February 18th, 2018
~ Beep, Beep, Beep... ~
Sai Shido’s morning began grudgingly as the sun barely hinted at the new day.
~ Yawn ~
“Ugh, another day in paradise,” he muttered, his voice a low grumble, as he dragged himself out of bed. The thought of the monotonous routine that lay ahead filled him with a sense of dread, but he knew he had to face it, one day at a time.
His breakfast was a hasty affair—just some toast and an energy drink, hardly a substantial meal but enough to kickstart his long day.
Sai Shido, a man of unique heritage, was a blend of Eastern and Western cultures. This fusion was evident in his appearance, from his neatly pressed suit, a nod to his professional life, to the subtle hints of his cultural background that his suit could not hide.
His dark hair, styled in a center-parted undercut, was a bit of a mess, and his narrow eyes framed his face, which bore the brown of someone who spent time outdoors. Despite his efforts to blend in, his distinctiveness was undeniable, which both comforted and unsettled him and piqued the curiosity of those around him. This constant battle to find his place in a world that often felt foreign was a source of deep internal struggle.
“Attention all passengers, we are approaching Sakaisuji-Hommachi train station,” the intercom announced.
The commute was a whirlwind of noise—rhythmic train tracks and the incessant pinging of smartphones. In the midst of this chaos, Sai stood out, his uniqueness unmistakable in the crowd. Despite being conspicuous, Sai gradually grew accustomed to it.
Arriving at the office, the day’s monotony unfolded predictably. Despite his striking presence, Sai was often overlooked, relegated to handling menial tasks and fetching coffee. His desk became a dumping ground for unwanted chores; his colleagues treated him as underqualified, seldom acknowledging his true capabilities. This constant dismissal was a bitter pill to swallow, but Sai had learned to endure it.
As he settled into his chair, a coworker called out without looking up from her screen,
“Sai, could you grab us some coffee? Thanks, you’re a star.” Her tone was casual, taking Sai’s acquiescence for granted.
“Sure, it’s not like I’m already sitting.”
(“Curse my life.”)
Later, while Sai was at the printer, he overheard a pair of colleagues whispering.
“He’s always so quiet... kind of stand-offish, don’t you think? Maybe that’s why he doesn’t fit in,” one commented, not bothering to keep his voice down.
The other snickered, adding, “Just look at him. He stands out like a sore thumb but is not much use, is he?”
~ Tick, tick, tick… ~
The office clock mocked the slow passage of time. As Sai prepared for his midday break, his manager approached, his disdain barely concealed.
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“Mr. Shido, you have an assignment—ugh, you stink! Didn’t you shower?” The manager wrinkled his nose in disgust. Sai, maintaining his composure, responded without emotion.
“I might have forgotten deodorant. What’s the task?” His ability to stay calm in the face of such disrespect was a testament to his resilience.
With a slap of papers on Sai’s cluttered desk, his manager snapped,
“Make sure these 200 pages are processed by tomorrow morning!” The demand was absurd, yet the expectation was clear.
“Yes, sir…” Sai replied, his voice hollow. Resigned, he glanced at the computer clock, the digits seeming to sneer at him. Settling back, he braced for the long night ahead, his mind a whirl of frustration and fatigue, the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him.
(“Why can’t I catch a break! 200 pages!? Curse my life!”)
As the office emptied and silence enveloped him, Sai worked diligently, the rustle of papers the only sound accompanying him through the night. When he eventually packed up, the relief was palpable.
“Finally…” he exhaled deeply, sinking into his chair for a moment of respite.
(“A couple of hours before my next shift. I can catch a quick nap at home.”)
The evening commute passed in a haze of neon lights and the city’s pulsating energy. To Sai, however, it was all just background noise—a backdrop to his personal saga of the city’s stress and unspoken dreams of change.
As Sai made his way through the complex corridors of Sakaisuji-Hommachi station, his mind was filled with the day’s troubles. Suddenly, the intercom’s voice broke through the noise, announcing,
"Kitahama station, 15 minutes."
Yet, a sudden chill filled the air, causing Sai to halt in his tracks. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, warning him of imminent danger.
“Aaahh!” The screams shattered the routine hum of the station.
Another voice echoed, “Lord help us!” among the chaos. As panicked commuters hurried past, Sai stood motionless, trying to make sense of the situation.
(“What’s going on? What’s everyone running from?”)
The station lights flickered with a sense of unease, creating unsettling shadows on walls marked by unexplained bloodstains. A terrified elderly man rushed toward Sai.
“Please help me, don’t let it take me!” His voice trembled as an invisible force raised him from the ground.
“His desperate cry echoed through the silence: ‘Please!’”
“Here, grab my hand!” Sai extended his arm desperately to save him, but it was hopeless.
Before Sai could react, the old man was horrifically bisected, his body falling to the ground in two clean halves. Sai stared in disbelief at his empty hands, his mind struggling to grasp the reality of what he had just witnessed.
(“W-what just happened... did I just watch someone die...")
Feeling overwhelmed by shock, Sai began to question his own sanity.
(“Am I hallucinating? No, I... I must be tired,”)
“To Kitahama station, 10 minutes.” The announcement seemed surreal as the nightmare took physical form before him—a twisted fusion of ox and crab, its menacing horns atop a chitinous, crab-like body.
Sai was gripped by fear as he sprinted desperately towards the stairs, the nightmare chasing him with unsettling speed.
(“Run! Run! Run! Shit! What is that thing!”)
But the nightmare was faster. Its claws sliced through the air, catching Sai just as he reached the safety of the stairs. Thrown against the wall, Sai felt sharp pains as the creature’s claws pierced his chest.
In that terrifying moment, Sai confronted the inexplicable - a nightmare from beyond reality, its very presence an affront to logic and sanity. He coughed uncontrollably, collapsing to the ground as a dreadful silence enveloped the station.
“To Kitahama station, 5 minutes.”
(“Was this meant to be the end of me? Why did my life have to be so pathetic? Over and over, again and again, curse my life, curse everything!”) Despite his despair, Sai refused to surrender.
Struggling against the pain, he got up, pressing his back against the chilly station wall.
“Hey, Demon!” he shouted, his voice reverberating through the terminal.
The nightmare turned, and Sai’s fist landed a satisfying thud on its head.
(“Its weak spot must be the head,”)
Reacting on instinct, Sai dodged and weaved, narrowly evading the nightmare’s furious attacks.
Sai felt himself weakening with each passing moment, drained by exhaustion and pain as the creature’s relentless assault showed no sign of stopping, causing his vision to blur.
Sai was suddenly thrown onto the train tracks, the silence shattered by a deafening roar. As the train approached the station, its headlights pierced through the darkness like a beacon.
As the nightmare lifted him, intending a fatal crush, Sai closed his eyes.
(“Maybe finally I can get some rest... curse me.")
The train collided with them. Metal screeched, and sparks flew as the nightmare’s shell shattered through the train, causing chaos and destruction.
When everything settled, the train screeched to a stop. The nightmare faded away, leaving Sai’s body shrouded in a thick cloud of black smoke. The terminal descended into a dreadful silence, bearing witness to the surreal horror of the night.