"It used to be a blurry, hazy vision that I'd dream about once every couple of months,
But now… now it's so vivid. I can see every face, remember every detail.
It doesn't even feel like a dream anymore.
It feels so… real."
"Dude, you are literally dreaming about Dragons and shit."
Mark stared at his roommate with a deadpan look on his face.
No matter how much he tried, he just couldn't take his problem seriously.
"It is just a dream, it feels more 'vivid' because that is all you think about these days."
"But do you not find it weird at all…?
Dreams are influenced by emotions, daily experiences, and subconscious thoughts, often times, they reflect memories, or unresolved issues. It is the sleep quality that shapes a dream's vividness, but in my case, no matter what 'quality of sleep' I have, it doesn't affect it in the slightest.
External stimuli, diet, mental health, or even sleep posture seem to have no effect on my dream either.
The people or… the monsters I see in my dreams, I have never seen anything like them before, then how is my brain picturing them? Not to mention it is picturing them to the point I remember them clearly, every single detail of every single monster, I remember it all.
Do you not find any of this strange at all?
I…
I just feel like this is… not just a dream, but something deeply connected to me."
Kael voiced out his thoughts and Mark, who was looking at him from the start, nodded with a serious look on his face as well.
"Now that you say it,
It does feel strange…"
"Right?"
"Mhm.
I think I understand what all of this means."
Suddenly, Mark spoke up as he glanced at Kael.
"What?" Kael questioned.
"You must be the main character who will be summoned to another world that is being threatened by foreign monsters. As Hero, you will be tasked to save that world, the dream you see must be how the previous Hero, the Dragon Man, lost against the foreign monsters and now all the responsibility is on you, the new and brave hero.
It is up to you to defeat the monsters, create a harem of beautiful women, and then live a happy life as the strongest existence in the world.
It all makes sense now.
You were destined to take this responsibility, the one man tied to strings of fate, the Hero, the lone warrior, the avenger, the Iron Man, Captain America, Tho- Acckkk!!"
"Shut the fuck up, you bastard!"
Kael shouted as he put Mark in a chokehold.
"Acckkk!!" Mark struggled to get away but couldn't.
"Aren't you speaking a little too much these days, my dear son?"
Kael questioned.
"I-I…"
Mark wanted to say something but couldn't, it was even difficult for him to breathe, let alone say something. Seeing that, Kael loosened his grip, allowing him to speak. Mark, however, used this chance to push him aside and create a distance between the two.
"Fuck you, you bastard!
Isn't that what you wanted to listen to anyway!?
'My dream feels like it is deeply connected to me.'
Bullshit!
Do you not hear how fucking dumb that sounds!?
I can't believe a dumbfuck like you is a top-ranking student of the University with the highest GPA, my University's future is doomed!"
Mark spoke, his hands grabbing his head as he prepared for his impending doom.
"Yeah? Don't forget to think through the fact that you are relying on this dumbfuck to pass this semester! Before the University's, worry about your future!"
"I am not a bookworm like you, I am street smart. I learn from experience."
Mark snorted.
"Street smart? Dude, you fell into a gutter when you were coming back to the room after being wasted, if it wasn't for me who picked you up and brought you back, people would have thought you were some street dog instead of street smart."
Kael's reply was harsh.
"A-As I said, I l-learned from that e-experience so I won't make the same mistake again. T-This is how you grow in life."
Mark replied, avoiding Kael's eyes.
"…"
Kael was speechless.
'What the hell were you learning with your face inside the gutter?'
He had many questions but decided to stay silent.
Mark turned silent as well.
The two roommates continued to silently walk to their University and after a few minutes,
"I am telling you,
Stop watching anime for a while.
Believe it or not, it is affecting you."
Mark spoke.
"Yes, yes."
Kael nodded in a dismissive tone.
Mark, who knew this bastard wouldn't listen, continued,
"Just get a girlfriend, that will solve everything. You are 22 already, for god's sake!"
"I am trying, okay? It's hard out there!"
Kael complained.
"You fucking bastard!!"
Mark directly pushed Kael away in frustration.
"Hard? Hard!? For you!?
Saying that with a face like yours, do you want to die or something!?
You don't even do anything and the girls throw themselves at you! It is you who moves away and don't catch them, you bastard!!
I literally brought a girl to our room just because I told her you were my roommate, just imagining how easy you would have it but you not making use of it wants me to kill you!!"
Mark was indeed frustrated.
"You know I am looking for something substantial. I do not want something that ends within a week. I need a partner I can spend my lif-"
"Fuck you!!"
Mark shouted.
"I want something substantial."
He mimicked Kael's words in a comical way.
"It is 2026, wake the fuck up, the love you read in those novels ain't real. Something 'substantial' doesn't exist.
You will die a virgin if you keep thinking this way."
"So be it."
Kael shrugged.
"Tsk, you are hopeless."
Mark snorted as the two continued their walk.
…
Just as the two reached the gates and were about to greet the guard,
[Heroes, please awaken the potential hidden inside you and save the world.]
They heard a voice.
"Huh? What did you say?"
Mark turned towards Kael with a frown on his face.
Kael frowned as well.
"Huh? What the hell is this?"
Both of them heard the voice. It came from the guard, who was staring at a white circle with complex patterns, that had suddenly appeared beneath him.
Mark and Kael realized they had similar circles under their feet. Looking around, they noticed other students had them as well.
"Is this some gimmick? A universe function we weren't told about?"
Mark frowned.
"But a projector shouldn't be able to do this on such a large scale… especially when we can't even see anything around…
And that voice as well…"
Kael was just as confused.
Whoosh
However, before he could say or think anything else, the circle beneath his feet shined brightly, blinding him momentarily, and the next thing he heard was,
"He has arrived!!"