Adrift in a Dream Pt. 1

I thought I'd seen it all. The three Goddesses of Fate dragged me into their world, and now I see gods everywhere. Mystical things happen around me so often that I've somehow gotten used to it.

Used to it, huh…? I must've been high on something when I thought that—because this? This is a whole new level of absurdity.

"Oh. Good morning, Aikami," Lana greeted casually, lounging on my couch in my living room, watching my television.

"Ah! Is Aikami awake?" Chloe asked cheerfully, flipping something on my stove, using my pans and dishes like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Hello, Aikami," Alice smiled, standing by my balcony, sipping tea from my cup.

What is this? What's going on here? I've been awake for less than five minutes, and this is what I'm walking into.

Am I dreaming? This has to be a dream, but it feels way too real.

I walked over to the counter, where Chloe was now washing dishes on the other side.

"Chloe. Slap me. As hard as you can."

"E-Eh?! W-Why?!"

Yeah. Nope. Not a dream. And if it's not a dream, that leaves one major question—among many others.

"What the hell are you guys doing in my apartment?!"

"Weee~! If he wasn't awake before, he definitely is now!" Lana laughed.

"Heh. Relax, Aikami," Alice said, chuckling. "It's not like we're doing anything bad, right?"

"It doesn't matter what you're doing!" I snapped. "I get that you're goddesses and all, but you can't just break into someone's home because you feel like it! That's literally a crime!”

She slipped on a sly smile. "Oh, give us a bit of credit, won't you? It's not like we'd break into anyone's house. Just yours."

"Huh. Wow. I feel so special."

"As you should. Besides, the gods know a thing or two about invading people's privacy. What mortals call a 'crime,' they call a typical Tuesday night."

"…I hate that I know exactly what you mean."

It's common knowledge that in Greek mythology, a lot of… interesting things happened. Zeus alone had something like three thousand wives. Sounds like an exaggeration, but who knows? Maybe I shouldn't say that out loud... Just in case he's listening.

"Anyway, why'd you guys decide to show up here?" I asked.

"Oh. We got temporarily evicted," Lana said while munching on popcorn. "The hotel we're staying at is run by Hestia. You know her, right?"

"I mean... I don't know her, but I'm aware of her."

"Well, yeah. We accidentally pissed her off, so we're out of a place for a while, at least until she calms down. Given her temper, who knows how long that'll take?"

"Does it have to be my place...?"

"Yep. It's all we have."

And here I was just starting to think that this whole situation wouldn't be so bad. Now I have three goddesses staying at my place. Who knows what could happen? Worst case scenario, the entire apartment complex gets blown up.

"Aikami. Would you like breakfast?"

I turned around to see Chloe in an apron standing there, looking up at me with those huge eyes and a natural smile. The way she has to look up at me with those huge eyes while holding an onigiri... It was cute. But it wasn't just her.

While Lana was lying down with her stomach against the couch, she was swinging her legs back and forth. On the other hand, Alice sat on my beanbag with her legs rolled up to my chest, looking gently at me while her eyes subtly glowed.

Wait... Glow...? Before I could say anything, Alice smiled inconspicuously, crossing her lips with a finger.

"Aikami?" Chloe called out again. "Are you okay?"

I couldn't reply. The only thing I could think about was the fact that Alice, the most dangerous of the trio, caught me red-handed.

What if she thinks I'm a perverted creep and decides to cut my thread?! Wait, I don't even have a thread, do I? But still! Just the thought of it scares me.

"No way! Are you sick?!" Chloe gasped. "That's it! To Apollo's clinic, we go!"

"Wait—no, Chloe! I'm fine!" I exclaimed, waving my arms in front of me. "It's nothing like that. This is just... a lot to take in. That's all."

"Oh. Ah, yeah. I guess it would be quite sudden, waking up to us meddling around in your apartment."

Her entire posture dropped a little.

What the... Did I say something wrong? It's not like I was being rude, was I? At least, I hope I wasn't, but it's hard to tell.

"By the way, is that for me?" I asked, pointing at the onigiri.

With just that, her expression brightened up. "Huh? This? O-oh! Yeah! I made it for you, Aikami. Do you want it now?"

"Yeah, let me brush my teeth first."

"Okay!"

I sluggishly shuffled into the washroom. As soon as I closed the door, I leaned my back against it and slid down to the floor.

Should I even say that I'm surprised anymore? At this point, nothing is impossible when it comes to these girls. Still, I've said it many times before, but I'll say it again, this is way too much for an introvert like me to handle.

With as much effort as I could possibly muster, I pulled myself up to the sink and began my dental hygiene routine. First, I washed my fast, then I began brushing my teeth while staring at my reflection in the mirror. Were my bags always that dark?

"No, I think they've grown worse."

It was only upon hearing that voice that I realized... My reflection isn't mimicking my movements. I blinked once, then twice. On the third blink, Alice appeared on the other side of the mirror.

It took me a moment to render it, but when I did, I choked on all the bubbles in my mouth.

"Aikami!" Lana called out from outside. "You okay in there?"

"Y-yeah!" I replied.

I looked back in the mirror to see that Alice was still there, smirking at me as if she found my reaction amusing.

"What are you doing right now?" I sighed.

"I was just watching you," she said. "Kind of like what I was doing when you were asleep."

"Wait... You... were watching me... in my sleep...?"

Alice lifted a teacup from out of nowhere and took a sip. "That's right, Aikami. I was watching you in your sleep. Your little snores were quite cute."

"Yeah. That's totally not creepy at all."

"Relax. It's not like I did anything to you."

"Sure. I'll believe you. Anyway, what are you doing? Not only did you invade my property, but now you're invading my washroom? What if I was... I don't know, taking a number two?"

"Oh, please, darling. Don't underestimate me. I have enough respect to not do that to you. But I knew you weren't, and that's why I'm here."

"Speaking of which, why are you here?"

"Ah, right."

She reached her hands to the edge of the mirror.

Wait... Is this going where I think it's going?

With a shove and a subtle 'hup,' she pulled her body up, sitting on the bottom of the mirror like it was a window sill.

"Aikami," Alice said, leaning her cheek on her knees with a conniving smile.

"Y-yes...?" I gulped.

"For a guy who claimed to see us as nothing more than goddesses, those were some pretty interesting thoughts. You think Chloe is cute... but do you mean it?"

I knew she was gonna bring it up sooner or later, but this soon? I haven't even finished brushing my teeth yet.

"I... I meant it just as much as I did when... w-when I said that you were... beautiful..."

The smile on her face stretched wider while her eyes curled even more.

"Is that so?" she said. "Good. At the very least, you should show my sisters the same courtesy as you've shown me. I just wanted to make sure you weren't being deceitful."

"Why would I do that when I know you guys can read my mind?"

"You'd be surprised how many two-faced mortals we've come across in our lifetime. It is rather refreshing to meet such a straightforward one like you. Anyway, Aikami... As you were."

The moment she fully sank back into the mirror, my reflection returned.

I think I'm gonna pass out.