Ding-dong, ding-dong. Ding-dong, ding-dong. *
The school bell announcing the end of the day echoed through the halls.
I stood up, slung my bag over my shoulder, and headed for the door to leave the classroom.
"Hey, Yuto!"
"What's up, Matsumoto?"
A voice called out from behind me, and I turned around.
It was Matsumoto, my friend.
He's a top student, good at sports—both brainy and brawny—and he's popular with everyone in the class.
"Wanna go hang out with everyone? I'm pretty sure you've never been to karaoke, right?"
He smiled and pointed to a group of students gathered in one corner of the classroom, inviting me to hang out.
Looks like they're all going together, and there's a huge crowd.
That's what being popular gets you, I guess...
"Sorry, I've got something to do today, so I can't make it.
Maybe another time, though."
I was really happy he invited me, but... unfortunately, I had plans for today, so I declined his offer.
"Oh, okay... well, can't be helped then. See you at school tomorrow!"
"Yeah, see you."
I said goodbye to Matsumoto and left the classroom.
A calm, everyday life unfolded.
Peaceful, ordinary time with nothing unusual happening.
I wasn't looking for any excitement; my life isn't the kind where something happens and I become the protagonist of a story... there's no way that'll ever happen.
I can't be anything special. What I can't do, others can, and even what I'm relatively good at, others can do even better.
That's the kind of person I am, with no real special talent...
But even someone like me... can't just ignore an old lady struggling on the side of the road, even if it means putting my own plans on hold.
A little way past the school, in the shopping district, there was an elderly woman standing still, her luggage looking incredibly heavy.
No one else was around, just me... I had no choice but to help.
"Are you okay? Would you like me to carry that for you?"
"Oh, really? Then yes, please."
I hurried over and spoke to the elderly woman.
She looked at me and smiled, handing me her bags.
She told me she was carrying them as a souvenir from a friend's house.
I mean, carrying something this heavy... isn't that a form of punishment?
"The bags are very heavy. Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I'll be fine."
The old woman asked with concern.
The bags were a bit heavy, but I work out regularly, so this was nothing.
"Oh, you've been a great help, thank you. You're such a kind young man."
"...I guess so."
I gave a hesitant reply to her words of thanks.
I was happy to be thanked... but calling me kind... that word feels too undeserving for me.
Because I'm not the kind of person who's called kind.
"Now for the next news story..." *
As I was thinking that, my eyes caught the news on the TV in the window of an electronics store in the shopping district.
The story was about a heinous criminal, a murderer and robber who had escaped from a detention center six months ago and was still on the run.
The TV showed a picture of a large man with a vertical scar on his eye and the name Goshin Ryudo.
...For some reason, I felt like I'd seen this person somewhere before.
Had I seen him in a similar news report?
No, it didn't feel like that. It was somewhere else... somewhere important...
"It's really scary, isn't it... You be careful too, young man."
The old woman, who was also watching the news, spoke to me with concern.
"Thank you, ma'am. I'll be fine."
After that, we walked to her house, chatting about various things. By the time we arrived, the sun had set and it was getting dark.
"Would you like to come in for some tea?"
"No, thank you. Your kindness is more than enough."
I placed her bags at her front door and started to head back. She offered me tea, but I politely declined and returned to the shopping district.
It was my sister Satsuki's birthday today, and I had to go buy a cake to celebrate.
I had reserved one at a famous pastry shop in the shopping district a few days ago, which is why I'd prioritized this over Matsumoto's invitation.
By the time I returned to the shopping district, the sun had already set and it was dark.
It's getting late. I need to hurry and get the cake so my parents don't worry.
Thinking this, I was about to head to the pastry shop when I stepped into the shopping district and felt a strange sense of unease, which made me stop.
There was no sign of anyone in the shopping district. I looked around, but there wasn't a single person. Even though the lights were on in the shops, there was no one around.
"...Something's not right," I thought.
As I started walking toward the pastry shop anyway, that's when it happened.
—Come... here... *
A voice... I heard it.
It sounded like a small girl.
"...Who is it?"
I looked around, thinking no one was supposed to be here.
But still, no one was in sight.
"Did I imagine that?"
I thought, and was about to continue walking, but...
—Come... here... come... here... *
—Come... here... come... here... *
—Come... here... come... here... *
The same voice repeated itself.
This time, it was different from before, repeating over and over again.
I strained my ears to find the source of the voice.
It seemed to be coming from the alley right next to me.
I peered into the alley from which the voice was coming.
The alley was dark and damp, and it seemed to stretch far back.
It was a creepy place. I didn't want to get close to it.
But...
—Come here— *
"Huh!"
What... did I lose consciousness for a second?
"Where am I?"
I was in a dimly lit, narrow place... When I looked back, I could see the spot where I had been.
So this is the alley I was looking into?
How did I get here so fast...?
By the time I realized what was happening, the little girl's voice was gone, and I was just standing alone in the dark, silent alley.
"So, there's nothing here..."
I muttered with a hint of disappointment. Just as I was about to turn back the way I came, it happened.
Suddenly, a dazzling light engulfed me.
"Whoa, it's so bright!!"
I instinctively closed my eyes and covered my face with my hands.
It was so bright that I could feel the light even with my eyes shut.
A little while later, I felt something strange happen to my body.
My body felt light and airy.
It felt like I was floating.
No, that's not it. I wasn't floating.
I took my hands away from my face and opened my eyes, and I knew for sure.
I wasn't floating...
I was simply falling through the blue sky with nothing to break my fall.