Hirota Masami, twenty-seven years old, she dared to swear she had never seen such a person in her entire life. Her heart felt as if it were already numb; when breathing, she only felt even the air was ice-cold. Although afraid, this exceptionally different feeling made her unable to avert her gaze. The dangerous aura emanating from that figure both numbed her heart and stimulated its beating to resume. She looked a few more times and felt this figure was vaguely familiar. She couldn't recall the other party's name for a moment, yet felt she knew them – since that was the case, this figure certainly wasn't some monster.
During the brief eye contact, Hirota Masami's memory unconsciously flipped back rapidly, stopping at the scene of their morning encounter. She remembered. Although she still couldn't call out the other party's name, this person was indeed her neighbor, a foreigner who had just moved to Japan. Thinking of this, the previous inexplicable fear and panic gradually subsided, her body finally regaining some strength.
She could hear the sound of her own heart beating; on this silent corridor, it was rapid and loud, as if even this unfamiliar neighbor several meters away could hear it.
A contradictory yet reassuring, simultaneously somewhat awkward mood welled up in her heart, making her unable to help but press her forehead.
Her reaction was really too excessive. She thought at this time.
"Hirota-san?" Ma En had recognized Hirota Masami early on. Although they had only met briefly in the morning, he prided himself on having good memory and eyesight; there was no concern of mistaking her for someone else. The other party seemed frightened by him; he also felt somewhat ashamed, it was just that the previous situation was a bit eerie; even if it happened again, he would still choose to do the same.
Now there was something more pressing than apologizing. Ma En didn't want to involve this female neighbor in his troubles, but trouble seemed to have already appeared here. He realized something: his previous encounter, was it because he appeared here that such an abnormal situation occurred; or did these abnormalities inherently exist here, and his arrival was merely coincidental?
From the perspective of urban legends, it should be the latter. However, Ma En still felt that he, having obtained "Seven Revolutions Cave Profound Secret Record," would coincidentally get involved in this trouble was also a kind of fated inevitability. This fated connection didn't directly prove a direct relationship between "Seven Revolutions Cave Profound Secret Record" and the strange tales of unit 1304, but it was a foreshadowing that he would continuously encounter more similar situations one after another.
More and more details were twisting his ordinary daily life of the past twenty-odd years.
While thinking this, he also didn't forget the target he chased out for: while keeping an eye on Hirota Masami's situation out of the corner of his eye, he examined the details of everything in the corridor – railings, corners, doorplates, shadows on the ceiling, even dust on the ground and marks left by entering and exiting. He observed any traces that looked fresh, searching for possible signs of biological activity. If what he saw was truly a physical creature – regardless of what it was, human or something never seen before – as long as it still followed common sense, it would be very difficult not to leave traces. Conversely, that would definitely not be the thing he anticipated, but merely "something possibly a bit dangerous."
Ma En anticipated peculiar things, not dangerous wild beasts or someone's prank. If the key element was some people playing tricks with ghosts and gods, he would respectfully decline; if caught by him, they would definitely be taught a harsh lesson.
Just as Ma En's gaze shifted around the surroundings, Hirota Masami by the elevator finally stood up. Her waist and knees were weak, looking very difficult, yet she questioned very impolitely.
"You, what the hell is wrong with you, guy ?"
Her phrasing, in Ma En's impression, was the most impolite kind in Japanese, not used casually. Ma En found it very difficult to directly understand the other party's context from an emotional perspective, only knowing from rational analysis that the other party was very dissatisfied with his behavior. This was only natural; Ma En wasn't surprised at all. His actions frightened the other party; it was indeed his fault.
Ma En nodded apologetically towards Hirota Masami, then raised his index finger to his lips, signaling the other party to hush. Hirota Masami's voice immediately choked; her resentful expression seemed to freeze, then gradually softened into astonishment. She simply hadn't thought this person would respond like this. For a moment, she didn't even know if she should be angry, or make some other kind of expression.
Hirota Masami froze on the spot. Ma En also did nothing, just deadlocked like this for another two or three seconds. Ma En finally confirmed he had lost all clues; the true identity of that eye had already slipped away, hiding in a corner he couldn't perceive. He didn't think the eerie situation he experienced earlier was a hallucination, no, it should be said, even if it were a hallucination, it would be fine, as long as it wasn't his own misperception.
However, the target disappearing wasn't necessarily a bad thing. This not only represented that this target had some skill, but also meant the people in the building were temporarily safe. For example, this Ms. Hirota Masami he just recognized wouldn't immediately die before his eyes.
Should be considered lucky, perhaps. Ma En also hadn't completed his entire psychological adjustment; he wasn't certain what kind of blow it would bring him if Hirota Masami died right in front of him like this – this was quite different from the blood sacrifice ritual when exposing the serial killer last time.
Hirota Masami came back to her senses, just about to say something – whether it was to curse the other party, or just greet them, anyway, resolving the awkward atmosphere here first would be good. But Ma En spoke first: "Good evening, Hirota-san."
— Are you kidding me? Waiting all this time just for this sentence?
Hirota Masami only felt her insides churn; she didn't want to talk to this young man at all anymore. But the other party had already walked up, bowed deeply to her. That dead serious appearance again made Hirota Masami feel helpless. Perhaps this young man didn't intentionally want to frighten or anger people? She couldn't help but think this.
Hirota Masami felt her headache worsen, pressing her forehead again, not knowing what kind of expression she should show. She remembered at this time, the other party wasn't Japanese. Could it be that people from the mainland were all like this ghostly appearance ?
"Truly very sorry, it seems someone was playing a prank at my door earlier," Ma En apologized again and again, glossing over the important points lightly.
"What exactly happened?" Hirota Masami asked in as gentle a tone as possible. Although anger had flared up earlier, she still didn't want the other party to think she was a bad-tempered person.
"Someone knocked on the door just now, but no one was seen. It happened two or three times back and forth," Ma En omitted many things, asking: "Do people here also play the game of knocking and running away?"
Knocking and running away? What the hell— she was about to retort, but immediately understood. Although the wording was different, it should be that kind of game.
"Ah— Knock-and-run ?" She used the customary Japanese term describing this behavior.
However, Ma En didn't quite understand it.
"Anyway, it's knocking on a stranger's door, then hiding, not letting the person who opens the door find out... games like that," Ma En described thusly.
"Yes, yes, that's it, children's games," Hirota Masami realized. "Your door was knocked on?"
"Yes," Ma En nodded.
"That still shouldn't be so rough!" Hirota Masami frowned. "If it really was a child, they would have been hit by the door. Did you really consider the other party might just be a child?"
"Yes, sorry," Ma En said. "Personally, I don't think the other party was a child."
"Huh?" Hirota Masami was somewhat baffled. "Not a child? Did you see?"
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"No," Ma En answered honestly.
Hirota Masami scrutinized Ma En from top to bottom.
"Is there something wrong with you ?" This time, she was truly angry.
"I felt it was a bit dangerous just now, like being watched," Ma En said this. "Look, unit thirteen-oh-four... this room has bad rumors, right? Although I don't really believe these things, the possibility of someone maliciously causing trouble isn't non-existent." Saying this, he shrugged, then added: "Mm, it's also possible I overreacted."
"You definitely overreacted!" Hirota Masami finally breathed a sigh of relief, but after thinking, she also became somewhat curious, "Did you really see something strange?"
"No."
"Being overly suspicious isn't good," Hirota Masami walked to Ma En's door, glanced at it, and revealed a surprised expression. She realized something even more important. This was considered a high-end apartment; the quality of the door panel and lock wasn't some inferior product. Usually, even if an adult strongman kicked it forcefully, it would be impossible to kick it open at once. However, when the door opened earlier, there was only one sound.
This young man actually kicked open this high-quality door with one foot. The lock was already loose, hanging crookedly on the door panel, the latch disengaged; it looked like it couldn't be used again without being reinstalled.
— Is this guy that strong?
Hirota Masami couldn't help but scrutinize this young man again: neat dark gray suit, meticulous dark red tie, the noticeable large black umbrella, of that old-fashioned style, the handle couldn't retract... looked a bit anachronistic. This young man's attire and temperament, at first glance, seemed like an office worker, but upon closer consideration, felt somewhat abnormal; couldn't be called fashionable, but definitely not the appearance young people nowadays should have.
No wonder she had that kind of illusion earlier. This guy was a bit... she also didn't know how to describe it. A bit dangerous? But not just dangerous, also possessing a strange attraction.
"It's not raining today," Hirota Masami remembered; the first time she saw this young man, the other party was also carrying this large black umbrella on a sunny day. At that time, she already felt something was off, just was busy rushing, so pushed it to the back of her mind.
"You mean this?" Ma En lifted the large black umbrella slightly. "Personal habit, please don't mind it."
— How could I not mind it!
Hirota Masami said fiercely in her heart, but still couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. She couldn't help but press her forehead again.
"Anyway, you definitely overreacted," she asserted. "There are indeed some children in this apartment building, but they are all very well-behaved, wouldn't do this kind of prank." She looked around, then said: "Probably no one was hurt. Don't do this next time. Being so rough will cause trouble for others."
"Truly very sorry. Couldn't help myself for a moment..." Ma En didn't refute, just smiled apologetically, then asked: "Has Hirota-san eaten dinner yet?"
"No," Hirota Masami replied casually, then heard Ma En propose: "That reckless action earlier frightened you, truly very sorry. If possible, please allow me to treat you, how about a simple meal?"
Hirota Masami's eyes lit up, but then she glanced warily at Ma En again, somewhat hesitant.
"Consider it making amends. Besides, we are neighbors, right? Heard it's a Japanese custom that newcomers should present a meeting gift. But I didn't prepare anything, can only treat you to dinner," Ma En said apologetically, looking directly into Hirota Masami's eyes.
Hirota Masami was stared at by his gaze, feeling somewhat fluttered. Looking seriously, this newly recognized young man was just a bit strange, definitely not some ugly, fierce bad person... should be like this, right. Besides, the other party was a foreigner, maybe their habits were really different. Also, the other party had already expressed apology, considering it a neighbor's gift was fine... Also, also, she had been living very frugally recently; if the other party treated, maybe she could even make them bleed a little, eat a good meal.
There were too many reasons to agree; no matter how she thought about it, refusing wasn't good, after all, they still had to coexist on the same floor for some time.
"What should we eat?" Hirota Masami blurted out.
Her reaction was so quick it caught Ma En somewhat off guard; he originally thought the other party would be more hesitant.
"Whatever you want to eat is fine," Ma En immediately replied this.
"Really, anything?" Hirota Masami's eyes shone.
"Then... within twenty thousand yen, anything is fine," Ma En considered his wallet, then replied this. But this answer made Hirota Masami's eyes even brighter, making Ma En feel she was already sharpening her knives .
"Then we must eat yakiniku !" Hirota Masami said excitedly. "Perfect, I know a good shop, have wanted to eat there once for a long time. Don't know if there are still seats now..." As she spoke, she took out her mobile phone from her handbag and started making a call right then.
Ma En wore a smile, waiting at the side, yet felt a bit like he had something stuck in his throat he couldn't spit out. It was the first time he felt, were young women in Japan all this forward/unreserved ? But this was fine too; his apology was genuine, and he also felt fortunate the other party wasn't implicated in danger. If this could compensate for the fright the other party received, he didn't mind this bit of money at all. Although newly arrived in a respected place, it was necessary to consider the future, live a bit more frugally, but the new job was already settled, indeed should celebrate a bit.
Although notification from the new school hadn't arrived yet, since it was through connections, and an internal line at that, Ma En didn't feel there was too much need for worry.
In less than a minute, Hirota Masami settled the matter of going to the shop to eat yakiniku. However, seeing her approach, it seemed somewhat different from the situation when Ma En ate yakiniku back in his motherland. Ma En had never encountered needing a reservation to eat yakiniku in his motherland, and besides, domestic yakiniku wasn't served as a main formal meal. Of course, if it were a high-end restaurant featuring foreign specialties, perhaps a reservation was needed?
Thinking this way, the place Hirota Masami wanted to go must also be a high-end restaurant. Was twenty thousand yen really enough for two people to eat? Ma En thought secretly. He himself hadn't eaten anything this expensive, nor had he been to so-called high-star restaurants; his understanding of related situations was mostly hearsay. Reportedly, there were set meals costing two or three thousand per portion.