The faint echo of announcements rings through Yokohama Central Station, blending with the steady rhythm of footsteps and the metallic screech of trains arriving and departing.
The station is alive.
Commuters rush past with briefcases and coffee cups. Tourists stand near maps, arguing over directions. Vendors shout about fresh pastries and drinks.
It's loud.
Busy.
Ordinary.
And somehow, that normalcy feels strange to Fumiko.
She sits quietly on a wooden bench near the center platform, her back slightly hunched as exhaustion drapes over her like a heavy blanket.
Her eyelids droop.
She tries to keep them open, but they threaten to close at any moment.
Her gaze drifts lazily across the crowd..people walking, laughing, talking, living their normal lives.
A small yawn escapes her.
She quickly covers her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Why am I this tired…?"
The answer appears instantly in her mind.
The shadow.
The light.
The scream.
Her fingers twitch slightly.
"No… don't think about it."
Across from her, Ami stands with one hand resting on her hip while scrolling through her phone.
Beside her, Yuki adjusts the strap of her backpack impatiently while staring up at the large station clock.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
She checks it again.
And again.
Then she groans loudly.
"Ughhh, Rin is late again."
Her voice carries a mix of irritation and complete lack of surprise.
"She was late last time too, wasn't she?"
Yuki glances toward Ami.
Ami doesn't even look up from her phone.
"Pretty much every time."
She scrolls again.
"It's basically her trademark at this point."
Fumiko hears their conversation.
A small laugh almost escapes her, but it turns into another yawn instead.
She stretches her arms slightly.
Ami finally notices.
Her phone lowers immediately.
Concern flashes across her face.
"Hey… Fumi?"
She walks closer.
"You okay? You look like you've been awake since… I don't know… last Tuesday."
Fumiko rubs her eyes.
"Yeah… I'm fine."
She forces a small smile.
"Just didn't sleep much last night."
Ami tilts her head suspiciously.
"Obvious."
She folds her arms.
"What kept you up? Late-night novel binge again?"
Fumiko hesitates.
Just for a second.
The memory of the shadow wrapping around her chest flashes in her mind.
Her heartbeat stutters.
She quickly forces a laugh.
"Y-Yeah. The story got really interesting."
She scratches the back of her neck.
"Couldn't stop reading."
The lie leaves a bitter taste in her mouth.
Because the truth sounds insane even in her own head.
Hey guys, a living shadow tried to kill me last night.
Yeah.
That would go well.
Ami raises one eyebrow.
She clearly doesn't believe it.
But she doesn't push.
"Mm-hm."
She slips her phone back into her pocket.
"Just don't turn into a zombie before we even reach Tokyo."
Fumiko exhales softly.
"I'll manage."
Nearby, Yuki suddenly perks up.
Her eyes sparkle with excitement.
"Oh! Speaking of staying up late!"
She spins toward them dramatically.
"Did you guys watch the football match last night?!"
Ami looks up.
"Which one?"
"Japan vs Argentina!"
Yuki throws her arms into the air.
"Ryuji Takahashi was INSANE!"
Her voice gets loud enough that a
businessman passing by glances at her.
"Three goals! THREE!"
She holds up three fingers like it's the most sacred number in the universe.
"All by himself!"
Ami's eyes widen.
"Wait seriously?"
She pulls her phone out again.
"I only watched the first half."
She quickly taps the screen.
"No wonder my feed is full of highlights."
Then she turns toward Fumiko.
"You saw it, right?"
Fumiko stretches her arms with a quiet groan.
"Sorry…"
She shakes her head.
"I was… too busy with my 'novel'."
Yuki gasps dramatically.
She clutches her chest.
"KAMISAMAAA!"
Her voice echoes dramatically.
"FUMI, how could you BETRAY the nation like this?!"
Fumiko snorts softly.
Yuki continues passionately.
"Ryuji was like PERFECTION on the field!"
She begins counting on her fingers.
"Fast. Focused. Determined."
Her cheeks flush slightly.
"And SOOO handsome."
Ami bursts out laughing.
"Careful."
She nudges Yuki.
"You're drooling."
Yuki immediately wipes her mouth instinctively.
Then freezes.
"…Wait."
Ami and Fumiko burst into laughter.
"You jerk!"
Yuki glares playfully.
"Hey, let me dream okay?!"
She places her hands dramatically over her heart.
"He's basically the ideal guy!"
She begins listing again.
"Talented. Famous. Handsome. Kind."
She sighs dreamily.
"And pretty cute."
Fumiko smirks.
"Whoa."
She raises her hands.
"Relax Yuki, he's just a football player doing his job."
Yuki clasps her hands together like she's praying.
"And doing it PERFECTLY."
She points dramatically at Fumiko.
"Don't ruin my fantasy, Fumi-chan."
Ami laughs so hard she almost drops her phone.
Soon Fumiko joins in.
Their laughter echoes lightly through the station.
For a brief moment
Everything feels normal again.
Before Yuki can continue defending her imaginary romance
A loud voice calls out behind them.
"HEEEEY YO!"
The three girls turn.
Rin comes jogging toward them through the crowd.
Her messy hair bounces wildly as she runs.
She finally stops in front of them, slightly out of breath but grinning lazily.
"Sorry for being late!"
Yuki immediately crosses her arms.
Her eyes narrow.
"Girl."
Her voice turns serious.
"You could've missed the train."
She points at the clock.
"It's arriving any minute!"
Ami and Fumiko nod in perfect synchronization.
Rin waves her hand casually.
"Yeah yeah."
She shrugs.
"My alarm clock and I had a…
disagreement."
She grins.
"Pretty sure I won."
"Barely,"
Yuki mutters.
But a reluctant smile appears on her face.
Right then–
A loud metallic screech fills the station.
The train begins pulling into the platform.
Wind rushes through the station as it slows.
Doors slide open with a soft ding.
"Alright!"
Yuki claps her hands excitedly.
"Tokyo, here we come!"
Inside the train, the four girls find seats together near the center.
The doors close.
The train begins moving.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
The rhythmic sound of the tracks creates a calming background noise.
Outside the window, the city slowly begins to blur.
Buildings.
Bridges.
Flashes of trees.
Yuki leans forward excitedly.
"So!"
She pulls out her phone.
"First stop– Tokyo Mall."
She waves the screen proudly.
"I made a shopping list."
Rin groans dramatically.
"Of course you did."
She leans back in her seat.
"Remind me again why we're willingly walking into a shopping war zone?"
Ami answers instantly.
"Student discounts."
Rin pauses.
"…Okay that's actually a good reason."
Yuki nods proudly.
"And because I would haunt you if you said no."
"Also true,"
Ami says.
Fumiko smiles quietly while watching the scenery outside.
For a moment, everything feels peaceful.
But something in her chest still feels uneasy.
Her reflection stares back at her in the train window.
And suddenly
She remembers the shadow.
The cold tendrils around her chest.
Her fingers tighten around the strap of her bag.
"Why does it feel like something is still watching me…?"
She whispers to herself.
Her reflection stares back.
But for a split second
She thinks she sees darkness flicker behind it.
Her breath catches.
Then–
"Earth to Fumi."
Ami's voice pulls her back.
Fumiko blinks.
Ami waves a hand in front of her face.
"You good there?"
Fumiko quickly straightens.
"Yeah."
She forces a smile.
"Just tired."
Ami studies her for a moment.
Longer than usual.
Then she sighs.
"Alright."
She smiles softly.
"But if you start sleepwalking…I'm tying you to the seat."
Fumiko laughs quietly.
"Fair enough."
The girls continue chatting as the train speeds toward Tokyo.
But Fumiko glances once more at the window.
Her reflection stares back calmly.
Nothing strange.
Nothing abnormal.
Still
A quiet thought lingers deep in her mind.
Last night wasn't a dream.
Something real happened.
And somewhere out there
Something dark has already noticed her light.