The faint echo of announcements rang through Yokohama Central Station, blending with the rhythmic clatter of footsteps and the occasional metallic screech of arriving trains.
Fumiko sat quietly on a wooden bench near the center platform, her head tilted slightly as if it might slide onto her shoulder at any moment.
It was only late morning, but exhaustion already weighed on her like a heavy coat. Her eyes followed the movements of strangers passing by, the blur of colors and chatter somehow both soothing and dizzying.
Across from her, Ami stood with a hand on her hip, scrolling through her phone. Beside her, Yuki adjusted the strap of her backpack, her restless gaze flicking toward the station clock for the third time in five minutes.
"Ughhh, Rin is so late again,"
Yuki groaned, her voice carrying a mix of annoyance and familiarity.
"She was late last time too, wasn't she?"
Yuki said, turning her head towards Ami.
"Pretty much every time,"
Ami replied dryly, still scrolling.
"It's practically her trademark at this point."
Fumiko heard the conversation between both of them, tried to suppress a small laugh but ended up yawning instead, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.
Ami finally noticed. Her phone dropped slightly as concern flashed across her face.
"Hey… you okay, Fumi? You look like you've been awake since, I don't know, last Tuesday."
Fumiko rubbed the sleep from her eyes and forced a faint smile.
"Yeah… I'm fine. Just… didn't get much sleep last night, haha.."
Ami tilted her head.
"Obvious. What kept you up? Late-night novel binge again?"
Fumiko hesitated for a split second.
"Y-Yeah… uhm… the chapters kept getting… interesting. Couldn't stop reading it."
She let out a weak chuckle to make the lie sound casual.
Of course, she couldn't say what really kept her awake, the strange dreams, the endless shadows, the faint voice whispering her name, the dark shadow figure which attacked on her last night. No one would believe her, and she wasn't ready to try.
Ami raised an eyebrow, unconvinced but unwilling to push.
"Mm-hm. Sure. Just don't turn into a zombie before we even get to Tokyo."
Fumiko exhaled softly.
"I'll manage, uhh..."
A few feet away, Yuki perked up suddenly, her face lighting with excitement.
"Oh! Speaking of staying up late, did you guys watch the football match last night? Ryuji Takahashi was a beast! Three goals all by himself against Argentina!"
Her voice rose with dramatic flair, drawing a curious glance from an elderly couple passing by.
Ami's eyes widened.
"Wait, three? I only watched the first half. No wonder everyone's posting clips."
She spun toward Fumiko.
"You saw it, right?"
Fumiko shook her head, stretching her arms with a small groan.
"I was… too busy with my novel last night."
Yuki gasped theatrically.
"Kamisamaa! Fumiko, how could you?! Ryuji was like… perfection on the field. Fast, focused, determined and sooo handsome."
Ami laughed, nudging Yuki playfully.
"Careful, you're drooling over by just day dreaming about him."
"Hey, let me dream! He's basically the ideal guy! talented, handsome, kind and pretty cute."
Fumiko smirked despite herself.
"Whoa, Yuki, stop worshiping the poor guy. He's just a player doing his job."
Yuki clasped her hands together in mock prayer.
"And doing it perfectly! Don't ruin my fantasy, Fumi-chan."
Ami burst into laughter, nearly dropping her phone, and soon Fumiko joined in, their giggles echoing lightly against the station's steel beams.
Before Yuki could defend her imaginary romance further, a voice called out behind them.
"Heeey yoo! Sorry for being late!"
The girls turned to see Rin jogging toward them, her messy hairs bouncing with each step. She stopped just short of the group, slightly out of breath but wearing her usual lazy grin.
Yuki crossed her arms dramatically.
"Girl, seriously? You could've missed the train. It'll be here any minute!"
Ami and Fumiko nodded in perfect unison, their shared expression somewhere between amusement and exasperation.
Rin waved a dismissive hand.
"Yeah, yeah, my bad. I had to… uh… wrestle with my alarm clock."
She winked.
"Pretty sure I won, haha!"
"Barely,"
Yuki muttered, but the corners of her mouth twitched into a reluctant smile.
A sudden metallic screech signaled the train's arrival. The girls quickly grabbed their bags and stepped toward the platform as the doors of the train slid open with a soft ding.
---
The four of them found a row of seats together near the center. The faint sway of the train mixed with the rhythmic clatter of tracks beneath them, creating a strangely calming soundtrack to their chatter.
Yuki leaned forward eagerly, her eyes sparkling.
"So! First stop – Tokyo Mall! I already have a list of shops. We're hitting every single one."
"Of course you do,"
Rin said, leaning back and crossing her arms.
"Remind me again why we're willingly walking into a shopping marathon?"
"Because of heavy discounts for students"
Ami replied without hesitation.
"And because Yuki would haunt us if we said no."
"Accurate,"
Yuki said with a satisfied grin.
Fumiko rested her chin in her hand, watching the scenery blur past the window. Buildings, bridges, and flashes of greenery flickered like scenes in an old film reel.
Despite the laughter around her, a quiet unease lingered at the edges of her mind, a faint echo of the dream she still couldn't shake.
*Dark corridors… a whisper calling my name…*
Her fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her bag.
*Why does it feel like something's following me even when I'm awake?*
"Earth to Fumi,"
Ami's voice broke through her thoughts.
"You good there?"
Fumiko blinked, realizing she'd been staring at her own reflection in the glass.
"Yeah… just tired, don't worry about me Ami, I'm totally fine."
Ami studied her for a second, then offered a small, understanding smile.
"Okay. But if you start sleepwalking, I'm tying you to the seat."
That earned a quiet laugh from Fumiko, enough to mask the unease for now.
---
An hour later, the train slowed to a stop at Tokyo Station. The doors opened with a hiss, releasing a rush of city air thick with the scent of coffee, asphalt, and faint traces of fried food from nearby vendors.
The girls stepped out into the sprawling station and quickly merged into the bustling crowd. Despite having visited Tokyo before, the towering buildings and endless streams of people never failed to spark a sense of excitement.
Yuki eyes were sparkling with excitement as she walks around freely, checking up on every shop through the glass. Leaving the three of them behind.
"Yuki's in her natural habitat,"
Rin muttered, watching their friend practically skip ahead.
"She sure loves this place"
Fumiko said with a small smile.
Their destination, Tokyo Mall – was a short walk away. Neon signs and massive LED screens lit the streets like a carnival of colors. The city buzzed with life, each corner humming with conversations, laughter, and the faint thrum of distant music.
Inside the mall, they wasted no time diving into store after store.
Rin gravitated toward a sleek black leather jacket, shrugging it on and striking a mock-tough pose in front of a mirror.
"Cool~"
Rin said with a smile on her face, checking out the jacket on her.
Ami and Fumiko sifted through racks of casual tops and baggy jeans, exchanging opinions on colors and fabrics.
Yuki, unsurprisingly, made a beeline for a bright display of skirts and tank tops.
"Woah Yuki, that skirt is practically glowing,"
Rin said, eyebrow raised.
"Planning to blind someone?"
"It's called fashion, Rin-chan, you won't understand, hmph!"
Yuki shot back, twirling the skirt dramatically.
Their laughter carried through the aisles, blending with the soft hum of music overhead.
After making their purchases, the group decided it was time for food.
First stop: a bubble tea stand where they ordered four different flavors, matcha, taro, strawberry, and classic brown sugar.
Next came a parade of street snacks: crispy takoyaki, skewered yakitori, and warm taiyaki filled with sweet red bean paste.
By the time they finished, their arms were full of shopping bags and their stomachs pleasantly heavy.
---
As they wandered through a side street, Fumiko suddenly slowed to a stop, looking up to a building.
Above them, a massive LED screen displayed a live interview with a young football player, his confident smile and sharp eyes impossible to miss, which caught her attention.
"Ryuji Takahashi,"
The host announced.
"The star of last night's incredible match."
Fumiko's breath caught.
Her eyes locked on Ryuji's face, a strange sensation washing over her, like a memory just out of reach, tugging at the edge of her consciousness.
"Why… does he feel so familiar?"
For a moment, the crowd's noise faded. All she could hear was the faint echo of her own heartbeat. What was that? Why he is looking familiar so sudden. Her mind filled with so many thoughts.
Suddenly.
"Fumi!"
Ami's voice jolted her back.
"Come on, we're heading to the next street."
Fumiko blinked, tearing her gaze away from the screen.
"R-Right… coming."
She hurried to catch up, but the unease lingered, like a shadow that refused to disappear.
Ami slowed her pace to match hers.
"Hey… you okay? You seem… off."
Fumiko forced a smile.
"Yeah. Just… usual thoughts."
Ami didn't look convinced, but she let it go with a gentle nod.
"Well, try to enjoy the day, okay? No stressing over small things."
"Yeah… thanks, Ami."
They shared a quiet smile before rejoining Yuki and Rin.
---
By early evening, the group finally collapsed onto a park bench near the station, their shopping bags piled at their feet.
"I had sooo much fun today!"
Yuki exclaimed, swinging her bag like a hammock.
Fumiko and Ami chuckled at her childish enthusiasm.
"I guess… hanging out with more friends isn't such a bad thing after all"
Rin admitted, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Look who's talking,"
Fumiko teased.
"Our tomboy finally enjoying city life with us girls."
The others laughed as Rin blushed lightly.
"Yeah, yeah… don't get used to it."
Ami checked her watch.
"It's already seven. We should probably head back before it gets too late."
Ami said with a concerning voice.
"Aww, why do good times fly by so fast?"
Yuki groaned dramatically.
"Relax,"
Rin said, puffing her chest in mock bravado.
"Your personal bodyguard is here. I'll protect you all until we're safely home."
The girls burst into laughter again before gathering their things and making their way back toward the station.
---
Minutes after they left, silence settled over the small park.
The faint glow of neon signs flickered against the pavement as a cold breeze swept through.
Near the bench where they'd been sitting, a small stone pulsed faintly with a dark, oily light.
The ground trembled, barely noticeable, before a thin crack split the earth beneath it.
From the darkness below, something began to stir.