A setting sun is a sign to move. The room darkened as New Tokyo's star vanished behind the horizon and he sighed. He turned his head back to the screen, frowned for a moment and then got up. Everything was done now.
The screen turned off and the middle aged man slowly moved over to the large window. He was lucky to have an office that high up, the lower city only had sunlight for those few very short hours when the sun reached its peak.
A perk of his decades of dedicated service to the company.
His gaze turned downwards, New Tokyo City illuminated by the ubiquitious electronic lights and life pulsating through the streets like blood in the veins of a giant.
The view seemed to suck him in and he involuntarily stepped forward, just to hit the glass of the window.
He dragged himself away from the glowing lights and picked up his jacket which had been lazily hung over the chair in front of his desk.
The automatic door slid open with a quiet buzz and quickly closed again. On the other side of the room the window turned completely opaque and the office was left in silence.
He stepped out on to the street and fumbled for a cigarette in his pockets. It seemed to nimbly evade his fingers. Cabs buzzed past him as he finally managed to light the cigarette in his mouth. Then he puffed out some smoke and quickly started walking.
The office was some distance away from the heart of the city and the streets were more quiet here. Fewer people wandered around and those few were locals, quietly going about their business, contrary to the tourist infested center of New Tokyo with its abundance of stores and restaurants and passengers gawking at storefronts.
He quickly moved through the streets, the air was cold at this time of the year and he had no wish to stay out here for long.
Leaning against the wall of the building he sighed once more and took a last pull on the cigarette before putting it out. The door buzzed open and he entered one of the huge skyscrapers.
The entrance hall bustled with activity, the ground floor was entirely occupied by various stores and cafés. People moved about purposefully, living their lives, following their dreams. How hollow.
He got into the large elevator, which was as crowded as the rest of the place. Apathetic faces looked past him. They all were caught up in their own little world, slaves to their desires. They had no thought to spare for anything else.
He got out on the top floor, walking slowly now. The building was renowned for the gorgeous view one could find on the balcony of the top floor. He sighed as he walked past the fake cherry blossoms at the door to the balcony. They bloomed every day, all year. Without rest or restraint. A fitting analogy for the people of Kusari. Always ready, day after day, year after year.
He leaned against the railing, looking down onto New Tokyo City's main square.
At one point, a person just can't take that anymore.
He took a look at the sky, one of the big liners was just taking off and heading for space, showing it's passengers the dangers and wonders of space while they are safely embedded in all the comfort and luxury they desire.
He smoothly took out another cigarette, ignoring all those 'no smoking" signs he had passed earlier.
What do they know? There is no salvation in this life.
He tossed out the cigarette and watched it tumbling down the hundreds of stories building up the life of a man.
Finally, he smiled, gripped the railing and threw himself over it.
How strange, in the end it had been surprisingly easy.
