Episode 4
Aimi Hata's flat, Easthaven, August 18, 0820 hours
Aimi finally awakens after a long night of good sleep.
Aimi Hata
*Yawns and stretches*
Aimi Hata
That felt gooooood.
Aimi Hata
*Fetches her smartphone*
Aimi Hata
No, no, no, no!!!
Aimi Hata
I'll be late for work!
Like many university students in Easthaven, Aimi has taken a part-time job.
Aimi Hata
They guys will definitely kill me now!
Aimi Hata
*Quickly dials a number and waits nervously*
Taro Miyagawa
Are you telling me that you're going to be late again, Aimi-san?
Aimi Hata
Unfortunately yes, boss.
Taro Miyagawa
We'll talk more about it when you're here.
Aimi quickly prepares for work.
After brushing her teeth (and trying in vain to change her clothes at the same time,) she makes two sandwiches.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The bus stop 200 metres from Aimi Hata's block of flats, 0900 hours
Aimi arrives at the bus stop...
...And has to wait for the bus for more than 20 minutes because of the rush hour.
Aimi Hata
As if I haven't gotten enough problems...
In the meantime, Aimi looks at her smart phone and sees Courtney Carr's eulogy on Larieke Owen's Connect2u profile page.
Aimi discovers Brett's and Mizuki's comments to the eulogy.
Aimi Hata
So you have calmed down now...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taro Miyagawa's Japanese grocery store, 0935 hours
Mr. Miyagawa's store is the only one in the whole town of Easthaven where people can buy authentic ingredients to make delicious Japanese dishes.
Because of that, besides his famous customer service, makes Mr. Miyagawa's store very popular.
There are already lots of people in the grocery store.
Taro Miyagawa
Aimi-san, I'll manage the checkout counter in the meantime.
Taro Miyagawa
Now quickly get dressed!
Taro Miyagawa
You are more than an hour late!
Aimi quickly changes into her uniform and returns to her boss.
Taro Miyagawa
Now go to the back and help out Sam-san!
Taro Miyagawa
He is alone with the goods since Hagiwara-san has called in sick.
Aimi Hata
Hagiwara-san isn't here today?
Aimi quickly hurries to the back of the store.
Sam Powell
Over here, Lassie!
Sam Powell
Can you help me with this big box?
The back of the store has mountains of boxes that need to be unpacked and sorted out.
Aimi walks towards the source of Sam Powell's voice and finds him struggling with a big box.
Aimi Hata
Wait Sam-senpai!
Aimi Hata
Let me help... Oooffff!
Sam Powell
Careful, Lassie!
Sam Powell
It's very heavy.
Aimi Hata
Then let's do it together, shall we?
Both grocery clerks cautiously hold the heavy box and lower it to the floor.
Sam Powell
Lassie, haven't we agreed not to use honorifics between us?
Aimi Hata
Hehe, yes we have.
Sam Powell
Calling me "Sam" is enough for me.
Sam Powell
I'm not good enough to be your senpai even if I've worked for Mr. Miyagawa longer than you.
Sam Powell
Besides, since we're not in Japan now...
Aimi Hata
I know, Sam. I know.
Aimi Hata
It's just strange to say your given name "just like that."
Sam Powell
You'll get used to it, Lassie.
Aimi Hata
If you keep on calling me "Lassie", then at least allow me to call you "Old Sam"!
Sam Powell
Haha, alright then Aimi.
Aimi Hata
That's settled then!
Sam Powell
So, shall we take the next box?
Aimi Hata
Nah, I think it's better to empty this one first before going to the next one.
Aimi Hata
I mean, this box was really heavy!
As they are opening the box filled with lots of beverages, Aimi suddenly thinks of something.
Aimi Hata
Miyagawa-san told me Hagiwara-san has called in sick today.
Sam immediately stops unpacking the box, shakes his head and sighs.
Since Sam Powell is the oldest of Mr. Miyagawa's employees, Aimi knows that Sam often refers to his younger colleagues as "children."
In fact, Tsutomu Hagiwara is only in his thirties.
Aimi Hata
You look serious.
Sam Powell
There are many things you don't know since you don't work here full-time.
Sam Powell
In any case, Tsutomu...
Aimi Hata
What about Hagiwara-san?
Sam Powell
I don't think Tsutomu Hagiwara will return to work for a while.
Aimi Hata
He's a healthy person.
Aimi Hata
He always comes on time, not like me...
Sam Powell
He WAS a healthy person.
Sam Powell
But not ever since he got that call...
Aimi immediately widens her eyes.
Sam Powell
Tsutomu is no longer well.
Aimi Hata
I know, but you said something about a call?
Sam sighs again and looks slightly annoyed at Aimi.
Sam Powell
Really, Lassie?
Sam Powell
Do you youngsters believe in that nonsense about calls that predict your death or fortune?
Aimi Hata
To be honest with you, I didn't hear about the rumour until I met with a group of friends yesterday.
Sam Powell
That's the danger of rumours.
Sam Powell
Once they're mentioned, then they're spread out like wildfire, making it difficult to stop them!
Aimi Hata
I agree with you, Old Sam.
Aimi Hata
Don't you think there could be some truth in the rumours?
Aimi Hata
If you had asked me about the rumour in the past, I wouldn't have believed it.
Sam Powell
But now you suddenly do?
Sam Powell
What made you change your mind?
Aimi struggles hard to keep calm and not cry.
Aimi Hata
A friend of mine died in a traffic accident yesterday.
Aimi Hata
She was supposed to meet up with us at the Rose Café.
Aimi Hata
According to her close friend, she had received a phone call that predicted her demise.
Sam Powell
Wait, Lassie...
Sam Powell
Are you talking about the traffic accident in Easthaven where a lorry rammed into two smaller cars...?
Aimi Hata
Yes, that's the one.
Aimi Hata
Larieke Owens, the first confirmed death victim, was my friend.
Sam Powell
I'm so sorry to hear that.
Sam Powell
So you now believe in the phone rumour because your friend has received a similar call?
Aimi nods, still trying her best not to cry.
Sam Powell
What did the call say?
Aimi Hata
Hehe, so you're convinced now?
Aimi Hata
Okay, the call went like this...
Aimi takes a deep breath.
Aimi Hata
"The hardworking daughter of Lucy will go head to head with a huge force. Boom! Boom! Afterwards, she will return to Him."
Aimi Hata
That's what I've heard.
Aimi Hata
My friends and I have speculated that the call was predicting this accident.
Aimi Hata
"The daughter of Lucy" is a reference to Larieke because of her African roots.
Aimi Hata
"Go head to head with a huge force" must mean the collision with the lorry.
Aimi Hata
"Boom! Boom!" means the two smaller cars being hit.
Aimi Hata
"Afterwards, she will return to Him," means Larieke's death.
Sam Powell
"Him" as in God Himself...
Sam Powell
Your way of reasoning is logical.
Sam Powell
Then in that case...
Sam Powell
If Tsutomu was serious with me about his call, then he's in grave danger.
Sam Powell
What time is it?
Sam Powell
Already 10 a.m.?
Sam Powell
Then perhaps...
Sam suddenly takes his smartphone from his right trouser pocket.
Sam Powell
Mr. Miayagawa, I urgently need to leave the grocery store for a while.
Sam Powell
I don't have time to explain.
Sam Powell
I need to borrow the work car.
Taro Miyagawa
Sam-san, what are you...?
Taro Miyagawa
We're severly understaffed today!
Sam Powell
I know Mr. Miyagawa, please forgive me.
Sam Powell
But it's about Tsutomu.
Taro Miyagawa
Hiragawa-san?
Taro Miyagawa
What has he to do with...?
Aimi quickly snatches the smartphone from Sam's hand.
Sam Powell
I was talking to---
Aimi Hata
Sorry boss, but Sam is right.
Aimi Hata
We believe that Hiragawa-san is in grave danger, so we must go.
Aimi Hata
Sam, go to the work car.
Taro Miyagawa
Not you too!
Taro Miyagawa
Aimi, this isn't time for a prank...!
Aimi Hata
It's not a prank, I promise!
Aimi Hata
I promise to explain everything afterwards!
After obtaining the car key, the old and the young grocery clerk immediately sit in the car and drive off.
The owner of the grocery store forcibly opens the door to the back of the store and can only helplessly watch his work car driving far away from him.
Taro Miyagawa
Sam and Aimi...
Taro Miyagawa
You're so getting in trouble for this!
Why does Old Sam suddenly react strongly to the new knowledge of the phone predictions?
What is it that Aimi doesn't know?
What kind of danger is Tsutomu Hiragawa going to face?
Will his colleagues be able to save him from the dangerous situation?
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