Miyabe Miyuki is one of Japan's most popular authors, and her works span mysteries, horror, science fiction, historical novels and children's literature. This spooky tale starts on a rainy night when the protagonist encounters an elderly man while waiting for a taxi at the train station. Etsuro missed the last bus and is waiting for a taxi when the elderly man in line behind him starts up a conversation. The fellow seems nice enough and Etsuro accepts his invitation to walk home together. As they walk in the rain, the gentleman commences with an odd story about his dog.