Around 9 p.m. on April 20, 2017, Naoto Fukuura was hanging out with his new friends, eating snacks and drinking soda.

He enrolled in a university in Kyoto three weeks ago. He had made some good friends. On this day, seven or eight of his friends gathered at a friend’s room in the same dormitory to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

During the party, he received a call from his mother, Saori, who was at home in Nagasaki. He wondered “What’s going on?” As he came out into the hallway to answer the phone, his mother said, “Nao, Hayato hasn’t come home yet.”

Warning to a younger brother 

“What do you mean?” Naoto asked.

There is proof that he came home from school once, but he went somewhere and left his smartphone. There were no notes left behind.

A similar incident occurred last month, when Naoto, who was about to go to university, was still living at home.

Hayato’s parents gave him a smartphone as he was entering Kaisei High School. He was the type of person who carried it with him, even at home. However, one day, he left his smartphone behind when he went out. He was gone for more than an hour, and by the time he returned home, it was beyond 7 p.m., after the sun had set.

When Naoto questioned why, he said, “I went to the convenience store.” However, the nearest convenience store was just a five-minute walk away. Naoto remarked, “You took way too long for a convenience store,” and warned, “We can’t contact you without your smartphone, so make sure you take it with you.” Hayato sulked and responded, “Hmm.”

Naoto expected Hayato to return home eventually. However, his mother expressed concern, saying, “It’s strange that he’s out at this time.” His father had to live away from his family due to job. Currently, only his mother and Hayato live at home. Concerned about his mother waiting alone for him to return home, he told her, “I know he’s a high school student now and goes out sometimes, but I think it would be best to contact the police just to be sure.”

The only family photo taken

He hung up the phone and went back to his friend’s room. But he couldn’t relax. He gradually found himself unable to enjoy the party. Although he felt bad for his friends, decided to go back to his room in the dorm.

All he can do, though, is wait for his parents to call. It’s past midnight, and Hayato hasn’t returned home. Even Naoto is growing increasingly worried, wondering if he’s been kidnapped or if it might be a murder case.

He shares a room with a classmate in the dorm, and staying up all night would cause trouble for his roommate. Naoto explained the situation to the dormitory staff, and was allowed to use a separate room for students with colds.

As he was unable to sleep, his mother texted new information. When police officers searched their house, they found a piece of paper. It was written about a month ago, and in Hayato’s handwriting, it described the harassment he had been experiencing at school.

“No way, was he being bullied?”

Naoto was surprised because when he saw his brother just three weeks ago, on April 2, he seemed fine.

April 2 was Naoto’s university entrance ceremony.

Hayato insisted on going. Since it was a special occasion, the whole family decided to attend. Hayato’s mother and Hayato came from Nagasaki, while his father, Daisuke, who was working away from home, came from Fukuoka, and they met up at the venue.

The entrance ceremony held on the university campus was crowded. Freshmen from all departments and their families gathered on the small campus, making it difficult to have a conversation without raising their voices. There was no time to calmly take photos, and the only family photo they managed to take was a photo of the two brothers.

Immediately after the entrance ceremony, Naoto had to attend the dormitory entrance ceremony. His father returned to Fukuoka for work. His mother and Hayato were going to Kyoto for sightseeing before going to Universal Studios Japan, so they decided to split up there.

Hayato said to Naoto, showing him his favorite stuffed penguin that he brought from home.

“Nao, see you again.”

“Stay calm and listen”

It was morning and Naoto couldn’t sleep at all.

At 7 a.m., a radio exercise, which all dorm students are required to participate in, was held. Naoto forced himself to move.

His first class started at 10:45, the second period. He stayed in his room until then.

Around 9:30, he was clutching his smartphone when he got a call from his father.

“Apparently, the body of a small man has been found.”

“They’re still waiting to confirm the identity. I’ll call you again.”

His blood ran cold. At that point, Naoto prepared himself.

He couldn’t stay calm, but he carried on as usual until he received the next message and began preparing for class.

He arrived at school around 10:30, earlier than usual. Since he had time, he went to a convenience store on campus with a friend. That’s when he got a call from his father.

“Stay calm and listen to me. I told you earlier that a body was found, right?”

“It was Hayato.”

“Nao, I’m sorry”

“I’m going home now. Can you come home too?”

Naoto hurried back to the dorm.

The second period was about to start, and the friend he went to the convenience store with came with him to the dorm. He was also from Nagasaki. They attended different high schools, but they ended up in rooms next to each other, and became close friends. He was worried about Naoto and came to check on him while he was getting ready to go home.

His other friends also helped out Naoto, explaining the situation to the professors and dormitory staff, and asking the university administration for bereavement leave.

Naoto said goodbye to his friends and headed to Kyoto Station. He then took the bullet train to Fukuoka Station, then changed trains and took a taxi from Nagasaki Station to the funeral home.

By the time he arrived, it was dark.

He met up with his father who had come to meet him on the first floor of the funeral home. “I just got here too,” he said.

When he entered the room, his mother came crying and hugged him.

“Nao, I’m sorry.”

To be continued.

(Originally published in Japanese on December 4, 2025. Translation by Mana Shibata.)

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