away.

"Normal people can't see me." 

She points to the windows behind her. She didn't have a reflection.

"How is this possible?"

Is he seeing ghosts? No, she seems like a normal person. She even injured herself.

“We need to talk!” She says seriously. “I am Aiko, by the way!”

Kibo must pretend to be her friend for this thing with traveling in another universe to work.

“I think suicide girl suits you better!” He points to her scars on the neck. ”Also you’re welcome because I saved your life!” He rolls his eyes.

“I’m sorry for being rude, I’m grateful for your help! Look, we must go to a private place otherwise people will think you’re crazy. From their point of view you are talking to air.”

“Why would-“

“ I can explain if you give me a chance. What’s your name, stranger?”

Yeah, she is out of her mind for sure. He tries to walk away again.

“I’m not letting you go so easy! I don’t know how much time I have left so let’s talk a little. I beg you!” She grabs his arm and gives him a sad look.

He sighs. Why is this happening to him?

“Haru.”

“Huh?”

“My name is Haru.”