Even though I wasn't sitting near the window, the morning sun was so bright it made my eyes squint. The loud chirping of birds outside pulled my gaze toward the glass.
The birds flew around, back and forth. A warm breeze rustled the leaves of the trees nearby, making the scene outside look calm and peaceful. There were about 25 students in the classroom, chatting with each other. It was normal to greet friends and have a conversation in the morning, and I usually did too. But today, my mind was elsewhere, still tangled in confusion from earlier that morning.
"Why does this feel so complicated... what did she mean?" I mumbled to myself, staring blankly out the window.
Suddenly, someone tapped me on the back. I snapped out of my daydream and turned around to see who it was.
A tall guy with brown hair and eyes to match. This was my best friend, Naoto. We'd been friends since elementary school, always going to school together. Some people even thought we were brothers, with him as the older one because of his height.
Not that I'm short, but he's tall, partly because he's on the basketball team and the captain of the school's basketball club.
"Yo, Haru, what's up? You're daydreaming first thing in the morning," he said with a grin.
He then took a seat at the empty desk in front of me. It wasn't his desk, but it had been empty since our friend left before the second semester started.
Naoto sat down, facing me, waiting for an answer to his question.
"It's nothing... just another weird dream," I said with a tired sigh.
Naoto raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued. "Weird dream? What was it about?"
I hesitated, glancing at him before deciding to share.
"Last night, I dreamed that I was suddenly on a beach, still wearing my school uniform. There was this beautiful girl there, also wearing our school's uniform."
Naoto's eyes widened in surprise as I gave him a quick summary of my dream.
"Really? What did she look like? Come on, tell me more!"
"Thanks, but no thanks. And why are you so excited about a girl in my dream? You already have a girlfriend," I replied, letting out another sigh.
"Haha, true, but I'm curious about what kind of girl shows up in your dreams."
"I'm not telling you," I shot back.
"Wow, keeping secrets from your best friend, huh?" Naoto teased, rolling his eyes dramatically.
I ignored his playful jab and tried to steer the conversation back.
"But seriously, the dream felt so real. It didn't feel like a normal dream at all."
Naoto frowned slightly, looking more thoughtful now. "Huh... that's weird. Dreams can feel super real sometimes. Maybe there's a reason behind it? Why don't you check out some books on dreams at the library?"
I paused, considering his suggestion before nodding. "Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll head to the library later."
"Don't think too much about it, Haru. Sometimes a dream is just a dream," he said, flashing a comforting smile.
I smiled back, but deep down, I was still unsettled.
*****
When the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, everyone began packing up to head home. But not all the students left right away. Our school offered a variety of after-school activities, from clubs to Student Council meetings. The Student Council members were always busy in the afternoons, either having meetings or organizing events.
I didn't join any clubs, nor was I involved with Student Council. But today, I decided to head to the school library. It was a big space, with shelves lined with books and a quiet atmosphere perfect for studying.
As soon as I entered, the familiar scent of dusty old books hit me. The cool air and peaceful silence made the library feel like a good place to relax and think. Sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow on the wooden shelves, adding to the tranquil mood.
I began searching the shelves, scanning through rows of books. After a while, I grabbed a few and started reading at one of the empty tables. Piling up the books beside me, I flipped through page after page.
But no matter how much I read, I found nothing that explained what was happening. None of the books gave me the answers I was looking for. I was left with more questions than before.
"This isn't it... not this one either... Damn it, there's nothing here that explains my situation," I muttered in frustration, shutting the last book.
I glanced up and noticed that the sky outside had turned dark. Where the sun had once lit up the room, now there were only stars twinkling faintly in the night sky. The library had mostly emptied out, with only a few students still hunched over their work.
I sighed deeply, feeling like all my efforts had been for nothing. The stack of books in front of me seemed to mock me with their uselessness.
"Why am I so obsessed with this?" I thought to myself, feeling mentally drained.
I gathered the books, returning them to their places on the shelves before heading out of the library. The peaceful atmosphere that had been so calming now felt heavy, almost stifling.
Outside, the night air was cooler than I expected. A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, making it clear that the night would be a long one. I started walking home, my thoughts drifting back to the dream about the mysterious girl.
"Who is she...?" I wondered again. The dream was just a dream, but why did it feel like there was more to it? Something hidden, something I wasn't seeing yet.
*****
By the time I got home, the night was deep. My body was exhausted, but my mind was still racing with questions. The dream, the girl, the strange feeling that something wasn't right—it all kept swirling around in my head.
I lay down on my bed, staring at the ceiling. The image of the girl's face appeared in my mind again—so clear, so vivid, it felt like she was real. But why couldn't I remember who she was? Was she just a figment of my imagination, or was there something deeper going on?
As my thoughts continued to spiral, I slowly drifted off to sleep. But even then, I knew the dream would come back to haunt me.