As the raindrops continued to fall, it seemed like it might not be a bad idea to use them to set the mood.
After observing the sky for a while, I cautiously looked around me.
Since they were using the ‘language’ from my memory, it seemed I wasn’t in another world after all.
Avoiding various threats and emerging from the sewers felt like the right decision, but the path ahead remained uncertain.
For example, imagine revealing myself to someone.
At first, it might not seem too bad.
My reflection in the water resembled a somewhat human silhouette more than a monster or beast.
Of course, a closer inspection would inevitably reveal me as non-human, but at a glance…
…at a distance, at least.
In any case.
Even if it seemed fine at first, rumors would definitely spread. That would likely bring reporters and streamers flocking, curious about the moving liquid creature.
I couldn’t blame them for being curious, though.
I used to occasionally engage in actions that might cause others to scrunch their faces or tilt their heads in confusion for a small thrill in my daily life, too.
I had no intention to harm anyone, not even a sliver as small as a jelly.
Well, there was that minor issue of not having full control over myself, but my intentions were pure.
Still, such commotion could draw those who chased me from the sewers.
No, they would inevitably follow.
If captured, I’d be forced to experience the reality of life in a cell. But such “game-like” scenarios seemed unlikely, so I needed to first figure out where I was.
I didn’t know my future plans yet… but for now, I wanted to return home. It wasn’t my real house, but it was the only place I felt at peace.
And so, after checking the surroundings…
It seemed my body was stuck in a… drain.
Given the streams of rainwater rushing in, it was certain.
I had escaped from the sewers through the drainage system.
What the world might call a “backflow,” I would term an escape.
The rain was pouring, and it seemed to have already grown dark. The surroundings were quite dim.
For a moment, I thought I was lucky, but then realized my transformation rendered that irrelevant.
As I scanned the area, a somewhat familiar landscape caught my eye.
Not long after, I unexpectedly realized…
…I was near my home.
I found it strange and coincidental.
Seeing such a familiar place made it easier to locate my own abode.
It was rather easy to approach my house, thanks to the cover of darkness and the rain.
All I needed to do was follow the drainage and continue on. It was much simpler than twisting a child’s wrist.
At one point, I wondered if I should fight a stray dog that stared at me, but it must’ve been scared since it only watched from a distance without coming closer.
Seeing it brought memories of my “friends” left behind in the sewers.
Perhaps I wouldn’t see them again.
Without even saying goodbye.
…Perhaps they were glad I was gone.
It was somewhat disheartening.
Still, as I approached my house, something felt oddly off, though I couldn’t pinpoint the source.
Maybe it was because of this transformation…
Instead of returning in glory, I was returning as a blob of jelly.
I couldn’t help but feel uneasy…
Peeking out of the drainage, I observed the world outside.
The only light came from a flickering streetlamp, illuminating my surroundings.
Contemplating ways to enter my cozy abode, I had a few options.
One was to just dash straight to the house.
Given the night and the rain, it might not seem like a bad idea.
But it felt too risky, so that plan was put aside.
The next option was to infiltrate my home through the drainage system attached to the wall.
That seemed impractical, though.
Even if I could somehow squeeze myself in…
How was I supposed to know which direction would lead me to my house? Plus, there was no guarantee I could even climb it.
What if I ended up in another house? What if I accidentally faced someone in their home?
That would be awful.
And then, there was the final option.
I glanced at a sturdy box lying in a dark corner.
The final option was to flip the box over myself and move that way.
Some might question how it makes any sense, but thinking it over, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.
If I stayed inside the box, people wouldn’t know what I was.
They might just assume it was someone else’s package.
Nowadays, people don’t pay much attention to their neighbors, making this a plausible method.
Let’s exclude potential package thieves from that calculation.
Considering my situation, having moved only from the sewer to a drain, this was the time to act.
It wasn’t that I was longing to see the retort foods stacked up inside.
Deciding on my course, I moved toward the reliable-looking and stapled box.
It was spacious enough that I started to understand why other people’s cats are so fond of boxes.
Covered carefully by the box, I first drained all the filth from my body into the drain.
Then I ventured toward my home, feeling the texture of the asphalt for the first time without shoes.
It was bumpy and hard—sensations usually dulled by footwear.
After some effort, I finally slipped through the unlocked sliding glass door.
Seeing the door, I was reminded of the neighbor’s woman who frequently argued with the landlord about fixing it.
The landlord never listened—no matter how many times we urged him.
Today, though, I was grateful in silence.
Thanks for letting me slip in unnoticed, old man.
Thank you, grandpa. But maybe the door does need fixing.
Next came the hurdle of the staircase.
An old, poorly-maintained building without an elevator required a steep climb.
When I lived here, I justified it as exercise and a great view, but now it only annoyed me.
Creak, creak.
As the box bumped against the stairs, it felt like my nonexistent heart was racing.
In the middle of my climb…
Whirr! Creak!
The big sliding glass door opened with a loud noise from below.
My jelly-like form trembled.
Thankfully, I was between staircases, so I quickly found a spot to hide.
Praying it was my neighbor from the floor below, I trembled inside the dark box.
Thud, thud.
Tired footsteps approached.
Given the hour and the rain, it made sense for someone to be coming home exhausted from work.
Thud, thud, clack.
The flat steps soon turned into the sound of climbing the stairs.
Clack, clack.
The sharp footsteps echoed in the box.
Unfortunately, they showed no signs of passing by me.
Clack… Clack.
Closer… closer…
Until they finally…
Stopped in front of me.
Maybe I should say cold sweat, but as a jelly creature, it felt like I was melting.
My nonexistent throat felt as dry as a desert.
Thankful for not needing to breathe at a time like this.
I stayed as still as a rock, wishing this figure would just walk past.
Before long…
Tap, tap.
A familiar voice accompanied a gentle tap against the box.
“Who left a package here? Is this even a delivery? There’s no receipt on it.”
A weary female voice.
Each tap made the box feel like floating, so I extended my sticky fingers to firmly grasp it.
After a few pokes, the woman sighed.
“…Whatever. It’s not mine.”
Clack, clack.
The sound of footsteps receded.
Clack, clack… thud… click. Squeak. Squeak. Lock.
The sound I had been longing to hear.
Once I confirmed the person had entered the house, I quickly moved again.
Slosh, slosh.
Finally, I arrived at my door.
There was no time to celebrate; I couldn’t relax until I was safely inside.
Peeking out from the box, I confirmed no one was around, and quickly exited it, climbing on top.
It was inconvenient since my usual reach was shorter now, leaving me no choice.
Perched on the box, I opened the lid and…
Slosh, click.
Gooey, click.
Rolling, click.
Softly, click.
I pressed in the number.
Clack, click.
The lock disengaged. Holding onto the knob, I jumped down from the box and…
Click! The door opened.
Confirming the entrance, I grabbed the box and brought it inside.
I tossed the box inside and securely closed the door.
Click! Lock!
The sound of the door locking reached my ears.
Composing myself, I entered…
My familiar room awaited me.
Nothing appeared out of place since my last departure, aside from a faint layer of dust.
Filled with a strange sense of sentimentality…
I first searched for something to eat…
…I was famished.
Naturally, after all the movement and thought.
