Chapter 3

"What is this? No, I know what it is. It’s a forest. Yeah, a fine forest. It’s a broadleaf forest. The new leaves are beautiful. It’s spring, after all. In front is the forest. To the right is the forest. To the left is the forest. Behind is... the forest too. Oh, behind the forest, I can see the mountains faintly. What a nice view."

Yūji is confused!

North Saitō Yūji, 30 years old and unemployed, finally stepped outdoors to break free from his 10-year hikikomori lifestyle. With the assistance of his beloved dog, Kotarō, he managed to leave the house, but beyond the hedge that bordered the property was a forest.

Of course, the North Saitō household was not in the middle of a forest. It was a single house in the suburbs of a city in northern Kanto, where the prefectural government is located. There were neighbors, too, though they were about 300 meters away. This place is practically Gunma.

"Is it that? Did I move without realizing it during the 10 years I was shut in? What do you think, Kotarō? Do you know anything?"

Yūji’s confusion doesn’t clear up. He even starts asking his dog. Of course, Kotarō can’t know. Well, the smart Kotarō might know, but he can’t answer. He just wags his tail, as if to say, "Aren’t we going out? Isn’t this a walk?" and waits for Yūji at the gate.

"Oh, I see, it’s not that I moved, but the surroundings did, right? Yeah. I can’t move the house while I’m inside it. Ha, I’m such an idiot."

He is undoubtedly an idiot. Even if the surroundings changed, it’s impossible for a forest to grow in just 10 years. No, it’s not possible. Yūji’s confusion doesn’t clear up, and he continues to mutter to himself.

"Kyaah!"

Yūji and Kotarō look up at the sky, drawn by the cry.

What they saw was a strange bird.

Its wings, spread wide, were about 10 meters across. Sharp claws were visible at the edges and midpoints of the wings. Its streamlined, slender body was gray. Its head, elongated like a lizard’s, had fangs visible in its mouth. In its hind legs, it clutched a green, human-like figure.

As the strange bird flew away toward the faintly visible mountains, Yūji and Kotarō stood there in shock, speechless. Five minutes. Ten minutes. Finally, they managed to restart.

"Alright, let’s go back inside. Let’s try hard from tomorrow, Kotarō. I’ll really start from tomorrow."

It seems the panic has subsided after a full circle, but what does he plan to do about that strange bird even if he gets serious? For now, he seems to be pretending it didn’t happen. It’s a form of escapism.

"Alright, Kotarō, from today on, you’re allowed inside! What, it’s just me in the house, let’s live together."

Upon hearing Yūji’s words, Kotarō runs to the doghouse in the corner of the yard. Yūji stops, shocked, but then breaks into a smile. Kotarō has run over with his favorite blanket in his mouth. It seems he went to fetch it when he heard he could come inside. What a smart dog. The blanket is a bit dirty, though.