Just Like An Anime

The hospital ran various tests to evaluate me, taking down all my info in the process. I had been drugged, but not assaulted, and i was uninjured. I was finally able to make a call. “Viola? Othankgodyou’resafe!.....I’m....in Japan. Somehow.......I called you first because I was afraid you were in danger......I’m OK.....Yes, of course.....Call them for me when it’s daylight?.....I don’t even know what day it is......Still the night of?.......So then this JUST happened......Oh, right, not missing long enough......Shitty stupid law......I have to go. I’ll call you later. Or call me, after you get some sleep, ok? Love you.” Koizumi knocked softly on the open door of my room. “Your friend is safe, then? Good. I think I may know what happened, at least in part.” He took a chair. “I’m sure you’re familiar with China’s longstanding one child policy, and the unintended result-an extreme overabundance of men.” I nodded, feeling confused. “Well-this has happened before, in fact,t...

No one tried to stop me as I left the motel. The receptionist merely bowed politely, and I returned the gesture. I was outside, with no idea where I was. Not a bustling city, though. Remote. Probably for a reason. Whatever had been going on here, it wasn’t legal. I walked in a random direction, still unsure of my safety. I looked around, seeking someone who might be sympathetic. I finally spotted an older woman. I approached her politely, stumbling over what little Japanese I could remember. “Sumimasen...” I hesitated as she replied, “Hai?” Oh, right I had an app. It was meant to help me learn, but right now I could put it to its intended use. It might not be perfect, but I spoke into the phone. “Can you help me?” It spit out, “Tetsudatte itadakemasu ka ” . She looked concerned. “I’m lost, I don’t know how I got here.” “Michinimayoimashita, Watashi wa koko ni dono yō ni natta no ka wakarimasen.” She nodded, and spoke into the phone. “Watashi wa keisatsusho ni ts...

I opened my eyes slowly. Why was I so groggy? What happened last night? Gradually the world around me came into focus, and I gasped. I was in a hotel, or maybe a motel. I....I had attended a concert last night. Was it last night? How long had I been sleeping? And why was I fully dressed? Come to think of it, where were my friends? I was alone. I sat up, slowly, and the world swam. “Uuggh!” I snapped my eyes shut again and rubbed them fiercely. After a moment, the dizziness dissipated. I hadn’t been drinking, I knew that. We never drank at concerts; we always wanted the memories to be crystal clear. I tried opening my eyes again. This time the world was still. Good. It was a shabby looking room, with only the barest of decorative touches, and a small flat screen mounted to the wall. There was an old-school land line phone on the bedside table. “Oh! My phone! My wallet, where are they?” A quick search of my person revealed they were secure in my pockets. (No ...