I woke up with that dream stuck in my head again.
No—dream didn't feel like the right word.
It was closer to a nightmare. Or maybe… a message.
A faint vision replayed behind my eyes, like it was buried under layers of dust. Tall buildings loomed above me, blocking the sky. Judging by the angle, it felt like I was lying on the ground.
And there she was.
A girl.
She stood close enough that I should've recognized her. I felt like I knew her. But no matter how hard I tried, no name came to mind.
She was staring down at me.
Disgust?
No… fear.
Her lips trembled.
"That's… enough."
The moment she said it, the world shattered like glass.
I shook my head and sat up.
Why was I even thinking about this first thing in the morning?
More importantly—
"I'm almost late."
I rushed through the campus, still half-lost in thought.
My name is Rei Mikotto, a first-year student at International City University.
Calling it a university is honestly misleading. The place is massive—so big it's practically a city of its own. Classrooms, gyms, libraries, malls, dormitories, even full sports venues. Walking the entire campus is impossible.
And the courses here? Brutal.
I was enrolled in the Special Course—a temporary program for undecided students. Every week, we'd experience a different field. Sounds generous, right?
There's a catch.
Fail to choose a permanent course by the end of the first semester, and you're expelled.
No pressure or anything.
I reached the gymnasium just before the welcome ceremony began.
Thousands of students filled the seats. I slipped into an empty chair near the back and immediately felt out of place.
Rural kid. New city. No friends.
Perfect.
"Hey."
I flinched.
"What course are you in?"
The girl sitting beside me leaned closer, smiling casually. Black hair, cut just short enough to frame her face. And her eyes—
Blue. Strikingly so.
I stared.
Too long.
"Uh… are you okay?" she asked, concern creeping into her voice.
"Y-Yeah! Sorry," I said quickly. "I was just—uh—thinking. I'm in the Special Course."
Her eyes lit up.
"Really? Me too!"
She looked genuinely happy, and somehow that eased my nerves.
"I'm Shiorinne Haturi. What's your name?"
My brain froze.
Shiorinne… Haturi?
That Shiorinne?
Ranked 2nd in the entrance exams.
Score: 99.48%.
Only 0.4% below the top student.
Meanwhile, I barely scraped into the top 23.
"R-Rei Mikotto," I said. "And… yeah. That Shiorinne."
She laughed like it wasn't a big deal.
We talked quietly as the ceremony dragged on. Mostly small stuff. Still, it felt nice not being alone.
When the program ended, professors instructed us to head to our designated classrooms.
"Let's find ours together," Shiorinne said.
I hesitated.
"I… actually forgot my room number."
She offered to wait, but I somehow convinced her to go ahead.
After she left, I asked a nearby professor—a bald, surprisingly hot-tempered one—and finally got my assignment.
Only then did it hit me.
I forgot to ask Shiorinne what class she's in.
I sighed at my own stupidity and headed inside.
The moment I stepped into the classroom, I froze.
She was there.
Same class.
Relief washed over me.
I took a seat by the window in the back. Shiorinne was already chatting with a group of students. She fit in effortlessly.
I didn't.
If I stick to her, I'll just hold her back.
So I turned to my seatmate instead.
She was asleep.
Black hoodie. Hood pulled low. Notebook on the desk, partially covered by her hand.
Her name was written on it—messy, but readable.
"Hyuki… Tonashi?"
That name—
Wait.
Top-ranked student.
Entrance exam score: 99.88%.
The number one.
No way…
Before I could process that—
"Everyone, take your seats!"
The teacher entered, snapping the room to attention.
Class began, though as a Special Course, we only covered surface-level topics. Still, it was exhausting.
When sessions ended, students scattered toward clubs or dorms.
I decided to check out the club recruitment area.
The park near the giant tree was buzzing with activity.
I spotted Shiorinne at one of the stalls—but didn't approach.
Instead, I drifted closer and read the sign.
"Sepak Takraw Club…"
That game demanded insane agility and coordination. I'd always wanted to try it.
Then I noticed someone else signing up beside me.
Hyuki Tonashi.
So the top two are both joining…
I swallowed and forced myself to speak.
"Hey, weren't you sitting next to me earlier?"
She glanced at me.
Cold. Sharp.
Then she walked away without a word.
"…Did I do something wrong?"
From her perspective, yeah.
That probably looked like I was hitting on her.
Great.
A club member leaned over, grinning.
"Interested in joining?"
"Not really. I don't even know how to play."
She giggled. "Tryouts are today. Sepak Gym, near the giant tree. You might get to see her play."
Her teasing burned my ears.
I checked out other clubs—literature, mystery, then accidentally wandered into something called the Dream Club.
Big mistake.
A massive senior blocked the exit.
"I'm Tiho. Club president," he said cheerfully. "Sit."
Before I could escape, I was dragged to a table with a crystal ball.
"…Why are you interested in our club?"
I sighed and told him about the dream.
All of it.
He listened quietly.
"Dreams can be messages," he said. "From the past. Or the future."
That didn't help.
I left feeling more unsettled than before.
On my way home, my left eye suddenly burned.
My vision turned white.
I stopped walking.
Only my right eye could see the street.
I closed it.
White space.
Then—
Buildings.
A road.
A convenience store.
And a girl calling for help.
The vision vanished.
Heart pounding, I rushed to the location.
No one was there.
"…Guess I'm losing it."
Then I heard someone fall behind me.
"Help—!"
I turned.
Shiorinne.
Collapsed.
Exactly like the vision.
"Rei…?" she said weakly.
"How is this possible…?"
I helped her inside the convenience store. Leg cramp, apparently—from the match.
But my mind was elsewhere.
That wasn't a dream.
Elsewhere—
Hyuki walked alone through an abandoned alley.
Footsteps followed her.
She stopped.
"Come out," she said calmly. "I know you're there."
A man stepped forward.
Black jacket. Chemical mask.
Eyes glowing blue and red.
"You have caused an ⬚⬚⬚⬚⬚⬚⬚…"