Sunday, 05/06/2001, 10:11 a.m.
The sky was overcast and gray over Domino City.
A light drizzle fell, driven by an inconsistent breeze.
The trees swayed gently from side to side.
Some sparrows frolicked in the puddles on the street, chirping and rolling in the mud.
A faint scent of earth and concrete hung in the air.
The sound of traffic mingled with the croaking of frogs.
Smog rose from every part of the city.
People moved up and down the sidewalks—some with umbrellas, others with raincoats, and a few shielding themselves with whatever they had on hand. Most of them were in a hurry...
A bus stopped in front of the Matsuyama residence. A boy dressed in black stepped off, backpack slung over his shoulder. The drizzle wet his face, and his black hair briefly veiled his features.
The bus drove away a second later.
A sudden gust of wind revealed Shin's face—his expression serene, his eyes wandering across the house's façade.
The lawn looked untended, stones jutted out here and there, parts of the blackberry bush along the fence were dried, and the white paint was beginning to crack and show brown.
Slowly, Shin crossed the gate and walked to the front door. He pressed the doorbell a couple of times. Two sharp beeps followed his action.
Beeep-Beeep!
Half a minute later, a somewhat frail feminine voice rang from the other side of the door, her tone exasperated.
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Just a moment, please!"
A small smile appeared on Shin's lips.
The door opened.
Grandma Matsuyama stood on the other side. A white apron with daisies covered her torso down to her knees. Her expression shifted from confusion to joy in an instant.
Then Shin spoke in a warm tone, his face calm.
"I'm back."
With a broad smile on her lips, the grandmother grabbed Shin by the shoulders and dragged him inside the house, speaking hastily all the while. Shin's face took on a resigned look.
"Come in, dear, come in. Just look at you! All soaked like a little chick. Just like your mother. Always without an umbrella. But what can we do, right? Both stubborn as mules. Come now, take off your shoes and wait a moment. I'll go get your bath ready. I should bring you a towel too. Hehe, I'm really looking forward to hearing about your first time in the capital."
Shin closed the door, removed his shoes, and then watched as his grandmother walked down the hallway. A faint grimace twisted his lips.
Shin was the only one in sight.
Except for the repetitive ticking mixed with the patter of rain outside, silence prevailed.
A strong smell of incense filled the air.
A thin trail of smoke rose from a stick on a small table near the entrance. Several small picture frames with black-and-white photographs rested there.
Letting out a slight yawn, Shin hung his backpack on the coat rack by the door. His eyes wandered to the wall clock for a moment. It read '10:19 a.m.'...
An hour passed between bathing, changing clothes, and the arrival of lunch...
Grandma Matsuyama served a bit more rice into Shin's bowl. A gentle smile marked her face. Returning to her seat, she spoke in a tender voice.
"Your grandfather left early this morning. Said he was going to visit your uncle Koki. Looks like they're having some trouble with the kitchen pipes. Haaa, that useless son of mine never changes."
Shin nodded stiffly. He moved his chopsticks slowly, lifting a piece of tamagoyaki to his mouth.
The elderly woman looked at Shin with curious eyes. Her gaze sharpened slightly, and then she asked in a soft voice:
"And you, dear? Where did you go in the capital? Did you visit anywhere special?"
Shin paused for a moment. Then he replied in a measured tone, without lifting his gaze from the plate.
"I went to the convention center. Also passed through Akihabara... it had its charm."
The grandmother nodded several times, a small smile on her lips. Meanwhile, she spoke with her eyes closed, her expression thoughtful.
"Ah, Akihabara... I remember when it was just a place full of small shops and radio workshops. How things change! Did you go with someone?"
Shin shook his head and spoke after taking another bite.
"No. I walked alone most of the time. Got lost a couple of times. Nothing serious."
Thus, time passed in trivial conversation. After the meal, Shin washed up and helped his grandmother clean the dishes. Thirty minutes later, he was in his room...
Currently, Shin sat at his desk. A sealed white envelope rested between his fingers. A murmur slipped from his lips, his tone intrigued and his expression calm.
"Let's see what you've got."
Shin opened the envelope. Its contents were revealed. Setting aside a prize check, he focused on the Duel Monsters card included in the envelope. His voice sounded briefly surprised.
"Wow. This is a very rare card. Hm... It's a shame it doesn't fit my deck's theme."
Wingweaver LV7 ∆Light∆ (Normal) {Fairy} [2750ATK/2400DEF]
"A six-winged fairy who prays for peace and hope."
The card's image depicted a small six-winged fairy with blue feathered wings, long purple hair, a round white halo above her head, and closed eyes. She wore a long golden dress and a dark green necklace around her neck. Her feet were bare, and her expression was serene.
Opening one of the desk drawers, Shin tossed the card inside. The space was crammed with other cards. A faint grimace twisted his lips, and he muttered, raising an eyebrow.
"Too many of them... Should I do something with these? Haaa... I'll leave it for tomorrow."
Shaking his head with a small sigh, a bitter smile twisted Shin's lips. Another murmur escaped his mouth as he closed the drawer, his gaze lost on the ceiling. The blurred image of a woman and a little girl floated in his eyes.
"I don't remember their voices anymore. How are they now? Have they moved on?"
Shaking his head a couple of times, Shin's expression shifted from melancholy to apathy. With dispassionate movements, he pulled out a bundle of documents from another drawer in the desk. His expression darkened as he glanced over the contents. A whisper escaped his lips, laced with venom.
"Again. Does God really exist? If not, how can someone like him be so lucky, even after doing all this? Where is karma? The world is truly an unjust place."