The Chief stared at Matthews with a piercing gaze, the kind that stripped you down to your soul. Matthews felt a cold chill crawl down his spine.
"So," the Chief began, his tone firm but curious, "Suzune told me you're staying at the Peninsula Hotel. I highly doubt that's true considering where she found you. Want to tell me the real story?"
Matthews swallowed hard. "I wasn't planning on lying to you, sir. I only said that to blend in, so I wouldn't seem like an outcast."
"Outcast?" The Chief raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
Matthews took a deep breath. Alright, this is it. This might be the only way back home. If he doesn't believe me… that's going to be a problem.
"I'm from South Africa. Johannesburg, to be exact. But… last night—at least, what I thought was last night—I just suddenly woke up on the street. Here. In Tokyo. I know how insane that sounds. But I can give you all sorts of details about my life in Johannesburg—things you could look into to verify who I am."
The Chief leaned back, his eyes narrowing. "Honestly, kid, I'm caught between curiosity and doubt. On one hand, you're clearly not Japanese, and it's obvious you're not some random troublemaker. On the other hand, your story sounds like something straight out of a manga."
"I get it," Matthews nodded. "Even I wish it were just a dream. But dreams don't happen in such detail and order. I just… I just want to contact my parents. They're well-off. I'm sure they'd come get me."
The Chief was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright. I'm going to put some faith in your story. But if you're lying to me, it won't end well. So, tell me—what's the last thing you remember before waking up on that street?"
"I was in my room in South Africa," Matthews began. "Watching anime on my laptop, then I must've fallen asleep. I remember feeling cold… then I woke up lying on the street."
"Hmm," the Chief muttered. "Did you see anyone when you woke up?"
"There was a beggar nearby. I tried asking him if he saw anything, but he responded in Japanese. I don't think he understood me. Then I saw the big screen saying WELCOME TO TOKYO, and that's when it hit me—I was in Japan."
The Chief nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, I'll send someone with you later to question that beggar—see what he knows. Now, about your parents. Do you remember their contact numbers?"
"I do."
The Chief handed him a piece of paper and a pen. "Write them down. Any friends or relatives too, if you've got them memorized."
Matthews started writing. As he scribbled, the Chief asked, "So, where are you planning to go after this? You can't just hang around here."
Matthews paused. "Honestly? I don't have anywhere to go. If it's not too much, I could stay in one of your temporary cells?"
The Chief shook his head. "That won't work. If I put you in a cell, I'd have to explain why—and your story is too outrageous for the other officers. I can't share it without causing unnecessary gossip. So… I'll send you home with Suzune."
Matthews blinked. "Wait, what? I mean, I'm a stranger."
"True," the Chief replied, "but you clearly need help. And frankly, I doubt you're a danger. You'd be an idiot to try anything shady while under my roof. Plus, I'm personally interested in your case now—I want to keep an eye on you. Hope that's not too much to ask in exchange for my help."
"I… I appreciate that," Matthews said, though he couldn't hide the confusion in his voice. "But if you don't mind me asking… why are you going so far for me?"
The Chief folded his arms. "You're not the first. Five similar cases have crossed my desk recently—people showing up with stories just like yours. We dismissed them. Thought they were hoaxes. But you… you're the sixth. And something about this feels different. Maybe I'm finally ready to consider it could be real. But if I act on it openly, the other officers will think I'm playing favorites."
Matthews nodded slowly. "I see… I'm really grateful, sir."
"One more thing," the Chief added. "I can't send a cop to talk to the beggar, not without raising questions. But Suzune can. I'll just tell her you fainted and woke up on the street, and the beggar was the only one there. She won't need to know everything."
"Thank you," Matthews said, his voice more sincere than ever before. In my life, I've never thanked anyone like this. I guess it's because I usually paid people for what they gave me. But now, when I have nothing… I'm starting to see the value of kindness.
—
Scene Shift
Matthews and Suzune stepped out of the police station. The sun had shifted slightly, casting long shadows across the sidewalk.
I've come so far, Matthews thought. Though… I don't know what the Chief told his daughter. Maybe he stuck to the fake story? That room was soundproof—I couldn't hear a thing. But I'm staying at his house now. That's progress.
Suzune turned to him with a slight smirk. "So why didn't you tell me you knew my dad?"
"Huh? Knew your dad?" Matthews tilted his head.
She nodded. "He said you're the son of his childhood friend. You didn't know that?"
So he went with a fake story to make her feel at ease, Matthews thought. Smart move.
"Oh, yeah," he replied. "I just found out recently too. My parents never told me."
Suddenly, a notification chimed on Suzune's phone. She pulled it out and unlocked it. Matthews' heart skipped a beat when he glanced at the screen.
Wait… no way. Is that the date? 2027?? That's two years ahead!
What's going on? Some kind of fluke? Or is this real?
Suzune opened WhatsApp. Her eyes widened slightly, and then she handed the phone to him.
"Your mom replied," she said softly.
Matthews took the phone, his hands slightly trembling.
The message read:
"What kind of evil person are you? Why would you mock me like this? My son died two years ago."
The screen felt like it was burning his hands.
"I… I died two years ago?"
His voice cracked.
And just like that, everything just got complicated.
End of Chapter 3.