Night slowly settled over Arou's house.
The living room lights glowed dimly, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.
Lumina and Hikari had already gone into Arou's room.
The laughter from their PlayStation games had long faded into silence.
Now the two of them slept soundly, covered by their blankets.
Arou sat on the sofa, still holding the bag that had carried Nora earlier.
He looked down at the white cat, who had returned to her feline form and was curled up against his chest.
Gently, Arou hugged Nora.
Her soft fur felt warm against his hands.
Nora let out a small yawn, closed her eyes, and breathed quietly.
Arou closed his eyes as well.
Today had been filled with strange events, but tonight...
everything felt peaceful.
Outside, the night wind rustled softly, and leaves brushed against the window.
Inside the house, the three of them slept peacefully—
no nightmares,
no strange games,
just warmth and tranquility.
Arou held Nora a little tighter.
"Good night, Nora," he whispered softly.
Nora merely flicked her tail, as if answering him.
And that night, for the first time since they had appeared in the real world,
Arou felt...
at peace.
---
Morning sunlight streamed through the living room window.
Arou was still asleep on the sofa, holding Nora in her cat form.
Their breathing was slow and steady.
Suddenly—
"Hm... Dad?"
Arou blinked.
Hikari's face was already very close to his, staring at him curiously.
Startled, Arou nearly fell off the sofa.
"W-What?! Hikari?!"
Hikari giggled.
"Dad sleeps while hugging a cat."
Arou glanced down at his chest.
Nora was still sleeping soundly, her tail moving slightly.
"Ah... this again," Arou muttered.
From the bedroom, Lumina walked out while stretching.
"Good morning, Arou... hm?"
Her gaze stopped on Arou and Nora.
Lumina smiled faintly.
"You two seem to get along well."
At that moment, Nora opened her eyes.
The moment she saw the situation, she immediately jumped off the sofa and backed away.
"I was just sleeping somewhere comfortable," Nora said shortly while looking away.
Hikari walked over to her.
"Big Sister Nora, was sleeping on the sofa nice?"
Nora fell silent for a moment.
"...It wasn't bad."
Lumina chuckled softly.
"Well, it looks like this morning is going to be lively again."
Arou stood up and rubbed his face.
"You guys are already startling me first thing in the morning."
Hikari smiled brightly.
"Dad needs breakfast."
Arou paused for a moment before sighing.
"...Yeah, yeah."
Lumina and Nora exchanged glances.
To both of them, Arou was more than just a friend—
he was someone who was slowly changing,
without even realizing it.
And so the morning began with a small warmth,
without battles,
without strange games—
just everyday life moving forward little by little.
---
That morning, Arou stood in front of the house with his bag slung over his shoulder.
He looked inside for a moment, making sure everything was alright.
Lumina stood near the kitchen.
"Be careful on your way."
Nora, in her cat form, sat silently on the sofa.
Only her tail moved gently.
Hikari stood closest to Arou.
"Come home early, Dad."
Arou was silent for a moment before nodding.
"Yeah."
He opened the door and stepped outside.
The morning air felt cool, and the streets were still fairly quiet.
As he walked toward school, his steps felt heavy.
Not because he was tired,
but because his mind was full.
Lumina's words, Nora's appearance, and Hikari's existence—
everything felt real.
Far too real to simply be called a dream.
Arou stopped at an intersection.
He looked up at the bright morning sky.
"If this isn't a dream..." he murmured,
"then what exactly is happening to me?"
The school bell rang faintly in the distance.
Arou let out a sigh and continued walking.
For now,
he chose to live his day as usual.
Even though deep down,
he knew his life would never truly be normal again.
---
Arou sat at his desk as usual.
His gaze was fixed forward even though class had not started yet.
Several classmates glanced at him, hesitant to speak.
The silence didn't last long.
"Hey, Arou."
Arou turned his head slightly.
A classmate was standing beside his desk.
"You've looked tired lately. Are you okay?"
Arou paused.
"...I'm fine."
His classmate smiled.
"If you need help with anything, just say so."
Before long, more classmates greeted him.
Some lent him a pen.
Others simply nodded as they walked by.
It wasn't excessive concern.
It wasn't pity.
Just simple kindness.
Arou realized something.
They weren't demanding that he be cheerful.
They weren't forcing him to change.
They were simply...
accepting his presence.
When class began, Arou looked at the blackboard.
For the first time in a long while,
his chest felt a little lighter.
"Maybe," he thought,
"the real world isn't as lonely as I thought."
Outside the window, the morning breeze drifted gently.
The day proceeded like any ordinary day—
yet for Arou,
something was beginning to change.
---
"Alright," the teacher said,
"today we have a new student."
The classroom door opened.
A girl walked in and stood at the front of the room.
"Please introduce yourself."
She took a small breath.
"Nice to meet you, my name is—"
"Haa... Akari too?"
Arou's voice rang clearly through the room.
The class instantly became noisy.
"Eh?"
"How do you know her name?"
"Where do you know her from?"
The teacher turned sharply.
"Arou."
Akari stopped speaking.
She looked at Arou, her eyes widening slightly.
"...Eh? Arou?"
The whispers grew louder.
"They know each other?"
"Seriously?"
Arou stood up without realizing it.
"Why are you here too...?"
His voice trembled.
Akari smiled gently, as if trying to reassure him.
"Relax, Arou. I'm not going to cause trouble."
The classroom erupted into whispers again.
"What are they talking about?"
"They sound like they've known each other forever."
The teacher sighed.
"Enough. The introductions can continue later."
He pointed to an empty seat behind Arou.
"Akari, please sit there."
Akari nodded.
As she walked past Arou, she paused briefly.
Arou froze.
His body stiffened.
His mind went blank.
The chair behind him slid softly.
Akari sat down.
The lesson began.
But Arou didn't hear a single word.
Because now,
the distance between dreams and reality
was only one desk apart.
---
The lunch bell rang.
The classroom instantly became noisy.
Arou quickly stood up and pulled Akari toward a quiet corner of the hallway.
"Why are you here too?!"
His voice was raised, filled with barely restrained emotions.
Several students glanced over, but Arou didn't care.
Akari slowly raised both hands.
"Calm down. I accidentally ended up in your world, hehe."
Arou frowned.
"Eeh... accidentally?"
Akari nodded.
"Yeah. Really."
Arou was silent for a moment before taking a deep breath.
"If you accidentally entered my world..."
"...then that means seven people are supposed to appear here, right?"
Akari smiled faintly.
"Smart. But... how do you know that?"
Arou looked down for a moment.
"I've already met Lumina, Hikari, and Nora."
He snorted.
"They're incredibly annoying."
Akari laughed softly.
"Oh, right," Arou continued,
"where are you staying now?"
Akari tilted her head.
"Ah... would it be okay if I stayed at your house?"
Arou immediately looked surprised.
"S-Sure."
Akari's face instantly brightened.
"Yay."
Arou pressed a hand against his forehead.
"Who else is going to show up?"
Akari thought for a moment.
"You said Lumina, Hikari, and Nora have already appeared, right?
Then that only leaves Shi, Priscilla, and Airi."
Arou immediately groaned in frustration.
"Why are they all girls?!"
His voice rose.
Akari smiled casually.
"Because all the men in your dream told us girls to come to your world first."
Arou stared at her.
"Why would they tell you to do that?"
Akari shrugged.
"Nova and the others said they'd come later."
Arou sighed.
"I see... then why are you all coming here in the first place?"
Akari was silent for a moment.
"No idea. I'm just following along."
She looked directly at him.
"The only ones who know the real reason..."
"...are Nova and Airi."
That name made Arou's chest tighten.
"Airi?"
"Where is she? Is she with you?"
Akari slowly shook her head.
"No. We all arrived in this world in different places."
Arou fell silent.
"...I see."
The bell signaling the next class rang.
But for Arou,
one thing had become clear—
the dream wasn't ending,
and his real world
was slowly being filled by them.