ただいま

(Sound: Wind. Distant city traffic. Footsteps approaching.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
The walk from the station. Always the same. Always different.

(Sound: Footsteps slow down. A pause.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Almost there.

(Sound: Greeting a neighbor—a quick "こんにちは" or small nod. Footsteps continue.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Saw someone from the building. That little nod. The one that says "I see you" without needing words. We do it every time. Still don't know their name.

(Sound: The entrance door slides or swings open. Keys jingling. Footsteps enter a tiled lobby.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
The entrance. Cold air follows me in. The warmth of the lobby hasn't reached me yet. Still shaking off the walk.

(Sound: Pressing the intercom button. A soft electronic beep.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
0:40. Pressed the intercom. Just to let them know I'm back. It's routine now. A small courtesy.

(Sound: Elevator button being pressed. A soft chime. The hum of the elevator approaching.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Waiting for the elevator. That moment between outside and inside. Still wrapped in my coat. Still carrying the day. The weight of it. The noise.

(Sound: Elevator doors open. Footsteps step in. The doors close. A mechanical hum as it rises.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
1:15. Got on the elevator. Up we go. Floors passing. No one else inside. Just me and the reflection in the metal doors.

(Pause. Just the hum of the elevator.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
I look tired. I always do at this hour. But there's something in the eyes, too. Something soft. The knowing that it's almost over. The day. The walk. The cold.

(Sound: Elevator chime. Doors open.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
1:49. My floor.

(Sound: Footsteps on a hallway. A key sliding into a lock. The door unlocks.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
The last few meters. Always the longest.

(Sound: The door opens. A pause. Warm air from inside.)

NARRATOR (ON MIC, from inside)
ただいま。

(Sound: A warm, distant voice from inside the house.)

MOM (O.S.)
おかえりーーー！

(Pause. Just the warm silence of being home.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
2:05. That's when I heard it. おかえり. Just two syllables. But it fills the whole apartment. Fills me.

(Longer pause. The warmth. The quiet.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
Two words.
That's all it takes.
The wind. The greeting. The elevator. The door.
And then... her voice.

(Sound: The soft click of the door shutting.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
2:12. The door closed. My day ended.

(Fade to silence.)

NARRATOR (V.O.)
ただいま。
I'm home.