WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING

The morning air was crisp and cool as Takumi hopped off the bus, duffle bags in hand. He stood still for a moment, taking in the mountainous scenery of his hometown, the towering peaks stretching into the sky, their slopes dusted with early autumn hues. The bus rumbled away behind him, leaving only the faint scent of exhaust that quickly dissipated into the fresh alpine breeze. His boots crunched against the gravel road as he walked up the narrow path, the scent of damp earth and pine needles stirring childhood memories—days spent running through these very hills with his best friend, Haruto, before the weight of the world settled on their shoulders.

After two years of military deployment, he was finally home. He hadn’t particularly enjoyed his time in service, yet a small part of him felt melancholic leaving it behind. The routine, the discipline—it had given his life structure, but now, standing here, all he wanted was the warmth of familiarity.

As he neared his home, a familiar aroma tickled his nose. His stomach rumbled in response.

“Ahhh,” he exhaled, grinning. “That’s Mom’s miso salmon… I could die happy if I had just one bite.”

Excitement bubbled in his chest, and he quickened his pace, rushing through the gate toward the front door—only to pause when he saw someone standing there. A man with glasses and a moderate build, dressed in a casual sweater, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips.

“Yo! Takumi. You look like you barely survived the military, dude. Looking all pale and stuff.”

Takumi smirked. “And it seems university has nerdified you, bro. You even wear glasses now.”

With a thud, he dropped his duffle bags to the ground. They both laughed, the sound carrying through the crisp air—then, without a word, they stepped forward and pulled each other into a firm embrace.

“I missed you, man,” Haruto muttered, his voice thick. “I thought you’d die out there or something.”

Takumi hesitated for a beat before tightening his grip. “I’m disappointed. Do you really think I’d go down that easily?”

Haruto let out a watery chuckle, wiping his eyes behind his glasses. “Yeah, yeah… You went all the way to Russia, right? Chasing after that insane mushroom?”

Takumi grinned, adjusting the strap on his shoulder. “The one that supposedly could end world hunger? Yeah. The military wanted to study it.”

Haruto’s curiosity flared. “Is it real?”

“Oh, it’s real, alright. One mushroom contains enough nutrients to sustain an adult for ten hours, and they grow insanely fast—one fully grows in just five hours.”

Haruto’s hands clenched in anticipation. “How did Russia even discover something like that?”

Takumi lowered his voice. “No one knows for sure. The theory is that it came from ancient ice glaciers. And get this—the earliest samples found are supposedly millions of years old. Some scientists think they were around during the time of the dinosaurs.”

Haruto’s eyes widened. “Holy crap, that’s a botanist’s dream. Do you… have one?”

Takumi smirked. “Why would I have something that valuable?”

Haruto deflated.

“Well… of course I have one.” Takumi dug into his duffle bag, pulling out a transparent lunchbox. Inside, a small mushroom pulsed with an eerie blue glow, emitting a soft hum—like the sound of a quiet air vent.

Haruto’s breath hitched. “No way. If I took this to my university—”

Takumi cut him off, pulling him closer. “Hey, listen. In a few months, the government is going to hoard all of these. But since they grow so fast, what if we cultivated them ourselves? We could sell them, get rich. You could drop out of university, I could quit the military… We could move to the city with our parents and actually live. Doesn’t that sound good?”

Haruto’s face lit up. “Sound good? That sounds amazing!”

They clasped hands in an excited handshake just as a voice called out.

“Takumi! You’re finally here?”

Takumi turned to see his mother standing at the door, her face glowing with joy.

“Mom!” He rushed forward, embracing her tightly. “You never age, do you?”

“Oh, my ridiculous son.” She pinched his cheek lightly. “Come inside and greet everyone. We’ve gathered to celebrate your return.”

As they stepped inside, the table was covered in an array of delicious food, the warm glow of lights casting a soft ambiance over the cheerful gathering. Laughter and the clinking of glasses blended into a comforting melody as everyone chatted about their lives.

“Despite your age, Uncle and Auntie, you both look healthier than ever,” Takumi said with a grin.

Haruto’s father chuckled. “Haha, still as charismatic as ever, Takumi. You must be quite the ladies' man.”

Mama Haruto smiled. “Indeed! You’ve got a way with words, my goodness.”

Haruto’s father turned to his son with a teasing grin. “Hey, Haruto, you should take some lessons from him, huh?”

“Come on, Dad…” Haruto mumbled, looking away.

Takumi, sensing his friend’s embarrassment, changed the subject. “Yo, Dad, did you ever finish that game I recommended? The one with zombies and all?”

“Of course I did!” Takumi’s father beamed proudly. “Finished it twice. Got another recommendation?”

Haruto’s father had always embraced his youth—video games, movies, trends—he made an effort to keep up with it all.

But the lighthearted mood shifted when his expression turned serious. “Takumi… what exactly were you doing in Russia? We were worried sick over here.” His voice lowered. “I heard rumors… about some plant that could start a war. Is that true?”

A brief silence settled over the table. Takumi exhaled, setting his chopsticks down. “It’s not a plant. It’s a mushroom… but yeah, it’s valuable. Still, I doubt it’ll escalate into a war.”

The weight of his words hung over them for a moment before his mother finally spoke up. “Son, when are you leaving the military?” Her voice trembled slightly. “I can’t keep living like this—constantly worrying. Didn’t you always dream of traveling the world with us? Living life to the fullest?”

Takumi met her eyes. Then, with a small smile, he straightened up. “I wanted to keep this a secret, but… I guess now’s the time.” He glanced at Haruto, who gave him an encouraging nod. “Haruto and I are starting a business. A venture with high potential. If things go well, we’ll be able to travel the world together, just like we always planned.”

A mixture of surprise and relief washed over their parents’ faces.

Haruto smirked. “Great, now you’ve ruined the mood.”

Takumi laughed. “Come on, let’s just enjoy the night.”

The conversation picked up again, the warmth returning as they laughed, ate, and shared stories.

By evening, their parents had gone to bed, leaving Haruto and Takumi alone at the table. Papers, notes, and samples of the mushroom lay scattered before them. Their eyes, once filled with laughter, now burned with focus.

Because despite their words of reassurance, they both knew—this mushroom could change everything.

“I’m counting on you, man,” Takumi said, watching as Haruto carefully planted the fungus in a small pot. “This is our ticket to the good life, so use your botanist skills well.”

“You can count on me,” Haruto replied, adjusting his glasses. “You go get some sleep. I’ll finish up here.”

Takumi lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking. “I just hope this plan works. I’m tired of pushing myself to the limit. Tired of struggling. Please, fate—don’t play a cruel trick on us.”

Sleep took him.

Then the nightmare began.

He twisted and turned, suffocating in his own dream. His lungs burned. His heart pounded. He bolted upright, gasping for air—only to find the room shrouded in darkness, save for an eerie blue glow.

His breath hitched.

Mushrooms.

They were everywhere.

They pulsed with an unnatural blue light, emitting a low, humming drone. The air was thick, suffocating. He tried to call out but found no voice. His chest tightened—he was drowning in something invisible.

Panic surged through him. He staggered to his feet, fighting against the suffocating force. Stumbling toward the door, his vision blurred, he saw them.

Haruto’s parents.

Collapsed on the floor, foam bubbling from their lips.

No—no, no, no!

He dropped to his knees, grabbing their arms, trying to pull them, but his own strength was fading. His lungs screamed for air.

He had to run.

With the last of his willpower, he forced himself to his feet and sprinted outside, the cold night air like a slap to his face. He doubled over, choking, finally able to breathe again.

A figure stood ahead, trembling.

Haruto.

Beside him, Takumi’s father. Both looked pale, terrified.

“Hey!” Takumi shouted, his voice raw. “What the hell just happened?!”

Haruto clutched his head, panic in his eyes. “I… I don’t know. My parents… they’re still in there. But I—I’m too scared to go back…”

Takumi turned to his father, his stomach dropping. “Dad… Mom’s still inside.”

His father clenched his fists, face stricken with helplessness. “I know, son. But I tried… I tried five times. The closer I get, the harder it is to breathe.”

He turned back to the house, now an eerie silhouette against the night, glowing with that unnatural blue light.

“What the hell is going on…”