Monday Night – Kagawa Residence, Matsumoto City
The soft hum of the refrigerator filled the quiet house.
Ryota sat on the couch, his hair still slightly damp from a quick shower. His school bag lay half-open on the floor, and the unopened package sat on the coffee table in front of him, the one that read:
From: Kagawa Yori.
He leaned back, exhausted.
Ryota (Murmuring): Long day...
He grabbed his phone and stared at the name Dad in his contacts list. A tap. The call rang once, twice... no answer.
He tried again. Still nothing.
Ryota (Sighing): Figures. You're always unreachable.
The silence of the room pressed against him. The ticking wall clock, the faint buzz of a streetlight outside, everything felt oddly heavy.
He glanced back at the box. It just sat there. Still. Ordinary.
10:47 PM.
He picked it up, turning it in his hands. No return address, no delivery company logo. Just his father's name.
Ryota (Thinking): He visited yesterday. Why would he... send something?
He set it down and rubbed his temples.
Then,
Thump.
Ryota froze.
Another sound—it was faint but clear, coming from inside the box. Like something shifted.
Ryota: ...what the hell was that?
The box moved again. This time, it shuddered across the table slightly.
Ryota jumped back, heart pounding.
Ryota (Panicking): Nope. Nope. What kind of prank is this?
He grabbed the nearest thing he could find, a broom. His hands trembled, knuckles pale against the wooden handle.
Ryota (Loudly): I don't know who you are or what's in there, but I have a weapon!
The box went still. Completely still.
The seconds dragged. The only sound was his own breathing.
Slowly, Ryota stepped closer. He crouched beside the coffee table, broom raised like a spear. He reached out, hesitated, then peeled the tape open one strip at a time.
Inside was... a small metal cage.
And in that cage he saw something alive...
A creature.
Inside was a small creature, glitching like it was not from this world, its fur a muted red that shimmered faintly as if light pulsed beneath the skin. Tiny horn-like ridges crowned its head, and its slender tail twitched with every slow, steady breath.
Ryota blinked in disbelief.
Ryota (Whispering): What... even is this? Some kind of pet? A raccoon? A fox? No... it's too small, it is also glitching it's weird is this a robot??
He tilted his head, curiosity beating out fear. It looked fragile. Almost cute.
Ryota: ...You don't look dangerous.
He unlatched the cage door.
Click.
The moment the latch lifted, the creature's eyes snapped open, glowing red.
Ryota: Wait!
In a flash, the creature lunged out, going immediately straight toward his face.
Ryota stumbled backward, but it was too fast.
He felt it, warm, liquid movement and something alive forcing its way into his mouth.
Ryota (Muffled Screaming): MMPH—!!
He gagged and fell to the floor, clawing at his throat. His vision blurred, saliva spilling from his lips. He could feel something crawling deep inside, burrowing through him.
Ryota (Choking): Get out—GET OUT!!
He stumbled to the sink, fumbled for the faucet, drank and spat water frantically. Nothing worked.
He grabbed a knife from the counter, his hand shaking uncontrollably.
Ryota (Voice Cracking): If I cut myself... I'll die. I'll die, but—
He dropped the knife. His knees buckled. His breaths turned shallow.
He staggered toward the front door, reaching for his phone, but darkness swallowed everything.
Blackout.
Tuesday Morning – Matsumoto General Hospital
The steady beep of a heart monitor echoed faintly.
Ryota's eyes fluttered open. A sterile white ceiling greeted him. The smell of disinfectant filled his nose.
He was in a hospital bed, an IV needle taped to his arm. His uniform was folded neatly beside the chair.
Ryota (Groaning): What... happened?
He touched his stomach, neck, and chest—everything felt normal. No pain, no injuries. Just weakness.
The door opened. A doctor entered, clipboard in hand.
Doctor: Ah, you're awake. How are you feeling?
Ryota: Like I got hit by a truck.
Doctor (Smiling): You were found unconscious in your home last night. One of your neighbors heard noise and called for help. Said you might've been hurt.
Ryota: Neighbor? Who?
Doctor: He didn't leave his name. Just said you were passed out and helped carry you to the ambulance. Then he left before we could thank him.
Ryota stared blankly. His head swam with questions—the creature, the box, the choking, the darkness.
Ryota (Softly): So it wasn't... a dream.
The doctor made a few notes. "You're fine now. No signs of trauma or poisoning. If you feel dizzy again, come back immediately."
He nodded numbly as the doctor exited.
Moments later, another knock came.
Reiji: Yo. You alive, zombie?
Ryota turned to see Reiji standing at the door, still in his school uniform, holding a bag of convenience store bread.
Reiji: You scared the hell out of me, man. You didn't show up today. I thought you died gaming again.
Ryota (Weak Chuckle): I... wish it was that simple.
Reiji (Concerned): What happened?
Ryota: I don't even know. I... just blacked out.
Reiji sighed and tossed him a bread roll.
Reiji: Eat. You're pale as paper. When they discharge you, I'll drive you home.
Tuesday Afternoon – Kagawa Residence
Reiji's car pulled up in front of the house.
Reiji: You sure you're okay?
Ryota: Yeah. Thanks for the ride.
Reiji: Get some rest. Text me if you start floating or something weird.
Ryota (Smirking): Ha-ha. Very funny.
Reiji drove off. Ryota stood by the door for a moment, staring at his home—it was quiet, undisturbed, as if last night never happened.
Inside, the room was a mess. The chair overturned, the broom broken, the knife still on the floor.
And the cage was empty.
Ryota's stomach twisted. He cleaned the room quickly, trying not to think about what could be inside him.
When he finished, he grabbed his phone and dialed his father's number again.
This time, Yori answered.
Yori (Tired Voice): Ryota? What's wrong? You sound shaken.
Ryota (Shouting): What's wrong!? You almost killed me, that's what! What did you send me, Dad? What was in that box!?
A long silence followed.
Yori (Slowly): ...Box? I didn't send you anything.
Ryota froze. "What?"
Yori: I was just at your place a few days ago. Why would I mail you something?
Ryota's throat went dry.
Ryota: The label said it was from you. Your full name.
Yori's voice sharpened. "Ryota. Listen carefully. Don't touch anything unusual. If you still have that package—"
Ryota: It's gone! It disappeared! And something is... something went inside me!
Yori: ...What did you just say?
Ryota's breath trembled.
Ryota: What was it, Dad? What did I swallow? Am I going to die?
Silence filled the call, cold and heavy.
Yori (Quietly): Stay calm, Ryota. Lock your doors. I'll be there soon.
The line went dead.
Ryota stared at his phone, fear rising like fire in his chest.
The empty cage sat in the corner of the room, metal door still open.
Tuesday Night – Kagawa Residence, Tokyo
The clock ticked softly against the silence of the room.
Outside, the city hummed faintly, distant cars, the whisper of wind against the glass. But inside, everything was still. Too still.
Ryota sat by the living room window, staring at the street below. He had been waiting for almost an hour now. His father said he'd come soon.
But "soon" was beginning to feel endless.
He rubbed his palms together, restless, glancing at the clock again.
11:36 PM.
Ryota (murmuring): Dad... where are you?
He stood up, stretched a little, then wandered toward the hallway mirror.
The light above flickered once, just enough to catch his reflection's shimmer.
Ryota stared at himself. His eyes looked tired. His skin pale.
But there was something else.
A shadow.
Behind his reflection, faint, for a split second, a darker shape rose, taller than him, edges twisting like smoke.
Its outline leaned forward slowly, until it seemed to breathe down his neck.
Ryota froze. His heartbeat stuttered.
Ryota (whispering): What the...?
He spun around. Nothing.
The hallway was empty.
He looked back at the mirror but the shadow was gone. His reflection stared back, normal, calm, like nothing happened.
He swallowed hard.
Ryota (quietly, to himself): What... am I?
His hand trembled slightly as he touched the glass. It was cold. Too cold.
Moments later, a car pulled up outside. Headlights cut through the window blinds.
Ryota turned. Footsteps hurried up the steps. The front door opened.
Yori: Ryota!
His father rushed in, his coat half-buttoned, glasses crooked from the run. His face was pale, eyes sharp with worry.
Yori (breathing hard): What happened? Are you hurt? Did it do something to you?
Ryota (relieved, but tense): Dad... you came.
Yori: Of course I came! You said something went inside you! I drove straight from the institute!
He dropped a small black case on the table, flipping its latches open. Inside were medical tools, a scanner, vials, and an empty syringe.
Ryota: Institute? You mean your old lab?
Yori (focused): Never mind that now. Tell me everything, from the start.
Ryota sat down, his hands clasped tightly together.
Ryota: It was last night. There was this... package on the table. It had your name on it, From: Kagawa Yori. I thought it was from you, so I opened it.
Yori (frowning): I didn't send you anything. You know that.
Ryota: I know that now! But the label... it was exact. Your handwriting. The same way you write "Yori."
He swallowed, his voice trembling.
Ryota: When I opened it, there was this small metal cage inside... and this creature its glitching!!! It's like... it's like it's not from this world... uhmmm... red fur, glowing faintly. Like it had light beneath its skin. It looked... alive. Small. Maybe the size of a kitten.
Yori (leaning forward): Did you see its face? Tell me exactly what it looked like.
Ryota hesitated, closing his eyes, recalling the image.
Ryota: It had... sharp eyes. Not like an animal's. More human, almost. And these ridges are small horns, like bone growing out of its head. It didn't move much at first. Then the moment I unlatched the cage, it looked straight at me and...
He swallowed hard.
—and it jumped. Right into me. Straight into my mouth. I couldn't stop it. It was... like liquid. I couldn't breathe.
Yori stared silently, his eyes narrowing, hands tightening on the case.
Yori (low voice): That description... doesn't match anything I've seen. It's not from our database.
Ryota (confused): Database? Dad, what are you talking about?
Yori (quietly): Just... something I worked on before. Years ago. Nothing for you to worry about.
He pulled out the syringe, attaching a needle, and motioned toward Ryota's arm.
Yori: I need a blood sample. Just to be sure.
Ryota (uneasy): What do you mean "be sure"?
He tensed as the needle pierced his skin.
Ryota: Am I infected or something?
Yori didn't answer immediately. He filled the syringe halfway with dark red blood, sealed it in a vial, and labeled it.
Yori: It's not infection I'm worried about.
He sighed deeply.
Yori: I just need to know what we're dealing with.
Ryota (frustrated): You keep saying that "we." You sound like you know what's going on, but you don't tell me anything! That thing could've killed me!
Yori (softly, guilt in his tone): I know, Ryota. I know.
He set the sample in the case and closed it gently.
Yori: But this isn't something simple. I've seen strange organisms before such as parasites, bio-experiments, symbiotes, but what you're describing doesn't match any of them.
Ryota (sarcastic): Great. So I'm the first?
Yori (sternly): Don't joke about this.
He turned to face his son, eyes sharp again.
Yori: Did you feel anything since then? Any pain, heat, voices, dizziness?
Ryota hesitated. The image of the shadow in the mirror flashed in his mind and that faint whisper of movement behind his reflection.
Ryota (quietly): ...No. Nothing. Just... tired.
Yori didn't look convinced, but he nodded slowly.
Yori: Alright. I'll run this sample to the lab tomorrow.
He picked up his coat and the black case.
Yori: For now, listen to me carefully. Live your life normally. Go to school. Eat, sleep, act like nothing happened.
Ryota (surprised): What? That's it?
Yori: Yes. Just ignore it for now. If you panic, it might react. If you act like everything's normal, it might stay dormant.
Ryota (confused): It? You mean that thing's still alive inside me?
Yori (after a pause): Possibly.
He forced a thin smile.
Yori: But don't think about that. If anything strange happens to you and I mean anything... anything you contact me immediately. Understand?
Ryota: Yeah... I understand.
Yori (softer): Good.
He put a hand on Ryota's shoulder, his voice lowering to a whisper.
Yori: Don't tell anyone. Not your friends. Not even Tetsuya. The fewer who know, the safer you are.
Ryota (nodding): ...Okay.
Yori exhaled, relieved, though his eyes were still heavy with worry. He glanced once more at his son, looking at his pale skin, his tired eyes.
Yori (quietly): You look just like your mother when she was sick.
Ryota blinked.
Ryota: Mom? What does she have to do with this?
Yori looked away, grabbing the case.
Yori: Nothing. Just... memories. Go rest. I'll call you tomorrow.
He left quickly, shutting the door behind him. The sound of his footsteps faded into the night.
Late Night – Kagawa Residence
The house was silent again. The faint hum of the refrigerator returned, that low, steady rhythm that filled every pause.
Ryota sat back on the couch, staring at the spot where his father had been. His arm throbbed slightly from the injection.
Ryota (murmuring): Live normally, huh... easy for you to say.
He stood, walked toward the hallway again. The mirror glinted faintly under the dim light.
He hesitated and then looked at his reflection once more.
This time, it stared back perfectly. No shadow. No distortion.
Ryota (softly): Maybe I'm just imagining things.
He turned away, heading to his room. But as he closed his door, the mirror's surface rippled faintly, like disturbed water.
For just a second, a red shimmer appeared where his reflection once was.
And deep inside his mind, something stirred.
??? (whispering): "Host... acknowledged."
Ryota's eyes twitched in his sleep. A faint red glow flickered beneath his eyelids.
Fade to black.
To be continued...