“I thought I was going to die at that rate and ended up writing something called a resume. It was for a small factory, and in the ‘experiences’ slot, I could only write the word ‘actor’ and nothing else. You wouldn’t know how long I stared at that piece of paper while holding my pen. I went to a factory with my resume, and even now I am working at that factory, from morning till night, and at times, from night till dawn. When I’m working, I don’t know who I am nor how much time has passed. It’s just like the military. Around five to six people would sleep side by side and someone would come in once morning came, and then a phone alarm would start ringing. People start going in and out, and I would wake up once again when I hear someone cooking something. When my phone rings, I would wake up in a daze. The scene I see then is - well, how should I say it - very hard to describe. Maybe this is why I never became a good actor.”

The man was speaking with ease.

As Maru heard the story reaching its end, Maru thought back to the illusion that he saw ten minutes ago. Could that even be called déjà vu? Maru himself was standing alongside the man wearing a luxury suit. His ever-so-smiling face indicated that he was in a close relationship with this man.

If there was only one case of déjà vu, it would be understandable for him,...