Those who have narrowly escaped death often develop one of two extreme mindsets.
Either they become fearless, eager to make the most of their "second chance" at life by experiencing all the world has to offer!
Or they become fiercely protective of their lives, avoiding all risks and living cautiously, as if every extra second alive is a hard-won bonus.
Akaji, who had been severely injured in a car accident and nearly lost his life, belonged to the latter group. He cherished the fragile life he had barely clung to.
If life were tranquil, he could survive to the end of time.
After hurrying out of the alleyway café, Akaji didn't stop until he had walked two or three blocks away. He paused to catch his breath.
"Tch! That dead rabbit was clearly up to no good. Good thing I ran when I did!"
From the moment he saw the bizarre Mr. Rob, Akaji's instinct had been to keep as far away as possible. Yet he couldn't explain how he had ended up standing right in front of the rabbit, nearly accepting the flyer.
If the sudden discomfort in his eyes hadn't jolted him back to awareness at the critical moment, he would have fallen right into that dead rabbit's trap!
The encounter instantly reminded Akaji of a strange urban legend about a mysterious saleswoman.
The legend spoke of an exceptionally beautiful female salesperson who roamed the city, her features so elusive that no one could ever remember her face. She would stop her chosen targets with warm, friendly greetings, pressing a price list into their hands. Once the list was accepted, terrifying things began to happen!
Their wallets had been emptied!
The price list featured utterly useless trinkets and handicrafts, priced outrageously high. Anyone who glanced at even a single item on the list would unconsciously purchase it, continuing until their savings, credit cards, and every available online loan were drained dry!
Akaji shuddered to think that if he had taken the flyer from that dead rabbit earlier, a similar paranormal ordeal might have befallen him.
The mere thought was terrifying, sending shivers down his spine, chilling his limbs, and bringing tears to his eyes.
Though his late father had left him a substantial inheritance that would allow him to live comfortably for the rest of his life without working a day, even such a fortune couldn't withstand the onslaught of events defying scientific principles!
Weird tales were far more "toxic" than the "Four New Century Poisons": cash grabs, child exploitation, aluminum poisoning, and iron-headed stubbornness!
Relieved to have narrowly escaped, Akaji's spirits soared, and his steps grew lighter. Before he knew it, he had walked several kilometers back to his residence on the outskirts of University Town.
Standing before the security door, Akaji pulled out his keys, inserted one into the lock, and opened the door.
"I'm back..."
No one replied in the dimly lit apartment.
What was I even expecting?
If someone had actually greeted me with, "Welcome back! Dinner's ready and the bathwater's hot," I'd probably be terrified!
Akaji chuckled self-deprecatingly as he slipped into his slippers and flipped on the lights.
The lights illuminated the space—a trendy loft apartment of less than 40 square meters, divided into two floors. The lower level served as an open-plan living and entertainment area, while the upper level housed the bedroom and bathroom.
Exposed brick walls, metal pipes, walnut furniture, weathered leather storage cabinets, and unique wrought-iron accents characterized the typical industrial-style decor, giving the entire space a simple, rugged, and casual vibe.
After locking the security door, Akaji walked straight to a corner of the living room, where a statue of Vidyaraja, the Wisdom King, stood.
The Vidyaraja statue had been a gift from Brother Shui, a close friend of Akaji's father.
Brother Shui's surname wasn't Shui, nor did his given name contain the character for water. His surname was Bai, and his given name was Kai.
Ever since Akaji could remember, Brother Shui had been a constant presence in their home, freeloading on meals and drinks, sneaking into his father's closet to steal clothes, hiding in the trunk to secretly tag along on their father-son outings, and even scrubbing each other's backs in the bath...
Talk about bromance!
That's exactly what Akaji thought too.
It might sound a bit harsh, but he had once seriously suspected that Brother Shui and his old man were the real lovebirds, and that his mother, whom he had never met since birth, was just a fluke!
As Akaji's father's best friend during his lifetime, Brother Shui took extra care of him after the tragic car accident that claimed his father's life.
When Akaji submitted his re-enrollment application to the university and moved into the apartment near University Town that his father had prepared long ago, Brother Shui gifted him this uniquely sculpted statue as a housewarming present. He claimed it was the year's hottest item—the Mahavairocana—renowned for its exceptional ability to ward off evil spirits and protect the home!
The moment Akaji laid eyes on the Buddha statue, the first thought that flashed through his mind was: How can a Vidyaraja statue posed like Atlas from the Civilization series, shouldering a nuclear warhead, possibly ward off evil spirits?
Brother Shui's explanation was, "Haven't you heard the rumors online? They say the emergence of urban legends is due to the sun's weakening activity. Think about it—the principle behind hydrogen bomb explosions and solar fusion is essentially the same! Nuclear warheads are the sun!"
As he spoke, he even mimed an explosion with his hands.
So...
Is that what the 'Great Sun' actually means?
This explanation is... somewhat reasonable? Bullshit!
Kneel down and apologize to Lord Vidyaraja already!
Although the Vidyaraja statue Brother Shui gave him was full of flaws, Akaji couldn't bring himself to reject the goodwill of his elder. In the end, he reluctantly accepted it, vowing to bow to it daily and offer extra takeout meals as offerings.
After all, it's free. Might as well believe a little!
After bowing to the Vidyaraja statue, Akaji shrugged off his coat and tossed it onto the sofa. As the coat arced through the air, something fell out of its pocket with a soft click against the floor.
It was a paper cube, folded from stiff paper.
Drawn by the sound, Akaji walked over and picked it up. As he unfolded it, his pupils constricted violently, and his body shuddered as if struck by an electric shock.
"Hisss—! Damn it, Rem! What the hell is this? How is this possible?!"
In his hand, the pitch-black advertising paper was covered with bright yellow patches that formed images of rabbits, teacups, and long dining tables. These patterns intertwined with chaotic white lines created by the folds, resulting in a somewhat disorganized appearance.
Akaji recognized it immediately: it was the promotional flyer Mr Rob had handed out not long ago!
Amidst the clusters of patterns and lines, there was a paragraph of text, roughly a hundred words long. As for its content...
Akaji's eyes barely skimmed the words before a faint burning sensation began to sting his eyes, his head throbbed, and a faint, ethereal melody drifted into his ears.
He immediately sensed something was wrong. Adhering to his principle of If I don't see the criminal's face, they probably won't kill me!, he made a snap decision and didn't look!
Maintaining an outwardly calm facade while inwardly panicking, Akaji froze for two seconds, took a deep breath to steady himself, then crush! he crumpled the flyer into a ball, swung his arm in a wide arc, and hurled the paper wad away.
The paper ball landed on the floor and, like a living rabbit, bounced wildly several times before rolling into the shadowy corner beneath the windowsill, half-hidden in darkness.
Beneath the shadow's shroud, the twisted yellow lines on the paper seemed to possess an eerie magic, silently beckoning those who gazed upon them.
It was like a heavily made-up, curvaceous woman, cooing seductively, "Come play, darling! It'll be so much fun!"
Akaji's face remained impassive.
No thanks, no thanks. This is bad for my health!
Damn it! When did that rabbit...?
Wait! Did it really slip this into my pocket when I wasn't paying attention?
Could it be...? Is it possible...?
Did he somehow mystically slip the flyer into my pocket?
Combining this with his earlier bizarre behavior under Mr Rob's influence, Akaji grew increasingly uneasy, a chill creeping down his spine.
No way! Keeping this thing in the house feels ominous no matter how I look at it!
But I can't just throw it away. What if someone else picks it up?
Besides, if it somehow slipped into my pocket through some mysterious means, simply discarding it might just make it come back!
As he considered this, Akaji narrowed his eyes slightly.
Looks like I'll have to deal with this more thoroughly.