A Name Without A Face

Souta sat motionless on his bed, his phone glowing in the dim light of his room. The message on his screen haunted him.

"Because I don't remember the last time someone talked to me like a human being."

He swallowed, reading the words over and over. There was something unsettling about them. Whoever this "Toru" was, they weren't just playing games. This was real. And for some reason, Souta had the sinking feeling that this conversation was far from over.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard before he finally typed a response.

Souta: That's kinda sad…

Seconds passed. Then

Toru: It is what it is.

Souta frowned. He could tell that whoever this was had already accepted their loneliness as a fact of life. That bothered him more than it should.

Souta: Where are you right now?

This time, the response was instant.

Toru: Why do you want to know?

Souta hesitated. He wasn't sure himself. Maybe he just wanted to understand this person better. Maybe he wanted to know if they were as dangerous as they claimed to be.

Souta: Just curious.

A long pause followed. Souta could almost hear the silence stretching between them.

Then, finally

Toru: Somewhere you wouldn't want to be.

Souta's pulse quickened.

Souta: You talk like a villain in an anime, you know that?

He hoped a joke would lighten the mood. But the reply was anything but playful.

Toru: And if I was?

Souta blinked.

Souta: Wait… are you actually a bad guy?

No response.

The screen remained empty. A strange weight settled in Souta's chest. What was he doing? Was he really chatting with someone dangerous?

His logical mind screamed at him to stop. But something about "Toru" made him stay. Maybe it was the loneliness in their words. Maybe it was his own curiosity.

Or maybe it was because a part of him didn't believe that "Toru" was as bad as they wanted him to think.

Taking a deep breath, Souta typed again.

Souta: If you were really a villain, you wouldn't be talking to me, right?

Minutes passed. Just as Souta started to think the conversation was over

Toru: You're not afraid of me, are you?

Souta stared at the message. His heart pounded. Was he afraid? Maybe he should be. But instead of running, he found himself typing

Souta: Should I be?

Another long pause.

Then

Toru: Yes.

Souta exhaled slowly. He should stop. He should block this number. But something inside him whispered…

"Keep going."

So he did.

Souta: Then why are you still talking to me?

A few minutes passed before the reply came.

Toru: I don't know.

Souta stared at the screen. For some reason, that answer unsettled him more than anything else.

Because deep down, he had the feeling that neither of them really knew what they were getting into.

And whatever it was…

It was only just beginning.

Souta placed his phone down, lying flat on his bed and staring at the ceiling. His heart wouldn't stop racing. This wasn't just some random internet stranger. There was something real behind this conversation,something heavy.

His fingers twitched as he resisted the urge to text again. He had already asked too many questions. But the mystery was eating at him.

Who was Toru?

And why did he feel so drawn to this person, despite every warning sign telling him to walk away?

Souta sighed and turned to his side, eyes still on his phone. No new messages. Maybe that was for the best. Maybe this was the end of their strange, short-lived conversation.

Then, just as he was about to close his eyes

Ping!

A new message appeared.

Toru: Go to sleep, Souta. Don't look for me.

Souta's breath caught in his throat. His blood turned cold.

How did he know he was still awake?

To be continued…