Seesaw Monster by Kotaro Isaka

Author:Kotaro Isaka [Isaka, Kotaro]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vintage Publishing
Published: 2025-07-03T00:00:00+00:00

It was my first time in New Sendai Station, which was larger than I expected: five floors and what felt like a maze of corridors. I found an information kiosk. The only ways to get directly to Aoba Castle were by bus or taxi, but given my fear of road vehicles I supposed I would have to walk. Then I saw that the subway headed in the direction I wanted to go.

I made my way through the labyrinthine station to the subway and caught one that was just about to leave. I managed to jump aboard as the doors slid closed.

There were plenty of empty seats but I didn’t feel like sitting, so I stood by the doors, leaning up against the pole and gazing out the window.

How did Mr Glasses know where I would be sitting on the Shinkansen?

Questions bubbled.

If he wanted to hire me, why didn’t he just go through the normal channels?

Then my thoughts went back to that letter of his.

If a member of Gamma Moko dies.

The news broke yesterday, so he must have only just made up his mind to send a letter to his old friend. He wouldn’t have had time to set up a formal request with me. Job inquiries go through an online service that anyone can access at any time, although the first slot available is always two days out.

He could have also gone with another courier. There are plenty of us out there. I was confident in my work, and I’d be happy if I had a reputation for being reliable, but I didn’t imagine that I was particularly well known.

Maybe someone had recommended me? I wondered if someone told him, oh, if you’re looking for a courier you should go with Mito. I suppose word of mouth has been important ever since humans first developed language.

I let my body sway with the motion of the train. Gazing blankly through the window at the walls of the underground tunnel, my mind wandered back to Kagetora Hiyama.

When he saw me back there on the Shinkansen, his face went rigid, which I imagine must have mirrored my own expression. Body stiffened, taken off guard, frozen in place.

The same as that time we spoke on the school rooftop.

It was March in my sixth year of school, just before graduation. I had gone home for the day only to realize that I’d forgotten my tablet in the classroom, so I headed back to school. As I reached the gate I happened to look up and was surprised to see someone standing on the roof. My first thought was that they were going to jump.

Before I could process anything I was running. Into the school building without even changing my shoes at the entrance, up the stairs without a sideways glance.

I wasn’t sure why it felt so urgent, but my body kept driving upward, upward. Like I was caught in an invisible net pulling me steadily higher. There was no fighting it. When I got to the top level I saw that the door, which was usually locked, stood ajar.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.