Chapter Text
Reigen’s face stays focused as he massages the clients back, shoulders, arms, and everywhere including the said spot bothering the client. While doing his job, reapplying oil on his hands and adjusting his pressure, his mind wanders off to the scene where he told his own co-worker off. The only part he fully remembers is Mob’s stern face, but each time he remembers it, it turns into more of an angry yet defiant face.
“Can you go a bit softer?” The client pleads softly.
Reigen totally forgot about the client right in front of him while lost in thought. He shakes his head.
“Terribly sorry, the spirit is being quite rough,” Reigen covers.
The client nods and returns to being silent, leaving Reigen to finish his job. This time, he doesn’t wander from his thoughts and remains focused on the task at hand. He quickly wraps up the ‘exorcism’ and leads the client out to pay.
“I assure you, the curse is now gone!” Reigen feigns with confidence while walking out the room.
“Why thank you, Mr. Reigen! You’re truly the best!” The client remarks.
After the client pays, they nod and take their leave. Reigen’s face beams as the client walks out the room assuredly, but with a single click of the door closing in front of him, his face sinks. His perfect posture falls to a slumped resting position. He stares at his desk with pity, pleading the world for an answer as to why he let such vile words escape his mouth to the only thing keeping his life together. That small mistake set off the course of his life, leaving him lonely… with nothing to depend on. He shrugs that thought off, repeating to himself that he was independent and he built himself up alone. He sighs looking around the empty room before getting up to close for the day.
As Reigen shuts off his computer and stands up, he makes sure to keep everything in place to show that he’s okay. That he has nothing to worry about. He grabs his jacket and walks out the space and down the flight of stairs. His face remains expressionless when hidden, but once he leaves the building and into the cold air, he smiles softly. Striding home, he looks around the city. Construction is blocking his usual way home, so he wanders into a long, alternative route. This route was unfamiliar, but he would have to start getting used to it.
The walk home was surely different. Reigen saw new buildings, new alleyways, new cats, and an interesting closed off space. He carefully stared into the dark space that was blackened from the night. It was so interesting but… for what? It was the same as any other alleyway but he felt like something was pulling him in. Something telling him to come closer and investigate. Familiarity, perhaps? There’s something wrong with that place, whether it be the mysterious look to it, or how shadows move under the dark. Insects maybe… spirits? It’s probably some spirit. But how can he see it? It wouldn’t make sense for it to be a spirit since he can’t see any other than that cursed green fart. He shakes his head and walks further away to reach home. Why was he so pensive today? He should be focusing on his future, not what’s in front of him at the moment.
Reigen continues the walk home, still smiling briefly as countless people pass by. One person stares at him back, smile just as fake. He wonders if that person is in the same situation. Or he’s just gotten used to seeing people faking a smile. He’s experienced in that kind of mindset because he’s been through it. Being able to read someone like a book is his special talent for getting sales, which is why he founded the job and uses it for money.
As Reigen finally reaches the familiar building, he climbs up the dark stairs and down the railway to his apartment door. He fishes out his keys and unlocks the door, allowing him to walk inside. Once that door closes, his smile dissipates into an exhausted expression. He shuffles to his desk while stripping off the heavy clothes he had on. He plops down onto his creaky chair and scrolls on the latest feed. While staring at the same news everyday, something catches his attention. Missing posters. Many missing posters. A shiver runs down his spine seeing this unusual news. This wasn’t like his everyday feed. Sure it was good to have something new, but this wasn’t normal in Seasoning City.
Reigen hesitantly clicks the header, leading him to a page full of kids, adults, and teens all missing with different dates. Photos printed in black and white with descriptions of where they were last seen and things that went missing with them. Cars, even, go missing with people. If he would get a cent for each time that happened, though it only happened three times… They all dated way back to the ‘90s, but many more were starting to appear in the present time. He looked further into the page to discover all weren’t found, and probably never will be. He might have to be more cautious walking his way to work knowing some serious kidnapper or worse is out there. He peers over his shoulder, an unwarranted anxiety of impending doom haunting him, wondering if he’ll be next.
Reigen shrugs his head and closes out the tab, not wanting to creep himself out for the night. It helped get his mind off of the incident with the kid, but not in a good way. He now has other things to worry about, like going missing and that strange alleyway. He scrolls further into his feed for what feels like forever before shutting off his computer and abruptly standing up. He walks to his small hanger and picks off his pajama clothes, slipping them on. They felt oddly soft on his body though he still wanders to his bed and falls on it, feeling uncomfortable. He felt that way because he knew he had no other choice but to ponder on all events. He tucked himself in and shut his eyes.
Reigen could barely sleep that night. Constant reminders of his little speech, that peculiar alleyway he now had to see for a few days further, those missing posters, and anxiety he can’t shake off. When cool air hits his suddenly sweaty forehead, he sighs and finally drifts to sleep, dreaming about the next day.