Chapter 18: Surmount

(Kaaru was in an unknown place, a place full of thick trees and bushes. He was in a forest and there was nowhere to escape as he was surrounded by giant trees. He runs to find his way and surprisedly saw his parents)

KAARU: Mum! Dad!

(Unknowingly there was a man who was still standing close to them. He wears a ninja cloth like the Aok and wore a mask covered with black. He uses his lightning power and killed them. Kaaru's eyes were widened with shocked as he saw them turning to dust and breeze blew them away. The man turned back slowly and Kaaru was afraid and ran away. He ran as fast as he can. The cold air pierces his lungs and throat as it hurt so much. He surprisedly saw the man at his front and Kaaru was full of fear and anxiety. The man looked at him with his eyes shown as it was red and he release the lightning at his left hand and the other one fire at his right hands he was about to strike him. Kaaru woke up immediately and caught his breath hardly and realized it was only a nightmare)

(He walked to meet Junri as he was already dressed up for school)

KAARU: Good morning, Junri.

JUNRI: Oh good morning, Dear! Sit down as I prepare your breakfast.

(Kaaru sat on the chair, and started to have thought concerning the dream he dreamt. He stared at the table as his finger was tapping on it, he tries to figure out where he was, what he saw, why he's parents were there and who was that person that also wears an Aok uniform. He was so silent that Junri even found it strange)

JUNRI: Are you alright?

KAARU: Huh?

JUNRI: I'm just asking if you are alright because you are really acting weird today. You look like you have seen something that makes your head fill with questions.

KAARU: Yeah. Something like that.

JUNRI: So what's it? You can tell me if you want to. (She said while serving him his breakfast which was pancake syrup and the other plate was rice balls)

KAARU: I just had a nightmare.

JUNRI: Seriously? We all have nightmares that scare us away.

KAARU: I know but this one is... complicated (He said as he eats the rice balls)

JUNRI: Hmm I see. All you need to do is to overcome it or else it comes after you forever.

(Kaaru was shocked to hear what Junri said to him as he shudder in fear)

(At School, Kaaru discussed it with Eito and Hiro about the nightmare he dreamt)

EITO: It's just a dream.

KAARU: But It looks so real. Sometimes to tell you guys something is totally too difficult.

EITO: No you are the one that is too difficult.

KAARU: What did I do? it's the truth.

HIRO: A man with lightning and fire powers.

KAARU: One side lightning and the other side fire. (He said as he shows them using his hands)

HIRO: Hmm...Yuuto doesn't have fire and Shin-sensei doesn't have lightning. (She said as she had an imaginary cloud under her head imagining if the two combined themselves giving the man)

KAARU: What! You are guessing that is them. (He said as he was shocked making a comical defeated face)

HIRO: Relax, I'm just kidding.

EITO: How are you sure is the man? Beside it's just a dream.

KAARU: Man, you don't just understand. Dreams like this looks so real and it can sometimes happen.

EITO: You want your dream to come to past.

KAARU: Hell no. I'm just saying that can be the man that killed my parents.

HIRO: In case they asked for proof, what are you going to tell them? Your dream? (She said as she laughed)

KAARU: Dunno. But that would be embarrassing. And hey! Would you stop laughing!

HIRO: I'm sorry! I couldn't resist that.

(Yuuto came and drop his book on his locker. He turned to them as they stared at him and he was confused)

YUUTO: Why are you all looking at me like that?

HIRO: Kaaru has a bad dream.

KAARU: What, why would you have to tell him? (He said as he face at her)

YUUTO: Oh really. Everyone have bad dream. So what is your own anyway?

HIRO: His own is actually upsetting.

YUUTO: Upsetting? Most people come across that. Nightmares that will lead them as a bad day for them. Some don't actually eat a day. They may sit and forget what is going on around them, or they actually fall in daydreaming seeing everywhere hallucinating. And most of them fall into the trap of the evil ones.

KAARU: Who are the "they"?

YUUTO: The "they" are the ones who will see what I just said.

HIRO: Kaaru is not having any of those.

YUUTO: Maybe or maybe not, but let me tell you something. You see this thing is like an illness that happen to many people. It can be daydreaming or hallucinating.

EITO: And what is the difference? (He said as he wanted to know the prove from him since he already knows it)

YUUTO: Why don't we check it out in the dictionary since it's a book that the lexicographers have in mind in knowing whatever words they know written on it. (Brought out his phone) No. I have one (Brought out his dictionary from his locker) I don't have to tell Eito since he already knows it.

KAARU: I know it

HIRO: Well I don't.

YUUTO: First Daydreaming, here it is. Daydream: Thought while awake not connected to immediate reality. Now for hallucinating (He founds it) To see or hear things that are not really there. Now you see the dictionary speaks it. You can never see the fact why you will say this shit ain't good for you.

KAARU: You are saying I'm suffering from those.

YUUTO: Yes. But you need to be careful one of the troublesome thing I hear is that most of us can be trap in it.

HIRO: Yuuto, since when you became so smart like this, knowing everything about dream and hallucinating.

YUUTO: When I was a kid, my uncle had this same feeling of hallucinating. I followed him to the hospital and all what I said was what the doctor said.

KAARU: He didn't ask if there was a cure?

YUUTO: No. But what he said was "Overcome it".

(Kaaru was surprised and remembered what Junri said to him)

                (There was a flashback)

JUNRI: All you need to do is to overcome it or else it comes after you forever.

                     (End of flashback)

KAARU: I see. Thanks anyway.

YUUTO: Huh, Don't just think that I did something. It's up to you to overcome it.

KAARU: Yeah.

(Kaaru came from school)

KAARU: I'm home. (As he opened the door, he saw Junri standing in front of him) Junri.

JUNRI: Welcome home I made you lunch... (Suddenly, a man stab her from her back with a knife and it was the man who wears an Aok outfit)

KAARU: Junri! (The man walks to meet him and he turned back and couldn't find the door. The man stretches out his knife up to stab him and brings it down with force and Kaaru immediately woke up) Nooo!!!

(The students all turned to him astonished same with the teacher, Mr. Kenji. He found out that he was in class and looked down and saw his book he was reading as he picked it up)

KENJI: Kaaru are you alright? (He said as he made a confused face)

KAARU: Yeah. I'm fine (He saw as a made a fake smile and he thought) Didn't know I was in class reading and I dozed off all of a sudden.

(After school, Yuuto came back home. He stays in a bungalow all alone, he looked round and saw the place all messed up with waste products. He heads to the fridge and brought out a can drink and he heard a knock on his door)

YUUTO: What I just came back from school and now I'm hearing a knock. Can't someone have a good time. (He sighed and heads to the door) I'm coming, I'm coming (He draws the word slowly feeling tired. He opened the door and saw that the person knocking was Hisaki who was also seen on school uniform) I'm not surprised. (As he said with a serious look on his face)

HISAKI: Hey Yuuto... (Yuuto slammed back the door and left. Hisaki opened it back and was puzzled)

YUUTO: What do you want?

HISAKI: Hey come on Yuuto. It's me your one and only cousin.

YUUTO: Yeah I know it's you and I don't have time. Sometimes people see the condition of the day whether it's rainy or sunny, so they don't go for a visit for that.

HISAKI: Are you trying to say I'm unwelcome? (He said as he made a puzzled face)

YUUTO: (He takes a drink first from the can) I don't know. You come to my house almost everyday and I haven't come to your place since last month, the first time was on your birthday and you surprised me with snacks and drinks. And now all you can do is to come here and watch television.

HISAKI: I'm sorry I didn't tell you the reason why, it got bad and my dad don't have time to fix it neither my mum. (As he on the television)

YUUTO: Well don't try and steal mine.

HISAKI: No I wouldn't.

(Yuuto opened the fridge and brought out a drink)

YUUTO: You want (As he stretches it out to him)

HISAKI: That's okay. I'm good.

YUUTO: Why I'm I returning the kindness to you.

(Hisaki was shocked after Yuuto mentioned the word kindness. Although he sees that Yuuto is not kind but for what he said really surprised him. So he didn't go any further but accepted)

HISAKI: Okay. Thanks. (As he opens it up while Hisaki sat close to him on the couch)

YUUTO: You said your dad don't have time in fixing the TV and your mum also said that? You got to fix it yourself or buy a new one.

HISAKI: Um...Where can I see money to buy a one?

YUUTO: A lot of guys like us make money to handle stuffs all by themselves instead of relying on their parents. I started making money at the age of fourteen and my mum died when I was sixteen. That's why I'm leaving in this house all by myself.

HISAKI: You are brave?

YUUTO: Hmm brave? (As he was puzzled on Hisaki's comment) How does brave have to do with this?

HISAKI: To leave all alone. I can't withstand that thinking of the scary movies I watched.

YUUTO: (Chuckles) Don't just think of that. I'm also scared.

HISAKI: (Surprised) But you don't act like you are scared?

YUUTO: I was only scared once. I was scared if I'll lose my mother in the hands of my dad. (Hisaki was shocked as he was dumbfounded) But anyway, you look like you came here for something.

HISAKI: Something? What make you say that?

YUUTO: You didn't come here since two weeks and it looks like you came for something. Is it money? I'll bring it... wait, I'll give you tomorrow or next tomorrow. How much do you want?

HISAKI: Hold on Yuuto. You gotta stop that. I'm not owing you anything. I'm just here to hang around.

YUUTO: Or did your parents sent you to accomplish your task (He said as he looked at his television)

HISAKI: Yuuto!

YUUTO: What, I'm just kidding. Hang around? When you got some of your friends next door at your place.

HISAKI: Some of them are young kids of eleven while some travelled.

YUUTO: (Gave up and took another drink from the fridge) Why don't you make friends with newscaster. I can introduce you to them through my uncle.

HISAKI: Don't be ridiculous. Is your uncle a newscaster?

YUUTO: No his sister. I have only seen her on TV once. Say Hisaki, you only come here to watch news which make me feel older. I heard that news are for older people. You will see old men and women talking to the camera speaking their highly and standard grammars.

HISAKI: Speaking of that, they are not for old people, it's just that you are ain't interested.

YUUTO: Interested or not, it's still for old people. You will see them watching it in the night like a movie. Maybe one day, everybody is going to watch news in the cinema.

HISAKI: That's because you don't like it.

YUUTO: Relax Hisaki, are we going to fight over this. You can watch your news while I prepare lunch...

HISAKI: Really? (He said as he interrupted)

YUUTO: For myself. You can go home and eat yours.

HISAKI: Aw, how rude of you.

YUUTO: What, I'm I wicked or are you that hungry? (He left while Hisaki watches the TV)

HISAKI: Yeah (As he stomach started to grumble)

YUUTO: Well go buy me the food items while I wait.

HISAKI: Oh...okay.

YUUTO: Huh, you don't wanna go. Or are you just here watching your friends on the TV.

HISAKI: Um... No. (He said as Yuuto gave him the money and he left)

YUUTO: (Sighed) Cousin.