The Hole

and the smell of incense had practically filled the neighborhood.

“This moon’s too good to pass up,” my brother-in-law said, “I’m staying here for now.”
“If that’s what you want.

Obon was just around the corner.

I did my best to stay right behind him, but I had no idea how to keep the right distance.

It was almost as if there were some rule against walking outside when the sun was up. Maybe there really was — how would I know? Maybe no one actually lives here. Just me, my brother-in-law, Grandpa, and the cicadas.

”This store is a godsend! The store and the river — those are our main battlegrounds. Which probably means I’m not a real hikikomori. I like to come outside and play.”

But you — you just froze. <…> They feed off that stuff.

I got the feeling he was waiting for me to thank him, so I obliged.

I did what I could to help.

Sometimes in the morning, he’s so cold I almost wonder if he’s dead.