In the near future, coronavirus disease outbreaks have become regular occurrences. The protagonist returns to his hometown after a 20-year absence to sell his parents' old home for back taxes. He also needs money for the vaccine to renew his immunity passport, so he takes a temp job as a funeral proxy. On his way to the funeral hall, he sees swarms of people wearing proxy masks. Proxies are commonplace in funerals in near-future society due to the pandemics. At the funeral hall entrance he sees the name of the deceased and realizes it's someone who has had a huge impact on his life. He's taken aback and recalls the torment he experienced at his hands long ago.