After that night, Arashi went to school, his mind restless. Who does she think she is, telling me what I should or shouldn't do? he thought bitterly. She acts like she can change me… but that's not happening. I've been trying to change myself for so long and failed. How could I suddenly become different, just like that?
Days passed, and soon summer break had begun.
Arashi's friends gathered around him. "Summer break's starting—what's your plan? Are you just going to sit at home all day, or do something fun?"
"I don't really have time," Arashi muttered. "If I make plans with you guys, I'll just end up ruining them. So, wherever you want to go, go ahead. No need to invite me."
Miyu gasped dramatically, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wow, look at you now—so busy, acting all grown-up! You don't have time for us anymore, huh? You're probably saving all your time for your girl. Selfish much?"
"That's not it," Arashi said quickly, shaking his head. "Fine… I'll try to come. What did you guys even plan?"
"Nothing crazy," Satoru answered with a grin. "First the aquarium, then the theme park, and finally… the fireworks festival."
Arashi sighed. "Alright, I'll try… but I can't guarantee I'll be able to join all of them."
Takumi leaned forward, smiling. "Bro, even if you come to just one, that's enough for us. But seriously, please make some time. We're doing all this at the end of summer break—so come, okay? And bring your girlfriend too, you've got one we know for sure. She is also invited."
That was it. Arashi's patience snapped, anger rising fast. His chest tightened, and just as he was about to lash out, a voice echoed in his ears.
Control your emotions. Be patient.
The dream girl's words.
Arashi froze. He drew in a long, shaky breath, his fists unclenching. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm—so calm it surprised even him.
"There's no one in my life right now," he said firmly. "If there ever was, you guys would be the first to know. But right now, there's no one. So stop teasing me."
The group fell quiet for a moment. Then one of them said, "Ohh… so that's how it is. Alright then."
Hina glanced at the time and tugged Satoru's sleeve. "Come on, we should go. I'm running late."
They all stood, exchanging goodbyes with Arashi. "Alright, then—it's settled. We'll meet again at the end of summer break. Until then, take care and stay in touch. We're looking forward to it."
With that, Satoru and Hina linked arms, smiling as they walked away together.
Arashi also excused himself and headed home.
On the way, his thoughts churned. What just happened? How did I hold myself back like that? Was it really just her words that made me control my anger?
He shook his head. No… it must've been a coincidence. Nothing more.
Still lost in thought, Arashi finally reached home.
When Arashi reached home, he dropped his bag and lay flat on the floor, staring at the ceiling fan as it spun lazily above him. His thoughts circled restlessly.
Why am I like this? Why can't I be normal, like everyone else? What does she really want from me? Is she helping me… or controlling me? And why… why do I feel like I'm waiting for her?
Before he could sink deeper into the spiral, the door burst open. His mom stepped in, her tone brisk. "Tomorrow we're going to your grandpa's place. He's really sick, and your aunt can't handle everything alone."
"But Mom…" Arashi groaned, sitting up. "Summer break just started. Can't we stay here for a few days and go later?"
"No," his mom replied with confidence. "And besides, Ren will be there too."
At that, Arashi froze. Ren—his cousin. The two were close, but only saw each other once or twice a year, and even then, only for a short time. This was rare. Unexpected.
A small smile tugged at Arashi's lips. "Well then… your wish is my command. We can leave right now if you want."
His mom smirked, her eyes gleaming. "Ohhh, look at you. Suddenly so eager. Should I be worried? Or is it just that seeing Ren matters more to you than your poor mom?"
"Mom!" Arashi flushed, caught off guard.
She chuckled, shaking her head. "If only you loved meeting us the way you love meeting him. If only you were this excited about your own family. If only you showed us the same love."
Arashi stayed quiet, letting her words hang in the air. He couldn't tell her the truth—not because he didn't love them, but because showing his feelings openly always felt impossible. He just didn't have the confidence… or the courage.
Breaking the silence, his mom sighed. "Alright. Rest for the first three days. After that, we'll go for two weeks."
Arashi lay sprawled across his bed, staring at the ceiling again. Three days until we leave… what should I even do? he thought. Should I start a new anime? Or play video games all day?
After debating with himself, he came up with a plan. Half the day for gaming, the other half for anime. Perfect.
The first day passed in a blur. Then the second. By the third day, however, restlessness gnawed at him.
Man, I need to step outside, he muttered. If I keep staying indoors like this, I'll turn into furniture.
He chuckled at his own thought, but soon his mind drifted back into the world he always escaped to—his imagination.
This time, he pictured himself in school. The classroom buzzed with chatter, when suddenly, the door slammed open. A man stormed in, a gun in his hand, panic spreading across the room instantly. Students screamed, ducking under their desks.
But Arashi… he didn't panic. In his daydream, he stood tall, calm, almost fearless. He grabbed a chair, throw it at a robber and distracting the man long enough to tackle him to the ground. The gun slid across the floor, grabbing and throwing poisonous gas bomb making every bad guy unconscious.
Everyone stared at him with wide eyes, voices filled with awe. Arashi saved us! Some students rushed to him, thanking him, others clapping, some even crying in relief.
The scene played in his head like a movie, filling him with a fleeting warmth—until a voice broke his daydream.
"Arashi!" his mom called.
"Yes!" he called out without thinking.
Silence.
"Yes, Mom!" he said again, louder this time.
Still no reply.
He frowned, sitting up. "Mom? …Mom?"
Finally, leaving his comfort zone, he walked out of his room and found his mother sitting in the living room, watching TV.
"What is it? You called me," he asked.
She looked at him with a completely straight face. "Pass me the remote."
Arashi blinked. "Seriously? The remote is right in front of you. You made me come all the way from my room just for this?"
He handed her the remote, and turned to leave. But before he could step away, her voice softened.
"Wait. Sit with me for a while. Please. I want some of your time too."
Arashi hesitated, then slowly sat down beside her. His mom smiled faintly, eyes still on the TV.
"You know," she said, "you always look lost in your own world. Sometimes, I feel like I don't really know what's going on in your head."
"That's… because there's nothing important in there," Arashi muttered, half-joking.
His mom nudged him lightly with her elbow. "Don't fool me. Mothers always know. You think too much, don't you?"
He didn't reply, but his silence was enough of an answer.
"I used to be like that too, when I was your age," she continued softly. "Always imagining things, always running away into my own thoughts. But do you know what I realized?"
Arashi turned to her, curious despite himself. "…What?"
"That sometimes, the people around you are more interesting than the worlds in your head. We're here, Arashi. We care. You don't have to hide everything from us."
Her words struck him deeper than he expected. He lowered his eyes. "I'm… not hiding anything. It's noting."
His mom smiled gently. "That's okay. You don't have to force it. Just… be with us sometimes. Even if you don't talk, just being there is enough."
Arashi nodded quietly. For once, he didn't feel the urge to escape into his imagination. Sitting there with his mom, the silence didn't feel heavy—it felt warm.
After listening to his mom's words, Arashi slowly leaned back, exhaustion finally catching up to him. Before he knew it, he had dozed off right there on the couch, his head resting gently on his mother's shoulder.
She noticed and froze for a moment, her heart softening. Carefully, she shifted him so he lay more comfortably on the couch, placing a blanket over him. Outside, the weather had turned rough—rain poured heavily, wind rattling the windows.
She stood quietly for a while, watching her son sleep so peacefully. A faint ache filled her chest.
"Oh God…" she whispered, her voice breaking."What will happen to my son? I worry for him every day. Please… whatever is best for him, let that be his path. That's all I ask."
With that prayer lingering in the air, she turned off the lights and went to her own room, still carrying the weight of a mother's worry in her heart.