It was late at night, and the rain was pouring down in torrents.

Several streetlights in the alleyway were out, and only a faint, flickering light illuminated the wet asphalt.

Toya headed home after finishing work. He thought it was the same path as usual, but strangely, the sound of footsteps behind him continued to follow at a constant interval.

When Toya slowed down, the footsteps slowed down; when he walked a little faster, the footsteps quickened just the same.

He tried to dismiss it as his imagination, but his heart began to beat faster and faster.

---

Strange things had been happening for several days now.

When he woke up, an unidentified flower was hanging on his front door handle, and a blank letter with only his name written on it was in the mailbox. When he looked out the window to close the curtains, he saw someone quickly hiding somewhere in the opposite alley several times.

The most chilling thing was a small gift box placed in a CCTV blind spot in front of his house.

Someone was definitely watching his daily life.

And it was no coincidence.

Toya arrived in front of the apartment, trying his best to act calm. At that moment, a person wearing a black hood slowly emerged from behind the wall of the apartment entrance. Their face wasn't visible, but their gaze was unmistakably fixed only on Toya.

His body froze.

His fingertips turned cold, and the hand holding the key began to tremble. Toya rushed into the apartment. Without even having time to think, he quickly took the elevator and stood in front of Akito's door next door.

Toya caught his ragged breath, calmed himself, and after ringing the doorbell, he spoke quietly.

...Akito-san, today as well... I'm sorry, but could you stay with me for a little while?