The Dream That Never Ends

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to destroy your world. I’m sorry… I never wanted to cause trouble. I’m sorry… I just wanted to save my own world.”

Voices of sorrow echoed through an unrecognizable space. Yūsha Kurayami stared at the distorted image of a boy, his body covered in wounds. Tears of blood streamed from the boy’s eyes.

Yūsha walked toward him, stopped at a safe distance, and extended his hand.

“It’s not your fault. It never was. The real culprits are the people who want to be saved. You have to understand… humans were never meant to exist. Hero—or what used to be one.”

Yūsha turned away and began to walk in the opposite direction. The cries behind him grew louder.

Everything around started to shatter, like glass cracking in slow motion.

An echo began to pulse in his ears, growing stronger until it overwhelmed him.

“Yūsha! Yūsha! Wake up!”

The voice pulled him back to reality.

“Good morning, superior… How are you today?” he muttered with a yawn, rubbing his eyes.

“Don’t call me that. And by the way, you had that nightmare again, didn’t you?”

Yūsha was on what looked like a train bound for Kyoto. He was leaning beside an elegant woman in a futuristic military uniform.

“Why do you call it a nightmare?” he replied lazily. “Maybe… if I killed one person every day—let’s say, an alternate version of them—it wouldn’t bother me so much.”

The woman smiled softly and looked at him.

“Then you’d have to become my husband.”

“Ehhh!?”

Yūsha quickly moved away from the beautiful woman, resting his chin on his hand while leaning his arm against the train window.

Outside, green fields passed by—rice paddies, young plants, and a few cherry trees scattered in bloom.

“Well,” she continued, amused, “it’s the only way to keep you out of jail.”

Yūsha sighed. “Your logic’s kind of strange. I guess that’s your way of threatening people.”

“Maybe…” She tapped her lips thoughtfully. “Oh, now that I think about it, it’s my turn to nap. You used my arm as a pillow for too long, so now I get yours.”

She pouted and rested her head on his shoulder, holding his arm gently as she gazed out the window.

“I should be blushing, shouldn’t I? But you do this so often that it doesn’t even surprise me anymore.” He exhaled through his nose. “Anyway, just don’t get mad when I wake you up later, okay?”

Akari whispered, “I love you, Yūsha Kurayami.”

“Huh? What was that?”

“Nothing. Just don’t stare at my chest while I’m asleep, got it?”

“That’s not what you said…” His face turned red as his eyes darted toward her chest. “I’m not a pervert!”

“You’re funny. You just did it.”

“That’s because you brought it up!” He crossed his arms and looked away.

Akari laughed quietly, holding him tighter—amused by how cute he looked when he was flustered or annoyed.

“I trust you, Yūsha Kurayami. Just don’t pass your nightmares to me.”

“Of course you can trust me! I’ve never failed you, Akari Fujimori. And about the nightmares… imagine I’m there with you. That should be enough to keep them away.”

“I guess that’s why I rarely have them anymore… Thank you, Yūsha.”

“Sou… just rest.”

The train sped along. Yūsha pulled down a small blue curtain to block the sunlight so Akari could sleep peacefully.

Moments later, they both dozed off—Yūsha against the window, Akari clinging to him like a baby panda.

The train slowed. Through the window, Kyoto’s rooftops came into view between green fields and blooming sakura trees.

A clear announcement echoed: 「まもなく京都駅に到着します. 扉にご注意ください.」“We will soon arrive at Kyoto Station. Please watch the doors.”

The clattering of wheels softened. Passengers gathered their bags and moved toward the exits as pink petals floated across the platform. The train stopped with a soft click. Yūsha began to wake, while Akari still slept peacefully.

She looks so beautiful… Hard to believe her Threat Code is “Cruelty.” I’ll let her rest a bit longer. She’s been working too much lately.

Yūsha reached for the overhead compartment and pulled out a pair of earphones, placing them gently on Akari’s head.

With his bag slung over his shoulder, he lifted her carefully in his arms. People glanced curiously, assuming the girl was ill.

He waited for everyone else to disembark before stepping out last.

A security guard hurried over, concerned.

“Excuse me, young man… is she alright?”

“She’s fine, just sleeping. She was so tired I didn’t want to wake her. Is there a problem with that?”

The guard waved his hands quickly. “No, no! You’re very kind. Wanting your girlfriend to rest—that’s admirable for someone your age.”

“She’s not my girlfriend. But she says if I kill too many people, I have to become her husband. So I’m not really sure how that works.”

The man chuckled, scratching his neck.

“Well, what can I say? Women are walking mysteries. Anyway, take care of her—she’s beautiful and seems important to you. What’s important should be protected.”

“Sou…” Yūsha glanced at her, noticing a strand of hair brushing her cheek before touching her soft pink lips.

The man waved as he left.

“See you, kid. Try to become a good husband someday.”

“A good husband, huh…” Yūsha murmured.

He watched a family nearby—a couple with two cheerful children at a vending machine. The girl insisted she wanted the same drink as her father, and her mother smiled, saying she was too young for that.

Yūsha stepped onto the escalator, weaving past hurrying passengers. Overhead, glowing screens showed train schedules and destinations. The smell of fresh coffee drifted through the station.

At the main plaza, sunlight poured in. Taxis lined up outside; buses rumbled past. Among the noise and movement, sakura petals floated softly, and modern buildings towered above cafés and shops.

For a moment, Yūsha stood still. His phone began to vibrate.

He stopped a taxi, placed Akari carefully in the back seat, and asked the driver to wait a moment as he answered the call.

“Yūsha speaking? Yūsha? Please answer!”

“Sou… What’s going on? Why the rush?”

“Are you really Yūsha Kurayami? The real one?”

“No, I’m the mayor of Kyoto,” he said dryly. “Of course I’m Yūsha.”

“Tehehe… I’m new at the guild.” She coughed awkwardly. “Anyway, your superior, Akari Fujimori—she’s with you, right? I need to speak with her. It’s urgent.”

“She’s resting. If it were truly urgent, the higher-ups would’ve called directly. Tell them to find someone else for their errands—we’re on an important mission.”

“Etto… okay. But remember, I warned you.”

The girl hung up quickly. Everyone knew that, as a rookie, annoying higher ranks wasn’t a good idea.

Yūsha Kurayami only held rank because of how close he was to his superior, Akari Fujimori.

“They keep hiring inexperienced people… And now my arm’s gone numb.”

He stretched his arm, opening and closing his hand a few times before getting into the taxi.

He gave the driver the address of their lodging.

The vehicle pulled away through Kyoto’s streets.

As news reports about Refulgents and their devastating attacks played on his phone, a thought crossed his mind.

Ahh… I forgot to wake her up. She said she wanted to eat together. Did she call it a ‘date’ or a ‘walk’? Oh well, next time.