Satoru-kun
The payphone behind the station was still there.
The glass door was stiff, and black grime clung to the receiver cord.
I took a 10-yen coin out of my pocket.
My friend had told me.
“If you ask Satoru-kun, he’ll tell you anything.”
The method was simple.
Call your own cellphone from a payphone.
Pick up the receiver and call his name.
Then wait.
I did it while laughing.
“Satoru-kun, Satoru-kun. Come here.”
My cellphone was ringing in my hand.
I hung up right away.
Nothing happened.
That night, after I got home, washed up, and came out, my cellphone rang.
There was no number.
I hesitated for a moment, then answered.
“It’s me, Satoru.”
It was the voice of a young boy.
“I’m behind the station right now.”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone for a while.
There was no call history.
The next call came an hour later.
“It’s me, Satoru.”
This time, the voice was clearer.
“I’m in the neighborhood where you live right now.”
I turned the phone off immediately.
The screen went black.
But a little while later, the powered-off phone rang again.
It was vibrating by itself on the desk.
Brrrrr.
Brrrrr.
I didn’t answer.
The ringing wouldn’t stop.
In the end, I reached out.
“It’s me, Satoru.”
This time, it sounded like it was coming from o