As I lay on the futon, exhaustion finally caught up with me. Maybe it was because of the intense night I'd had with Kaori—or the whirlwind of emotions I'd been drowning in ever since we arrived here.
At some point, my mind drifted past the threshold of dreams… and then she appeared.
A woman of otherworldly beauty stood before me. Her light green hair fell like strands of silk over her shoulders. Her ears were long, like those of a legendary elf, and her white dress flowed behind her like a sacred breeze. It was shorter in the front, revealing slender, radiant legs—as if light itself had sculpted them.
She walked toward me through an ancient forest where towering trees whispered forgotten words, and mysterious creatures watched us from the shadows. Birds with shimmering feathers sang soft melodies that filled the air with a peace that felt almost divine.
She smiled at me gently, and that smile… was like the rising sun melting away the ice in my soul.
"Haruki, you're blushing so much," she said in a voice as warm as the moss beneath our feet. "Remember, there are already two girls who are deeply in love with you... Though honestly, you're too adorable. You're like a springtime child."
My heart skipped a beat.
If anyone else had seen her in that moment… they'd have fallen in love, too. It was impossible not to. Every feature on her face seemed carefully carved by nature itself. Her eyes were living emeralds, and her very presence—her aura—wrapped around me with a warmth I'd never known before.
"You're… a goddess, aren't you?" I whispered, utterly entranced.
"You're quite clever, Haruki. Yes, I'm the goddess of nature," she said with a slight nod. Then she frowned ever so slightly. "But… could you stop staring at me like that? It's making me a little uncomfortable."
"S-sorry!" I turned away awkwardly. "It's just… you're so beautiful. I've never seen anyone like you. I don't mean it romantically, I just—"
"I understand," she said, her voice softening again, followed by a playful giggle. "But I don't want to imagine the looks on Kaori's and Ailany's faces if they heard you say that."
She sat beside me with graceful ease. Only then did I notice we were sitting on a log covered in moss so soft it felt like an enchanted sofa hidden deep within the forest.
"I know… I'm pathetic," I muttered. "Sometimes even I don't understand myself. I want to know what promises really mean… and how to truly love someone."
She stayed silent, giving me space to go on.
"I think I love Ailany… but I'm not sure if that's what love really is. Maybe I just clung to her because she showed me another path—gave me hope…"
She looked at me quietly for a few moments.
"What you feel… it might be love, or it might be need. Sometimes we confuse the two. But you don't have to figure it all out right now, Haruki. Just be honest with yourself—and don't be afraid to follow your heart, even if you make mistakes."
I nodded without saying a word. Her words wrapped around me like the forest's gentle breeze. I felt fragile… but heard.
"Thank you… for this," I murmured.
"I enjoy talking with you, too. But our time here isn't infinite…"
"Why did you come to me?" I asked, suddenly anxious.
She paused, as if carefully choosing her words.
"Because I miss you… and because I need your help." Her eyes dropped slightly. "You must go to the lost village of Uke Mochi. There are things only you can uncover there. I need you, Haruki… I trust you."
I wanted to grab her hand, to stop her, to ask more questions—but her figure began to fade, like mist in the light of the forest.
"Wait… who are you, really?" I managed to say.
But there was no reply.
And in that moment—I woke up.
A familiar voice was coming from the other side of the door.
"Ailany, are you there…? Still sleeping…? Uh, sorry about last night. I probably shouldn't have acted that way—"
"Just a sec, I'm coming!" she answered, getting up from the futon.
I was still lying there, trying to process the dream I'd just had.
"Um… Ailany," I said quietly, scratching my head nervously. "Maybe it's not such a good idea if Hikaru sees me in your room."
"Hikaru's just a friend. I've told you already," she replied calmly as she moved toward the door.
"That's what you say… but I doubt he sees it that way."
I got up quickly, part nerves, part instinct. Something told me this wasn't going to end well.
"Good morning, Hikaru. Don't you think it's a little early to be apologizing?" Ailany said with a serene smile. "Anyway, don't worry. It's already in the past."
As they spoke, I noticed a small piggy bank on the table. It was heart-shaped and seemed to be made from some kind of light metal. I approached it out of curiosity.
On its surface, written in marker, were the words:
"Savings for the trip to Uke Mochi with my childhood boyfriend."
I dropped it instantly, as if it had burned me.
It hit the floor with a dull thud.
"Is there… someone else in your room?" Hikaru asked, his voice like ice.
Ailany didn't even try to hide it.
"Yes. Haruki's here. We slept together… just briefly," she said with total ease.
I swallowed hard.
We slept together…?
Why did she say it like that!?
Hikaru looked at me like he was about to tear me in half.
"It's not what you think!" I blurted, raising my hands. "We just talked for a bit and I fell asleep, that's all!"
"I don't believe a word you say," he snapped. "You're a damn scumbag. You're just playing with them… with their feelings!"
Before I could react, he punched me. The world spun—and I found myself on the floor.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Hikaru!?" Ailany shouted, rushing to my side. "He told you the truth! And besides, why do you even care what happens between us!? You're just my friend!"
With her help, I sat up, dazed.
"Hey, Ailany… don't you think tiny birds are kind of cute…?" I mumbled, just before my consciousness completely slipped away.
And I fainted.