Prologue of Volume 1: Destirling Shouichi

"Taxi!" The young man raised his hand to call out for a cab. It was a damp afternoon filled with a grey cloudy sky. The cap came to a full stop close to the sidewalk next to him and a pale thin driver rolled down a car window. 

"Hi… I wonder if you can take me to Kurohashi town?" The young man spoke up with a slight desperation in his voice. This was not the first taxi to refuse his ride.

"It has been a while since my father and I left this town… Who could have thought I would have to come back again after so many years." He was lost in his thoughts while waiting for the hesitant driver. He had just arrived at this station via train about 2 hours ago, and this was his 4th attempt to find a means to get back home. 

"Kurohashi…, Oh, that town is quite far from here, isn't it?" The driver spoke hesitantly as he rubbed his chin. While checking out the time on his console, it displayed 15:31 hours. 

"Get in, boy! But be advised, the fee ain't gon be cheap!" The thin man finally answered. The boy's eyes lit up with hope that he could go home. 

"That should be alright. Thank you so much, mister." He spoke. It felt somewhat foreign to speak Japanese again. He put his baggage on the side and buckled up. The taxi started moving shortly after. 

The ride was smooth and quiet. The silence was creeping up and causing tension in the air. The young man gazed out on the side of the road, letting his mind wander off. 

Soon, they left the city behind, and the view shifted from houses and buildings to dense bushes and towering trees. Amber streetlights flickered to life on either side of the road, casting a flashing glow as they drove past.

"It's dark already… This damn weather!" The pale man finally broke the silence. His face looked paler, the young man could sense the uneasiness in his eyes. 

"Say, young man… My name is Tamura… What's your name? It doesn't seem like you are from around here." The driver asked. 

"It's Destirling Shouichi. Or you can just call me Yamamoto Shouichi." The young man rubbed his graphite-black hair with a two-block cut. He exchanged a weak, amicable smile with the driver. 

"Oh… Yamamoto-kun, right? What a nice name. It suits your handsome face perfectly," The driver chuckled nervously, his laughter betraying his unease.

"I have been living aboard, please do not mind my Japanese. It's really been a while." Shouichi continued as he felt a bit of relief. He rested both hands on his knees. 

"Oh, really? May I ask where you are from?" Tamura asked while stealing a glance at Shouichi through the rearview mirror. 

"I lived in Australia for about... Maybe 12 years, give or take," Shouichi said, counting the years in his head.

"That long, huh? The way you spoke, I couldn't tell you were Japanese at first," Tamura replied, his grip on the steering wheel loosening as the conversation lightened. They both chuckled.

"Kurohashi Bridge is just up ahead. We'll be there soon," the driver said, his voice tense as he gripped the steering wheel, almost as if bracing for something.

As the car passed through a thick forest, a long, black steel bridge came into view. Shouichi couldn't help but notice how eerily empty the road was — there hadn't been a single passing car since they left the main street.

The tension returned. The sunlight had faded, leaving only the harsh glow of the headlights illuminating the path ahead. Shouichi peered out into the endless dark, the silence weighing heavily in the air.

"…What on earth?!" Shouichi gasped, his heart racing as he swore he saw several pairs of glowing eyes flickering in the dark forest.

"What!? What did you see?" Tomura asked, his face was so pale as if his blood was completely drained out. 

"Eh… Probably deer or something," Shouichi muttered, his voice tinged with uncertainty. His heart raced, and he absentmindedly rubbed a scar on his left wrist, trying to calm himself.

"Oh, kid! Don't scare me like that," Tomura scolded, his shoulders relaxing in relief.

"We're almost there. Once we pass this mountain, we'll reach the town. Where do I drop you off again?" Tomura asked, glancing at Shouichi.

"It's the Yamamoto Residence, 4th Murei Street," Shouichi replied, pulling out the letter to confirm the address.

***

Kurohashi was a secluded quiet town with a population of over 5,000 residents. The town was surrounded by mountain ridges, making its geometry shaped like a frying pan. Oddly enough there was only one passage to enter or leave the town, it was through a dark long steel bridge called Kurohashi Bridge.

At 19:56, the lamplights flickered dimly along the narrow street. Not a single soul was in sight, and the eerie quiet gave the place the unsettling feel of a ghost town. Yet, Shouichi noticed a few homes still had lights on, hinting at the faint presence of life amidst the stillness.

The taxi arrived in a narrow single-lane street. 

Suddenly, a shadowy figure materialised beside the car, making Shouichi jump. "Ehh!?" he yelped, startled.

The mysterious man, dressed in a suit, approached with an unsettling, unwavering focus. Before Shouichi could fully react, a sharp bang rang out as the man pressed his face against the glass. Shouichi's breath hitched as he caught a glimpse of his eyes — utterly blank, glazed over, as if trapped in a trance.

"I could swear I saw his eyes flash! What's wrong with him? Is he drunk?" Shouichi thought to himself, his heart pounding out of his chest. At the same time, the driver slammed on a brake and froze at the strange figure.

"Please... water..." the man slurred, his voice dripping with drunkenness.

Shouichi, heart racing, glanced at the driver for guidance. In a panic, he grabbed a bottle of water and tossed it through the half-rolled-down window. The man lunged for it but missed, his focus snapping to the bottle as it landed nearby. With a terrifying urgency, he ripped it open and chugged the entire contents.

"Arrahhh!" The sound of him vomiting echoed, a grotesque display of excess.

Seizing the moment, the driver quickly shifted the car into gear and sped away. A cold silence followed, the tension still heavy in the air. Both Shouichi and the driver sat frozen, feeling a chill creep down their spines. Finally, they exhaled in relief as the bizarre figure faded into the rearview mirror, the eerie encounter slipping into the darkness behind them.

***

The car passed by rows of beautiful homes, each a testament to upper-middle-class affluence. Eventually, it slowed to a stop at the designated address. The house before them was a sleek, modern two-story structure, enclosed by a pristine white concrete fence that radiated quiet sophistication. A modest sign near the entrance read, "Yamamoto Residence."

Shouichi paid by handing cash and thanked Tomura with a respectful bow.

"Whatever you are doing in this town… Good luck, kiddo!" Tomura said before he drove off and disappeared. 

"What an odd thing to say." Shouichi thought while scratching his head. He shifted his focus to a bell button next to a shiny red mailbox. Shouichi was reminiscent of his mother but ended up with a hazy figure. It had been 12 years already since they left. The young man with graphite-black hair rubbed his bangs to adjust it into shape. His face had a delicate, almost feminine quality for beauty, complemented by his cinnamon-brown eyes.

"Ding, ding!" Shouichi pressed the doorbell. Waiting for a few minutes before he began to reach out his finger to press it again. 

"Good evening! Yamamoto Residence. May I ask who this is?" A gentle female voice came through the speaker.

"Umm… this is Destir—Seito Shouichi. I'm here to visit my mother, Seito Yoko. Is she home?" Shouichi stumbled over his words, almost using his new family name. He realised people here might not recognise it since the family name had been changed after his father immigrated — for reasons he still didn't fully understand. He decided to stick with his original family name, "Seito."

"Did I get the wrong house? That voice sounds too young. Could my mom be living with a cousin or something?" Shouichi fidgeted, lost in thought.

"My, my… Shouichi-kun! Please wait a moment. I'll get the door for you," The soft voice replied, brimming with excitement.

A few moments later, a buzzing sound signalled the door unlocking.

"Welcome home!" A feminine figure stepped out through the metal-sized door into the lamplight. The long-haired woman walked toward him, and Shouichi immediately recognized her. Her graphite-black hair and matching light brown eyes were unmistakably familiar.

Shouichi stood there, slightly taller than her, speechless and dazed. He hadn't expected his mother to look so youthful and elegant. Dressed in a dark green gown, she exuded a graceful beauty.

"Uh… are you Seito Yoko?" Shouichi finally snapped out of it and asked hesitantly.

"Yes! Though I'm no longer a Seito. I go by Yamamoto Yoko now. But you can call me Mom — or Yoko, if you like. I'd feel closer to you that way!" Yoko replied warmly, her soft tone inviting.

Shouichi could sense her genuine welcome. It surprised him, though; it wasn't common to address a parent by their first name.

"You've grown into such a fine young man. Please, come inside the house," Yoko said, reaching out with a sweet smile and gently grabbing his hand.

"Thank you…"

"...Yoko-san." Shouichi hesitated before addressing her by name but decided to go with it. Perhaps it felt more natural after living in the West.

"I'm so happy to see you! Let's head inside. You must be hungry, right? I've got some food in the fridge," Yoko said, leading him into the house without letting go of his hand.

Shouichi didn't expect her to be so affectionate. His father had always been distant and cold.

"Maybe this is just her way of showing love," he thought.

***

The inside of the house was spacious, clean and tidy. There was not a lot of furniture, indicating that Yamamoto Yoko had been living alone for a long period of time. 

"Thank you for your hospitality. Since I'm not very hungry, could I have just a small meal?" Shouichi asked politely as he dropped his bags and sank into the comfy sofa.

"Of course," Yoko replied with a warm smile. She moved to the kitchen counter, taking a white apron from a hanger and tying it on. With a quick press of the remote, she turned on the TV for some background noise.

Shouichi instinctively pulled out his phone and scrolled through social media to pass the time.

About 30 minutes later, Yoko called him to the dining table. A simple yet inviting meal awaited him — grilled fish, steamed rice, and a cup of warm green tea.

"Oh! It's… delicious," Shouichi said after taking his first bite. He sipped the tea, surprised by its slightly sweet taste, which was uncommon. He dismissed it, thinking it might just be a regional variation.

"Thank goodness. You had me worried there for a bit," Yoko said, a playful relief in her tone. "Since I've been living alone for so long, no one's commented on my cooking in years."

They both laughed softly, the atmosphere already feeling warm and familiar. Yoko rested her elbows on the table, propping her chin on her palms as she watched him eat with a smile.

"Mom really is a sweet lady. I wonder why Dad left..." Shouichi thought to himself.

"About your school," Yoko began, "You've already got the transfer letter to Seihei, right?"

"Yes, I do," Shouichi replied promptly. "It's in my bag. The letter says I can start next week. Is that when the semester begins?"

"I believe so," Yoko answered, her light brown eyes meeting his with a gentle smile.

"Once you're done eating, I'll show you to your room," She added, explaining that the house had four bedrooms and three bathrooms. She used just one upstairs, while his room was almost directly across from hers.

After finishing the meal, Yoko prepared a bath for him. The bathroom's luxurious design featured a spacious bathtub, and the lavender aroma from the bath salts filled the air. Shouichi eased himself into the warm water, letting his mind wander.

"I wonder what life will be like from now on," He thought. "Everything here feels so foreign… but at least Mom's been incredibly kind. I don't remember her being this stunning when I was a kid… Then again, that was over a decade ago — I was only five back then."

Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared, standing motionless in front of the frosted glass door. Shouichi's heart pounded in his chest, his stomach tightened, and a shiver ran down his spine, leaving his skin prickling with goosebumps.

"Oh dear! Did I startle you?" Yoko's voice broke the silence.

"N~Not at all," Shouichi stammered, relieved but still anxious.

"I just wanted to let you know I'll leave your blanket and new clothes by the door, okay?" Yoko said gently. "Or would you prefer I hand them to you in the bathroom?" She teased with a light giggle.

"No, no, please just leave them by the door. That's fine!" Shouichi replied, flustered by her odd joke.

"She's kind of a quirky woman," He thought, sinking deeper into the warm water as her footsteps faded.

Then it hit him...

"Wait… something's not right. I didn't hear her footsteps when she approached the door," He reasoned unsettledly.

After finishing his bath, he dressed in the provided pyjamas. "Men's pyjamas… were these Dad's? If so, why has she kept them all this time? Poor Mom," He thought, a pang of sympathy in his chest.

His room was a standard setup with a medium-sized desk and a double bed. The fresh aroma from the bedding suggested it had been recently laundered. He unpacked his bags, scattering documents, letters, clothes, books, and other items across the bed.

Picking up an open bottle of a famous liquor from among his belongings, Shouichi frowned. "Dad's memento… Why did he always keep this with him? Was he an alcoholic? But I barely remember him drinking."

Shouichi lay down on the bed, making himself comfortable. As thoughts of tomorrow stirred in his mind, he closed his eyes and tried to drift off to sleep.