Morning arrived with persistent rays of sunlight filtering through thin curtains. Nickan woke earlier than usual, his mind still caught between the world of dragons and his own reality. He tossed aside his rumpled sheets and padded across the cool floor to the bathroom.
The routine of normalcy felt almost foreign after hours spent in Sengoku's scaled form. He brushed his teeth methodically, foam gathering at the corners of his mouth as he stared at his ordinary reflection. After rinsing, Nickan stepped into the shower, letting hot water cascade over him, washing away the remnants of sleep and fantasy alike.
Once refreshed, he carefully trimmed his facial hair, shaping the short beard that framed his jaw. The precise motions with the razor grounded him in the physical world, a stark contrast to the fantastical transformations he'd witnessed through Sengoku's eyes.
Dressed in comfortable lounge clothes, Nickan made his way to the kitchen. He cracked eggs into a bowl, whisking them with practiced movements before pouring the mixture into a heated pan. The eggs sizzled as they hit the surface, and he pushed them around with a spatula until they formed soft curds. Toast popped up from the toaster with a mechanical ding, perfectly browned.
He arranged his simple breakfast on a plate and carried it back to his bedroom, settling on the bed beneath the slowly rotating ceiling fan. The scrambled eggs were fluffy and warm, the toast crisp with a thin layer of butter melting into its surface.
As he ate, Nickan reached for his phone, suddenly remembering Airi's messages from the night before. His screen was filled with notifications, a cascade of texts following his brief response. He scrolled through them quickly, his fork pausing halfway to his mouth when he read her last message: she was coming today at 10 AM to take him to an amusement park.
His heart quickened its pace. Was this a date? The setting certainly suggested so—amusement parks were classic date locations in every book and film. Why would she suggest it unless...?
Nickan glanced at the clock. It was already 8:30.
He wolfed down the remainder of his breakfast and sprang into action, gathering discarded clothes and straightening shelves. If Airi was coming, he wanted his apartment to reflect a man of order and responsibility, not the scattered chaos of his usual creative process.
He vacuumed the carpet, wiped down surfaces, and reorganized his desk, placing his notes in neat stacks. Every so often, his eyes darted to the clock, watching the minutes tick closer to her arrival.
At precisely 10 AM, a knock sounded at his door.
Before answering, Nickan carefully hid his notebook of Sengoku's memoir beneath a stack of ordinary books in his cabinet. He adjusted his shirt, ran fingers through his hair, and opened the door.
Airi stood in the hallway, radiant in a pink dress that immediately drew his attention. The fabric was light and flowing, with delicate floral embroidery trailing along the hem and neckline.
Tiny pearls had been sewn into the pattern, catching the light when she moved. The dress cinched at her waist with a subtle ribbon before flaring out to just above her knees. It was both elegant and playful—perfectly suited for a day at an amusement park.
"Come in," Nickan managed, his heartbeat thundering in his ears.
Airi stepped past him, her eyes sweeping across his apartment with evident approval. "Wow, you cleaned up the place!"
"Can't leave it dirty for always," Nickan replied, struggling for casualness.
Airi's laugh was light and teasing. "Great job! I might give you a kiss if you were my boyfriend."
Heat rushed to Nickan's face, staining his cheeks crimson. "Gracious! Anyway, I'll get ready by changing my clothes in the bathroom. It'll take two mins and then we'll go out."
"Okay, hurry up!" Airi called after him as he retreated to the bathroom.
Nickan changed quickly, opting for a blue denim shirt with matching jeans—casual but put-together. When he emerged, Airi nodded appreciatively.
"You look nice," she said, already moving toward the door. "Let's get going."
Nickan locked his apartment behind them and fell into step beside Airi as they walked down the street. The silence between them felt weighty with unspoken thoughts.
Nickan cleared his throat, summoning courage. "You look fabulous," he finally said. "Sorry that I didn't mention earlier. I was shocked to see how pretty you looked."
"Apology accepted!" Airi's smile brightened. "Let's have fun, shall we?"
"No doubt," Nickan agreed, relief washing through him.
They reached the highway and hailed a cab. The journey to the amusement park took just under twenty minutes, filled with Airi's animated chatter about rides she wanted to try. When they arrived, Nickan reached for his wallet, but Airi firmly shook her head.
"My treat," she insisted, already extending payment to the driver.
Nickan knew better than to argue. Airi had always been stubborn, even when they were children. He accepted her generosity with a nod.
They approached the entrance gates, where Airi produced two tickets from her mini bag.
The amusement park sprawled before them—a wonderland of color and motion. Towering roller coasters traced metal ribbons against the sky, their supports painted in vibrant reds and yellows. The central plaza featured an ornate carousel with hand-carved horses gleaming with fresh paint and polished brass poles. To the left, a massive Ferris wheel rotated lazily, its gondolas swinging gently with each turn.
Despite being mid-morning on a weekday, the park hummed with activity. Families with excited children, couples holding hands, and groups of teenagers moved between attractions. Yet it wasn't overwhelmingly crowded—lines seemed manageable, and there was space to walk without constant jostling.
The park boasted over twenty unique rides, from classics like bumper cars and spinning teacups to more adventurous offerings like the "Gravity Defier," a massive pendulum that swung riders in complete vertical loops.
Everything was immaculately maintained, walkways swept clean, flower beds bursting with colorful blooms, and not a scrap of litter in sight.
"Ice cream first?" Airi suggested, already pulling Nickan toward a quaint shop with a striped awning.
They each selected a cone—chocolate for Nickan, strawberry for Airi—and wandered the park while enjoying the sweet treat. Once finished, Airi pointed determinedly at the largest roller coaster.
"That one first," she declared.
The ride's dips and curves left Nickan's stomach somewhere far behind. He staggered off the platform with wobbly legs, while Airi laughed, her hair windblown but her steps steady.
"The boat ride next," she decided, guiding him toward an artificial lake where swan-shaped boats glided across blue-dyed water.
The gentler pace allowed Nickan to regain his equilibrium before Airi dragged him to the Pendulum ride, then the Bayern Kurve with its tilting circular track, and finally the Breakdance with its independently spinning platforms. Each left him more dizzy than the last, while Airi remained unfazed and enthusiastic.
They found respite in the gaming arcade, where Nickan discovered unexpected skill at basketball shooting and ring toss games. His success earned a small stuffed dragon that he immediately presented to Airi, who tucked it into her bag with evident delight.
The 9D theater provided another highlight—a brief film experienced with motion seats, wind effects, and water sprays that had them both laughing as they emerged.
Time slipped away like sand through fingers.
The afternoon sun began its descent, casting longer shadows across the park grounds.
Nickan realized with a start that they had spent the entire day riding attractions and playing games. His legs ached pleasantly from walking, and his face felt tight from hours of smiling.
As they sat on a bench sharing cotton candy, Nickan's mind raced with possibilities. Why had Airi arranged this day? The question had lingered at the edge of his thoughts all afternoon. Did she perhaps share the feelings he had harbored for so long? His blood seemed to fizz with excitement at the prospect.
Airi turned to face him, her expression suddenly serious. "Nickan, I know your grandfather was a writing genius whom you admired the most and wanted to surpass him one day, but unfortunately he died a few days ago. However, it doesn't mean that there's no chance left. There is, and I know you will become a better writer than your grandfather one day, so stay strong and hope for the impossible."
The words hit Nickan like a bucket of cold water. So that was it—not a romantic overture but a mission of comfort. She had organized this day not out of affection but pity, seeing him as a grieving grandson rather than a potential life partner or a boyfriend.
He forced his features into what he hoped resembled a grateful smile. "Thanks, Airi. That was uplifting for me."
"If you get it, then don't be late to reply," she admonished gently, referring to his habit of ignoring messages.
"I won't," Nickan promised, "but sometimes I'm so busy writing my new book that I put my phone on do not disturb mode. So even if you message me and find no feasible reply, please understand that I was busy and wait for my reply."
"Okie dokie!" Airi nodded, apparently satisfied with this arrangement.
They left the park as dusk settled, hiring a taxi back toward their neighborhood. Airi's house came first, and she waved cheerfully as she exited the cab. Nickan returned the gesture half-heartedly, his earlier excitement deflated.
The remainder of the journey passed in silence. Nickan paid the driver and trudged up to his apartment, fumbling with his keys as weariness settled into his bones. The door swung open to reveal his tidied living space, now feeling emptier than before.
His gaze fell upon an impossible sight. The memoir book lay not in the cabinet where he had hidden it but floating in mid-air, surrounded by a pulsing red glow. As he approached, a blue screen materialized before it:
[Welcome to Memoir System!]
Name: Nickan Wole
Age: 27
Talent: Writer
Story relived class rank: SSS
[Warning: Relive the book within two hours or else there will be punishment!]
Nickan stared at the floating text, all thoughts of Airi and the day's disappointment vanishing instantly. He had never seen this interface before—had never known the book could communicate in such a direct manner.
Without hesitation, he grabbed the glowing tome and settled onto his bed. The pages fell open of their own accord, revealing new passages he hadn't written. This chapter appeared to focus on Sengoku's journey into fatherhood, a development Nickan found startling. So much happening in such a compressed timeframe?
Questions one after another bubbled through his mind, but a digital countdown had appeared at the edge of his vision.
Whatever punishment the book threatened, Nickan had no desire to discover it firsthand. He adjusted his position, lay back against his pillows, and allowed himself to be drawn once more into the book world of memoir.