Prologue

"…Sigh. God, I’m just so tired of everything."

I wouldn’t go so far as to say I wanted to die… but I had reached my limit. My body was a wreck, and my spirit was even worse.

"…Dammit!"

I grabbed the pillow lying nearby and hurled it across the room.

I knew taking my anger out on inanimate objects was pathetic, but I felt like if I didn't, I’d end up doing something far more irreversible.

"A 'black company'… huh."

Why was I this exhausted?

Because the place I worked was one of those exploitative, bottom-tier "black companies"—a corporate hellhole that ground down your soul just as much as your body.

It was the first job I’d landed after graduating university. I hadn't had any grand ambitions back then, so I’d just drifted into employment with a vague sense of purpose. Now, I lived every day in a cycle of regret, cursing myself for not researching the company before signing my life away.

"There are plenty of replacements for a piece of shit like you."

"We’re the ones doing you a favor by keeping you on. Be grateful."

"You ever mention quitting again and I’ll fucking kill you, got it?"

"You’re incompetent. No one else would ever hire a loser like you."

The messages from my boss were always like that.

A month ago, the stress finally peaked, and I’d summoned the courage to hand in my resignation. My boss had simply snatched the paper and ripped it to shreds right in front of my face.

"And then… then there was…"

Ah, this is bad. Just thinking about it brought hot tears to my eyes.

My current state of total mental collapse wasn't just because of my shitty boss's abuse. Even in that toxic environment, I’d had a senior I thought I could rely on.

Her name was Kanzaki-san. She was a beautiful woman, four years older than me. She was always there to tell me to keep my chin up; she was the one who offered me a kind shoulder to lean on.

But then, I’d overheard it.

"Hey, Kanzaki. You’re always looking after that kid, aren't you?"

"Well, it’d be a pain if he actually quit, right? If all it takes is one little compliment to keep him working, he's easy enough to manage. It’s a huge help."

"Harsh. So you don't actually give a damn about him?"

"Obviously not. But for all his faults, he does his job well. He actually gets results. Honestly, it’s impressive he can pull it off in this environment, don't you think?"

"Yeah, that just makes him even more annoying. Well, whatever. It’s better for us if he stays a "useful tool"—that's all a guy like him is good for anyway."

"True. Our clients like him, too. If we play our cards right and use him even more effectively, we can make our own lives even easier."

…That was the conversation.

The person I thought was supporting me was just another vulture, no different from the shitty boss. I suppose I was an easy mark.

I was exhausted, I wanted to quit… and yet, I’d been pathetic enough to think I could keep going just because someone gave me a few kind words or a cup of coffee. I must have looked like a total clown to them.

"Maybe I should just… throw it all away and run."

The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them.

The company, the boss, Kanzaki-san… I wanted to forget it all. I wanted to run away to some place—any place—where I could just hide from the world.

"My relationship with my family is shit, and I don't have anyone else to turn to…"

Maybe it was because of that company, but I hadn't even managed to make any real friends. My colleagues were all walking around with the faces of dead men… Honestly, it’s a late realization, but the thought hit me with crushing force.

Why did I work so hard for two years at a place like that?

People always say you should stick it out for at least three years, but if I stayed there for one more, I was going to break. Permanently.

"…I’m not going back tomorrow. I don't care what they say, and I don't care what they think of me anymore."

I began tearing up everything—the business cards they’d made for me, the documents I was supposed to use.

For me, this was the only way to completely sever my ties with the company. I shredded every single page, pouring all my accumulated rage and frustration into my hands.

Soon, the floor was buried under a sea of scrap paper, but I didn't care about sleeping in the mess. I was far past the point of worrying about things like that.

"…Sigh. Even so, where am I supposed to go?"

A journey without a goal. A trip without a destination.

Fortunately, I’d been so busy with work that I never had the time to go out or find a hobby to spend money on. To put it simply: I had a lot of savings.

I guess I should be grateful for the high salary in that regard… though they never paid a cent of overtime. Still, having money provided a small measure of relief.

"Whatever… I’ll leave it to tomorrow-me."

I took a quick bath, shoveled some food down, and collapsed onto my futon.

"Seriously though… what kind of 'working adult' does this?"

Walking away without notice was probably the lowest thing a professional could do.

But they’d torn up my legal resignation a month ago. When I thought about that, I felt like I could disappear with my head held high.

"…Oh, right. I should delete them."

I went through my phone and deleted the contact info for my boss, Kanzaki-san, and everyone else who had made my life a living hell.

I couldn't say I felt perfectly safe yet, but seeing their names vanish from my address book made my chest feel lighter.

"…I say I’m going on a journey, but what’s going to happen? What do I actually want to do… How do I want to live? I wonder if I’ll find the answer."

The relief of not having to go to work was war with the crushing anxiety of what came next.

"Tch… dammit."

Lately, my mood always plummeted at night. No, it wasn't just "lately"—it had been like this for at least six months.

Every night around 10:00 PM, a sudden wave of dread would wash over me, making me feel like my heart was being squeezed. I used to enjoy watching streamers before bed, but lately, even that felt hollow. No matter how much I tried to sleep, the anxiety would just surge through my chest, keeping me awake.

"Is it going to be like this tonight, too?"

I didn't have to go to work. I never had to see those people again.

And yet, the feeling remained unchanged. Even if I ran away from this place, would I ever be able to go back to being the person I used to be?

That fear was relentless… It terrified me more than anything.

▼▽

The next day, I found myself swaying with the motion of a bus.

The anxiety had lingered, but eventually, I’d managed to pass out, waking up around 9:00 AM. I’d taken my time getting ready and left the house shortly after noon.

Without a destination in mind, I just got on a bus, rode it for a while, got off, and then caught another one. I spent the time staring blankly out the window.

But eventually, you have to get off. There’s no such thing as a bus that runs forever, and I couldn't just stay on and become a nuisance to the driver.

"…4:00 PM already?"

I was surprised by how much of the day I’d spent just riding around.

I figured it was time to move, so I hopped off at the next stop and just started walking.

"I wonder… where even am I?"

I hadn't looked at my phone once today, and I’d been in such a daze that I’d tuned out the bus announcements. I had absolutely no information about this town—or was it a village? I didn't even know its name.

"…I bet there aren't any hotels around here."

Forget hotels—I couldn't see a single tall building. From what I’d seen through the bus window, I’d traveled quite deep into the mountains… a real rural backwater.

It’s not like I’d set out with the intention of coming to the countryside, but maybe my heart just wanted to escape the noise of the city.

"Let’s try going that way."

I walked forward, feeling the solid weight of the earth beneath my feet with every step.

"…It’s beautiful."

I looked around. Lush, green mountains rolled into the distance. The landscape was dominated by rice paddies, the air filled with the rhythmic croaking of frogs. I felt like I was being swallowed by nature itself.

"…Ah, a bus stop."

I’d been walking for I don't know how long when I spotted a stop up ahead. Unlike the last one, this one had a wooden roof. My legs were starting to ache, so I decided to take a break there.

"…Wait, is that rain?"

Suddenly, the sky opened up.

It had been clear just a moment ago, but before I knew it, dark clouds had rolled in. I had a bad feeling about this and started sprinting for the bus stop. Just as I suspected, the drizzle turned into a heavy downpour of fat, heavy droplets.

"Just my luck…"

I had a folding umbrella in my bag, but it was faster to just seek shelter. I didn't care that the ground was turning into a muddy mess; I just dove under the roof of the bus stop to escape the deluge.

"Whew…"

"Seeking shelter from the rain?"

"Eh?"

I’d thought I was alone, but it seemed someone had beaten me there.

I turned toward the voice and saw a beautiful woman sitting there. She had a brown bob that just barely reached her shoulders. Her eyes were gentle, giving off a soft, welcoming impression, and even through her cardigan, I couldn't help but notice the generous curves of her chest.

"…………"

In this town… no, village. This was the first person I’d met since arriving, and I was genuinely stunned. I didn't have some weird prejudice against country life, but she was a genuine beauty, even by city standards.

"Um… are you hiding from the rain?"

"Ah, yes… it started so suddenly."

Looking at her reminded me of Kanzaki-san. When someone gives off such a beautiful, gentle impression, I can't help but wonder if they’re hiding something dark inside.

"…No, I shouldn't think like that."

I shook my head to clear the cynical thought, feeling bad for judging a total stranger. At that moment, the woman patted the space next to her.

"It’s pouring out there. If you’d like, why don't we take a break together?"

"…Ah, sure."

As she said, the rain was coming down hard. Even with an umbrella, I’d probably get soaked in a storm like this. It was a problem, considering I hadn't even found a place to stay tonight. All I could do was pray for it to stop… or at least let up a bit.

"Please, have a seat."

"…Okay."

I was a bit flustered by how insistently she was offering the spot, but it felt wrong to refuse when she was being so nice. I sat down beside her and let out a small breath. The rain felt like a series of unfortunate events piling up, but even so, it was still a million times better than being at that company.

"…………"

I felt like… she’d been staring at me for a while now. Even though I knew she was looking, it didn't feel unpleasant. Maybe it was because she was so incredibly pretty, or maybe it was because her gaze truly did seem kind.

"Um… is something wrong?"

"Oh, no… sorry for staring. I just thought I hadn't seen your face around before. This is a small village, so I usually know most people by sight."

I see… the classic "everyone knows everyone" rural trope.

"Actually… well… how should I put this?"

I hesitated, unsure if I should tell her the truth. I decided it was better to keep it vague. Explaining my life story to a stranger would probably just make things awkward. As I was trying to figure out how to continue the conversation, I noticed a scrape on the back of her hand.

"What happened to your hand?"

"Eh? Oh, this?"

Not only was her hand scratched, but her clothes were a bit dirty, too. Now that I was closer, I could see it clearly.

"I’m a bit of a klutz, you see… I tripped on a ledge on my way here."

"Ah, that sounds rough."

I reached into the side pocket of my bag and pulled out a bottle of water and a bandage.

"Give me your hand."

"Eh? Oh… okay."

I poured a little water over her hand to wash away the dirt, then carefully applied the bandage. I’d brought the bandages on a whim, but I guess following my instincts pays off sometimes.

"Ah… thank you so much."

"Don't mention it. It’ll probably sting a bit when you take a bath tonight, though, so hang in there."

"Ugh… you're right. I’ll just pray it scabs over quickly."

The woman rubbed the bandage gently and let out a small, soft laugh.

"You're a very kind person, aren't you?"

"Kind…? No, didn't you think it was weird? I mean, normally you wouldn't do this for someone you just met, right?"

"Maybe that’s true. But I still think you're a very kind man."

"…………"

Kind… huh. It wasn't a word I heard often. Kanzaki-san used to say it to me at the company, too. I remember how happy it made me when she’d say it after I brought in treats as a thank-you… and now, hearing it from the woman in front of me made me feel a tiny bit happy, too.

"…Thanks."

I wondered if anyone had ever sounded so gloomy saying "thanks." I just didn't know how else to respond. I tried to give her the best smile I could muster, but it probably looked strained and forced… but that was the best I could do right now.

"Seeing you force a smile like that makes me even more worried. I missed my chance to ask earlier, but… is there something you want to talk about?"

"…………"

At the mention of my "strained smile," I looked away. I’m sure she knew she was overstepping; getting involved in a stranger's personal life is usually nothing but a nuisance.

…But maybe it was okay to vent just a little bit. We’d probably never meet again after this, and since she was the one asking, I figured it couldn't hurt.

"I came here… for no real reason."

"No reason?"

"…To be honest, I worked for a 'black company.' I finally couldn't take it anymore, so I decided I wasn't going back today. I just threw everything away and ran."

"…………"

"I ended up in this town—village, I mean—by accident. I just kept getting on and off buses until I landed here."

"So… does that mean you have nowhere to go?"

"Yeah… I’m ashamed to admit it."

I had nothing left to hide, so I just nodded. I didn't know what she was thinking as she stared at me, but this was a good opportunity to ask about accommodations.

"Is there a place I could stay—"

Before I could finish the question, she gently took my hand.

It was so sudden that I froze, my eyes wide with shock.

"If you're looking for a place to stay, I know just the spot."

"Eh?"

"Come to my house. I live with my mother, but having one more person around won't be a problem at all."

"…………"

Wait a second… what is this woman saying? Her offer was incredibly generous, and it would definitely save me from a rough night… but there was no way I could just say yes to that.

"You don't need to be so formal! Honestly, after hearing your story, I couldn't just say 'goodbye' and leave you here. I’d never be able to live with myself."

"No… usually people don't get involved."

"Then I guess I’m just unusual. But if I let you go now, I know I won't be able to sleep tonight. So please, won't you come to my home? You need to rest your heart and your body."

"…………"

Is it just me, or is she being really pushy? Normally, no matter how grateful I was, I should have declined. But it was getting dark, and I didn't have a better plan. Maybe I should just take her up on it for tonight.

"…Is it really okay if I intrude?"

The moment the words left my mouth, she beamed at me and nodded.

"Of course!"

It was sudden, but just like that, the fear of sleeping outside vanished. And as if on cue, the rain stopped, allowing us to step out from under the shelter of the bus stop.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Anzai Mina. I’m a teacher at the elementary school here in Minorisato Village."

"Oh… so you're a teacher. I’m Sumuragi Takuya."

"Takuya-san, then. Please, just call me Mina. And you don't have to be so polite with your speech, okay? We look about the same age. I’m twenty-two."

"I’m twenty-four… but I don't know if I can just call you by your name—"

"I don't mind! Come on, let me hear you say it."

She’s the type who won't budge until she gets what she wants, isn't she? I thought about it for a second, then finally gave in. I tentatively spoke her name.

"…Mina-san."

"Yes! And I’ll call you… Takuya-san."

My name… Come to think of it, it’d been a long time since anyone had called me by my name. My boss called me "hey you," "piece of shit," or "useless trash," and Kanzaki-san and the others always used my surname. It felt… fresh.

"Well, shall we go? If we’re too late, my mother will worry."

"Got it…"

"Polite speech!"

"…I mean, okay."

"Giggle."

And so, I ended up going to the home of the first person I met in this village—Mina-san.

To be honest, I still had my doubts about the suddenness of the meeting and the offer. But little did I know that this encounter was about to change my destiny forever. At the time, I had no idea.