Published in Lit Up·Nov 1, 2022Sitting with Someone ElseSōji and Wakaba barely made it past the closing doors of the subway train. Perspiring, Sōji sat on a seat. Panting, Wakaba sat on another seat. Wait, something wasn’t right. Sōji looked to the side. It wasn’t Wakaba; she was sitting in front of him. Or, more specifically, next to…Fiction2 min readFiction2 min read
Published in Lit Up·Oct 11, 2022Date and Time“So we meet on Friday?” I asked. “Yeah,” Itsuo said from the other side of the line. “At Tokyo Station. As always.” “Got it. And at two? As always?” “Yeah, but I have to leave two hours earlier. I have to finish my manuscript. The deadline is next week.” My…Short Story3 min readShort Story3 min read
Published in Lit Up·Sep 27, 2022Afraid of Sleeping Alone“Hey, listen up,” whispered the male classmate who sat in front of me. “Fukada likes to sleep around.” The other male classmate who sat next to him faced to the side, his eyes wide. “Really? How do you know?” “Because I slept with her yesterday.” “Wow, how did you persuade…Fiction10 min readFiction10 min read
Published in Lit Up·Sep 13, 2022A Letter from Aiko“I’m forty,” I thought aloud. Middle age. The second and last half of life. I couldn’t be called a boy anymore. In fact, some people might call me an uncle. What about feeling young one last time? After work, I walked to Akihabara and into a game center. I hadn’t…Romance6 min readRomance6 min read
Published in Lit Up·Aug 16, 2022Mrs. SadaMrs. Sada was an ordinary English teacher. One who had a traditional appearance: bob cut, white shirt, black blazer. One who used everyday example sentences to teach us English grammar. I love my parents, Haruto and Sakura. She pointed at the whiteboard. “Here the reader may think the parents are…Fiction4 min readFiction4 min read
Published in Lit Up·Jul 24, 2022Pick WheelCracking open my heavy eyelids, I pulled my phone from under the pillow. 7:45 a.m. Should I get up at 8:00 a.m.? But it was Saturday; I could sleep more. How about until 9:00 a.m.? No, that wasn’t enough. 10:00 a.m.? A little too much. I spent the entire morning…Fiction6 min readFiction6 min read
Published in Lit Up·Jun 5, 2022Ugly Sister“Hey, do you have a sister?” Aiko asked. I stopped before the school’s front gate and turned to her. “Why do you ask?” “I was passing by your house Sunday morning, and I saw a high school girl standing on your balcony.” She leaned toward me until I could smell…Fiction5 min readFiction5 min read
Published in Lit Up·May 1, 2022Hydrophobia“Hey …” Mizuko muttered, stepping into the kitchen. I put the knife on the chopping board and turned to her. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing, It’s just that …” I followed her line of vision, but I couldn’t see anything, just the immaculate white tile floor. Wait, there was a puddle of…Fiction3 min readFiction3 min read
Published in Lit Up·Apr 10, 2022Bawling BoothsLetting go of the mouse, I checked the job posting. Surveillance Officer. Job Summary: closely monitoring the users of our venting booths through security cameras (more details will be offered on-site). Job Requirements: no education or experience is needed, but applicants must be able to endure long hours of visual…Short Story10 min readShort Story10 min read
Published in Lit Up·Mar 15, 2022The Zebra with the Red MarkAs Yuuki walked along Shibuya Crossing, a feeling washed over him, almost throwing him off balance. It took him a moment to translate this feeling into thoughts. How could dozens of people, dozens of eyes, walk in his direction — and not look at him? Not even a glance? Instead…Fiction6 min readFiction6 min read
