The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the sandy shores of Saganami Beach. A gentle breeze rustled through the palm trees, carrying the soothing scent of the ocean. Yamano Yusuri sat alone on the soft sand, his gaze fixed on the rhythmic dance of the waves. The tranquil scene belied the storm brewing within his mind.
Yesterday's nightmares still lingered, casting dark shadows across his thoughts. The vivid images of nameless terrors played over and over like a haunting melody. He ran his fingers through the cool sand, trying to ground himself in the present moment. The salty air stung his skin, but it was a welcome distraction from the turmoil within.
Not far from where Yamano sat lost in contemplation, his wife, Miko Minazuki, paced along the water's edge. Her worry was etched on her delicate features as she stole glances at her husband. The lines of concern deepened on her forehead, mirroring the waves that crashed gently against the shore.
Miko's thoughts were a tumultuous sea of their own. She couldn't shake the feeling that something troubled Yamano's soul. The nightmares he had experienced yesterday had left him visibly shaken, and the distance between them seemed to grow with each passing moment. She longed to reach out to him, to share in his pain and offer solace, but the walls he had erected were proving difficult to breach.
Meanwhile, not too far from the couple, Akihito, Yamano's elder brother, and his wife Kurumi reclined on a colorful beach blanket. Akihito's eyes followed the ebb and flow of the ocean, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Akihito reclined on the beach blanket, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "You know, Kurumi, there's something magical about the sound of the waves. It's like nature's lullaby, calming the soul."
Kurumi smiled, her eyes mirroring the affection she felt for her husband. "I've noticed that. It's as if the ocean has a language of its own, whispering secrets to those who listen."
Kurumi noticed that her brother-in-law Yamano sitting alone on the beach. His figure, silhouetted against the fading daylight, seemed smaller than usual, weighed down by an invisible burden.
Kurumi nudged Akihito, her gaze fixed on Yamano. "Honey, look at Yamano. Something doesn't seem right. He's been sitting there for quite some time. He usually sits with us or with Miko."
Akihito furrowed his brow, concern etching lines on his forehead. "You're right. It's not like him to be so lost in thought. Call Miko. Ask her what's wrong with Yamano."
Miko approached Akihito and Kurumi, her expression a mix of concern and understanding. The fading sunlight cast a warm glow on the sand, creating a serene backdrop for the conversation that was about to unfold.
"Nyaa nyan." Miko greeted them, her voice soft but weighted with worry. "Nyaa nyan nyaaaa nyan nyaa."
Kurumi nodded, her eyes fixed on Miko. "Miko-chan. Yamano-kun seems troubled, and we thought maybe you could shed some light on what happened last night."
Miko then shared about what happened to Yamano. Then, she translated it to Akihito so she can understand what Miko said.
Kurumi took a deep breath before explaining, "Yamano-kun had nightmares. It seems like he relived moments from his teenage years, encounters with someone he knew back then. A nekogirl he used to know back in the days."
Kurumi furrowed her brow, concern deepening. "Someone from his past? What could have triggered such vivid nightmares?"
Flashback started to occur. At night, Yamano, seemingly at peace, lay sleeping beside Miko. The rhythmic sound of the waves outside the window created a soothing lullaby, wrapping the couple in a cocoon of tranquility.
Yet, within the realm of dreams, the scene shifted into a haunting nightmare. Yamano found himself standing in the midst of a surreal landscape. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, lifeless and still. His hands trembled as he cradled a catgirl with long hairs, her appearance mysterious and ethereal, in his arms.
He kneeled down, broken down "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. Don't leave me please." Yamano whispered, his voice echoing through the eerie silence.
The catgirl, her features obscured by a veil of sadness, stirred in his arms. Her eyes met his, a haunting mixture of pain and accusation. Yamano felt the weight of guilt press upon him like a suffocating cloak.
"Why... why couldn't you save me in time? I love with my whole life and yet you're too late to save me" she lamented, her voice echoing in the desolate space.
Yamano's heart clenched at her words, the apology on his lips turning bitter. "I tried, I swear. But I couldn't reach you in time. I'm so sorry."
The mysterious girl gently touched Yamano's cheek with her bloody hand, leaving a chilling imprint on his skin. Her touch was both ethereal and visceral, a paradox that sent shivers down his spine.
"Why, Yamano? Why did you let me die?" she pleaded, her voice fading into an anguished whisper.
Tears welled up in Yamano's eyes as he grappled with the weight of his perceived failure. "I didn't want this. I didn't want to lose you. Please understand, I tried my best."
The dream landscape blurred, the colors bleeding into each other like watercolor on a canvas. The catgirl's presence lingered in the air, leaving an indelible mark on Yamano's consciousness.
As dawn approached in the real world, Yamano stirred in his sleep, the echoes of the nightmare fading like a dissipating fog. Miko, sensing his restlessness, nestled closer, her arms wrapping around him in a comforting embrace. Unbeknownst to Yamano, the threads of his dreams and reality continued to weave together, creating a tapestry of emotions that begged to be unraveled.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his body twitched with the remnants of a disturbing dream. The weight of the nightmare clung to him like a stubborn fog, refusing to dissipate even in the waking world.
Sensing the change, Miko stirred from her sleep, her eyes fluttering open. "Darling, nyaan nya?" she asked, her voice a gentle murmur in the quiet room.
Yamano jolted awake, his breath heavy as he tried to make sense of the transition from dream to reality. The remnants of the nightmare lingered, casting a shadow over his waking moments. He looked at Miko, his eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and distress and ran outside his room.
Worried about her darling husband, she immediately chased Yamano. She found her husband sat alone, looking at the morning sea. Miko, concern etching lines on her face, reached out to touch Yamano's shoulder. "Nyaan nya, Darling?"
Yamano hesitated, the images from the nightmare still fresh in his mind. "It was... It was a nightmare. I saw her, a nekogirl, in the middle of... huge puddle of blood surrounded by dead bodies. I couldn't save her, and she kept asking me why. It felt so real."
Miko's expression softened with understanding as she pulled him into a comforting embrace. Yamano took a shaky breath, his gaze distant as he recounted the haunting scenes from his dream. The catgirl, the bodies, the feeling of helplessness—it all spilled out in a torrent of words.
Miko asked Yamano if he remembered the name of the mysterious nekogirl. "Yes. I remember her name vividly. She was my childhood friend. I still remember her face. Quite a tomboy for someone who dressed in a feminine way. Her name was... Luna."
The name itself still lingered in Yamano's mind. Miko stood in silence. Yamano cried, the weight on his chest slowly lifting. Miko's presence grounded him, offering a sanctuary from the residual echoes of the nightmare. "I just... I never had a dream like that before. Why now? Why was the dream came to me right now?"
Miko gently brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. Yamano felt peace when Miko touched Yamano, giving him a calm presence. "Nyaaa nyan nyan nyaa nyan nyan." she said.
" I do remember that Sarah-neechan said that dream is just our minds playing tricks on us,dredging up old memories in strange ways.. Thank you for reminding me, Miko-chan." Yamano said while pet Miko's hair.
Miko then gently hold Yamano's hand and escorted her husband to the bedroom as they continue to fell in deep slumber together. Back to the real time, Akihito and Kurumi now understood what happened to Yamano.
Akihito furrowed his brow in contemplation as he listened to Miko's account. "That dream sounds intense. It's as if Yamano was reliving some buried memory."
Kurumi, her eyes filled with empathy, nodded in agreement. "Dreams can be powerful messengers, bringing to the surface emotions and memories we might have tucked away."
Then, Kurumi saw Akihito touched his chin, tried to remember about the name Kurumi translated from Miko's explanation about the name "Luna."
"What's wrong, Honey? Penny for your thoughts?" Kurumi asked.
Akihito, deep in thought, suddenly furrowed his brow as if a distant memory was trying to surface. "Luna... Luna's name sounds familiar. I feel like I've heard it before, but I can't quite place where."
Kurumi looked at Akihito with curiosity. "Luna? That's an interesting name. Do you remember anything else about where you might have heard it?"
Akihito racked his brain, the pieces of the puzzle eluding him. "I'm not sure. It could be from some distant memory, a conversation, or maybe even a story I once heard. But Luna feels significant."
Kurumi, hopeful for any clues that might shed light on Yamano's dream, encouraged Akihito to delve deeper. "If there's any chance Luna is connected to Yamano's past, it could help us understand what he's going through."
Akihito nodded, determination in his eyes. "I'll try to remember. In the meantime, Miko-chan, go and sit with your husband. He need all the love he can get."
"Nyan nyan!" Miko gave Akihito a salute and immediately went to sit with Yamano. Kurumi giggled as she saw Miko immediately gave Yamano a hug, which started a banter between Yamano and Miko.
With the weight of the morning's revelations lingering in the air, Akihito and Kurumi found solace in a quiet moment together. They sat on the beach, watching as Miko approached Yamano with a warm hug. The tender embrace spoke volumes, a silent reassurance that echoed the strength of their bonds.
Kurumi smiled, her gaze fixed on the couple. "Love has a way of healing, doesn't it? Miko and Yamano have something special."
Akihito nodded, a soft smile gracing his features. "They complement each other so well. It's heartening to see them face challenges together. I do felt a bit of jealous though."
As Miko and Yamano exchanged whispered words, the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a radiant glow on the beach. The waves continued their timeless dance, a backdrop to the unfolding stories of those who stood upon the sands.
In an effort to lift the lingering tension, Akihito suggested, "How about we join them for a game of beach volleyball? A little fun in the sun might be just what we need. Might cheer up Yamano as well."
Kurumi's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "That sounds like a fantastic idea! Let's go."
With that, the couple joined Miko and Yamano on the beach, laughter and joy replacing the shadows that had momentarily clouded their morning. The sound of a volleyball being served and the joyous shouts of the players filled the air, creating a harmonious symphony of togetherness.
As they played under the warm sun, the worries of the night began to recede, replaced by the simple joys of the present. Each spike and dig, each shared laugh, strengthened the bonds between them. The beach became a canvas for their shared experiences, a place where dreams and memories intertwined.
And so, beneath the azure sky, Akihito, Kurumi, Miko, and Yamano reveled in the beauty of the moment, embracing the uncertainty of the past while celebrating the precious gift of the present. The chapter closed with the rhythmic heartbeat of the waves, a timeless reminder of the ever-flowing river of life.