Chapter 37: The Illusion Of Privacy

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: The Illusion Of Privacy

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Several hours back.

September 6th, 2025. 10:00AM in the morning. The weekend was here.

I’m so excited

I couldn’t sleep late night, today was the day I got to hang out with Oota. It couldn’t be help that his friends will be coming along, I can’t be that greedy, can I?

The door clicked open from from the fingerprint scan.

I stepped outside all dressed up for the big day. I didn’t want to be late but my room mate was keeping me.

"You sure, you are okay with that" A female voice spoke out from the inside.

"Yeah, I left some leftovers on the fridge if you ever get hungry again, later" I replied.

"I was thinking you’d invite your little group from school along. Tanya, Fuuyu and Anna would be hurt if they heard you didn’t invite them" she said just before I was about to close the door. I paused before and added.

"Pretty much. But I’m sure they’ll understand."

"Righty. Don’t come back late okay, I will be worried." She uttered.

"You are always worried" I replied a soft smile lingering on my face feature.

"Maybe.." she muttered going silent for a bit.

"Okay I shouldn’t be holding you longer or you will be late, we can talk about the date later when you come back" she uttered playfully.

"I-it’s not a date!" I corrected, feeling embarrassed and flustered. I was trying my best not to think about it like that and she had to say it bluntly.

Gezz.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever" she added, it was obvious she didn’t believe a word I said.

I didn’t want to continue this any longer so I locked the door shut, "okay later"

I stepped out of the gates, thinking of the journey there. I was going to be late either less.

My street was kind of empty this morning, it was normally filled with people and our neighbors would be outside.

The sun sat low in the sky, casting long, soft shadows across the narrow residential street. I walked in silence down.

Around the second turn to the right as located, Oota’s resident street direction.

Around there a local bakery was just opening its shutters, letting out the rich, buttery aroma of freshly baked melon pan and milk bread into the morning air.

If Oota were to see this I’m sure he would smile. The three of us had a lot of memories with that shop. Mataguchi in particular wasn’t fond of anything but as time grew with him spending time with us, he started to imitate Oota’s behavior toward things he liked and disliked.

Strange guy, I had thought at first. But I guess he was actually trying to coop with with us in his own ways.

I walked passed the road heading for the train station.

The station building was a modest brick structure nestled between a convenience store and a small flower shop. I descended the stairs toward the turnstiles, the ambient noise shifting from the outdoor breeze to the quiet hum of fluorescent lights, soft footsteps, and the ping-pong tone echoing from the automated ticket gates.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, resting the back of it against the IC card reader. A bright blue light flashed, accompanied by a sharp, cheerful pi-pi! as the gate swung open to display my remaining balance.

I turned a bit back noticing someone was approaching from the crowds, from a distance it looked like it was Oota. He was taking the same routes I had planned on following.

I got too flustered I couldn’t say a word, I just watched him walked passed by while I followed him from a distance.

I was simply stalking him at this point, what the hell I’m I doing?

I feel like a fool. What’s so wrong with just saying ’hi’?

There was nothing stopping me from saying a word, I mean we are friends so why?

Proceeding up the stairs to Platform 2, he stood behind the yellow tactile paving blocks, joining a scattered handful of passengers waiting for the incoming urban line bound for central Tokyo as was i.

He looked neutral, either excited or down. I watched him closely all through. Well from a distance he couldn’t have noticed.

​Within three minutes, the silver cars slid smoothly along the rails, slowing to a stop with a gentle hiss of air brakes. The double doors slid open in unison.

​"Platform two, bound for Shinjuku and Tokyo. Please watch your step," the automated chime chimed softly overhead.

He stepped into the carriage. It was pleasantly uncrowded, making a bit harder for me to not get noticed.

This was a private moment between us, but well not actually private since all through there were surveillance drones, cameras and agents completely blending into normal day to day routine while watching everyone.

The news had recently be confirmed by some student groups who investigated the situation. But right now it has become a normal way of life for the people living here, apparently for us the student of Karafuguru we were placed strict rules that was normally applied in school only to the open.

We couldn’t tell a lie

That was our biggest flaw and one of our restrictions

It was actually good this way, I mean if people can’t lie in our society then doesn’t that mean less deception but the answer still remains no.

A lie can be easily detected by the surveillance agencies behind those cameras which are constantly scanning and reading us like opened book even with the trains we were given.

Now this got me wondering, how big is our school land scale? One thing is obviously clear though, this city is under Karafuguru. A huge wall was even placed to isolated us from the outside world and other branches.

The land within the wall ’Karafuguru city simulation’ as I call it is about 548.5 square kilometers from mine estimated calculations, while the the one at the sea for was about 723,823 km².

Why do they need that much coverage for?

Outside the window, the suburban scenery began to blur together. Residential houses gave way to taller concrete apartment blocks, overhead wires crisscrossing against the pale blue sky, and glimpses of distant office towers rising in the morning sun. Oota eyes were completely glued to the scenery, I on the other hand just watched in. It was a sight to see.

Mataguchi would be coming along as well, his collapse at school was still on my mind, I don’t know why I’m so worried about him. I know his close to me since we are childhood friends but....

I don’t know, I don’t understand my own feelings. It’s not like he treats people like humans.

After some time, Oota reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

​The screen lit up

He blinked, staring at his phone for a moment. His expression while slight and almost unnoticeable but it was enough for me to tell that something was wrong.

I took out my phone, They agreed time upon meeting was 10:15 AM at the main entrance.

It was 10:14AM

He was currently still three stops away from his transfer point, undeniably running late. He must feel sorry for keeping them waiting.

Not to mention I’m in the same situation as well. But I couldn’t care less since I got to see Oota on the way.

His fingertips started moving in precision, he was texting someone. He leaned his head back against the glass pane, watching the Tokyo skyline grow denser as the train pulled into the transfer junction.

​When the train finally ground to a halt, he moved with a bit more urgency, stepping off, I just followed him from behind but then a voice called out to me.

"Hey" I turned, I couldn’t see the person at first.

The station was livelier now, filled with families heading out for weekend trips and shopping. Navigating through the flow of people was on it’s own a problem, i tapped my way out of the gates and made my way to the street-level bus stops.

I couldn’t find him. He should be taking this bus right?

"Hey, over here!"

I turned seeing a girl walking towards me with quickened pace.

Do I know her?

I don’t know if I should answer, what if it’s not me she was referring to?

She was a petite girl with short brown hair, I haven’t meet her once before.

​The air outside the station was bustling with the sounds of city traffic, idling engines, and distant chatter. I spotted the queue for the city loop bus heading toward the Bunkyo area. Fortunately, a green-and-white bus was already idling at the bay, its side display glowing with the destination board reading Via Tokyo Dome City.

"Alright let’s get in that one" she said taking my right hand as some as she got close to me.

She wasn’t formal at all which meant it wasn’t the first time she had met me or she was familiar with me from somewhere or from someone.

What does she want?

"W-wait, I..." I stammered trying to explain myself to her but she didn’t look like she was going to stop. It was like she was in an hurry somewhere.

"Do I- "

"You are following him right?" She pointed forward interrupting me. Oota was just about to enter the bus we were headed.

Wait she knows him.

She saw me following him? Why is she helping me with following him? And if she knows me then she must know Oota as well.

Then which meant she was from our school.

I stepped up the low stairs into the bus, tapping my IC card once more against the fare reader pi-pi! before finding a standing spot near the middle exit, holding onto the leather strap hanging from the ceiling overhead.

​"Thank you for riding. Next stop, Suidobashi Station... followed by Tokyo Dome City," the driver’s voice droned calmly through the overhead speakers as the vehicle pulled smoothly away from the curb.

​The bus wove its way through the broad avenues, stopping at traffic lights and finding my way through the weekend city traffic. I kept my eyes fixed down, watching the familiar landmarks pass by. I was nervous.

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"We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are."

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