Chapter 2: The Line Between Real and Illusion

Sunday morning. Stillness. Emptiness. Doubt.

Ren sat by the window, eyes locked on the sky that slowly faded into daylight. His coffee had gone cold hours ago, untouched. His thoughts were spinning.

Ren (thinking): Am I really just dreaming her? Is this all in my head? Or is there something else I can’t see?

No matter how many times he tried to reason it out, the same storm of questions circled back. He clutched his chest. His heartbeat wasn’t calm. He wasn’t calm.

At the park – midmorning

Koi waved from across the pathway, grinning like always. His voice snapped Ren out of his spiral.

Koi: “Oh heyy, Ren! What’s up?”

Ren (softly smiling): “Yoo… hey man. Also, uh… sorry about the other day. I kinda lost it.”

Koi: “Nah bro, don’t sweat it. I said too much too. Sorry I brought it up like that.”

They sat on the bench in silence for a while, watching kids run across the grass, laughing in the sunlight. Ren looked down, gripping his own hands.

Ren: “Koi, I’m seriously confused. I don't know what’s real anymore. My mind’s full of doubts I can’t shake off.”

Koi glanced at him, then looked back up at the sky.

Koi: “Alright, hear me out. You always meet her in that same place, right? That grassy hill?”

Ren nodded slowly.

Koi: “Then try going there again. But this time… don’t fall asleep. Stay awake. Just go there, wait. Maybe you’ll get your answer.”

Ren’s eyes widened a little.

Ren: “Yeah... That’s actually not a bad idea. I’ll try it.”

Evening – 

The golden light of the setting sun washed over the quiet hilltop. Ren stood alone, the wind brushing through his hair, carrying the scent of spring. This was the place. The beginning of all the dreams. The heart of his longing.

Ren (to himself): Today, I’ll find out. Am I dreaming? Or is there something I’m not supposed to understand yet?

He took a deep breath.

Ren (calling out loudly): “Yuna! Yuna! Are you here?!”

There was no reply. Only the whisper of the wind.

He clenched his fists.

Then, a voice behind him.

???: “Ren? Is that you?”

Ren spun around, heart skipping. But—

Ren: “Yuna?!”

Girl: “No… I’m not Yuna. She… she died a year ago. Don’t you remember?”

It was a girl from school—Aoi. Her voice was soft, careful, like she didn’t want to hurt him further.

Ren’s eyes dimmed.

Ren: “O-oh… I’m sorry. I thought... Never mind.”

Disappointment seeped into his chest like cold rain. As Aoi left with a concerned glance, Ren turned away, ready to walk back down the hill, heart heavy.

But then—he heard it.

Yuna (gently): “Ren, why are you sad?”

He froze.

Ren (shaky breath): “Yuna…? Is that you?”

Yuna (playfully): “Yes, it’s me, idiot.”

Ren turned around. She stood beneath the tree, bathed in the silver light of dusk, her soft smile reaching him before her voice did.

Tears welled in his eyes.

Ren (desperate): “Tell me, Yuna. Tell me the truth. Are you real? Or am I just dreaming again?! Please… I need to know.”

She walked up to him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her presence.

Yuna (softly, with a smile): “You will soon find out. Just keep believing.”

He reached out to her—but the world flickered.

Suddenly, his eyes shot open.

The stars were above him.

The night had already fallen.

He was lying on the grass. Alone.

Ren (panicking): “No… No way. I didn’t fall asleep. I was awake. I saw her. I heard her. I felt her…”

He sat up, staring at the sky, heart pounding, hands trembling.

Ren (whispering): “Was it… all just a dream?”

A long silence.

But something felt different this time. Something left behind… a warmth on his hand, like a touch that shouldn’t be possible in dreams.