In 1954, as Japan recovers from the devastation of World War II, a dark secret festers within the halls of Toho Studios. Eriko Tanaka, a journalist, is drawn into a mystery surrounding her brother, Shindo, a movie photographer working on the set of...
Shindo unlocked the door to their apartment, the familiar creak of the hinges sounding like a small comfort after a long day. He stepped inside, the warmth of the place enveloping him. Eriko, already sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in hand, looked up as he entered. Her tired eyes softened when she saw her brother, a small smile forming on her face.
"Long day?" Shindo asked, kicking off his shoes and making his way over to her.
"Exhausting," Eriko replied, rubbing her temples. "The newspaper's always full of last-minute assignments. But you? How was your first day?"
Shindo set down his bag and leaned against the kitchen counter, trying to hide the exhaustion that had settled in his bones. "It was... interesting. Nothing too extravagant, just your typical day on set. Actors moving around in the city settings, rehearsing their lines, and cameras rolling."
Eriko raised an eyebrow. "That sounds pretty typical for a film set."
"Yeah," Shindo murmured, his mind drifting back to the unsettling encounter earlier. "Nothing out of the ordinary... Well, except for this one guy. He looked like he was cast for a role, but there was something off about him."
Eriko raised her cup to her lips, curious. "What do you mean?"
Shindo hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain it without sounding overly paranoid. He didn't want to worry Eriko, especially since she was already tired from her own day.
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"There was a man on set, dressed in a worn-out suit. He was standing completely still while everyone else was moving around, like he didn't belong there. I thought he might've been a new actor cast for a role, but... I don't know. He didn't really seem like he was part of the team."
Eriko set her cup down, concerned. "That's strange. Maybe he was just someone visiting the set?"
Shindo shrugged. "Could be. But I've got a feeling I'll see him again. I don't know... it just felt off, you know?"
Eriko studied him for a moment, her brow furrowed. "Are you sure it wasn't just your mind playing tricks on you? It's your first big day. The excitement might have made you more aware of things, or maybe you just got nervous."
"Maybe," Shindo replied, though his voice lacked the conviction to fully believe that explanation. "But I don't know... It just didn't feel right."
Eriko gave him a reassuring smile. "Well, if he shows up again, just tell someone. There's always a lot of odd people around on film sets, and sometimes they don't fit the usual mold."
"Yeah," Shindo muttered, glancing out the window toward the darkening sky. "Maybe you're right."
The conversation fell into a comfortable silence as Eriko stood up, stretching her arms above her head. "I'm going to take a quick shower before bed. You've got your big second day tomorrow, right?"
