A short story by Osamu Dazai

“At that small provincial railway station, I go every day to meet someone. Someone—I do not know who. After shopping at the market, I always stop by the station on my way home, sit on the station’s cold bench with my shopping basket on my lap, and absentmindedly watch the ticket gate.

Every time an incoming or outgoing train arrives at the platform, a crowd of people spills out from the train doors and rushes toward the gate, all with expressions that seem almost angry. They pull out their passes, hand over their tickets, and then hurry on without so much as a sideways glance, passing by the bench where I sit before stepping into the square in front of the station and dispersing in different directions.

I sit there absentmindedly. Then, suddenly, someone—just one person—smiles and speaks to me. Oh, how terrifying. Ah, how troubling. My heart pounds.”

Author : Osamu Dazai
Narrator : Nana Nagao
Produced by：Koé no Shoten
Special Thanks：Shigoto, Inc.
Listening Length：00:07:58
Release Date：2021/3/2