The Future Guided by Synchronicity: Episode 2

The Moment of Connection

With my stomach full, a wave of drowsiness slowly crept in. To shake it off, I took a sip of hot coffee while staring at my laptop screen.

“Alright, time to get going…”

I placed the empty coffee cup gently on the table and packed my laptop into my bag. The lunchtime rush had passed, and the once-bustling cafe was gradually settling down. Seats that had been fully occupied earlier were now beginning to empty out.

After paying the bill and giving the staff a small nod, I pushed open the cafe door. A crisp breeze greeted me, refreshing and sharp against my skin.

Taking a deep breath, memories from the past suddenly surfaced.

“I used to leave this place like this back then too…”

With that thought, I made my way to my car.

Starting the engine, I headed towards a client’s office. It was the kind of company where I could drop by without an appointment, and I often visited whenever I was in the area. Today, I didn’t think too much about it—I simply let the flow guide me.

As I drove, I recalled my unexpected reunion with an old friend. Nostalgia gradually lifted the lingering gloom I had felt earlier.

—Today, the past and present seem to be intertwining in an unusual way.

“…It feels strange somehow.”

I let my thoughts drift as I continued down the road.

About thirty minutes later, I arrived at the client’s office. The roads had been a bit congested, typical for a weekday afternoon.

I parked my car and walked towards the reception area on the first floor. Picking up the internal phone, I dialed the extension for the department I was visiting. Almost immediately, a cheerful female voice answered.

“Excuse me, I don’t have an appointment, but…”

As usual, I asked to see my contact person, but unfortunately, he was out that day. In fact, everyone I could have spoken with was away from their desks. In the end, I had no choice but to leave without accomplishing anything.

“I should’ve scheduled an appointment after all…”

Feeling a slight twinge of regret, I walked back to the parking lot.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a notification. Glancing at the screen, I saw a reply from the email I had sent to my client earlier.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

The message began with a friendly greeting and continued with an offer: if I ever needed anything, they’d be happy to collaborate again.

Suddenly, the news I had heard that morning flashed through my mind.

—○○ District, ○○ Area.

It wasn’t far from here. I had a strange feeling, as if something was pulling me in that direction.

“…Maybe I should check it out.”

Normally, I wouldn’t act on such an impulse. But after the unexpected reunion earlier and the way things were unfolding, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was significant.

I decided to make a call.

After a few rings, a familiar voice answered from the other end.

“Hey! Long time no see!”

As we exchanged greetings, the conversation naturally flowed. When I mentioned that I happened to be nearby, he responded enthusiastically.

“If you’re around, you should stop by!”

Seizing the opportunity, I arranged to visit an hour later.

Hanging up, I felt a warm excitement spreading in my chest. It had been a while since I felt this kind of anticipation.

Arriving a little early, I parked my car in their lot. As I looked up at the company’s logo, something caught my eye.

“…Wait a second?”

It was the exact same shade of red as the car I had seen this morning.

It felt like too much of a coincidence. Perhaps, without realizing it, the color of that logo had lingered in the back of my mind.

I spent about ten minutes in my car, gathering my thoughts, before taking a deep breath and stepping inside.

I was greeted with a familiar, friendly smile. The person I had come to see was just as chatty and cheerful as ever.

We caught up on various things—the friend I had bumped into earlier had left the company, the structure of the business had remained the same, and projects were continuing smoothly. Before I knew it, time had flown by.

Then, just as we were wrapping up, he casually brought up something unexpected.

“Actually, we’re about to start a new project. Would you be interested in discussing it?”

I was caught off guard, but as he explained, I realized the project was right up my alley.

It had been a while since a conversation had led so naturally to an opportunity like this.

As I left the building, I sat in my car for a moment, reflecting on the day’s events.

“When things fall into place, they really just… flow.”

Everything felt like it was aligning into a single, continuous thread.

Back home, I parked my car and exhaled deeply. The unexpected encounters and unfolding events of the day had left my mind buzzing more than usual.

Stepping inside, I was greeted by the familiar air of my home.

I placed my bag down beside the sofa, feeling the need to pause and take in the day. Walking into the kitchen, I opened the fridge and poured myself a glass of cold barley tea. The cool sensation as it slid down my throat felt refreshing.

On the table, the morning’s documents lay untouched. Sitting down, I picked up my phone, intending to go through the day’s notifications.

Among the messages, a familiar icon stood out.

“Money-san: You’re starting to notice synchronicities, aren’t you?”

“Synchronicity…?”

I had heard the term before, but I wasn’t entirely sure what it meant. Staring at the message, I mentally retraced the events of the day.

A reunion with an old friend. A series of unexpected connections. An opportunity arising out of nowhere.

Was it all just coincidence? Or was there something more?

Gripping my phone tightly, I found myself pondering my response to Money-san.

To be continued in Episode 3: “Discovering the Hidden Signs in Coincidence”