I don't know why, but I feel as if I'm floating.
I'm only dreaming, aren't I?
I try opening my eyes, however...
It's like someone's covering them.
Puzzled, I reach my hands up and-
"Now, now. Don't move, young boy."
A soft voice whispers above me.
Somehow, the stranger makes me feel at ease.
What he said though, makes me question.
"Wh- What do you mean... surprise?"
Despite not being able to look, I can tell that he's smiling.
"A pleasant surprise for your special day, of course."
At this, I'm taken aback.
How? I'm sure I've never met this person before, this voice...
... is too dreamy to be true.
"No doubt about it.", he responds casually. "But no need to worry, I'm only here to say happy birthday~"
"I don't... know you, d- do I?"
A chuckle is what I get in response.
"That's something I can't answer."
"You may know me, or you may not."
Even though his voice is gentle, it...
"However, that doesn't matter now."
"It's time to wake up, B-ka."
At this, my eyes open as I sit upright in my bed.
Clutching my covers, I swallow as the mysterious man's words echo in my mind.
I've never seen a dream that strange, not to mention the-
The constant feeling of peace and the fragrance of flowers.
"B-ka? Hey, you in there?"
I blink, suddenly coming back to reality as I recognize the voice.
"Y- Yes, I'll... be there in a bit!"
Right, today... we agreed to hang out to celebrate my birthday.
The entire club is here, the one who's standing at the door is undoubtedly our Leader: E-ki.
Hurrying out of bed, I change quickly and tidy up the room a little before opening the door to meet his bright grin.
"G- Good morning, E-ki-kun."
Smiling shyly, I respond and he laughs.
"Let's go, the others are waiting!"
As we arrive at the living room, the rest of the club greet cheerfully.
"... Good morning, B-ka-chan."
C-na looks up from her book and smiles.
D-suke turns to us as he stops munching on his chips, smiling a bit as well.
"G- Good morning, everyone."
I respond with a smile of my own, walking over so all of us sit in a circle around the coffee table.
Contemplating my decision, I fidget nervously as I listen to them chat among each other.
"Th- There's... something I'd like to ask you about."
Immediately, their attention shift to me entirely.
"It's... about a dream, I mean- the dream... I just had before waking up."
"Eh? Is there anything strange about it?"
The conversation I had with the man inside the dream plays through my mind.
"There was... um... someone, I- I didn't know who it was..."
They all listen intently.
"But... he- he said... he came to say 'Happy birthday'."
At this, C-na's eyes widen a little and I can see the spark of interest in them.
"Is this a new legend I haven't heard of?", she asks and moves closer. "B-ka-chan, do you know what he looks like?"
I shake my head in response.
"N- No, I... He was covering my eyes, I believe..."
She nods, silently urging for me to continue.
"I felt like... floating, it- it was... warm too.", I recall the experience as I speak. "A feeling of... calmness, a- and...
... the comfortable smell of flowers."
"Eh? Flowers?", A-no taps her chin in thought. "Weird, to even feel a dream to that extent..."
"It's not impossible, though.", E-ki comments. "If that dream feels real, it may be implying something."
"Yeah, I agree~", D-suke says as he starts munching on his snack again. "Dreams are a bit like the reflection of one's awareness within unconsciousness~"
I blink rapidly, confused by what he just said.
The reflection of one's awareness... within unconsciousness?
"... What he's saying is that even when we're asleep, our brains can be very...", C-na hums. "... Awake, in a sense. Like the Dream's Conclusion for example, it could be some kind of precognition."
"Oh- that... makes sense, I think...", it does seem easier to understand. "Th- Thank you, C-na..."
"You're welcome, B-ka-chan.", she smiles in response. "Urban legends give me a certain amount of knowledge, after all."
"C-na's amazing when it comes to those things, no?", E-ki laughs a bit. "That aside, if that's the case then you don't have to worry much about your dream."
"Yes, I've heard of a worse legend on dreams with one specific person.", C-na adds. "A man with a face thousands of people remember, who made an appearence in all of their dreams. It's rather creepy, so to have your description makes me scrap that possibility immediately."
"Yeah~ Your dream was rather pleasant, if only a bit mysterious~", D-suke chuckles. "Now that I think about it, how was the man's voice~?"
"It- It was... very soothing, a- and soft.", I reply as those words once again echo inside my head. "He- He even... knew my name."
"W- Wait, he does?!", A-no stands up abruptly. "Don't you think that's creepy now?!"
Her action shocked everyone including myself, making us stare at her with slightly wide eyes.
I can't guarantee D-suke, though.
"I mean- look, while it isn't like any other urban legends out there... it clearly freaks me out!", she exclaims. "A shady, soft dude?! That's like a game's antagonist!"
"A-no, not everything's on games!", E-ki holds her shoulders. "Calm down, will you?!"
"But like- It's someone he didn't know, E-ki! Some stranger in his dream who knew his name!", she shook his shoulders in return. "I swear to God- if someone like that appeared in my dream, I would've punched him regardless of being able to see or not!"
"A-no-chan, p- please calm down...", I try to help E-ki. "It's okay, I- I'm not afraid..."
"A- As long as... we're together, I don't have a reason to... be afraid of a dream."
At this, they stop and turn to me, then E-ki grins as he swings his arm over my shoulder.
"Right, we're together!", he cheers. "Happy birthday, B-ka!"
Everyone else cheers along, and I giggle in joy.
In a realm of darkness stands a blonde young woman, in her arms a cage with five orbs of blue fire.
To her side is a man in white, contrasting their surroundings.
She asks the man, looking down at the cage solemnly.
"For these souls so keep dreaming... even after death?"
"Who knows?", his face obscured by the hood on his head yet one can clearly see the smile on his lips. "Don't you want them to be happy, Mistress of the Underworld?"
As the souls glow in response to the "happiness" of their dream, their dim light reflect the sorrow in the lady's red eyes.
"... I do, that's why I called you here in the first place."
Even as a Goddess of Death, she loves the humanity.
"... What's his name?", she asks and looks at one soul in particular. "This one... You said it's his birthday today, right?"
She nods, holding the cage closer to herself.
As if to bring warmth to the cold cage, like an attempt to understand the souls within.
"... Happy birthday, B-ka."
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