“If This Is a Dream… Then Let It Be Mine”

Today June 6th , I woke up early.

The air was cool and quiet. For the first time in ages, my heart wasn't pounding.

No nightmares.

No voices.

No echo of cruelty in my ears.

I stretched, yawned softly, and smiled to myself.

It felt... strange. Like I'd stepped out of a bad dream. Or maybe I had one that was too good to be real.

"That dream... I wish it were true."

I checked the stove. The kitchen light blinked faintly. I packed my bag, grabbed my bicycle, and set out. School had always felt like walking into a storm. But today—

Something inside me felt lighter.

Like I had quietly shed something heavy in the night.

As I stopped at a red light near the main road, my eyes caught a mirror hanging from a shop window. For some reason, I glanced at my reflection.

And froze. 

"I'm... smiling? Not the usual forced one. A real smile?"

I touched my cheek, surprised. Maybe it was the wind, maybe it was that dream, but I felt like pedaling even faster.

As soon as the light turned green, I grinned and pushed off, wind rushing through my body, tears nearly slipping from my eyes as I whispered:

"What is this? Why does it feel like freedom?"

A police officer saw me speeding and tried to flag me down, but I ducked my head and flew past him like a shadow.

By the time I reached school, I was laughing softly to myself.

I hadn't felt that alive since...

Since I forgot how to smile.

At my locker, I braced for the worst. But—

No ink spilled on my books.

No trash inside.

Even my shoes were untouched.

I stared for a second longer before whispering:

"Is this... still the dream?"

I reached my classroom, hand hovering over the door.

Slowly, I slid it open.

No one turned.

No whispers.

No laughter.

Just... normal.

Then—

"Haruki!"

I blinked. Reika was waving at me cheerfully, beaming like she always had something silly to say.

Ayane looked up too. She met my eyes and gave me a soft, almost shy smile before looking away.

I just stood there. Frozen.

Then rushed to my seat.

"Wait. What... what is happening?

They smiled?

At me?"

I held my head low.

"No. This is all wrong. It wasn't real.

It was just a dream... wasn't it?"

Our teacher walked in, holding a stack of papers like a battle flag.

"Yesterday, I told you to decide your project topic. Now—submit your choice!"

The class grumbled. Ayane stood up and handed ours in silently.

"Three days!" the teacher announced.

"I want all projects submitted in just three days!"

Everyone groaned loudly.

"THREE days?! Sensei, that's child abuse!" one student yelled.

The teacher slammed the desk dramatically.

"My reputation's on the line! If I look bad in the staffroom, you're going down with me!"

Someone in the back whispered, "We're already down, sensei…"

"Silence!"

Then she paused, clearing her throat.

"Buuuut—if you complete your project on time, and if it's the best… your group gets these—"

She held up a strip of shiny paper.

"Tickets to the Starlight Amusement Park! "

The class erupted.

"Whaaat!? No way!"

"That place costs like 5000 yen!"

"Teacher, are you dying or something?!"

The teacher looked away and mumbled to herself.

"I won these in a lucky draw… but I had no one to go with…"

She sniffled.

"At least now my kindness can raise my bonus…"

Her eyes gleamed suspiciously.

"Now stop crying and open your textbooks!"

"You're the one crying!" the class shouted in unison.

I couldn't help it—I chuckled.

It was such a dumb scene. But it felt so… alive.

I looked ahead. Ayane glanced at me again.

She smiled—just a little—and turned forward.

I looked down quickly.

Why… is she smiling at me again?

 Lunch Break.

I began packing my notebook, when I noticed three shadows standing near my desk.

I slowly looked up.

Ayane. Yuzuki. Reika.

"W-what did I do now?"

"Are they here to scold me…?"

"Or worse—ask me to redo the project alone?"

"C-Can I ask... why are you here?" I said nervously, forcing a shaky smile.

Reika leaned forward dramatically, grinning.

"We're here to kidnap you~! For lunch."

"E-Eh?!"

Yuzuki rolled her eyes and bonked Reika lightly on the head.

"We just wanted to eat together. You don't have to look so terrified."

Ayane stepped forward, holding a box.

"I made something extra… Want to try?"

I stared at her, speechless.

"Eat with them? Me?"

I couldn't understand what was happening to me.

Why did everything feel so… different?

I stood in the seat , heart thumping softly—not in fear, but from something unfamiliar. I looked down at my hands.

"Is this… really happening?"

Then suddenly—

It struck me.

That whole moment yesterday...

It wasn't a dream.

I tried to remember what had happened afterward, but my memory blurred at the edges. I closed my eyes and focused.

And then—

I remembered.

After we all laughed together, after that warm, strange moment...

I had stood awkwardly in front of them and whispered,

"T-Thank you. Really... it's been a long time since I laughed like that."

But as the joy faded, reality crept back in.

"Even if we made peace... the rest of the school still hates me."

Yuzuki stepped forward and replied with a calm but unwavering voice:

"We know. And you don't need to carry that anymore."

"From now on, it's our job to make sure no one hurts you."

I blinked.

"But... what are you going to do?"

She smiled. Not sweetly—sinisterly.

That kind of smile that promised something dangerous and beautiful.

"Just a few things."

I went pale.

But deep down—I was relieved.

That smile wasn't aimed at me. It was aimed for me.

"Also… how will I get my bag?" I asked.

Ayane and Yuzuki looked at Reika.

She saluted like a soldier.

"Aye Aye, Captain!"

Before I could blink, she dashed out of the room like a bullet and returned within seconds—bag in hand.

"Wha—already?!" I gasped.

Ayane smirked.

"She may not look like it, but Reika is the ace of the track and field club."

"Huh? No way—"

Before Ayane could finish her proud explanation, Reika pounced from behind and started tickling her.

"Whaddaya mean by 'may not look like it,' huh?!"

Ayane shrieked and started running away as Reika chased her around the desks like a hyper cat.

Yuzuki sighed and muttered,

"This is going to be a long year…"

Then she looked at me.

"You can go home for now, Haruki. Leave the rest to us."

I nodded, clutching my bag.

As I walked through the hallway, something was different.

The walls didn't echo with mocking voices.

The air wasn't heavy.

Even the floor beneath my feet felt lighter.

I could hear voices again—but they didn't pierce like knives.

Laughter… chatter… but none of it targeted at me.

And then I heard a voice calling out:

"Haruki!"

I turned around.

Ayane came running, a little out of breath.

"One more thing!" she said, hands on her knees.

"From tomorrow… you're eating lunch with us, okay?"

I hesitated. The words stuck in my throat.

Then I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the flutter in my chest.

"Really… can I?"

Ayane smiled brightly.

"Yes. And by the way… where do you think you're going?"

"The main gate… I mean—"

"You're skipping, aren't you?" she smirked.

I went silent.

She pointed toward the back gate.

"Next time, sneak out properly."

We both laughed softly.

I got home that evening and collapsed into my bed.

The stars outside twinkled softly through the curtains.

I whispered,

"Wait... so all of it actually happened?"

My hand touched the side of my cheek.

"That wasn't a dream, was it?"

I turned towards them. 

"But I already made a lunch for myself…"

Yuzuki leaned closer, calm and gentle.

"That's perfect. Now we don't have to share ours."

"Wha—?"

Ayane stepped forward, her hands behind her back, leaning slightly.

"Haruki… we said we're eating together, didn't we?"

Around the classroom, whispers started to build again.

"What's going on?"

"Why is Ayane smiling at him?"

My shoulders tensed. I felt those eyes again—

But not with cruelty.

Just… confusion. Surprise.

Some classmates even stopped eating, watching us silently.

But Ayane didn't care.

She extended her hand toward me.

"Let's go."

Her fingers weren't trembling.

They were warm and steady.

I hesitated.

Then slowly reached out and took her hand.

Reika gasped dramatically.

"Oooooh~ our boy's finally evolving!"

Yuzuki bonked her head again.

"You're being too loud."

"Ow—!" Reika rubbed her head. "You're like a mom sometimes…"

Ayane giggled.

As they pulled me up from my seat, I glanced at my classmates again.

Some looked away, awkward.

Some just stared.

But no one said anything cruel.

And in that silence, I felt it—

The wall between me and the world had begun to crack.

We walked together toward the back of the classroom.

Reika whispered loudly,

"I call dibs on trying his tamagoyaki!"

"You're not here for food," Yuzuki scolded her, but her smile was soft.

Ayane led us with calm confidence.

At that moment, a quiet thought bloomed in my heart—

If this is a dream… I never want to wake up.