"Aagh… I can't sleep well tonight either."
Morning light leaked through the curtains, but my head still felt heavy. Outside, the faint chatter of pedestrians mixed with the low rumble of passing cars.
"What's wrong, Kaito? Can't sleep again?"
"Yeah… something like that."
(If only I could sleep like a normal person. Every night.)
A motorbike zipped by, its engine noise fading into the distance.
"Ah— Kaito, I'll head off first. I forgot I have the morning shift today," already jogging ahead.
Halfway down the street, I spotted an elderly woman standing by the curb, looking lost.
"Grandma, are you trying to cross?" I asked.
She lifted her gaze slowly. "Hmm… yes, son."
Her clothes caught my eye — a faded, old-fashioned pattern I'd never seen before.
Once we reached the other side, she gave a small nod. "Thank you, son."
"You're welcome. Well, I'll be going—"
"Do you want to always sleep well?" she asked, her voice soft and oddly steady.
I froze and turned back to her. "Huh?"
"Let me borrow your hand, son."
Without thinking, I reached out. Her touch was gentle, but a prickling sensation spread up my arm, straight into my head.
A sharp sting pulsed at the back of my skull.
"Oh— sorry, Grandma, I really have to go! I'll be late!" I pulled away and started running again.
When I glanced over my shoulder, she was still standing there.
Still smiling.
Too still.
---
"Hey, Mio… I met a strange old woman this morning," I said, leaning back against the desk.
"Strange how?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"She… offered to hold my hand."
Mio tilted her head. "And then?"
"When she touched me… I felt a jolt. Just for a second."
"Eeh… that's creepy. Maybe she cursed you," Mio said with a grin.
"…What did you just say?" I flicked her forehead.
"Ow! That actually hurt…" She rubbed the spot with exaggerated drama.
Then she smirked. "Kaito, you're smart, even if your face is totally average."
"I'll hit you again." I turned on my heel.
"Hey! I was complimenting you!" she called after me as I jogged off.
(…Am I really cursed?)
(No. Forget it.)
---
"I'm home!"
(Why do I feel so tired…?)
"Mom, should I go to bed first?"
"No dinner yet?"
"No, Mom, I already ate out."
I collapsed onto my bed.
So soft. So comfortable.
Before I knew it, my eyes had closed.
The world tilted. My bed rocked like the surface of an endless ocean.
Somewhere far ahead, a light shimmered — bright enough to blind me, yet beautiful enough to pull me closer.
(It's been so long since I slept this well…)
---
(Is it so stuffy in here?)
I tried to move, but dirt pressed in around me.
(Am I buried?)
Clawing upward, my fingers broke through to air. I dragged myself out of the shallow grave, gasping.
(Why was I suddenly buried? Where am I?)
Trees loomed around me. The air was damp and earthy.
(Am I in a forest?)
I stumbled forward, searching for answers. Light spilled between the trees, and I quickened my pace.
(Where is this?)
A vast, impossibly blue sky stretched above rolling hills. No buildings. No noise. Just wind and birdsong.
(Amazing... this is like heaven.)
(Am I dead? No. It can't be.)
My temples throbbed.
(The last thing I remember was falling asleep. Ugh, my head hurts...)
(...Why am I naked?)
I scrambled to gather broad leaves, tying them clumsily around my waist.
(First priority: find life. Maybe there are people here.)
I walked, finding strange creatures, unfamiliar fruit, and finally, a river. This world was nothing like the one I'd known.
A low rumble shook the ground.
("What's this? An earthquake?")
A distant boom followed. Smoke curled into the sky.
I ran toward it.
A village lay in ruins, corpses scattered among burning debris. I knelt beside one—cold. Lifeless.
Above, a shadow passed. A massive shape blotted out the sun.
(Not a bird... a dragon.)
With a deafening roar, it slammed into the heart of the village, scattering rubble. Soldiers leapt at it, blades flashing, but each strike was met with devastating counters. One was hurled aside, armor shattering.
A child's cry pierced the chaos.
I ran toward the sound. A kid sat beside a charred body—his left eye burned and scarred. I scooped him into my arms.
The dragon's gaze locked on us. My legs nearly buckled.
A soldier ran to my side. "Run! Protect that child! He's our last hope!"
I obeyed, sprinting as soldiers fell one by one. The dragon landed ahead, blocking my escape.
It inhaled.
(No, it's going to breathe fire!)
A soldier threw himself into me, shoving me clear as flames erupted. I hit the ground hard and kept running.
Leaves whipped past. I skidded to a stop—cliff edge.
(Should I jump? Will we survive?)
The dragon's arm swung, hurling debris. I raised my arms—pain exploded through them as I deflected the worst—and we plunged into the abyss.
We hit hard. I kept the kid cradled against me.
(My arms... crushed... but he's safe.)
"Hey! Are you okay?" he cried.
(Of course not.)
He led me under a tree.
Up close, his scarred face was still striking in its own way.
Heat flushed through my body.
(My body's burning... can't breathe...)
My vision darkened.
(So this is what dying feels like.)
He hugged me tightly.
(So warm...)
With my last breath, I whispered, "Thank you..."
(I forgot to ask his name.)
(Wait... I've been naked this whole time?)
(Aaagh... how embarrassing.)
(...But the world was so beautiful...)
(Goodbye.)
---
"UWAAAH!..." I shot up in bed, panting.
(Turns out... it was just a dream!)
(Wait... is this wet?)
(No! No... maybe—)
(Ah, thank goodness. Just sweat. But why am I drenched?)
"Kaito, wake up! You're going to be late!"
(What time is it?)
"Nooo! I'm definitely late!"
I scrambled to get ready and rushed out.
"Kaito, you're rarely late."
"Yeah, I overslept."
"Recovered from your nap yet?"
"I guess... but that sleep felt amazing."
"Oh? Had a weird dream?"
"Yeah... I woke up in a beautiful world. The sky was so blue, the air so fresh... and there were strange creatures—even dragons. But at the end... I died. Haha."
"Sounds like you liked that place."
Time passed—
"I'm home... so tired today." (Looks like no one's here.)
I flopped onto my bed.
When I closed my eyes, I found myself back in that world.
Someone was hugging me.
(Wait... I remember now. Right before I died...)
My hand healed—no, my whole body healed.
"Hey... kid, wake up..."
He was sleeping peacefully. (White hair like snow... sweet brown skin like chocolate. So cute.)
I gently petted his head.