Chapter XCIII: Silhouettes
Kota's eyes flutter shut as he drifts into a deep, much-needed sleep. The warmth of Akiko's home and the soothing presence of her family have finally allowed him to relax. As he falls into slumber, his body goes limp on the couch, and the world around him fades away.
Akiko stands up, watching him with a soft smile. She's about to head to the kitchen when there's a knock on the door. Her brother, who had been keeping an eye on Kota, gets up to answer it. Akiko follows him, curiosity piqued. When they open the door, it's a parcel delivery guy holding a medium-sized box with Akiko's name on it.
"Parcel delivery for Akiko Chisai!" the delivery guy announces cheerfully, holding out the box.
Akiko's grandma peeks out from the kitchen, her eyebrows raised.
"Akiko, what did you buy again? You're spending money like it's water!" she scolds playfully.
The twin aunts, Hana and Hina, exchange amused glances. Hana leans closer to Akiko, a teasing grin on her face.
"Oooh, what's in the box? Let me guess, another one of those limited-edition bracelets from the Online Store Nami you've been bugging us about?"
Hina chimes in,
"Or is it that special edition hoodie you were talking about last week?"
Akiko rolls her eyes, trying to suppress a smile.
"You guys are unbelievable. It's just... some art supplies I needed, okay?"
She reaches for the box and hugs it protectively.
"And no, I didn't spend that much. I'm budgeting, okay?"
Her grandma laughs softly.
"You and your art. I just hope you're not losing all your money on these things."
Before Akiko can respond, she hears a faint noise from the living room. She turns around and sees Kota slumping further into the couch, his breathing deep and even. He's fallen asleep, his face peaceful and still slightly flushed from the fever.
Akiko's teasing grin fades, replaced by a gentle smile. She turns back to her family.
"I'll take this to my room," she says softly, nodding toward the box.
"Can you keep it down a bit? Kota's sleeping."
The aunts nod, still smiling, while her grandma waves her off.
"Go on, dear. We'll keep things quiet."
Kota's dream starts off with a sense of calm. He's walking down a misty path, unsure of where he's going but feeling an inexplicable sense of urgency. The fog around him thickens, and suddenly, he finds himself in a dark, ominous forest. The trees are twisted, and the branches seem to reach out like skeletal hands.
In the distance, he spots two dark figures, their faces obscured by hoods. They are standing beside two familiar silhouettes, their arms and legs bound in chains. The figures are struggling, but their voices are muffled, as if the fog itself is stifling their cries.
"Who are you?" Kota tries to shout, but his voice is swallowed by the eerie silence.
The hooded figures don't respond. Instead, they tighten the chains, pulling the struggling silhouettes closer. Kota's heart races as he tries to move forward, but the ground beneath him crumbles, and he falls into a void. He's falling, falling endlessly, and the hooded figures above him disappear into the darkness.
As he tumbles through the abyss, Kota hears a faint voice calling his name. It's distant at first, barely audible over the rushing wind. But as he continues to fall, the voice becomes clearer, stronger, pulling him upwards.
"Kota... Kota, wake up!"
The voice is familiar, comforting. He feels a tug, and suddenly, he's no longer falling. Instead, he's being lifted, drawn toward the light above him. The darkness fades, and the voice becomes unmistakable.
"Kota, wake up! It's just a dream!"
His eyes snap open, and he's back in Akiko's room. The soft light of the afternoon filters through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. He's lying on Akiko's bed, the blankets pulled up to his chin. Beside him, Akiko is sitting with a worried expression on her face, her hand resting on his arm.
"Are you okay?" she asks softly, her eyes searching his.
"You were mumbling in your sleep, and then you started shivering. I was so worried."
Kota blinks, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream. He's drenched in sweat, and his heart is still pounding in his chest.
"I'm... I'm fine," he says, though his voice is shaky.
"It was just a weird dream."
Akiko leans closer, her brow furrowing.
"What did you dream about?"
Kota takes a deep breath, trying to piece together the fragments of the dream.
"I saw these two hooded figures. They were chaining up two people... and it felt like I knew them, but I couldn't see their faces." He looks down at his hands, which are trembling slightly.
"And then I fell... I fell into this dark place, and I couldn't get out."
Akiko's eyes widen, and she squeezes his arm gently.
"That sounds terrifying. But it's okay now, Kota. It was just a dream. You're safe here."
Kota nods, still feeling a bit disoriented.
"Yeah... I know. It just felt so real."
Akiko smiles softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.
"Dreams can feel that way sometimes. But they're just dreams." She pauses, then grins mischievously.
"Though, I have to admit, you looked kinda cute when you were mumbling in your sleep."
Kota's cheeks turn pink, and he looks away, embarrassed.
"I... I wasn't mumbling!"
"Oh, but you were!" Akiko teases, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"You were like, 'No, don't chain them up!' It was adorable."
Kota groans, burying his face in his hands.
"You're not going to let me live this down, are you?"
Akiko giggles, shaking her head.
"Nope! But don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
Despite himself, Kota laughs, feeling some of the tension melt away. Akiko's presence is calming, and the warmth of the room feels like a protective shield against the lingering chill of his dream.
They sit in comfortable silence for a few moments, and Kota can feel his body starting to relax. The fever that had been lingering seems to have broken, and he no longer feels like he's shivering from the inside out.
"You're looking better," Akiko says, her voice soft.
"I think the fever's gone."
"Yeah," Kota agrees, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I feel a lot better now. Thanks, Akiko."
She nods, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Anytime."
Eventually, Kota decides it's time to head home. Akiko and her family see him off, making sure he's bundled up warmly and has everything he needs. As he steps outside, the cool air feels refreshing, and he takes a deep breath, feeling more grounded and at ease.
Meanwhile, back at Tengen's house, the atmosphere is starkly different. Tengen and Hanako sit in his room, the faint glow of the computer screen illuminating their faces. They're both focused on the chat window in front of them, a strange chat head with no profile picture and a cryptic username.
The chat head pings again, and Tengen's eyes narrow as he reads the message.
Initiate Plan 1 - Progression.
Hanako leans closer, her expression serious.
"Are you sure about this, Tengen?"
Tengen nods, a determined look in his eyes.
"We have to. It's the only way to move forward."
Hanako hesitates for a moment, then nods.
"Alright. Let's do this."
With a few swift clicks, they send a reply to the mysterious chat head, setting things in motion. As the message sends, a sense of unease settles in the room. Whatever they've started, there's no turning back now.