The Long Way Around

A chilly autumn breeze swept by Haru as she exited through the sliding doors of the Lawson convenience shop. The moment she left its warm embrace, her body shivered involuntarily, making her contemplate whether she should return inside and seek refuge from the cold.

Following behind her was Mitsu who let out a strained grunting. In her hand was a bag containing a juice container, a couple boxes of instant noodles, and canned drinks. Haru held out a hand when she noticed her arms trembling from the immense weight she carried. “Need help?” she asked.

“I can manage,” she said with an obvious struggle in her voice. “I gotta be fit for exam week, and it starts with a little bit of exercise.”

Yui then walked out the shop. In contrast to the overwhelming weight Mitsu carried, she held only a chocolate bun. “She’s right. Exams are harsh, after all.”

“Says you, who thinks they’re easy,” said Haru.

“I only wanna pass. The quicker I finish, the better.”

They waited at the intersection for the crossing signal to turn on. As the afternoon sky dimmed, the only lights present were the headlights from surrounding vehicles, interiors of buildings, and street lamps illuminating the road ahead.

Mitsu nudged Haru with her shoulder. “Hey, are you still dead set on studying abroad?”

“Of course. If I can pass these exams with the highest grades possible, I’m sure to get into some of the best universities in America,” said Haru. “I like Chiba, but I also wanna explore other countries, y’know?”

Yui leaned in to Mitsu and whispered, “No wonder she’s been listening to so many English Youtubers.”

“And American songs for that matter.” Mistu whispered back, then said to Haru, “Hey, why don’t you teach us English sometime.”

“Like how to ask out the tourists in Tokyo,” added Yui.

Yui and Mitsu began teasing Haru with various English phrases they learned; some from the classes with teachers from abroad and movies they watched in theaters. She clenched her shoulders, embarrassed at their butchered pronunciation of basic vocabulary.

When the signal blinked, she saw it as a saving grace. Before crossing, she reluctantly entertained their joking demands and commanded them in English, “L-let’s go, you idiots.”

Mitsu laughed, “It sounds so weird.”

At the other side, Mitsu continued up the path to her neighborhood. With all the strength she could gather, she lifted the bag and carried it with both of her arms.

“You sure you don’t need help?” asked Haru.

“Totally. Besides, I don’t wanna hold you two back. See ya tomorrow.” Mitsu straightened herself and waddled home.

Meanwhile, Yui and Haru turned and walked along the Chiba-Kita expressway.

“By the way, are you free this weekend? We should do something once exams are over,” asked Haru.

Yui shrugged, “Beats me. If work’s not busting my ass, I can make time.”

“Isn’t that, like, every shift?”

“On most days. Which is why I’d be down to call in sick if it meant to hang out.”

Haru shook her head and laughed, “Maybe don’t do that?”

The two strolled up a flight of stairs that connected to an overpass leading to the other side. The blinding afternoon sun that was on the brink of setting on the west greeted them as they crossed, compelling them to cover their eyes with their bags.

“What about next week?” asked Yui.

“I don’t know. I’ll be babysitting for most of the day.”

“Is the pay good?”

“It’s decent. My neighbor, Mr. Takemoto, is having a bunch of work meetings that day, and wants me to watch his daughter, Mari.”

“Oh yeah, I think I know her. Sounds like a handful, if you ask me.”

“She’s just really clingy to her dad. Gets anxious when he’s not around.” Haru gave Yui a thumbs up, “But I can handle it.”

Upon reaching the other side and walking down the stairs, the two split off to different paths; Yui took a side road and Haru proceeded by the highway.

From this point in her commute, there was little to catch her attention. Unlike the abundance of cafes and arcades scattered all over Tokyo and Central Chiba, the surroundings here were dominated by warehouses, car dealerships, and auto shops. Nonetheless, she was grateful for the lack of distractions on her journey from home to school and back. Without them, she memorized the precise timing of her travels down to a tee.

Normally, she kept herself busy by scrolling through her Instagram feed and exchanging messages with Mitsu and Yui. However, this time, her mind was engrossed in the remaining days of exam week. With only three days left, a growing unease consumed her at the countless hours she had to devote to studying. While this was certainly not her first time with exams, there always remained a dread that it would never end, and on the last day of exams, her mind would fizzle in the middle of writing and cause her to fail.

And while exams were important, they were only the beginning. She also had to research and apply to a university abroad, prepare for traveling, and on top of it all, gather the funds she needed to cover it. The mere imagination of the time and effort it would take was enough to overwhelm her. It brought an anxiety that coursed through her as she considered the amount of responsibilities she had to carry. Even though one more school year remained, she questioned whether she could accomplish everything in time.

In the middle of indulging herself in anxiety-filled imaginings, she looked up at a street light that flickered on. The others after it soon followed suit, illuminating the path one-by-one, as if they were her guide. Her eyes followed the trail of lights until she caught sight of the shopping center. Once she saw its neon-pink logo, she knew that home was near.

Just a block away from the building was a side street that led to her neighborhood. When she spotted that street, she heard the wailing of a siren rapidly approaching behind her. Cars pulled over to make way for the ambulance, and Haru covered her ears when drew closer.

It wasn’t uncommon for emergency vehicles to pass through this area, so she watched it drive by without paying much attention to it, other than wanting it to hurry up to spare her ears. But when it turned towards her neighborhood, her disinterest shifted to that of concern.

She had seen a few ambulances show up, but never one so close to home, so she increased her pace until she reached the side street. Down the road, the vehicle was stopped by a house. Her tensions eased when she saw it wasn’t next to her’s, but it quickly recoiled back when she realized whose house it was.

Coming out of the gate were two paramedics carrying a stretcher. Atop of it was what looked like a small figure covered under a blanket.

“Mr. Takemoto!” she called as she ran to the scene. Behind the paramedics was a middle-aged man that mirrored the same level of distress she had.

When they met eyes, his shoulders sank. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said in a low voice.

Mr. Takemoto was a single father who lived with his daughter, Mari. Every morning, Haru would join them on their walk to school. Sporting a vibrant smile beneath her yellow hat and carrying a small backpack, she would excitedly recount her adventures from the previous day. But due to her fear of being alone, she often clung to her father. Even on days where Haru was tasked with watching her, Mari would spend hours staring out the window in anticipation for him to drive through the gates.

Haru looked behind Mr. Takemoto and through the windows of the house. She even looked up at the open window of Mari’s room. Instead of the fluorescent lights and the laughter of a child playing, there remained a dark interior with bleak flower curtains flowing in the breeze. Trying her best not to look at the ambulance, fearing her concerns were right, she asked, “Mr. Takemoto, what happened?”

Mr. Takemoto's face twitched with a mixture of shock and anguish. His lips quivered as he fought back a sob. Determined to gather himself, he took a deep breath. "I had only stepped out to throw the garbage," he began, his voice choking with grief. "I wasn't away for more than a minute, but as I dropped it into the bins behind the house, I overheard her voice. She said, 'Daddy, take me with you,' from her window. I told her that I would return, but I heard something drop. When I hurried to the front..." His words faltered, and he struggled to find the strength to speak. Overwhelmed by despair, he instinctively covered his mouth, trying to stifle the devastating sobs that escaped from within him.

Haru had reached her limit. She could not bear to hear anything more. In silence, she complied with Mr. Takemoto's wishes and left him to mourn. Before she resumed her journey home, she glanced up at the bedroom window, knowing that it might be the last time she laid eyes on those flower curtains.

When she faced forward, an unknown force compelled her to cast her eyes upward again. It happened in an instant, but amidst the darkness, she could have sworn she spotted a shadow through the open window - a shadow even darker than the room behind it. Its appearance was brief, but the memory of seeing it was implanted in her mind, as if it was always there. Could it have been the dim lighting, combined with the stress of the situation, playing tricks on her mind? She stared at the window to be sure, but no matter how hard she looked, the room appeared empty.

Shaking her head in disbelief, she pushed aside her concerns and continued onward, hoping that a little rest would clear her clouded thoughts.

***

With the second day of exams finished, Haru and Mitsu celebrated with another trip to the store. Mitsu downed a canned coffee and let out a delightful exhale to emphasize her satisfaction of the warm, savory beverage. Haru smiled at the joy she radiated. After long periods of writing, a coffee was what she also needed to bring her spirits up. Instead, she decided against it, for it would merely hold back the underlying dread that clouded her mind.

The memory of the scene at Mr. Takemoto’s house haunted her throughout the night before. Her recollection of little Mari atop the stretcher, Mr. Takemoto’s mourning, and that shadow was all fuel to the fire of the endless wake she experienced. She rolled around on her bed, shifted the arrangement of her pillows and blanket, and went as far as covering herself with more from the living room, yet her comfort was dominated by unease no matter what she did.

When all else failed, Haru even spent a period of studying in the middle of the night, but it wasn't enough to summon the exhaustion she so desperately needed.

A tap on her shoulder suddenly startled her out of her reverie. She gasped and faced Mitsu, who recoiled in reaction.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” said Mitsu.

Haru’s tension disappeared, “No, no, don’t worry about it.”

A moment of silence passed until they crossed. “Still thinking about yesterday?” said Mitsu.

“More like I’m trying not to. But no matter what, it won’t leave my head.”

“I shouldn't have brought it up, then. Sorry.” Mitsu’s gaze shifted down. “I just wanna make sure you’re okay.”

“It’s fine. Maybe after a long walk I’ll feel better.”

“You bet. A little exercise helps with stress, y’know. Trust me, once you’re home, you’ll feel like a cloud in the sky.”

Haru laughed, “I’ll take your word for it.”

They remained at the corner of the intersection and talked for a short period. It wasn’t until they realized how late it was getting that they split off to their separate ways.

Haru walked along the highway as before, passing the usual warehouses and car dealerships on the side. Having such a familiarity with the scenery, she took out her phone and scrolled through her Instagram to pass the time. She snickered at videos and photos from Youtubers she followed, much of them she watched to practice her English. When she understood what they said, she clenched her fists in victory and muttered, “my time abroad is gonna be so easy.”

She went up the stairs and over the bridge. After she reached the other side and strolled along the sidewalk, her phone pulsed. A message from Yui appeared at the top, which she tapped to open. It was a photo of a spilled juice jug by the freezers in the 7-11 she worked at. Below the image was a caption that read, “That’s it! I’m quitting!”

The two shared a few text exchanges, most of it dominated by Yui venting about her job, and Haru comforting her. Their conversation lasted for about ten minutes until Mitsu joined.

As the three chatted, it was around this time the turn to her neighborhood would be coming up. She looked up from the screen, but when she noticed the scenery before her, she slowed down to a stop.

It wasn’t like anything was different. Ahead of her was most certainly the way home. The neon logos and signs she had seen numerous times were enough to prove she was on the right track. But something about this particular commute didn’t seem right. It was different from the others before, like a massive change happened that she never noticed.

The street lights then turned on, and she traced their illuminated path. It wasn’t until she spotted the shopping center far in the distance, the building that indicated how close her neighborhood was. When she noticed how far away it seemed, she began to ask herself: how long had she been walking?

Haru looked behind to get that question answered. Just a few feet away from her were the stairs she walked down when she crossed the bridge. After the significant amount of time spent watching videos and talking with the others, she should have arrived in her neighborhood by now. However, it looked like she barely covered any distance, despite the long walk she took.

Was the tiredness to blame again? Not this time, given how engrossed she was on her phone.

Could it be that this was the wrong way? She contemplated that idea until she caught sight of the Chiba-Kita Expressway sign below the bridge.

Haru shook her head and continued her trek home. The last thing she needed was to waste time overthinking.

Minutes passed until she finally reached her neighborhood. It was darker without the lights on the highway from passing cars, but the ones from houses on the side was enough to illuminate the way.

She soon reached Mr. Takemoto's house, which she stopped in front of when she reached the gates. Unlike the houses around the area, which spilled warm, welcoming lights, his windows were shrouded in darkness. There was an eerie atmosphere that enveloped her, filling her with unease, as she stared at the building. However, this unease gradually transformed into somberness as she contemplated Mr. Takemoto's well-being. Given all that had happened, she could only hope that he was doing okay.

Haru then faced forward, but she suddenly froze in place. Her heart jumped when, for a split second, she saw something beside the brick walls next to one of the neighboring houses. From the short time it was visible, she remembered seeing a figure silhouetted by the dim, fluorescent light above it. Judging from where the top of its head was, it looked about six feet tall; nearly a foot taller than Haru. There was hair that went down to its shoulders, and it wore some sort of jacket if the wrinkles on its sides were anything to go by.

She searched her memory for any other details, but those were the ones that stood out the most. Was this the same shadow she saw yesterday at the window?

With hesitation, and fear slowly approaching, Haru rushed home.

***

Haru dropped her pencil and flipped the exam to the first page. She packed her pencil case and, as if on cue, the teacher at the front ordered everyone to hand over their papers. Collective sighs traveled throughout the classroom once he made the announcement.

He began to cycle around the room to collect the exams. Haru handed her paper, then rushed to the front of the school. She checked her messages and saw one from Yui, who waited at the front entrance. Mitsu replied soon after, saying she was about to head out.

The three walked along the school’s baseball field. From here, the road connected to the intersection with the convenience shop on the corner.

Along the way, Yui held out her phone in front of them. On it was a website of a livehouse. The front page was decorated with photos and logos of various punk rock bands and pop idols. “Oh yeah, my sister’s band is performing next weekend. She gave me three tickets. Wanna go?”

“Your sister has a band? So cool!” asked Mitsu.

“Didn’t I tell you guys before?”

“Maybe. What’re they like?” said Haru.

On the front page was a short clip of the band’s previous concert. Yui clicked play, and the sound of a heavy punk rock song blared from the tiny phone speakers.

Haru found herself bobbing her head in sync with the intense rhythm. The lead vocalist’s vibrant energy merged seamlessly with her rough singing voice, creating a harmonious fusion with the guitars and drums. Although this was not the kind of music Haru normally listened to, the video assured her of the thrilling experience awaiting anyone who watched this band.

“What do you think?” said Yui.

Mitsu nodded, “I’m down. Where is it?”

“Shimokitazawa. I’ll take you guys there.” Yui then looked to Haru, “How about you?”

Immersed in the captivating beat of the song, Haru nodded her head to its rhythm. As she listened, she picked up the echoes of someone calling her name. It sounded distant at first, but the voice gradually grew nearer.

“What do you think, Haru… Haru… Haru…”

“HARU!” yelled Mitsu.

The sudden scream and the deafening blast of a truck’s horn shocked her awake. In an instant, a pair of arms wrapped around Haru and pulled her back. Her eyes widened as she fell on the ground and found herself staring at the side of a truck that rushed by her at dangerous speeds. When the truck passed, her gaze landed on the familiar sight of the store across the street.

“Wha-” Haru snapped out of her daze. Her heart raced with adrenaline, causing her to pant heavily until her breathing returned to its regular rhythm. The next thing she knew, she was wrapped in Mitsu’s arms.. “How did we get here?”

“What were you thinking?!” yelled Mitsu, tightening the hold on her.

Yui placed a hand on Haru’s head, “No fever, I hope.”

Haru shoved her hand away, “I’m fine, thanks. I thought we were watching the video.” She pried herself from Mitsu and pushed herself up, her legs quivering from the incident.

Yui quickly exchanged worried glances with Mitsu. “You mean the clip of my sister’s band? That was a while ago, dude.”

“Yeah. We were watching a movie clip the rest of the way,” Mitsu added. “Haru, you sure you’re okay?”

Haru slumped her shoulders in disbelief. She was so sure they were still by the school's baseball field, but now it seemed like they had teleported to the highway. This brought more questions than she could handle, leaving her with an overwhelming amount of confusion. If this kept up, her head could explode at any moment. She needed to go home. A period of rest was the only thing she could think of to get over the mess she found herself in.

“I have to go. I’m so sorry!” She crossed the street once the signal turned on and ran. Her friends called her, but she ignored them.

Haru raced up the stairs and made it to the overpass. At the end were the stairs leading down to the sidewalk. She kept going and ran as far as her legs could take her, thankful for the chill in the air that kept her cool.

She kept running, but her stamina eventually wore out. When she slowed down to catch her breath, a shock ran through her at what she saw. Before her were the stairs that she had chased for what felt like an eternity. No matter how much she ran, they were still far from her reach, despite how fast she went.

It was like the familiar path she had taken since the first year at high school grew ten times longer than what it should be. An endless road that turned something she knew so dear to something so foreign.

The usual sunset she praised appeared alien, and the shadows from headlights of passing cars lingered far longer than they should, like all the cars in the highway simultaneously stopped.

About a minute, or what she perceived to be a minute, passed until she pushed forward. She maintained her focus on the goal ahead, the end of the bridge, but no matter how much she tried, that end moved farther. Her heart pounded faster from desperation. She had to reach those stairs, but each step she took, it looked like the bridge was extending beyond its limits.

Her legs then gave out. She dropped to her knees and could hardly breathe. She wheezed and inhaled cold air, but that didn’t lower the rising temperatures in her body from the endless running.

Using whatever energy that remained, she lifted her head up. However, she froze upon seeing what waited at the end of the bridge. Before her stood a pitch-black silhouette that stared down at her. The setting sun was bright, but it maintained its dark form like it ignored all light around it.

“Wh-what do you want?” whispered Haru.

It began walking towards her at a slow pace. Surprised at the figure’s movement, Haru grabbed onto the railing and pulled herself up. She stepped back and kept her eyes on its face, glad it had no eyes of its own.

Haru waited for a response, but the shadow remained silent. The longer she stared at it, she began to notice a few more details she never noticed during its split-second appearances. The strands of hair that reached down to its shoulders suggested it had the same hair length as her’s. On its lower half was a skirt similar to a school uniform. It also carried a messenger bag that hung to its left. She didn’t know why she was paying attention to these details, but she found it more comfortable than staring at its eyeless face.

“Please, leave me alone,” Haru said with a louder volume. Her lips trembled with every word. She wanted to run, but if she did, would the road become endless like her last attempt? And what would happen if she made contact with this thing?

The shadow continued its slow pursuit, and Haru backed away from it in response until she bumped into the railing behind her. Backed into a corner like a mouse trapped by its hunter, she realized the only way out was right in front of her. She took in a deep breath, ready to face the unknown.

With all the energy Haru could muster, she lunged towards the figure. Her feet left the ground, but her attempted attack was abruptly interrupted by a light tap on her right shoulder. She let out a shriek and fell to her knees upon losing her balance. A sharp pain traveled through her leg, but the rush she felt quickly numbed it.

“Yep, she lost it,” said Yui.

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Haru rolled over. Mitsu and Yui looked down at her, and seeing their faces brought a surge of emotions that made her eyes tear up like a waterfall.

Mitsu, looking the most concerned, picked up Haru by the arm with Yui holding the other, and lifted her up. “Let’s go.”

“Where?” said Haru in between sniffs.

“Your place, you dummy,” said Yui. “You can explain on the way.”

Yui and Mitsu gently guided Haru back to her place while she recounted everything she experienced from two days ago up until now. She described the incident at Mr. Takemoto's house, her journeys home that seemed far longer than they should have, and the encounters with the shadow figure.

After listening to Haru’s explanation, Mitsu followed-up with her and Yui’s experiences. Back at the intersection, when Haru ran from them, they chased her with their voices echoing her name. It wasn’t until Haru reached the bridge when she suddenly froze in place and assumed a posture that seemed like she was being stalked. With caution, Mitsu approached Haru to get her attention and wake her up from whatever nightmare she was in. As she drew closer, she caught Haru’s faint voice saying “what do you want?” and “leave me alone.” For a moment, Mitsu thought Haru wanted her to leave, but as the atmosphere around them grew haunted, she had a gut feeling that there was something on the bridge that only Haru could see.

However, thanks to Yui’s growing impatience, she shoved Mitsu aside. Yui then patted Haru on the shoulder, which caused a piercing scream to come not just from Haru, but also Mitsu.

At Haru’s house, after she treated the cut on her knee, she opened the door for Yui and Mitsu. “Thanks for your help, but I’ll be fine from here.”

“Are you absolutely sure?” said Mitsu.

“Yeah, wouldn’t want that shadow to come after you again,” said Yui.

Haru waved a hand, “I’ll be fine this time. Just need to lie down, that’s all.” Before Haru pushed the door closed, she stopped and smiled at the two. “Thanks again, though.”

“If that thing appears, give me a shout. I’ll have my baseball bat on standby.” Yui said as she and Mitsu stepped away from the door.

As Haru watched them leave, it was like the bubble of comfort they carried also left with them. When she closed the door, she felt the life around the house drain away. Though her parents were in the other room, unaware of what she had to face these past few days, she had trouble considering her own home a safe haven anymore.

At this point, the only thing keeping her going was the motivation to get enough rest for tomorrow.

***

Haru burst out the front exit of the school. After a long week of cramped hands from writing, and other anomalies she wanted to forget, it seemed like the first time in a while where she felt an enormous weight off her shoulders.

She was about to text Mitsu and Yui to know their whereabouts until a pair of arms wrapped tightly around her upper body.

“The torment is over!” cheered Mitsu upon prying herself off Haru.

“Yeah, for you guys,” said Yui, already on the way out the school gates. “Now I gotta work.”

“Is that your way of saying, ‘dinner’s on me?’” said Haru.

“Not a chance.”

The three arrived at the Lawson and waited at a bus stop beside it. From here, the bus would take them to Yotsukaido Station, which was a block away from the 7-11 Yui worked at. Today was the last day of a special sale there, so what better way to celebrate than with discounted food and drinks?

“Ah, it’s here,” said Yui when she saw the bus in the distance.

Haru stood at the ready with her pass in hand, and eagerly watched the bus approach. The air was getting chilly, and she longed to sit in the warmth of the large vehicle, then end the day with 7-11’s savory fried chicken. However, the traffic lights turned red before it could reach the intersection. Disappointed, she saw it come to a halt and anxiously waited for the lights to turn green.

“Oh yeah, as I promised,” said Yui, who handed Haru and Mitsu a paper slip.

Haru read the ticket with the livehouse logo “HAVEN” written in large, bold letters on the front. “That’s right! Your sister’s band is coming up, isn’t it?”

“Don’t lose it. I tried asking for a fourth one for your shadow friend, but no luck.” Yui then yelped after Mitsu elbowed her on the rib.

“Thanks, Yui. I too can’t wait to see them play,” cheered Mitsu, with a hint of discomfort.

Haru laughed at Yui’s joke, which helped ease the stress she experienced during yesterday’s incident. While the feeling still ebbed, it was overshadowed by all the things she had lined up to look forward to.

After nearly a minute had passed, the traffic lights in the intersection remained stuck on red. By now, one set would have turned green to allow traffic to move. Haru figured it was an issue with the lights. After working for hours on end, something was bound to break down.

“Just another day on the Expressway, I guess,” Haru said, then turned to Yui. “Hopefully you won’t be late.”

She braced herself for a snarky remark, anticipating a comment that expressed a desire to not go to work. However, she remained still, and her gaze pierced right through Haru, as if she was invisible.

“Yui?” she called and waved a hand in front of her eyes, but there was no reaction.

With concern developing inside her, she reached out to shake Mitsu’s arm, but recoiled at the rock solid thickness of her sleeve. Although she was wearing a soft, cotton jacket, it felt as if she was touching a stone statue.

She looked closely at their faces and down to their hands, searching for any subtle movements like their fingers twitching or eye blinking. Instead, they both stood completely still.

With that thought, she began to observe her surroundings and noticed something peculiar. Only now did she realize there was dead silence everywhere. Gone was the rumbling of vehicle engines, the chiming of the bell accompanying the shop doors opening and closing, even the faint hissing of the breeze. As Haru became aware of the silence, an unsettling feeling crept over her. It was as if time had frozen, leaving everything around her in a state of complete stillness.

She rubbed her eyes and blinked, thinking it was her imagination. In a second, she will wake up on her bed after a good night’s rest. Maybe this was a fever dream after she caught a cold from staying outside too long.

When Haru opened her eyes one last time, the beating of her heart thumped at an incredible pace. At the other side of the crosswalk, on the path leading to the school’s baseball field, the figure she desperately tried to block from her mind stood under a street lamp.

They stared at each other like predator and prey. Haru backed away from it, unsure of what to do other than wish it was also frozen. She kept her eyes on it, but when its foot slid forward and advanced towards her, she screamed and ran in the opposite direction; to the bridge leading home.

Haru made it to the crosswalk and sprinted with all the energy she had, fear being her only driving force. She kept her focus on the bridge ahead, but couldn’t resist taking a glance behind her. Each time she did, the shadow was there, its distance from her closing in. Strangely, despite her frantic efforts, she only made it half-way across the street. It was like she was trapped in a nightmarish loop where she could run in place forever without making any progress.

As the shadow drew nearer, Haru pushed her legs harder. It was at this point she questioned why she never joined the track team until now. Once this was over, she had to make sure to join next year.

The road before her started to stretch; the other side of the crosswalk extended until it appeared to be miles ahead. She reached an arm out, clinging onto the hope that this would be over. Whatever monster was going after her, its power was nothing she could understand.

As she felt her stamina wear out, she asked herself something she should have asked in the first place: Why her? The more Haru thought of how it began, her gut feeling recalled the incident in Mr. Takemoto’s house. The death of his daughter, and the thing at the window. This must be the monster that was responsible. Now it’s after Haru.

Eventually, she ran out of breath. She collapsed onto her knees and inhaled as much air as her lungs could take. Her legs were numb and refused to move any further. Her vision blurred from exhaustion, and tears flooded from her eyes in the fear that she would never see the end to this horror.

A pair of footsteps tapped behind her, and she turned around only to see how close her hunter was. The shadow was just a couple feet away and showed no signs of stopping. If running away won’t make it go away, then facing it head on will.

Haru couldn’t believe she was making this attempt again. She pushed herself up and braced herself in front of her foe. At this point, she didn’t care about the unknown. With all the energy she had remaining, she lunged at it.

Then in a flash, the shadow vanished, and all the sounds returned. The low rumbling of vehicles reawakened, filling the air with a symphony of engines and tires rolling on asphalt. The wind, once motionless, suddenly regained its voice and whispered through the air. It carried the chill of autumn and brushed against Haru's face.

In the midst of the noise, she discerned the distant echoes of Mitsu and Yui. However, instead of their usual bickering or laughter to which she had grown accustomed, their voices were anguished screams. Puzzled by what could have caused such distress, her thoughts were interrupted by the deafening blast of a raging horn just beside her. Swiftly turning her head, she was met with the blinding glare of headlights from a truck looming directly in front of her.