I rushed from the second floor towards the stairs. From there, I hurried down to the street. It passed beneath shady trees and was flanked by towering buildings. The street was narrow. A few small cars and more bikes were parked along the sides. In between alcoves, vending machines were placed in convenient locations. The street was filled with bustling activity, mostly by pedestrians.

I saw the usual types, kids on their way to school, elders on the way to local markets to complete their morning shopping, or else for the sake of exercise. Besides those familiar sights, there was an odd-looking western tourist. I attempted a friendly smile directed towards them, particularly at the odd foreigner. I knew I probably couldn’t communicate with her, but having said so, I was in a hurry as it was, so I didn’t speak. The outsider blinked and awkwardly returned the smile, but she looked away quickly. It wasn’t an outright denial of my existence. Well, this is a little encouraging, at least...

I rushed past her, somewhat elated. There was a group of children walking along after her. They spoke with each other in an easygoing manner. I honestly envied them being able to speak so easily with each other, having so much fun. It would have been nice to have company for a change. I usually walked alone. Reiko-chan walked with me a few times in the past. No, no, no... don’t dwell on it... I grit my teeth, but honest to goodness, the unremarkable exchange made me feel a little bit more optimistic. My lips spread in an enthusiastic grin when I approached the group of students. “Good morning!”

The girls screamed instantly and stiffened. I blinked, surprised by their reactions. There’d be no time to question them. They dashed past me, screaming. I clapped my hands to my face, mortified, my legs spread.

“YAKUZA!!!” a girl screamed.

I stiffened at this loud accusation! P-Police?! My eyes darted left and right as though there may be a reason for it. Just the accusation might be enough to attract the attention of officers. It’s not like I’d never been questioned without cause out of the blue. I yelped as I broke into a run, breathless.

Oh darn it! If they want to treat me like this, I’ll just stay quiet. At least they’ll avoid my gaze! I don’t need this sort of treatment! None of these looked like any of the students I’d passed before. I wondered if they’d taken a new shortcut or something along those lines. They didn’t know me. If they did... well, would it even have made a difference? I’d never know.

I fled to the train station and halted at the top of the stairs. I took deep calming breaths as my fists clenched. Finally, the good fresh morning air settled my rattled nerves. No one else hassled me. I might have looked a little aggressive while recovering, but I didn’t draw any unwanted attention.

I adjusted my suit, wiping sweat from my forehead after I fished a tissue from a pocket-sized container I’d received from a girl who’d been giving them out on the street by the building I worked at. The girl looked so shaken, I couldn’t believe it. Her hand trembled as she gave it to me. It was some serious determination she’d shown me.

After having mopped up sweat from my face, I examined the tissue container for the first time as I pocketed the spent tissue. I didn't bother to look at it when it was pressed on me. At the time, there were more important things to think about. Now, I thought about the courage the girl must have mustered just to give this to me. I should have looked at the packaging at least, but now I read.

It was printed with a company name and a slogan.

SSDS, Tokyo

Got a yokai? I’m your guy!

I laughed, rolling my eyes as I pocketed it again. He’s a yokai? I chuckled, heartened by the silly pun. Something else occurred to me though. There was no address? Nothing else except for a silly pun? What kind of an idiot prints something like this without providing an address or any other contact information?

I shrugged, comically pursing my lips and shrugging as I briskly walked down the stairs and around a corner to the bottom into the station proper. I avoided the eyes of anyone else, keeping mine downcast. Facing forward, particularly if I met eyes with an officer, things got awkward. They thought I was challenging them. Doing so always led to a horrible experience. I didn’t need such troubles. My expression was fixed and carefully neutral. I intensely glared at the ground, which helped to keep people from noticing my face.

Either way, I was typically damned no matter. I still was hassled when I didn’t do anything at all. Walking through the station past the ticket consoles and store kiosks, I approached the magnetic card stands. There I swiped my card and hurried through. I couldn’t help looking around quickly before looking down again. There was something odd about the station. It didn’t dawn on me what bothered me until I reached the boarding platform. Escalators were operating nearly silently to my left and right as I descended.

The platform was almost utterly silent. There was no soft roar of conversation around me. No footsteps rang on the pavement. I looked up and cast my vision around me, practically spinning in place. I took in the two tracks on one side and the other. There really was not a single soul in sight. This was a high-traffic commute time. The place should be packed to overflowing!

I raced along the long platform to check the kiosks for staff. There were no managers nor workers. Everything was locked up tightly as though it was two in the morning. I double-checked my watch to make sure. I was sure the sun was still shining, aboveground. People were thronging along the streets of the city as usual. I nodded to myself, relieved that I was not mistaken about the time, or hadn’t gone insane. Would it have been understandable after what I’d gone through?

I thought back to when I’d gone through the magnetic stands when I’d glanced up quickly. Come to think of it, there weren’t even any policemen stationed in the police box there. I wondered whether I was relieved by not seeing any this morning so far. Perhaps I was, but a lack of them made me feel very uneasy. It was probably what bothered me the most. My heart was pounding loudly, rebounding off my ribs. I ran my fingers through my hair as I sweated.

I was distracted from my distress when the train started hurtling down the tunnel into the station. A jingle played and the computerized voice over the speakers announced the train’s impending arrival and where it was bound. It restored a little normalcy to this strange day. Things were still functioning. I’d still be able to get to work at least on time, even if there was a strange mystery afoot. I sighed and rushed over to where I usually boarded. I was a bit of a creature of habit, even though everything was out of order.

The train came to a stop. Moments later the doors slid open. Familiar jingles rang within, welcoming me aboard. I boarded, but I nearly ran back out when I noticed it was totally empty just like the station. What had happened?

A z-zombie outbreak? Godzilla?! A disease outbreak? Did I need a germ mask?!