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INVENTORY
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A Story Begins
The train slowly pulls out of the station. You look out at the grey skyscrapers and the exhausted faces of the passengers around you.
Your name is Rin. A few days ago, you handed in your resignation. It's hard to explain exactly why, but you just felt like you could barely breathe in the city anymore.
You wanted to find a quiet place to completely clear your head. That's when you saw Hikaru's post.
He was working at a train station in a small mountain village and posted a job ad online because he was leaving.
The attached photos hooked you. You immediately knew you wanted to go to that lush, green place.
You contacted Hikaru, and after a 3-minute interview, you got the job.
The train picks up speed, leaving the towering buildings far behind.
The view suddenly opens up: spring meadows and mountains on your left, and a sparkling, sunlit sea on your right. Even the air in the train car feels fresher.
As the train heads deeper into the mountains, the shadows of giant trees cast a dim light over the cabin.
You hear the whistle blow. The train slows to a halt. You've arrived.
This is your destination: Otowa.
On the platform, an elderly woman in a black kimono bows to you.
"You must be Rin? I'm the village chief."
You bow back respectfully.
"Well then, you are the new stationmaster of Otowa Station."
"Wait a minute... I'm the stationmaster??"
"Yes, because you are the only employee here," the chief smiles kindly.
The job post definitely didn't mention that... You get the sneaking suspicion you've been scammed.
"Regardless, thank you for being willing to take over. You city youths really have a lot of courage..." the chief sighs. "Well then, we will host a welcome dinner for you at the ryotei tonight."
She gives a deep bow, turns, and leaves.
You stand alone in the stationmaster's office. Looking around, you see it's cluttered with all sorts of junk.
There's a thick layer of dust on the desk, with a single envelope resting on top.
Dear whoever is reading this,
Welcome to Otowa!
As you can see, this is a tiny village that practically no one visits.
There is only one train that stops here every day.
So, the stationmaster's job is an absolute breeze!!!
Best,
Hikaru
(Do NOT turn the page)
Seriously, do not turn the page.
I warned you!!
Alright, if you've flipped to this point, it means you've got some guts!
Anyway,
For certain reasons,
Your first few days here might be just a little bit busy.
Basically... you need to bring in 2,000 new passengers to the village within 7 days.
Otherwise, the station will be shut down forever and you will be held responsible
But as long as you survive these 7 days, you can relax forever!!
I know you can do it!!
As for how to bring in more tourists...
Word has it that this train is packed with people looking to escape reality.
As long as our village is charming enough, they'll decide to stay.
So, it's up to you to show them the charm of Otowa!
Your Job Duties
Collect Items: Don't just sit around in the office. Take a stroll through the village and bring back some interesting things.
Station Curation: Display the items you've found on the platform and turn this place into a mini-museum!
Showcase Items: Show the right items to the passengers based on their preferences so they decide to stay.
Good luck!
Before you could even organize the station...
...the morning train arrives with passengers already peering out.
You're not fully prepared, but you'll have to do your best!
(Don't worry - only a few visitors today)
Binoculars: An old man gave these to me. He said he had upgraded to better gear and didn't need them anymore. He spends every day in the forest, though I'm not sure what he's doing there.
Onsen Stone: This stone is beautiful. Although it's black, it reflects colorful light. This mineral seems to be unique to Otowa, probably related to the hot spring environment here.
You arrive at the ryotei. The village chief and a cheerful, red-faced middle-aged man stand up to greet you. The table is laden with a lavish feast, along with a bottle of sake.
Junko: Welcome to Otowa Village, Rin. Please, enjoy this welcome banquet as a small token of our appreciation. To think a young city-dweller like yourself would be willing to come all the way out to our remote little village to take over the station...
Yuji: Haha, welcome, welcome! The name's Yuji. The chief's been talking about the new stationmaster arriving for days now. If you ever get tired from working, feel free to drop by my pub anytime!
Rin: Thank you, Chief, and thank you, Mr. Yuji. But to be honest, I'm still a bit confused. The letter Hikaru left on the desk said I have to attract 2,000 new tourists in seven days. What is that all about...?
Junko: Oh, dear... That boy, Hikaru... I knew he didn't tell you the whole truth in the job listing.
Rin: He only left me the objective in his letter. He didn't mention the reason at all.
Junko: I am truly sorry. It was wrong of us to put you in this position.
Junko: The truth is, the railway company issued an ultimatum a few days ago. If passenger traffic doesn't meet their quota within seven days, Otowa Station will be permanently shut down.
Junko: Hikaru simply couldn't accept it, which is why he came up with this awful idea to trick someone into coming here. Rin, if you feel this is too much to handle, or if you're upset with us, it's perfectly fine if you take the train back to the city tomorrow morning. We wouldn't blame you in the slightest.
Yuji: Yeah, this is our village's problem to begin with! It ain't right dragging you into this mess!
Yuji: But, if you are willing to stick around and give it a shot, don't try to shoulder the burden all by yourself.
Yuji: If you need any help, just say the word. My pub is pretty popular with the younger crowd—I can definitely help you keep some of those tourists around!
Rin: Thank you, both of you. It's alright. Now that I'm already here—and seeing how beautiful this place is—I want to give it my best shot. I look forward to working with you all for the next seven days.
You arrive at the hot springs. It is already dark, and the scent of moisture hangs heavily in the air. A young girl in a kimono is cleaning the area around a stone Jizo statue.
Mizuki: Good evening. I'm Mizuki.
Mizuki: You... must be Rin, right? I'm sorry, but the hot springs are already closed for the day...
You arrive in the forest. You see an old man carrying a massive backpack and holding a pair of binoculars.
You see: Binoculars
Rin: Um, excuse me...
???: Shh! Keep your voice down, you're going to scare the birds away!
Rin: Ah, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize...
???: Never mind. Hm? A new face? Are you new around here?
Rin: Yes, my name is Rin. I came here to work at the train station.
???: How strange... Why would a youngster like you come all the way out here...?
???: Well, whatever. Since you'll be working here, keep an eye out for me. I'm searching for a rare bird.
???: I picked up an incredibly beautiful feather the other day, but the little guy is way too cautious. I've been staking out here with my binoculars for ages, but I still haven't managed to spot it.
Rin: (A rare bird? If I could bring that feather back to put on display, it would definitely attract a lot of birdwatchers...)
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Page 1 / 4
The morning sun rises over the mountains.
You hear the distant whistle of the train approaching Otowa Station.
Through the window, you see curious faces peering out at the village.
It's time to show them the charm of Otowa.
Step 1 / 8
These are the items you've gathered from the village.
Each one represents something special about Otowa Village.
Step 2 / 8
Each item has 3 hidden labels.
These labels describe the item's connection to the village - places, people, or qualities.
(Click "Continue" to reveal the labels)
Step 3 / 8
You have a pool of labels to work with.
Every label here belongs to one of your items - no distractions.
Some labels may fit multiple items. Match them to the most relevant one — sometimes it takes a bit of deduction.
Step 4 / 8
You can place labels on items to mark them. Give it a try!
(Click a label to remove it)
Step 5 / 8
Passengers will ask for items with specific labels.
Your job is to figure out which item matches their request.
Step 6 / 8
Click the item that matches "Hot spring":
Step 7 / 8
When you match correctly, the label is confirmed and satisfaction goes up!
Wrong answers decrease satisfaction. If it hits zero, you'll have to restart.
Now you're ready to welcome the day's visitors.
Step 8 / 8
I accidentally scared away an old man's bird in the forest today. How embarrassing... He's been staking out the mountains searching for a "rare bird," and his binoculars barely leave his eyes. He said this bird is incredibly cautious; I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to see it for myself.
I went to the hot springs after dark, but unfortunately, they were already closed. I met Mizuki there, and she even gave me an amulet as a welcoming gift. According to her, it's been years since an outsider settled down in the village.
I saw some "onsen stones" by the water. Mizuki said they just look like ordinary black stones at first, but a very knowledgeable man named Grandpa Rintaro told everyone that if you polish them, they will reflect all the colors of the rainbow.
The welcome banquet tonight was a lavish feast. Chief Junko and Mr. Yuji from the pub are both such wonderful people. They came clean about the station facing permanent closure, but their genuine kindness makes it impossible for me to just walk away and leave them in a bind.
Chef Jiro is a very serious man. His mushroom dish truly has a natural, traditional aroma.
The sake served at dinner is Mr. Yuji's pride and joy—even though Chef Jiro scoffed at it for having an "altered recipe." Mr. Yuji joked that whether it's his sake or Jiro's cooking, the core secret actually lies in Otowa Village's mountain spring water.
I saw an old newspaper clipping: Otowa Village swept the top two spots in a local specialty competition with the sake and the mushroom dish. The judges were deeply torn, but ultimately cast their winning votes for the side representing innovation.
Seven days. 2,000 passengers. It sounds like an impossible mission. But maybe this village really has the magic to prove itself. Anyway, work starts tomorrow. Do your best, Rin!
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