Angry Earth

?: "You did really well, Akio. I'm proud of you."

Akio liked how the voice inside him praised him. Others always held him back, but this voice supported him. At least in a dream, no one could criticize him. No one could stop him or increase the pressure. This sense of freedom was liberating for Akio. Finally, someone acknowledged him.

Akio sat in the classroom, holding his right hand under his nose, which suddenly hurt. Blood dripped onto his desk. He stared at the surface, now splattered with drops of blood. As he tried to wipe it away with a tissue, he noticed that his fingers and clothes were also smeared. He raised his hand to his face again, the blood still flowing fresh, stronger than the stains on his hands.

Akio: "Is this my blood?"

Teacher: "Akio, go to the nurse's office quickly. Can someone help him?"

The teacher scanned the room, looking for a volunteer who knew the way and wouldn't mind missing a bit of class. Akio and a boy from his class headed to the nurse's office. Instinctively, Akio tilted his head back, as he always did for nosebleeds. At the office, the nurse cleaned the blood, bandaged his nose, and helped him lie down with a cold pack on his nose. Even back in the classroom, it was clear—his nose was broken. Kevin had hit him, intentionally or not, with considerable force. But Akio wouldn't get much rest. Within minutes, his teacher entered the nurse's office. Her expression wasn't one of relief but of confusion and disappointment.

Teacher: "How are you feeling, Akio?"

Akio: "Surprisingly fine. It hardly hurts anymore."

Teacher: "Please tell me how this happened."

Akio: "I don't know. I woke up like this."

Teacher: "That sounds unlikely and contradictory."

Akio: "Why is it contradictory? I didn't say anything strange."

Teacher: "Your classmates told me what happened on the playground."

Akio: "What could have happened? I was just there with my friends."

Teacher: "Akio, stop pretending you don't know. I know what happened."

Akio: "What do you know? What did I do?"

Teacher: "Stop playing games, Akio. There's no point in dragging this out. If you admit it, the matter will be settled."

Akio: "What should I admit? Kevin broke my nose."

Teacher: "Yes, that's true. So you do know what happened."

Akio: "No, I didn't do anything."

Akio thought, this can't be true. The fight with Kevin had only been a dream. But the broken nose fit the picture. "What's happening here?"

Teacher: "Akio, you've already admitted it. You can't pretend you don't know now."

Akio: "Where is Kevin?"

Teacher: "Why does that matter?"

Akio: "I won't believe it unless I see him."

Akio tried to piece together what might have happened. He had two theories: either the fight wasn't a dream and really happened, or his wound from the dream had somehow appeared in the real world. It all depended on Kevin's condition. If Kevin was hurt, the fight was real. If Kevin was fine, it meant the wounds from the dream had become real—however impossible that sounded. Akio couldn't understand how either scenario was possible. Regardless of which was true, it didn't make sense. How could he have overpowered Kevin if it were real? And if the wounds from the dream became real, how was that even possible? Akio couldn't make sense of the situation.

Teacher: "Your classmates saw you seemingly pin Kevin to the ground."

Akio: "I didn't pin him to the ground; I couldn't even do that."

Teacher: "And the absurd part is, they say you did it without moving."

Akio: "I can only tell you what I know. Maybe it was a dream."

Teacher: "This isn't about dreams, Akio. It's about you injuring a classmate and using forbidden magic."

Akio: "Magic?"

Teacher: "Yes. Your classmates described something that, to me, sounds like magic."

Akio: "What could I have done with magic? There's no such thing, except in movies."

Teacher: "The rules are clear, whether it's intentional or not—I can't overlook this. Cases like these led to the ban on general magic usage."

Akio: "I don't understand. Magic is forbidden, and I used it?"

Teacher: "It seems so. Your classmates confirmed it, even if not directly. Their accounts imply you used magic."

Akio: "And what does that mean now?"

Teacher: "You'll be suspended for a few weeks because of the incident. We'll tell your parents to take you to a specialist in magic."

Akio: "I'm being expelled from school?"

Teacher: "Not exactly. You just can't attend for a while. But that doesn't exempt you from your responsibilities."

Akio: "And what kind of specialist?"

Teacher: "A magic doctor, specializing in magical ailments and mana studies."

Akio: "And then what happens?"

Teacher: "Your parents and Kevin's parents will be informed. We're still assessing Kevin's involvement."

Akio: "What about me? Why isn't my side being investigated? I didn't do anything."

Teacher: "It already has been. According to Mrs. Wirsing, you've had trouble with Kevin before."

Akio: "Last time, he provoked me."

Teacher: "Even so, that doesn't justify a magical attack."

Akio: "But I didn't do it on purpose."

Teacher: "Your injury seems to have affected you. You're speaking inconsistently. Rest for now. Later, we'll discuss this with your parents."

Akio: "Kevin broke my nose. Why aren't you doing anything about him?"

Teacher: "Kevin will also face consequences."

Akio: "He started it!"

Teacher: "This isn't about assigning blame. I'll inform you during the next break about our decision."

Akio was furious. Something didn't add up. Did he really hurt Kevin? Did he use magic? Was any of this real? Akio couldn't believe it. He knew Kevin had broken his nose, but how could it have happened in the dream world? What was real, and what was just a dream? Akio needed to understand.