NOVEL WEB Chapter 4: A Mysterious Figure and Dreams of Another World
The Appearance of a Mysterious Being
The next night, after a long day at the research institute, Satoshi Koizumi stretched his tired body and opened the door to his lab. As he stepped outside, the early summer night breeze gently brushed his face, carrying the faint scent of grass. Walking through the institute’s grounds, he let the cool air refresh him while his mind wandered to the mysteries of the universe.
Suddenly, a strange figure appeared in his line of sight. The figure had striking blue eyes and an aura that seemed to belong to another world, exuding an otherworldly presence.
“You have been chosen. Are you ready to uncover the truth hidden behind this world?” the figure asked in a low, controlled voice.
Satoshi was stunned, momentarily speechless. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, his chest tightened, and his body froze. The figure appeared out of nowhere in a place where no one should have been. There was something eerie in those eyes, a strange glow that seemed to pull Satoshi in, as though he was being hypnotized.
“The truth you seek won’t be found on the surface of this world. Only by digging deeper will you uncover it,” the figure continued, speaking as if it reached directly into the depths of Satoshi’s soul.
A shiver ran down Satoshi’s spine. It felt as if this being could see through his thoughts, a terrifying sensation. It was as though something was trying to drag him into a place that didn’t belong to this world.
Then, as abruptly as it appeared, the figure vanished as if it had been a mirage.
Frantically, Satoshi looked around, trying to find any trace of the person, but there was nothing. His heart raced, and his breathing grew ragged. Fear gripped his chest, and his legs felt weak.
“What… was that?” he asked himself, trembling with fear.
Was it just a hallucination? No, the figure had been real. Those eyes, those words, and the strange sensation when it disappeared—Satoshi’s mind spun with unanswerable questions, but no answers emerged.
A Conversation at Home
That night, when Satoshi returned home, his wife Tomomi was waiting for him in the living room. She looked more concerned than usual.
“Welcome home, Satoshi. Did something happen?” Tomomi asked.
Satoshi sat down on the sofa and let out a deep sigh. “On my way back, I ran into a strange person. It felt like they were from another world. They told me that the truth I’m seeking won’t be found on the surface of this world.”
Tomomi looked surprised. “What do you think they meant by that?”
“I’m not sure. But those words have been stuck in my head… and there was this overwhelming sense of fear and uncertainty that I’ve never felt before,” Satoshi replied, choosing his words carefully.
After a moment of thought, Tomomi spoke gently. “It could be a sign of something. But don’t overthink it too much. Trust your intuition, and unravel it step by step.”
“Thanks, Tomomi. You’re probably right, but I can’t shake the feeling that today’s encounter means something more,” Satoshi said with a nervous smile.
Though they spent some quiet time together after that, Satoshi couldn’t find peace. He gazed out the window, replaying the encounter in his mind with vivid clarity. The empty, quiet night outside seemed unsettlingly calm, amplifying his unease.
“Was it really just a coincidence?” Satoshi kept asking himself, but no answer came. He carried that gnawing feeling of dread as he went to bed, though it took him a long time to fall asleep.
A Dream of Another World
That night, Satoshi had a strange dream. He found himself standing in a vast, alien landscape. An unfamiliar vista stretched out before him, with a sky full of countless stars. Galaxies swirled above, slowly rotating around him.
“Is this… the universe?” Satoshi murmured in the dream. But everything felt surreal. Gravity, time, and space themselves all seemed different.
“What am I supposed to find here?” Satoshi began to walk, searching for answers, but none came. Gradually, his consciousness grew hazy, and the dream faded.
Waking and Fuzzy Memories
The next morning, Satoshi awoke in bed. But the dream’s details were fuzzy, slipping away as he tried to recall them. He felt certain that something significant had been shown to him, yet the specifics were blurred, like trying to see through murky water.
“What was that all about?” Satoshi asked himself, but again, no answer emerged. What remained was a peculiar feeling, as though the dream had left a strange imprint on his mind.
One thing was clear: the dream had ignited a new curiosity within him. Though the memories were vague, he felt that the experience had given him a clue toward new insights, guiding him toward fresh perspectives.
Reunion with Kira Moroboshi
The following day, Satoshi had plans to meet with his friend Masato Matsuda at the university hospital. Masato, a psychiatrist, held weekly Saturday morning sessions, and today, he had just finished consulting with Kira Moroboshi, an 18-year-old musical prodigy with unusual sensory experiences.
After Masato’s appointment, the two left the hospital and walked together, discussing their latest research. As they strolled, they spotted Kira Moroboshi approaching from the other direction. Masato had taken a keen interest in Kira’s unique abilities, suspecting that his extraordinary senses might hold clues for his research.
“Moroboshi, how are you doing today?” Masato called out. Kira stopped in surprise, then smiled faintly.
“Hello, Dr. Matsuda. I just thought I’d take a walk after my appointment…” Kira answered modestly.
“Why don’t we grab a coffee and talk for a bit?” Masato suggested.
Kira hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Sure, if you don’t mind.”
“This is my close friend, Satoshi Koizumi. Would it be alright if he joins us?” Masato introduced Satoshi, who smiled as Kira greeted him, a little shyly.
The three headed to a nearby café and ordered coffee.
A Conversation at the Café
As they sat and chatted, Kira began to open up about his recent dreams.
“Lately, I’ve been having these incredibly vivid dreams. It feels like I’m in another world…” Kira spoke carefully, choosing his words.
Satoshi and Masato exchanged glances, intrigued by Kira’s story.
As Kira continued, Satoshi felt something stir deep within him. It was as though Kira’s experiences in this otherworldly dream connected to Satoshi’s research in a profound way.
“Do you remember anything specific about the place or people in your dream?” Satoshi asked cautiously.
Kira thought for a moment before nodding slowly. “Yes, but it’s all so vague… like a foggy memory. It’s hard to explain.”
Suddenly, Kira’s eyes widened as if recalling something important. “Oh! I remember now… In the dream, someone whispered to me, ‘Come to the shrine on the night of the next full moon.’”
Both Satoshi and Masato fell into deep thought. If this was more than just a dream… what could it mean? They pondered the possibility, their minds racing.