The world faded in like a quiet sunrise.
Rin blinked and found himself back in bed, the familiar ceiling of his room above him.
The morning light spilled through the curtains, soft and warm.
Had it all been a dream?
Then he looked at his hand.
The Dreambag was there.
A small, dark blue pouch with a moon-shaped clasp—just like Moonchan gave him.
He opened it. Inside, the earbuds shimmered faintly.
Real. Cool to the touch.
Moonlight traced their cords, almost like they were alive.
Shiro, lying curled up at the foot of the bed, lifted his head and blinked.
"We're back."
Rin nodded, slowly sitting up. His heart felt both calm and nervous.
At school, everything looked the same.
Same uniform.
Same classmates.
Same lonely routine.
But today, he wore the earbuds.
The moment they touched his ears, the world shifted—not in sight, but in sound.
He heard voices.
But more than that, he heard what they were hiding.
"That guy's so weird."
—"I don't know how to talk to him."
"Watch it."
—"I'm scared I'll be the next one they laugh at."
"Leave him alone."
—"Please don't make me part of this."
Rin froze.
He wasn't hearing thoughts.
He was hearing emotions.
And suddenly… the world felt deeper.
Messier.
Realer.
At lunch, he sat alone like always.
Then came a loud voice and heavy footsteps.
"Hey, quiet kid!" said the tall, chubby boy from class—Toma.
He dropped into the seat across from Rin with a grin.
Rin glanced at him.
"He looked lonely… like I used to be."
Another boy joined them, chatty and twitchy. "You two already best friends now?"
He laughed, but his voice shook.
"I wish I could laugh like that and mean it."
Rin didn't speak much.
But he didn't walk away either.
For the first time, he stayed.
That night, back in his room, Rin took out the earbuds again.
The Dreambag dissolved in a small shimmer of starlight.
The earbuds glowed for a moment… then quietly vanished from his hands.
Gone.
He didn't panic.
He understood now.
Each gift was meant for a moment.
And when that moment passed… it returned to the dream.
Shiro rested his head on Rin's lap.
"You did well," he said. "You didn't just listen to them… You felt them."
Rin looked up at the moonlight through his window.
And whispered—
"Thank you… Dreambox Shop."