Ugh. I hate taking the subway sometimes. After everything that happened, it somehow felt even worse than usual.
I must've dozed off or something, but I woke up to hear that announcement that the train was going to be arriving in Shibuya shortly. That was my destination.
As I stared longingly out the window, I couldn't help but think back to a few days ago. How this all happened.
-
I was walking home late from my school, I had stayed after to study for the upcoming exams, when I heard a womans' voice crying out.
"Please! Help!"
I should've just left well enough alone, but I couldn't let that slide. There was a man there who seemed to be abusing this woman. I had placed my hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
He was heavily drunk, you could tell in his voice. So something as simple as me placing my hand onto him caused him to topple over. I felt bad, I only meant to try to diffuse the situation, not hurt anybody.
"Damn brat! I'll sue!"
Then the next thing I knew, I was being taken into police custody.
I don't know why I had decided to intervene like I had. Things like that happen all the time in the world, I don't know why I thought that was any different. Just didn't feel right, I think.
A conversation that two girls on the train were having caught me ear though.
"What? Are you for real? A mental shutdown?" - Said an unimpressed sounding first girl.
"It's the truth!" - Piped a far more enthusiastic second.
"To a person though? That's gotta be a joke" - The first said in response
"You really love all that occult stuff don't you?"
Mental shutdowns. I think I remember seeing something about those online. Didn't quite remember the details at the moment though.
I got off the train and began to walk to the central street of Shibuya. I truly felt overwhelmed in this moment. All the people walking around. But I noticed something strange on my phone of all things. An app was opened that I don't recognize. It had the symbol of an eye with a star in the center, colored red and black. I tried to tap on it to close it out, as it was a program I didn't recognize.
It felt like time itself stopped for a moment though. All the people in Shibuya seemed to stop in place suddenly. Maybe that's just how I thought it was seeing as how out of place such a large crowd felt to me. But it felt like nothing else in the world was happening.
I looked ahead to see, fire. A blue fire above the people further down the center. It, seemed to change forms rapidly. Formless, than shaped like a man, then a figure with wings. After that, a face appeared in the fire, flashing a sinister grin at me. The more I looked into it, the more it almost felt like I could see myself.
Get ahold of yourself, Ren. I'm not sure what you're seeing but, this isn't real.
It must've been my imagination, because the moment I looked away, people were moving again. I felt like I was simply in the way standing in the middle of the crowd like I was, but it seemed like nobody else noticed what I saw.
I managed to select the icon of the mysterious app and dragged it into the trash on my phone. I didn't remember installing it, so no harm in deleting it.
I looked back at the maps app I was using, it said I had 6.7 kilometers to go until I got to my destination. It was a cafe in Yongen-Jaya, Cafe LeBlanc. I was near another subway station so I proceeded to get on.
There wasn't anything exciting on the train ride there, though. It gave me a chance to reflect on things.
Today was April 9th, 2015. Exactly 4 days ago I was tried in court and found guilty of assault. A dubious charge at best but the court was firm in its decision. Cast out from my home, and sent to live out my probation far away from anybody else.
It wasn't very long before I arrived in Yongen. The train ride felt shorter than the one to Shibuya, that's for certain.
Starting today, Sojiro Sakura will be taking care of me. His house should be in the backstreets of this residential area.
I thought to nobody in particular, but the truth is I was completely lost. So, I just started looking around for where the houses were. I eventually made my way to a house with a delivery truck in front of it.
"Excuse me, do you know where I can find a Sakura-san?" - I asked the delivery man.
"Oh, Boss is usually at his cafe by now. It's in the back alley, a little way from here."
I thanked the man and then made my way back to the alleys I had initially passed over. I should've looked here first, in hindsight. Sure enough, I found a store with a sign outside of it saying "LeBlanc, Coffee and Curry"
This must've been the place I was looking for, so I went inside. The TV was playing and there were a couple of customers talking. Something about the mental shutdowns. A man with a pink shirt and an apron had mentioned something about "They did say that was today" upon me walking in, so I could reasonably assume he knew Sojiro.
"So, you're Ren?" - The man said to me. He appeared to have known the situation I was in.
"Is Sakura-San here?" - I asked in response. He's who I was sent to see, after all.
"...Yeah." - The man had spoken again.
"I'm Sojiro Sakura, you'll be in my custody over the next year."
...Oh. The man I was talking to, was Sakura-san. I feel like a slight fool for not assuming that.
"I was wondering what kind of unruly kid would show up. But you're the one huh?" - Sojiro remarked.
"Have you been told? A customer of mine and your parents know each-other and…"
"Well, that doesn't matter. Follow me."
Sojiro led me to the upper level of the cafe. There was an old bed in the corner, and the room was covered in dust and discarded objects. It looked like a storage room.
"This is your room. I'll at least give you sheets for your bed."
"Huh, what's the matter. You look like you wanna say something."
"...It's cluttered." - Was the only response I was able to give.
"It's on you to clean up the rest." - Sakura-san informed me.
"I'll be leaving after I lock up each day. You'll be alone at night, but don't do anything stupid. I'll throw you out if you cause any trouble."
Don't need to tell me twice. I know the situation I'm in.
"Now then...I got the gist of your situation. You protected a woman from a man who was forcing himself on her, he got injured, and sued you, right?"
"That's what you get for sticking your nose in a matter between two adults. You did injure him, yeah?"
"And now that you got a criminal record, you were expelled from your high school. The court ordered you to transfer, and move out here. Which your parents also agreed with."
"In other words, they got rid of you for being a pain in the ass."
"It's best you not talk about anything unnecessary, I am in the restaurant business. Just behave yourself for the year, if nothing happens, your probation will be lifted."
"...A whole year." - I responded. I had very few words in this situation. I knew this already, and hearing it from somebody else made it more difficult to hear.
"Cause any problems and you'll be sent straight to juvie."
"We'll be going to Shujin tomorrow"
"Shujin?" - I asked. I had forgotten the name of the school I had been transferred to in all honesty.
"Shujin Academy...The school you'll be attending. We'll introduce ourselves properly to the staff there. There's rarely a place that'll accept somebody like you, you know."
"What a waste of my sunday…"
"Oh, by the way. Your luggage arrived earlier. I left it over there."
A cardboard box full of clothes and other essential items from home was on the floor in the room. I got dressed and reflected on the situation more.
A whole year, and I'm on probation. All my friends, anybody I cared about at my old school. I had to leave them behind. I'm an outcast, for lack of a better word.
Starting today, I'll be living here. In the attic of this cafe.
I was in the school uniform for Shujin, it was the only thing I had to wear otherwise. So I got myself changed into a more casual outfit, and then began to look around the room.
...I can clean this place up, at least. No reason to live like unwanted trash despite how everybody's gonna treat me.
So I spent the entire afternoon dusting the place, moving boxes onto the large shelf, making sure to keep my box separate so I'd know it was mine, and generally making the place look livable. I'm no housekeeper, but I gotta admit, I was impressed with my work. By the time I was done, it was getting dark out.
Sojiro came up the stairs, I would assume to check up on me.
"What the heck? I heard you making all sorts of noise, But I didn't think you'd be cleaning."
He sounded surprised.
"I didn't want to live like trash, even if that's how everyone's gonna view me." - I shrugged in response.
"Actually, the place doesn't look half bad." - Sojiro admitted to me.
"Though it's only natural you'd want to keep your room tidy."
"Why don't you go to bed for the night? You don't have anything better to be doing, right?"
...Nope. Not really. Other than staring at the ceiling and wondering how I was gonna find ways to entertain myself for a year like this.
"Alright. I was getting tired after today anyway." - I responded truthfully.
"I'm gonna close up shop and get out of here myself. I won't be the one looking after you if you get sick from staying up too late, got that?" - Said Sojiro.
"Understood." - I responded.
I really was tired, though. I threw a blanket over myself and quickly started to doze off. But not before reflecting a bit more.
Starting today. This is my room. It's a bit dusty still, and rather large but. I think I might be able to get used to this place. WIth time.
I changed into something a bit more appropriate for sleeping in, and then threw the blankets over me. I was out like a light pretty quickly. But a few things flashed in my head still.
-
Arrest...Trial...Criminal record. I can't help but think back on that fateful night. Why didn't I just walk away. It wasn't my place. It really was a matter between two adults, just like Sakura-san said today. The unpleasantness of the man's voice as well. "Damn brat, I'll sue!"
He was somebody who was willing to sue me, a high school student, a minor. For his own mistake. What kind of man would do that?
Still. I just couldn't let that go.
I remember more clearly now. That day, I had to go home early. I wasn't studying for a test at all, I actually wasn't feeling well and was sent home. I was walking back and it was getting late.
"Just get in the car" - Said the unpleasant man
"Stop it!" - Screamed the woman
I could hear the man and woman arguing in the distance, and my home was on the other side of the street, further down. The argument was just up ahead.
"How dare you cross me" - Said the man again. Causing the woman to yell "Stop it" once more in response, followed by "Let me go!"
The man was roughly grabbing at the woman, it was clear she didn't want to be involved, and the man was heavily drunk.
"No!" - The woman screamed in protest.
"Don't give me that shit." - The man said.
The man was definitely bothering that woman. I don't even think they really knew one another.
"Ow! P-Please, Stop!" - The woman was getting desperate now. She was in danger. I couldn't ignore that.
"Tch, what a waste of time. You think you're worth causing me trouble, Huh?" - The man barked.
"I-I'll call the police" - The woman threatened
"Heh, Call them if you want! The police are my bitches. They're not going to take you seriously."
"N-No, Stop!" - The woman kept trying to struggle to get away. A police siren was heard in the distance, no doubt somebody on the street also noticed what was happening.
"Someone called the cops, huh?" - The drunk man snarled.
"Get in the car! Incompitent fools like you just need to shut your mouths and follow where I steer this country!"
He then turned to face me.
"What are you looking at? Get outta my face" - He said with anger in his voice.
"This ain't a show. Get lost, Kid!"
"See, this is all because you're so damn slow! Get in the car!"
He kept trying to force himself onto the woman.
-
I couldn't just leave something like that. Something in my being wouldn't allow it.
I closed my eyes, before hearing a notification from my phone. That weird app had managed to install itself again without my permission.
I thought I deleted it.
Well, I'll just do exactly that again. It's probably some sort of prank or something.
My eyelids started to get heavy, and before I knew it. I was fast asleep.
-
I awoke inside of a padded room. The walls were blue. This wasn't the attic of the cafe I had just been in, where was I. There were swinging chains, a toilet with dripping water, and the whole thing felt like some sort of prison.
I got up to get a better look at my surroundings, before noticing that I was bound in chains. Wearing a prisoners uniform as well. This doesn't make sense. Am I dreaming? Why does this feel so real.
I heard a chuckle from an unknown source, only to quickly identify where it had come from. A little girl wearing a blue outfit, with an eyepatch over the eye. Not much later, another came into view, wearing the same outfit, but with the eyepatch over the other eye. They look identical, like twins.
I walked forward, feeling a massive weight on my feet. Sure enough, I was on a ball and chain. Peering out of the bars, I got a bit better of a look at the two girls. The first one I saw had her eyepatch over the left eye. My right. The second had one over the right, or my left. What happened that made them lose eyes?
But that wasn't the biggest question about my new location. That came in the form of the man sitting at a desk in the center of the room. Bald, long nose, pointed ears, and wide opened eyes. He had his hands together and his chin resting on them, before speaking to me.
"Trickster. Welcome to my velvet room."
What the hell was going on!? All I could do was attempt to rattle the bars in front of me.
"So you've come to, Inmate!" - Said one of the twin girls.
"The you in reality is currently fast asleep. You are only experiencing this as a dream." - Said the other.
This was a dream, only a dream. I was worried I'd just been sent straight to prison already
"You're in the presence of our master! Stand up straight!" - The first twin commanded.
...Something tells me that listening to her was a good idea. So I did.
"Welcome. I am delighted to make your acquaintance." - Said the mysterious old man. He had an exceptionally deep voice, very commanding, and he spoke very slowly.
"This place exists between dream and reality, Between mind and matter."
"It is a room that only those who are bound by a 'Contract' may enter."
A contract? I don't remember signing any sort of contract.
"I am Igor, The master of this place. Remember it well."
...At least I know a name now.
"I summoned you to speak of important matters. It involves your life as well." - Igor continued his previous statement.
"Important matters?" - I asked, expecting some sort of answer.
"Still, this is a surprise. The state of this room reflects the state of your own heart. To think a prison would appear as such." - Igor continued, seemingly not hearing my question.
"You truly are, a "prisoner" of fate."
"In the near future, there is no mistake that ruin awaits you."
"Ruin?" - I asked, not expecting a response. I was actually pleasantly surprised when Igor appeared to have heard me this time.
"I speak of the end to everything. However, there is a means to oppose such a fate."
"You must be "rehabilitated," rehabilitated, toward freedom. That, is your only means to avoid ruin."
"Do you have the resolve to challenge the distortion of the world?"
"Wait...What?" - Was the only response I could manage. This is all very sudden. A lot to ask of just myself.
"You didn't decline, Hm? Very well, that is enough."
"Allow me to observe the path of your rehabilitation."
The twins from earlier seem to have moved, and Igor introduced them as the wardens of this place. To my left was Caroline, and to my left, Justine. Similar names, they must be twins after all.
"Hmph, Try and struggle as hard as you like!" - Caroline said to me.
"The duty of wardens, is to protect inmates. We are also your collaborators." - Said Justine in a matter of fact tone.
"That is, if you remain obedient"
"I shall explain the roles of these two on another occasion" Igor spoke again.
"Now then, it seems the night is waning. It is almost time."
"Take your time to slowly come to understand this place. We will surely meet again, eventually."
...I didn't get very long before an alarm was going off.
"Time's up! Now hurry up and go back to sleep" - Ordered Caroline.
I had no real choice but to comply.
