Plip. A raindrop landed on my phone’s screen. When I looked up, scattered rain was falling again. Beyond it was Tokyo, where the nighttime lights were beginning to come on. The Rainbow Bridge was colorfully illuminated and slowly coming closer, like the opening title of a game. In that moment, my frustration with the strange man and my money worries vanished without a trace. I was finally here. I shivered with excitement. I’d made it. Starting tonight, I was going to live in that city of light. I could hardly wait one more second for the life that awaited me there, and my heart was beating faster and faster. “—There you are, kid.” Suddenly, I heard an easygoing voice, and my elation wilted like a balloon losing air. When I looked back, Red Shirt had just stepped out into the corridor. Rolling his head lazily, he took in the city lights. “Almost there. Finally,” he said. “Hey, you’re from the island, right? Whatcha got goin’ on in Tokyo?” he asked, walking up next to me. I gulped, but I had an answer ready. “Uh, I’m visiting relatives.” “On a weekday? What about school?” “Oh! Um, uh, my school starts its summer vacation early…” “Oh yeah?” Why was he smirking? Red Shirt peered into my face rudely, as if he’d found an unusual insect, and I averted my eyes. “Well, look, if you run into trouble in the city…” He held a small piece of paper out to me. A business card. On reflex, I took it. “Get in touch. Anytime.” K&A Planning (Ltd.) CEO Keisuke Suga, it said. As I gazed at the line of characters, I silently answered, No way in hell. * * * Over the next few days, I don’t know how many times I whispered to myself that Tokyo was terrifying—people tsking at me, making me break out in a cold sweat and turn red with shame. The city was vast and complicated and perplexing and callous. I got lost at the train station; I took the wrong train; I bumped into people no matter where I walked; nobody answered when I asked for directions; other people Page 12 Goldenagato | mp4directs.com