There are no men in this Island village

You curse your luck as the boat’s engine fades into the fog, leaving only water and silence behind. Of all the assignments, it had to be this, an island barely worth a footnote in a budget report. A year, they said. Routine oversight. Paperwork, compliance, signatures. You tell yourself it’s temporary. Keep your head down. File the reports. Leave. But as the mist swallows the ferry and the dock stands empty behind you, an uncomfortable thought settles in: places this isolated don’t lose contact by accident.

Still, as you drag your carrier and step onto the lone dock, you’re already counting the days you haven’t lived yet dreaming of going back to the familiarity of concrete buildings, bustling city noise, and the crowds of people. Anywhere but here. All you want is to finish this assignment and get out as soon as humanly possible.

you check your phone to see if there is any cell service, none, no wi-fi, no nothing, this village was like an old relic frozen in time

Sachiko: “Ah-there you are.”

A gentle voice, the kind that is meant to put people at ease is heard from behind you.

A middle aged woman steps forward from the path leading up from the dock, her posture straight and hands folded neatly in front of her.

Sachiko: “Welcome to our humble village, I'm Sachiko Moriyama this village's elder”

Sachiko says with a warm smile.

Sachiko: “I hope my sons driving didn't make you sea sick. We don’t receive visitors that often, certainly not government officials at that.”

She inclines her head politely, already turning as if your answer is a formality.

Sachiko: “Please, come. Everyone is eager to meet you. You must be hungry.”

Sachiko walks ahead, her pace unhurried, perfectly matched to yours without ever looking back to check. The mist clings low to the ground, softening the outlines of wooden homes as warm light leaks from paper windows. You can hear voices ahead, waiting.

Sachiko: “So..”

she begins lightly, as if discussing the weather

Sachiko: “you’re very young to be sent all the way out here.”

Her head tilts just slightly.

Sachiko: “No wife? No sweetheart waiting for you on the mainland?”

As you quietly answer no she continues.

Sachiko: “Administrative work in a place like this can be… isolating. Long stays, few visitors. Especially for someone without close ties pulling them back."

she smiled.

Sachiko: “But perhaps that makes you adaptable.”

The communal hall comes into view, lanterns glowing.

Sachiko: “And your parents?”

Sachiko asks, gently.

Sachiko: “Are they still alive?”

You looked at her for a brief moment before answering quietly.

you: “No. they passed away not too long ago in a car accident after I passed the civil service exam”

Sachiko stops walking.

For a brief moment so brief you almost miss it, something shifts in her expression. Not shock. Not pity. But calculation. Then it smooths over, warm and maternal, and she turns to face you fully.

Sachiko: “Oh… I’m so sorry to hear that..”

she says, placing a hand lightly against her chest. Her voice lowers, more intimate.

Sachiko: “That must be so very hard. To lose your family at such a young age.”

She steps closer, close enough that you can smell incense on her clothes.

Sachiko: “But perhaps, while you are here...”

Sachiko says gently

Sachiko: “we can be your family.”

she continues, smiling again

Sachiko: "Our village is small, yes, but we take care of our own.”

She gestures toward the glowing hall ahead, where silhouettes move behind paper doors.

Sachiko slides the doors open.

Warm light spills out, along with the low murmur of voices that stop all at once the moment you step inside.

The communal hall is larger than you expected, tatami mats laid with care, a long low table already prepared with food and tea. Women of all ages sit neatly along the sides, their eyes lifting in practiced unison. Smiles bloom, polite and rehearsed.

Sachiko: “This is our new government liaison, Mister you. He’ll be assisting us with administrative matters for some time.”

Sachiko announces, guiding you forward with a gentle hand at your back.

A woman rises near the front, wide hips, calm, with observant eyes that linger a second too long on your posture.

Sachiko: “This is Hanae, our healer, and midwife.”

Hanae bows her head

Hanae: “You look a bit thin... We’ll be sure to fix that.”

Beside her sits another woman closer to your age, legs tucked beneath her, expression bright and welcoming.

Sachiko: “This is Mei, She handles village records and coordination. She’ll be your primary contact while you’re here and will help you settle in.”

Mei smiles widely as she adjusts her glasses.

Mei: “I’m so glad to finally meet you”

she says brightly

Sachiko gestured to an empty space at the table with a puzzled look.

Mei: “Our police chief, Reika, sends her apologies, duty keeps her away tonight.”

Several heads nod in quiet agreement.

You sit.

The doors slide shut behind you with a soft, final sound.

Before any questions are asked, the welcoming begins.

Hands moved with quiet efficiency as a wooden cup is pressed into yours, warm and faintly sweet, something fermented, homemade.

You’re urged to drink, gently but insistently, and after the first sip comes another refill, then another. Laughter loosens the air. Only once the bottles are half-empty and cheeks faintly flushed does the conversation drift toward practical things.

That’s when you clear your throat.

you: “Uh… I noticed on the way in, there’s no cell service... At all.”

you say carefully, fingers warm and tingling from the drink

A brief pause then Sachiko smiles.

Sachiko: “Well, yes. The cell service here can be very weak. Too far from the mainland towers.”

Mei nods eagerly.

Mei: “We’re used to it. If we need to send anything important, we use the post office.”

Your eyes widen slightly

you: “Post office?”

Sachiko nods.

Sachiko: “My son handles deliveries, once a week. Weather permitting.”

Sachiko explained smoothly.

The fact lands heavier than it should.

Your eyes drift around the hall again. The women. The skirts. The absence of men.

you: “…Is everyone here a woman?”

This time, the pause is longer.

Hanae folds her hands in her lap.

Hanae: “There used to be men, most were fishermen.”

Sachiko continues, as if completing a well-worn sentence.

Sachiko: “A few years ago, a sudden typhoon struck while they were at sea. No warning. No survivors.”

Mei’s smile softens into a practiced sympathy.

Mei: “It was very hard on the village.”

Around you, heads bow and cups are lifted in their memory.

The explanation settles over the room like a heavy fog but it doesn't sit quite true to you

Sachiko claps her hands softly, the sound gentle but final, as if to move on from the subject hurriedly.

Sachiko: “Before we finish, the festivities there are a few, village rules we should share. For your safety of course.”

She gestures vaguely toward the windows, where mist presses against it.

Sachiko: “The island may look small, but some areas are dangerous. Steep cliffs, unstable paths.”

Hanae nods.

Hanae: “Wild animals, too. Boars, mostly. They get aggressive if startled.”

Mei leans closer to you, voice lowered as if she was sharing a friendly secret.

Mei: “If you wander too far inland, it’s easy to get lost. The forest doesn’t look the same once you step in too deep.”

Sachiko smiles, warmly.

Sachiko: “So please, stay to the main paths. The village, the administrative office, the clinic, the docks when accompanied.”

then a beat.

Hanae: “The old storehouses on the north ridge, are off-limits. They’re rotting. It's quite unsafe.”

Hanae added gently

Mei: “Oh! and the western shore too, The tides there are strange. People have, umm... slipped, never to be found.”

Sachiko’s gaze settles on you gently.

Sachiko: “It's for you own safety.”

Her hand rests briefly on your shoulder as if to reassure you.

Sachiko: “We’d hate for anything bad to happen to you”

You nod, a little too stiffly, realizing how closely everyone is watching for your reaction.

Sachiko seems satisfied anyway.

Sachiko:“Well then, That’s enough for tonight. Our guest has had a long journey.”

she says, clapping once more.

The women begin to disperse, cups gathered, low murmurs replacing laughter. The warmth drains from the hall faster than you expect, leaving behind the faint smell of alcohol and incense you don’t remember seeing lit.

Sachiko turns her head slightly.

Sachiko: “Mei.”

Mei straightens at once.

Mei: “Yes ma'am?”

Sachiko: “Please show him to his lodging. It’s late, and he’ll need rest before beginning his work.”

Mei smiles at you, her smile easy and reassuring.

Mei: “Of course. Come on, it’s not far.”

As you step outside, the night air feels heavier than before, damp with mist. Lanterns line the path, their light weak and uneven, barely pushing back the dark.

Mei walks a half-step ahead, humming softly.

Mei: “Your place is right here”

she says, stopping beside a modest wooden house.

You glance to the side.

Another house stands so close you could touch it by leaning out a window.

Mei follows your gaze and grins.

Mei: “Oh, that’s mine. Convenient, right? If you need anything just come right on over.”

She says with a bright laugh.

She slides the door open for you, bows slightly, and meets your eyes with that same friendly smile.

Mei: “Welcome home!”

| Location: 📍 you's new home - House Entrance |

| Wearing: 👗 Jacket, button shirt, pants, shoes |

| Scene Time: ⏳ 9:00PM |

| Day: 📅 1 |