Kuda Haruko, 23 years old.
Her first name meant spring child. Born in February, she was the only daughter of a man who owned a phone company that was so rich that she had never known struggle in her life.
But that didn't mean she was snobby. Her mother, who was from a humble background, had raised her properly and ensured that her daughter understood the importance of money and the dangers of losing herself to it.
She made sure that if Haruko was to ever become broke one day, she'd be able to manage, find a job, make proper friends and connections, pay her bills, etc.
"Young miss. Young miss," her bodyguard was repeatedly calling for her.
Yawning, she opened her eyes and asked, "Hm? We're already home?"
Although she was napping, it didn't feel like she had taken a long enough nap that the drive back home could've been completed.
Looking outside the window, it didn't look like home.
"Where are we?"
"Young miss, we must get out of the car."
"Why?" she asked. Even though she was confused, she still followed his instructions.
"You couldn't hear it due to the soundproofing of the vehicle, but a moment ago, this giant tower emerged from the river and penetrated through the bridge. We'd have to take a detour to head to your home, but the streets are currently untraversable due to people panicking, running out of their cars, crashes, and… and just a giant mess."
"...What?"
Was she still in her nap? Was this a dream?
It had to be.
Her bodyguard was speaking nonsense.
"I know this all sounds crazy, but just look," the bodyguard said as he moved out of the way and pointed in a direction.
She looked over and saw that he was indeed not telling a lie.
There was a giant tower that was so tall it looked like it reached space.
"Are you sure this is not a dream?" she asked.
Her bodyguard pinched himself. "Nope. Not a dream."
She also pinched herself just to confirm.
"How is that even possible?" she asked.
"I'm not sure."
Her phone suddenly rang. It was her mother.
Picking it up, it was her mother panicking, worrying that something had happened to her. She had been in the middle of a meeting when her secretary informed her that the path her daughter took every day to head home had been destroyed by a giant tower.
She didn't believe her secretary because that sounded like something out of a fantasy story, but even if it was likely fake, her daughter's life wasn't something she could take any chances on.
So she immediately dialed Haruko's number.
"You're safe, right?"
"Yes. For the third time, I'm okay."
"I'm just worried. Alright. Stay where you are. I'll see if I can get someone to pick you up by helicopter."
"Didn't you tell me yesterday that we needed to be more conscious about climate change and not waste fuel on personal rides on a helicopter or plane?"
"That's before I found out that the world might be ending."
"Mom."
"What?"
"What else do you know about these towers?"
Her mother began to explain the information that she was learning in real time from her secretary, as well as the news that was playing on the television in front of her.
"Aliens? Do you think it's aliens?" Haruko asked her mother.
"Maybe. Your father likely will think it's aliens. You know how he is with outer space. Speaking of that foolish man, has he not called you yet? Is he not concerned for his daughter's health?!"
Just as she said that, Haruko received a call from him.
"It's Dad calling me. I'll talk to you later, Mom."
"Okay. Remember, stay where you are. Don't move an inch."
"I won't."
She had a similar conversation with her father, and once he was informed that his wife had sent a helicopter for his daughter, he canceled the helicopter that he was going to send.
He warned her a few more times to stay safe before hanging up the call to deal with a pressing matter that had emerged due to the tower's appearance.
Staring at the tower, Haruko began to think.
She wasn't a religious person. She believed that there was life out there, but didn't think they could make contact with Earth due to the limitation of how fast something could travel.
Checking the news on her phone, there was a lot of panic about it being the end of the world.
She didn't think so. She had no evidence to support her claim, but she was an optimistic person by nature.
The more she stared, the more her muscles began to twitch.
Eventually—
Step.
"Young Miss! Your parents told you not to move from here."
Step. Step. Step.
"Come on. You know that your orders precede both of theirs. I can't stop you if you want to head there, but for your sake and theirs, let's just stay here and wait for the helicopter. Please!"
Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Step.
"Ah! Whatever, stay behind me."
To answer why Haruko was heading in the direction of the tower, she could only give a simple answer.
It was an opportunity to explore something new, and she had the desire to do so.