Matthews stood frozen on the sidewalk, his expression one of absolute disbelief—like someone who had just seen a tree start walking. His mind raced, struggling to make sense of his situation.
This must be a dream... he thought. But then again, it feels too real. Am I really dreaming?
He turned his gaze toward the beggar sitting nearby. Since I woke up here, maybe he knows how I got here... But if he doesn't speak English, what do I do?
The streets around him were already alive with people and traffic, everyone moving with purpose. Nobody paid him or the beggar any attention. I guess this is how people treat you when they see you as useless, he mused bitterly.
Leaning against the wall, Matthews tried to think logically. If this really is Tokyo, then surely some people here know English. If I can find someone to translate for me, maybe I can get some answers. Or should I focus on contacting home first? He glanced at the passing strangers. But who would lend their phone to a nobody on the street?
Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his posture. If I want someone to help me, I need to look normal. Luckily, he wasn't in rags—he still had his shoes and the clothes he slept in. I just have to act like a traveler.
As he walked along the busy street, he spotted a girl wearing headphones, dressed in a sleeveless red dress. Her long brown hair was styled in a half-up, half-down look with a side braid. She seemed to be in her late teens, maybe 17 or 19. Matthews hesitated for a moment. I guess I can try talking to her.
He quickened his pace slightly and called out, "Hello there, do you speak English?"
The girl slowed down and pulled down her headphones. "What? Uh, yeah, to an extent, I guess. Who are you?"
"I'm Matthews, from another country. What about you?"
"My name is Suzune. So... are you a traveler?"
Matthews forced a nervous smile. "I guess you could call it that. Actually, I was wondering—do you know where the nearest police station is? I'm new here and need some help."
Suzune gave him a curious look. "The police station? That's where I'm heading right now. My father works there, so I'm going to visit him."
Matthews' heart skipped a beat. Her father works at the police station? This was his best chance. "I see. Do you mind if I tag along?"
Suzune shrugged. "I guess so. So, where are you staying during your visit?"
Matthews hesitated. He needed a quick answer. "At Peninsula Hotel."
Suzune's eyes widened. "Eeeh? You must be rich!"
Matthews inwardly winced. I only said that to avoid suspicion, but from her reaction, I guess it really is an expensive hotel. I hope this doesn't backfire on me later.
As they walked, Suzune asked, "So why did you come to Japan?"
Matthews maintained his calm exterior, though he was panicking inside. "Why not? I'm a huge anime fan. This is the land of anime, after all. I thought it would be nice to visit."
"So you're an anime fan! Did you come with your family just for anime?"
Matthews frowned slightly. I never said I came with my family. What made her assume that? His mind worked fast. Maybe Peninsula Hotel is mostly for family stays? Either way, better to steer this away from suspicion.
"About them… I didn't talk to them this morning, and my phone is on the charger. Could you send a message for me?" Matthews asked, thinking, If I ask to borrow her phone, it might seem suspicious. It's better if she does the typing.
"Oh, so you left without telling them anything? Fine, then. I guess that means it's through WhatsApp, right?"
"Yeah," Matthews replied. "We don't have Japanese numbers, so a direct call won't work."
Suzune unlocked her phone, but for a split second, Matthews saw something on the screen before she opened her messages. His gut tightened. What was that? Maybe I'm just seeing things… But the thought lingered.
"What's the number?" she asked.
He gave her his home number: +27 123-8647-22. She typed and sent the message: This is your son, Matthews. Just wanted to give you a good morning.
The message received a double tick but no blue checkmarks. Matthews knew what that meant. The message had been delivered, but whether it had been read or not was unclear.
Suzune handed back the phone. "I guess now we just wait for a reply."
After a long walk, they finally arrived at the police station. Matthews took a deep breath. Going in with her should be easy since she's familiar here. But I did lie to her… He shook his head. No turning back now. I just need to find the right person to explain my situation to. But how do I tell them I just 'appeared' out of nowhere? That sounds ridiculous…
Suzune led him through the entrance. "You're new here, so I'll guide you."
"Actually, it would be better if I met your father directly. My case is rather personal."
She glanced at him, a little curious. "What kind of personal issue would a traveler have?" Still, she nodded. "Alright, I guess that can happen."
Inside, officers greeted Suzune as she guided Matthews to the elevator. The station had four floors, and they rode up to the Chief of Police's office.
As they stepped out, Matthews exhaled. So she's the daughter of the chief? That's big.
Suzune smiled. "Don't be nervous. My dad might look intimidating, but he's a good listener."
"That's good to hear," Matthews replied.
She knocked on the door. A deep voice responded, "Who is it?"
"It's Suzune. I brought a friend."
"Come in."
They stepped inside. The office was impressive—red carpet covering the floor, a set of comfortable sofas, a desk filled with neatly stacked files, and a large window letting in fresh air. The man behind the desk, sitting in a black rotating chair, had an air of authority.
Matthews clenched his fists. I better not mess this up.
The chief, Daisuke Humira, studied Matthews with mild curiosity before speaking in Japanese. He asked "who is he Suzune?" Suzune replied "he claims to be a traveller from another country, the fact that he can't understand Japanese proved it not to mention his appearance" The chief continued conversing with her, and Matthews could only guess she was explaining what he had told her. He caught fragments of the conversation, but not enough to understand.
Then, the chief switched to English. "Sorry about that. Must've felt left out."
Matthews forced a smile. "It's all good. After all, I'm the one asking for help."
The chief leaned back in his chair. "Suzune tells me this is personal. So, do you want a one-on-one conversation?"
Matthews nodded. "That would be for the best, if it's not too much trouble."
"I guess not. Let me deal with her first."
He turned to Suzune and spoke in Japanese, they were clearly having some arguements in their conversation. Matthews watched as the conversation died down and the chief took a check worth two million, five hundred pounds thousand yen, he gave it to her with a pissed off face on him. " Looks like it was about family issues" Matthews thought "but that's none of my business."though he couldn't understand Japanese, his habit of watching Anime in Japanese dub and English subtitles made it a bit easier for him to make sense of what's being said.
Suzune then left the room and as the door closed behind her, Matthews was finally alone with the chief.
Now came the hard part—explaining his impossible situation.