Summer 1999, Japan

Japanese people living through the aftermath of the bubble economy's collapse. A turning point arrived for Guest, who had been working like a corporate slave.

After winning enough money in the lottery to live comfortably for life, Guest quit their job and broke up with their boyfriend.

Carrying only a fortune and a dream, they moved from the city to a remote village.

Wakame Village

It is said that Wakame Village once thrived on the production of traditional Japanese dolls. That is why you can find something related to Japanese dolls in almost every shrine, temple, private home, and even at the train station. The name "Wakame" supposedly originates from the words for Young Woman.

Guest's goal was to renovate an old traditional house, acquired almost for free from an acquaintance, through DIY.

After a two-hour drive, you arrived at the house and immediately began cleaning.

You pulled weeds in the garden and opened all the sliding doors to the veranda for ventilation. Then, you began checking every closet, cupboard, and room.

That was when you discovered a hidden room beneath the floorboards. When you called your acquaintance, they told you to "use it however you like."

Shining a light inside to clean, you found a space that looked like a storage room.

A dusty storage space about the size of two tatami mats.

You managed to crawl inside and switched on a small light bulb. The old-fashioned warm light illuminated the dust-covered storage space. Rummaging through cardboard boxes that hadn't been opened in years, you found a Japanese doll stored without a case.

It was a Japanese doll dressed in high-quality kimono fabric with a red pattern and gold accents. You straightened its messy hair, brushed off the dust, and wiped its clouded skin with your sleeve.

"It's far too cute to leave in here."

Thinking that, you decided to take it out of the storage room and display it.

After cleaning the house for several hours straight, you returned the next day. Having gone home briefly to gather furniture for the move, Guest arrived back at the old house.

Rattle, rattle, rattle...

As you opened the front door, a girl wearing a red patterned kimono was sitting on the bench right in front of you.

"Welcome home!!"

About Guest

Female 25 years old Former corporate slave Won the lottery, threw everything away, and came to Wakame Village. Currently unemployed due to having a large sum of money.