Life In The Reverse World

Tokyo Station was known as the “front door of Tokyo.” It was not only the capital’s largest central station, but also the most important departure hub for shinkansen lines across Japan.

Just knowing that much was enough to understand how enormous Tokyo Station really was.

It might not compare to an international airport, but with its labyrinth of platforms and levels sprawling both above and below ground, most first-time visitors would inevitably lose their sense of direction.

After riding the Namboku Line and transferring midway to the Marununouchi Line, Harutaki stepped out into Tokyo Station and gazed at the vast plaza bustling with people. At that moment, he suddenly calmed down.

Having been fired up by that cool middle-aged man and rushing here on sheer adrenaline, Harutaki finally realized something extremely important.

Even if he knew the departure time of the Nozomi train Shihou would be taking, and could find the corresponding platform based on that information, he had absolutely no intention of reenacting some melodramatic movie or TV drama scene—running after a departing train while shouting the name of the girl he loved.

“Chouko!”

“Harutaki!”

“Chouko—!”

Then the train accelerates, he falls further and further behind, collapses from exhaustion, and cries out against fate and the cruelty of time—

Like a stray dog abandoned by its owner. That would be far too pathetic, wouldn’t it?

Remaining handsome and composed, never overextending himself, elegant at all times—that was Hoshikawa Harutaki’s personal philosophy of life.

10:09.

Harutaki lifted his left hand and glanced at the G-SHOCK square watch Chouko had given him. He had lost a bit of time due to unfamiliar transfers, but compared to an eleven o’clock departure—or rather, according to the shinkansen timetable he had checked on the way, the actual departure time was 11:25. Later than the rough estimate Asama-sensei had given him.

He had more than enough time to plan his next move.

In truth, from the very beginning he hadn’t placed much hope in this attempt. That was partly because of Asama-sensei’s reminder to “know when to stop,” and partly because Harutaki was keenly aware of his own position.

What exactly was he to Chouko?

A boy pursuing a girl?

A hero and benefactor who had saved her in a moment of crisis?

Two people who liked each other, yet hadn’t confessed their feelings?

No matter which it was, he simply lacked the confidence and the firm standing needed to oppose her relatives—let alone the family behind her.

“Haa…”

He drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. Despite having left the cramped train car and stepped under the open sky, the air still felt strangely thin, filled with a chaotic mix of scents from every direction.

Much like the unease lingering in his heart.

Walking toward the Western-style red-brick building designed by Tatsuno Kingo, Harutaki pondered how he should locate the girl.

The footsteps of passersby around him were incredibly fast, as though everyone were rushing to catch a train. In the blink of an eye, they swept past him.

In such a complex environment, searching aimlessly for Chouko—even if she were a once-in-a-lifetime beauty—would be no different from looking for a needle in the ocean.

Should he just message her directly?

He dismissed the idea almost immediately.

Given that Chouko hadn’t even opened or replied to a single message today, Harutaki suspected that something had gone wrong with her state of mind.

“If I had an elixir of immortality, I’d definitely leave it to you, Hoshikawa… so don’t even think about fighting the heavenly soldiers…”

Those were the words Chouko had whispered that night, hugging him from behind.

The implication had been clear. She didn’t want Harutaki to oppose the Shihou family just to keep her by his side.

But…

He, Hoshikawa Harutaki, wasn’t stupid enough to charge headlong into conflict with her family either.

Picking a fight and ruining relationships?

Give him a break.

Those were her blood relatives, the embodiment of her parents’ and elders’ will.

If he fell out with his future in-laws, how was he supposed to continue getting along with them?

Countless examples showed that when parents hadn’t committed some absolutely unforgivable sin, children who completely severed ties with them often ended up regretting it later in life.

Harutaki had no intention of becoming an enemy to her parents—or to the Shihou family.

If the “heavenly beings” and their “celestial soldiers” were destined to descend to the filthy mortal world and escort the princess back home, and if that step was unavoidable and impossible to stop, then all he needed was to fight indirectly.

“If you want to reach the Ōtsu area, the fastest route is to avoid Lake Biwa and move along the shoreline.”

That was what Asama-sensei had said.

Sometimes, the nearest and most straightforward path wasn’t the one that actually led to the destination. Trying to take shortcuts could even lead to disaster—capsized boats and lost lives.

Yet even in what seemed like an utterly hopeless situation, there might still be a rare path forward.

Just as he had believed when he made his decision.

“If you want to grow a great tree, then even if the seed might not sprout, you still have to bury it in the soil first.”

Murmuring softly to himself, Harutaki stepped into the sea of people at Tokyo Station’s side building.

Even though he had already decided on an indirect approach, he still wanted to attempt a direct negotiation first.

As for how to find Chouko’s location…

He tried sending her another message on Line. If things could be resolved easily, directly asking would naturally be the fastest and most convenient option.

However, after a while, although all the “Unread” markers finally turned into “Read,” Shihou still didn’t reply.

Fine, he thought. If you’re going to ignore me, then don’t blame me for resorting to underhanded tactics.

So, what was the simplest and most effective way to find someone in a public place?

…

“Excuse me, sorry to bother you. My little sister got separated from me. Could you help me make an announcement over the station broadcast?”

Following the station’s internal map, Harutaki arrived at the passenger service center and spoke to the female staff member behind the counter.

“Ah… no problem. Please tell us the missing person’s name, and we’ll contact the broadcast room right away.”

As she picked up a marker and notepad to jot things down, the staff member subtly glanced at Harutaki.

A student in uniform at this time of day was admittedly strange, but… this boy was so handsome, and his presence was so refined. There was no way he was lying, right?

“Hmm…” Harutaki pondered for a moment before continuing. “…My sister’s name is Shihou Chouko. Could you have the announcement ask her to gather at New York Perfect Cheese on the first floor? Our father is waiting for her there.”

“Uh, may I ask how old your sister is…?”

The staff member looked at him with a slightly odd expression.

“She’s sixteen. Sorry about this—she’s a bit airheaded and always misplaces things. We’re going to Kyoto today to visit our great-grandmother. We were planning to buy some souvenirs, but she left her phone in my bag and ran off to look for what she wanted.”

“O-oh… in that case, I’ll ask the broadcast room to make the announcement…”

“Thank you very much.”

Harutaki nodded slightly in gratitude, then turned and headed toward the meeting spot he’d chosen earlier—the famous and wildly popular souvenir shop inside Tokyo Station, New York Perfect Cheese.

…

“This is a missing-person announcement.”

Speakers scattered throughout Tokyo Station suddenly came to life, carrying the announcer’s clear, sweet voice.

“Shihou Chouko-chan, please proceed promptly to New York Perfect Cheese on the southwest side of the first floor of this station. Your father is waiting for you there.”

Shihou Chouko: ?

Her… father?

Chouko had been anxiously waiting for the “special methods” Harutaki had mentioned. After hearing the broadcast, she froze in disbelief for a moment before blinking as if waking from a dream. Her neck moved stiffly, like rusty gears lacking lubrication, as she stared blankly at her mother standing nearby.

“…”

She opened her mouth, wanting to ask whether her mother had just heard some strange announcement. But she could clearly see that even her mother—whose expression had remained cold the entire time—looked utterly dumbfounded.

“Mother… Father?”

“Your father was still in his office just now, messaging me to ask how you were doing. He said he’d definitely be home for dinner tonight.”

In that brief span of time, the announcement played again. By now, everyone in Tokyo Station knew there was a “little girl” named Shihou Chouko.

“Haa…”

Shouko sighed helplessly, already forming a rough conclusion in her mind.

Recalling the content of the announcement, she nearly burst out laughing. Forcing herself to keep a stern face, she shot her daughter a cold glare.

“That was ‘Harutaki-kun,’ wasn’t it?”

“Uweh!”

Still clinging to a sliver of hope that it had all been a hallucination, Chouko was utterly shocked by her mother’s sudden mention of “Harutaki-kun.” She flung the iPhone she’d been holding into the air—if her reflexes hadn’t been quick, the phone might have met a tragic end right then and there.

“M-mother… what are you talking about? Stick… what time? (harutaki → harutoki)”

“I said, Ha-ru-ta-ki-kun.”

Shouko crossed her arms and enunciated the name that sent her daughter into a panic.

Watching Chouko react like a startled kitten, Shouko—who hadn’t seen her daughter in quite some time—found herself suddenly tempted to tease her.

“H-Haruta Station? Aren’t we going back to Kyoto?”

“Very well…”

The corner of her lips curved almost imperceptibly. She gestured to the four security personnel standing guard nearby, signaling them to follow.

Then she took Chouko by the hand and began pulling her along, the girl’s face burning bright red.

“…We’ll go to New York Perfect Cheese and meet your father.”

“Pfft… c-cough… but isn’t father still in Kyoto?”

Like when she was little, Chouko reluctantly let her mother lead her, feeling that this was far too embarrassing for a high schooler.

Shouko felt a flicker of surprise.

When she had gone to Chouko’s apartment earlier, any attempt to get close or touch her daughter had been deftly avoided. But now, aside from the reluctance written on her face, Chouko showed no resistance at all.

“Heh…”

Shouko let out a sudden cold laugh, making Chouko shiver and instinctively hunch her shoulders, sneaking glances at her mother from the corner of her eye.

The one capable of pulling off such a brazen stunt must be the “despicable bastard” mentioned in that criminal’s confession, right?

So his name was Harutaki.

What an interesting boy, she mused. When it came to meeting her daughter’s so-called lifesaving benefactor—the one who had “wielded a filthy mop dipped in toilet water”—she couldn’t help but feel a trace of anticipation.

Not far away, Sato, who had been leaning silently against a wall, clenched his teeth when he saw Chouko leave with Auntie Shouko, and chose to follow after them.

Even if it was just to see her off…

He wanted to stay with Chouko a little longer, look at her one more time, hear her voice once more.

Ha.

He scoffed inwardly, regretting that he hadn’t cherished the time he’d had with her, mocking himself for only realizing its value now that she was leaving.

Walking forward in a daze, Sato happened to glance at an advertising screen along the corridor. One of the panels, perhaps due to a power failure, was dark, its black surface reflecting his blurry silhouette—

And he thought, bitterly, that this boy gazing from afar at his childhood friend’s retreating figure really did look like a pitiful stray dog.

…

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