Renji stood at the edge of Shibuya's famous scramble crossing. He waited for the light turned green, despite past midnight—hundreds of people still walking in every direction at once.
He walked within the crowds too. As he looks upwards, billboards and signages bright above him with light and motion—animated ads flashing with pop idols, models with flashy costume and hairstyle, and some anime characters he recognized.
Further he walks, to his right, he found a 24-hour fast food chain. Inside, office workers focused on their phones, and a tired mother spoon-fed her pouting kid, and some group of people talking, lazing on the table. He could almost taste the smell of fried chicken, burger, and fries from outside.
Across the street, light and sound erupted from a multi-story arcade. Bright colorful banners read. "Ultimate fun, ultimate treasures!"
He kept walking until another building in the corner impressed him, a massive screen advertised the latest sci-fi movie. Below it stood the entrance to a movie theater, posters lined the entrance—romance, action, anime. A couple walked past him, laughing with popcorn in hand.
Down a narrower street, the vibe changed. Bright red and purple signs blinking over a hidden nightclub, its entrance barely a door in a concrete wall. A bouncer stood with his arms crossed. Muffled loud music thumped from inside—a pair of girls in shimmering dresses passed by, giggling looking at Renji who's staring innocently.
As he turned his head the other way—a quiet café, a few patrons leaned over steaming cups of coffee and plates of toast. The smell of roasted beans and warm bread wrapped around him. A girl typed on her laptop, headphones in, lips mouthing words to herself.
The pounding energy of big city at night, the rush of movement, the little moments tucked in corners. It was alive, and making him forgot his tired legs, and times.
Amazing…
But it was short-lived. From behind, a thundering voice shot at him.
"THERE HE IS!!"
Renji turned his head to the voice—the man in a bandana, the same one who'd given him a ride—flanked by a male and female police officer.
Oh no!!
On instinct, he ran the moment he saw those three chasing him.
"WAIT, KID!"
"Damn, he's fast!" The police and the man grunted.
The scenery that Renji admired earlier turned into a blur as he sprinted. But this time, it was harder for him to slip away, as the street now had fewer people walking around—not giving him any camouflage.
This is bad, this is bad!!
Once more, he used the same trick. He took a sharp turn into one of the tight alleys—only to realize it was a dead end.
"No!"
He spun back, but it was too late. Three figures stopped at the mouth of the alley, blocking his exit.
"Alright, kid, that's enough!! Hah, haah…"
The three of them gasped for air, then the two officers rushed to Renji and held his arms to prevent him from running away.
"H-hey!"
"Calm down, we won't hurt you," the female officer appeased him.
"Kid, you have a lot to explain," the male officer sighed, but gave a stern expression.
"Uuggh…" Without resistance, Renji gave up in defeat.
They walked together to the nearest police station. Renji refused to talk despite the barrage of questions, surrounded by adults annoyed at his silence—until the female officer gave him hot chocolate. Then, Renji began to answer questions.
Once they had the basics—name, age, address, and where he was supposed to be—he glanced sheepishly at the man in the bandana.
"Sorry I lied…"
The man let out a tired sigh. "So you weren't looking for your dad after all."
"I… don't…"
"Look… Renji, was it? These kinds of pranks aren't funny. If something happened to you, I'd be the one getting into trouble with these officers…"
Then the female officer chimed in "That's right, Renji… you can't do this kind of thing again, okay?"
"Yes… I'm sorry… I just… wanted to see… Tokyo…"
"Couldn't you ask your parents for that?" The male officer muttered, scratching his head.
The female officer gently placed a hand on Renji's head. "You live with your parents in Shirosato, right?"
"Yeah… just my mom now."
…W-wait… Mom!!
Renji turned sharply and looked at the clock. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he saw it was already 4 am.
"S-Sir! Big bro! Big Sis!! Please!! I need to go home!"
"Duh… Of course. What's this all of a sudden…?" The bandana man answered.
"I-if my mom knows I ran outside, I'll be in big trouble!!"
"You already are… we're going to talk to your mother whether you like it or not…"
"U-Ugh—okay, okay! Just, please! I'll pay you for the ride back!" Renji fumbled through his pocket and shoved a crumpled wad of ten-thousand-yen bills at them, bowing so low his head nearly hit the table.
The adults exchanged looks of confusion and exhaustion.
"This kid is unbelievable…"
--------
An hour car drive later, the familiar sight of the dull house was before him.
"Uugh…" Renji could feel his stomach twist, imagining how angry his mother would be.
The moment they arrived, though, Renji didn't notice the three adults accompanying him looking at him with grim looks at the anomaly: bolted windows with wood planks and multiple padlocks on the front, inner door.
"This… is your house?" The male officer asked him.
"Yes…"
"You better not be lying this time…" The bandana man groaned.
"I'm not…"
A moment passed. The female officer lowered her voice, asking carefully.
"Hey, Renji… you're not… abused?"
"Huh?"
"It means… does your mother hit you or… make you do something you don't want to?"
Uh…my mom… just won't let me outside…
"…No." It took a long pause before Renji decided to give a white lie.
"Okay…" The female officer was clearly not convinced, but she didn't push further.
*Ding-ding*
The male officer pressed the electric bell on the front gate. And after a minute passed, no answer.
Another set of knocks on the chest-high steel front gate followed. Another minute—still no answer.
"Oh come on… I really need my sleep…" The bandana man sighed impatiently.
"You have to bear with us, sir… we need your explanation to his parent too…"
"I know, I know… just saying…"
Another doorbell, and another knock—louder this time. Still, silence. The male officer eyeing several padlocks fitted on the inner door from afar while waiting.
"Maybe she's still asleep…" One of them muttered.
The sun was already about to rise on the horizon. Renji felt something he could not quite explain.
"Hey, you didn't bring your key… I mean keys…?" The police officer asked Renji.
"No… I … I left through my window there…" Renji pointed at side of the house that still dark from shadow, opposite the direction of the sunrise—his room window, with one missing wooden plank.
"We can't be here all morning." The bandana man complained again.
"I-I can enter through the window… I'll wake my mom up…"
"We shouldn't be doing this but… fine… hey, I'll go with this kid through the window. You stay here," the male officer said to the female officer.
"… I swear, if you're lying again, you'll be in big trouble, kid…"
"I'm not, okay? I'm sorry."
Thus, the female officer and the tired man in the bandana stayed in front of the house, while Renji was followed by the male officer.
Moment later, Renji reached the drainpipe. "Just need to climb this—AH!"
He stumbled and almost fell—the officer caught him.
"Hey… careful! Sheesh… how do you even get out in the first place?"
"I-I jumped…"
After considerable effort, Renji managed to reach the rooftile, in front of his window on the second floor. The police officer below was still struggling to climb the drainpipe due to the weight difference. Renji climbed into his dark room through the snug gap in the planks.
The moment his eyes adjusted to the darkness and to the very little light from the early sun that began slipping in, he lifted his head. The sight in front of him was something he couldn't process right away.
The faint sound of rope cracking was the only thing filling his ears the moment he calmed down.
"Huh…?"
He froze. Something hung in the corner of his vision, just outside his understanding—
A lifeless shadow of someone Renji knew well, where it shouldn't be.
Feet dangling just slightly above the floor with chair toppled beside.
He didn't scream. Just stared.
Then—
"NO!!! Don't look at it, kid!"
A large hand yanked on his shoulder—from the police officer who followed Renji behind.
"—Emergency, we have a situation on the second floor!"
"Help me get this kid outta here!! NOW!"
Renji's knees gave out. The world tilted.
But he kept staring at it, at her—
Mom…?
As if not blinking could undo what he saw.