Awakening- [Vol 0 End]

Yes, Kuromiya-sensei's…the man sitting before me is the true identity of that stalker.

“...Huh?” Kuromiya finally spoke, his voice cracking faintly. “Araki-kun, what kind of nonsense are you spouting? I'm…following you?”

“That's what I want to ask, why are you following me?”

“Cut the crap”, Kuromiya exclaimed, maintaining his composure “You see, Araki-kun, I’m a teacher. I’m busy. There are times even I could get angry, so could you please stop joking?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

Kuromiya narrowed his eyes.

“Araki-kun, you know this comes under false accusation if you don't have any proof. At times, you could be punished for this.”

“I’m well aware,” I said, slowly lowering my hand. “But this isn’t a false accusation… it’s the truth.”

“As if that'd justify your claim!” Kuromiya shot up from his seat.

“You're panicking, sensei”

The room fell silent again. The storm howled louder, drowning out even the sound of our breaths. For a moment, neither of us moved— both waiting to see who would break first.

“Why do you…think it's me? I don't have any reason to follow you!”

“Lie as much as you want but the truth won't change. Just confess already. We both know the truth–”

“Ha? Truth? What part of it is true?! All you’re doing is spouting baseless accusations! You don’t have any proo—”

“If you want proof, I have it.”

“…What?”

I knew he wouldn’t admit it easily. And If I’m wrong, then this would count as a false accusation. But I don't have to worry about that, the me right now  wouldn't make such a blunder.

That’s why I’ve been preparing for this moment, piece by piece, ever since I first noticed it.

There’s no turning back now—not when the answer is standing right in front of me. His earlier panic… only confirmed my suspicions.

All that’s left is one final push.

“Are you saying you can… prove it?”

“Not just that.” I narrowed my eyes. “I’ll make you confess everything.”

“I’m saying you’re wrong! Can’t you tell how absurd this sounds? What’s gotten into you, Araki-kun?!”

“Sensei,” I cut in, “all I see right now is a culprit struggling to cover up his mess.”

“You—” Kuromiya exhaled sharply, trying to keep his composure. “Then let’s see it. This so-called proof of yours.”

Finally, I can proceed.

This is the final stage in this Stalker's Game. Here on, it completely depends on how I’ll convince him. But it’s fine. Your lying can only go this far, because truth can't be hidden forever.

And now, I'll prove that fact.

“In case you're wrong. I’m sure you know the consequences? I won’t overlook it even if you are my student.”

“Dont worry, because I am not wrong. To prove my claim, I have five theories in total” I started,

“First: If my guess is right, It all started on September 4th, soon after I started noticing that someone was watching me. It didn't take long to realise that I was being followed.”

“And, How does it connect the dots to me being that stalker?”

“Heh,” I chuckled, “you still don't get it? because September 4th is the exact day you've joined this school”

Kuromiya shook for a moment.

“Since it was the first day of the new term, I remember it very well”

“Surely, that's a coincidence, right? Besides, there's no way I can tell that you're saying the truth”

“You have a point. But I still have more, here's comes another” I raised one more finger.

“Second: the infirmary–where the rumoured girl who is facing the same problem as me met you. Am I wrong?”

“I did…meet her. What about her?”

“So you still remember her,” I whispered.

“By that, What do you mean?”

“I don't know the reason, but apparently, all of a sudden, everyone forgot about her”

“...wha?”

“Including Aoki, and even Matsushida-sensei from P.E. Everyone forgot. Everyone… except for two people.”

I paused, meeting his eyes.

“Me and you.”

“H-how’s that even possible?!”

“I’ve been asking myself the same thing,” I muttered. “That’s exactly why I’m here—to find the answer.”

“But that still doesn’t prove your claim.”

“Don't rush me. Here's the third: actually I have a talk with that stalker”

“What!?”

“Not only that, although I couldn't confirm his details, but I saw him. He was wearing a mask but his hair is black and his height was around 6 feet. Doesn't it sound familiar?”

“Are you suggesting that he matches my description? Surely, there are many others who fits that persona–”

“I'm not done yet, I told you I talked with him, right? During that phone call…he mentioned Aoki”

Kuromiya’s eyes widened.

“Means, he not only knows my whereabouts. He also knows about my school relationships.”

I looked up, meeting Kuromiya’s gaze head-on.

“Which can only mean one thing...”

A brief flash of lightning illuminated the window beside us.

“That person is someone from this school.”

Kuromiya clenched his fist, “Enough…with talk. If you cant prove then its just a white li–”

[“I just wanted…to tell you to stop fooling around with that pink girl”]

Before he could counter, I pulled out my phone and played the recording.

His eyes narrowed. “Is this…?”

“It’s the recording from when I talked to that stalker, Now you know, I'm not making this up.” I said, keeping my tone calm. “ As you guessed, when he said pink girl, there’s no doubt he meant Aoki. We haven’t met outside of school recently, and if you’d like, I can call Aoki right now and confirm it.”

“Fine, I will believe you. Assuming that he is someone from school, it could be one of the students, it doesn't necessarily mean me.”

“It’s possible,” I replied. “Just like you said, that stalker could be a student. There are around 360 students in our school. It wouldn’t be strange if it turned out to be anyone. Honestly, I thought the same… at least until yesterday.”

Kuromiya’s eyes narrowed. “Yesterday…?”

“Here’s the fourth proof, which you can't even deny. You remember how you covered for me from matsushida-sensei?”

“I even saved you from missing your homeroom and yet you–”

“That time, Matsushida-sensei mentioned”,

【“What happened, Kuromiya-sensei? You usually wouldn't come late”】

“Yesterday, I was late to school,” I continued. “And as usual, I was being followed the whole way. Now, guess who else came late…? You. The one who never comes late, but for some reason, you did yesterday. Why?”

“...”, Kuromiya fell silent.

“It’s because you had to follow me”

Bam!! Kuromiya slammed the desk as hard as he could.

“Just give it a rest! It's just one accusation over another without any concrete evidence! And you call it proof? Don't give me that.” Kuromiya raised his voice.

“You do realise that they could be just a bunch of coincidence!? It saddens me Araki-kun!” Kuromiya snapped.

“Is that what I deserve for helping you?!—"

“If I show you concrete evidence…will you accept it?”

“I’m saying there isn't!”

Sigh…stubborn are we.

“Then, the fifth and last proof…I bet this will put an end to your counters.”

Without any notice, I started fiddling with my phone.

“W-what’s now?” Kuromiya asked.

“You'll see, but it's time to end your act” I looked into his eyes as I kept my phone close to my ear.

“Sensei, May I have your phone?”

He frowned. “You think that’s going to prove anything?” Still, he took his phone out of his pocket and held it toward me.

“Not this, I am asking about your other phone”

“I don't have anything else, are you satisfied now?”

“Oh, then…”, I held the knob and pulled out the drawer of his desk. "What is this phone vibrating in the drawer of your desk?”

Kuromiya was left speechless, there was absolutely nothing he could say.

“When that stalker called me,” I continued, “I made sure to save his number. But when I confronted him… the way he held his phone caught my attention. It wasn’t how you hold a smartphone—it was too small. That’s when I realized… it had to be an old model.”

I lifted the buzzing flip phone from the drawer, its faint light flickering against the storm-darkened room.

“You just said you didn’t have anything else…” I met his eyes, “Then tell me, what’s this? And why is it receiving the same call that was supposed to be forwarded to the stalker?”

“...That isn’t mine. YES! someone must have–”

“JUST GIVE IT UP!” I shouted, my voice echoed in the silent room.

I took a slow step forward, glaring at him. “....Let’s end this charade, sensei.”

A beat passed. The storm outside howled against the windows.

“You are…” I clenched my fist, forcing the words out.

“...the one who’s been following me, Kuromiya Shinya”

Kuromiya sank into his seat, facing down. There was absolutely no excuse he could make at this point.

Calling him directly when he least expected it definitely worked. He could’ve silenced the phone but he didn't get the chance. Not when I showed up unannounced

I should have done this from the very start.

The thought has passed my mind. but this was for the best. He can’t… escape anymore.

I took a breath, then whispered the final words that sealed it all.

“This stalker’s game is over. As you challenged… I caught you.”

This was the conclusion I came up with in these three days. Kuromiya’s refusal has finally come to an end. It’s clear that I was right about him. But even though I’ve cornered him this far…

IT STILL FEELS OFF.

NO-It doesn't matter, it's about time he answers my questions now.

“Now, it's your turn. Why are you following me? Kuromiya–no, you… Just who are you?”

His silence said it all, that he was undoubtedly the person who was following me. But I no longer seek that silence.

The promised 72 hours are coming to a close, if I'm honest– I feel tense. Some kind of excitement is brewing inside me.

It's feeling like…something is about to happen.

Now, how are you going to answer this?

“Mm…mm..”

He let out a faint murmur. His body began to tremble so I ended up thinking he might be scared.

Is he crying? It doesn't look like that. But he knows that he messed up, I can't help but get this strange feeling.

I'm sure I've cornered him but somehow it doesn't feel like that. He's shaking…right?

“Mmm…ha..haaha”

No, that's wrong. This guy…

“Ha…hahahahaha!! Wonderful!”

He's laughing?!

I quickly put some distance between us. Something tells me I should stay away as much as possible.

“Seventy-hours huh, not bad” he murmured.

He threw away his glasses and put his hand on his face, ripping off the mask he was wearing. Behind the mask he resembled a handsome man who is in his late 20s.

“You've finally caught me, Araki-kun! That was a wonderful deduction, I've completely lost.”

Nah, something feels off!

Every blood cell in my body is telling me to run. The atmosphere, the tension in the air is far too heavy to handle.

Technically, I'm dealing with a criminal, I already know what's in the store.

I'm done already, now that I have confirmed that Kuromiya is the stalker, there's no need to stay here any longer. I should just record him confessing the truth and get away from here.

But for that I must pass through him. Why should the door be on his side, damn!-

[“Game clear!! Dreamer Araki Ryota’s win. Congratulations!”]

As I was thinking about how to deal with him, a computerized voice echoed through the room and the windows glowed with the text it announced before.

“...what is this?” I couldn't help but turn to the window.

“Congratulations, Araki Ryota. You've passed” he announced.

“Huh?...no first, Who are you and what is happening?!”

“Well well, calm down. First, can you keep that knife down which you are hiding behind you”

This guy–he noticed?

“Don't worry, I don't mean any harm. In fact, I want to have a talk. Not as Kuromiya shinya but as me”

Confronting a stalker is not an easy task. There's no saying what he might do. So I bought a knife. If he tries to do anything funny I can fend off easily without any effort.

I already started recording, if things go down I can prove that it was self defence. Guess it was obvious that he noticed that.

But what the hell is happening here!-

“What is happening here? I’m sure you have plenty of questions,” he said, his tone eerily calm. “As promised, I’ll answer all of them, but first I need to get you to know this…”

He slipped off his coat, revealing a plain black T-shirt beneath. Running a hand through his hair, he looked like a completely different person. He was composed, confident, and unsettlingly familiar.

“Listen well, Araki- Ryota. You have passed the eligibility test, your answer should satisfy this world. Now,” he extended his hand.

“Would you like to join us on our journey into dreams?”

“Hah? Eligibility test? Us? Journey to dreams? You…from a while what are you trying to say?!” I snapped,

“You've been spouting everything except what I need! What the hell is going on here?!”

He took a breath, “Figures, I should start from answering your questions huh. Now then, where should I begin?”

“Then…who the hell are you and what is this answer you’re talking about!?”

“Answer, huh.” He narrowed his eyes, that smirk returning. “Tell me, Araki-kun. Do you really haven't realised it yet?”

“Realise? Realise what!?”

“Hmm, Nova is still not responding. I guessed it”

“Hey, what are you talking to yourself?”

“And you too, why haven't you realised yet?” He shot me down.

“I am sure, these past weeks you have questioned a few things. Like, Have you ever wondered why I made this into a game?”

Now that he mentioned it… I had.

“Judging by your expression, you must have thought about it,” he continued, stepping closer. “Not just that—why you were the one being followed, Why the time limit was seventy-two hours. Why I told you it was your last chance, How I know about your nightmares, Why everyone forgot about that girl…”
His voice grew colder.
“And even now—after you’ve cornered me, why do you still feel… uneasy?”

He’s… right.

“Just think, Araki-kun. You’ll figure it out soon enough.”

This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. I’ve caught him, I even recorded the proof. He admitted it himself.
Then why—why am I sweating?

Seventy-two hours of this stalker’s game… it should’ve ended the moment I proved Kuromiya was the stalker and it did. Then why do I feel like it’s still not over?

I thought I’d cornered him—but as I retraced every step, every coincidence, I realized…

IS THAT REALLY…TRUE?

“Finally, starting to realise? You might think you’ve cornered me, Araki-kun… but…is that really the case? The things you thought were just coincidences…are they actually coincidences?”

His question left me hanging, like something has caught me from behind.

My mind began to rewind, piece by piece.

Since the day he first appeared behind me.

Since the night he forced me into this twisted ‘game’.

Every encounter with the persona called Kuromiya Shinya.

Every clue that led me here.

Before I realised–

I WAS BEGINNING TO QUESTION THIS “REALITY” ITSELF.

“Ha… ha… I see now,” I laughed under my breath, the sound hollow even to me. “I’ve cornered you? No…” I looked straight at him, “The one who’s cornered here is me.”

“C-o-r-r-e-c-t” He said with a grin.

“It makes sense now, in every strange occurrence I met so far it had you. Your obvious behaviour, your perfect timing when Aoki collapsed… even that infirmary incident. You somehow figured I came for her. It’s as if you knew beforehand…”

“And I could’ve just come to school after you left, and yet I showed up in front of you” He continued,

I clenched my fists, the realization hitting harder with every word.
“All this time I thought I was collecting the clues. But the truth is, you were the one feeding them to me.”

It’s like…

“From the start,” I muttered, staring at him as the pieces finally aligned, “you wanted me to find you, didn’t you?”

From the very beginning, he wanted me to win.
Every move, every hint—
He had led me straight to this conclusion… on purpose.

“Why…?” I asked.

“Why, huh?” He tilted his head slightly, as if amused. “I’m sure you’ve already got a hunch—about what’s really happening here. Why is that message glowing in that qindow… why the heavy rain stopped all of a sudden… why the sky turned clear as if it never rained…” He paused, his tone dropping to a whisper.

“Why is the moon unusually red tonight?”

His gaze locked with mine, a chill running through my spine.

“And why,” he said, smiling faintly, “I keep asking you these questions. Think about it, Araki-kun—why you are the only one experiencing these strange occurrences, why everyone suddenly forgot about that girl… except you and me.”

His tone was calm, almost gentle, but every word pierced into me like a needle.

“Don’t you find it strange? At some point…I’m sure you started questioning this reality itself.” His eyes narrowed, reflecting the red hue of the moon outside. “ Please realise what’s happening in front of you. For you, for me and for this world”

My eyes twitched. I feel like his every word is eating me alive.

“Yes, is this really reality or it’s a dream. That's exactly what I wanted you to realise–The true answer”

Wait…wait…wait a sec!

“You…What kind of nonsense are you talking about!?”

“But it makes sense, doesn’t it?” His grin deepened. “I told you, I’d show you the answer you needed most. Just trace back everything you’ve experienced so far… and the truth will reveal itself.”

Truth was I already knew it, I already knew it! But I didn’t want to accept it. It’s absurd—ridiculous—yet somehow, it fits everything!

If what he’s implying is true… then the events I’ve lived through these past two weeks…

“ーHave you realised by now? So how long are you planning to sleep, Araki Ryota” He cut in, “…It’s time… to finally wake up from this Dream.”

“......huh?”

Why strange occurrences are happening around me, why everyone acts strange all of a sudden, when I think again, there was always one answer that could satisfy this equation.

“Dream….?” I muttered.

“Yes”

“Then…Are you saying that these past two weeks–”

“—were a dream,” he finished for me. “Even at this very moment, I was sent to wake you up. That was the eligibility requirement.”

“To what…?”

“To our experiment”

My eyes widened.

“To pass, you needed to realize it yourself. Three weeks—that was your limit. And these last seventy‑two hours… were your final chance.” His eyes narrowed slightly.

“....wha?”

At that moment, the reality which I lived in started to crumble, as if it didn't exist in the first place. The clock which just informed me that it was 5:20 pm is now making spirals.

My heart was racing, this is the weight of the answer!

“The truth can’t be hidden forever, it's exactly as you said, Araki‑kun.” He exhaled slowly. “NOVA! Are you satisfied now? He’s already passed. Begin the dismantling process. This dream… is already over.”

[“Apologies for the delay. I've confirmed the response of the dreamer. Here on, this dreamscape will now enter self‑destruction. 5%, 8%….”]

“Self…destruction?”

Bam!

The building shuddered violently, as if it were being torn apart. Windows exploded outward. I raised my arms instinctively to shield myself. Kurogane, however, didn’t flinch. He just watched, calm, letting the world collapse around him.

The floor beneath us split, jagged cracks racing outward.

“I have to get out—” I bolted for the door.

“It’s no use, Araki‑kun. The outside world… no longer exists.”

[“45%, 53%...”]

“Khh!” I ignored him, forcing the door to open.

“…What?”

Beyond it, I stepped back into the same room. Every wall, every desk, every shadow—the same as before.

“I told you,” his voice echoed, calm and chilling. “This world… no longer exists.”

After that, I have continued opening the doors again and again. And each time I found myself coming back to the room. Slowly but surely it finally settled in my mind.

THIS ISN'T THE REALITY!

“Then, all those days I searched for the answer, the moments I shared with Aoki, this desperation, this struggle against that undesired change. Are you saying…”

“Yes, none of them were…real”

[“98%....99%...”]

“Now, Araki-kun. It’s time to wake up.”

With a single snap of his fingers, the world I perceived as reality began to distort. My vision wavered, and the surroundings glitched as if I were inside a program. Blue color codes flickered across the walls.

Then the room shattered like glass. Each shard reflected a memory of everything I had experienced so far.

“Once you wake up, you’ll find yourself back where it all began. Don’t panic—just let the events guide you.”

“Wai—ghh!” A noise echoed inside my head, sharp and intrusive. It was impossible to ignore. Yet, even amidst the chaos, there was something I still needed to understand.

[“100%. FROM NOW, THIS DREAMSCAPE WILL SELF-DESTRUCT. FORCEFUL AWAKENING IN PROGRESS.”]

“Looks like it’s about time,” he said calmly.

“You—! Who are you really?!”

“Me? Ah, I suppose I haven’t properly introduced myself yet. Nice to meet you… or rather, nice to meet you again.” He smiled faintly. “My name is Kurogane Tatsuya. I’m a member of the DreamLink Corporation. I’ve come to invite you to participate in our experiment. In short, I am a messenger.”

“Kurogane? DreamLink Corporation…?” My eyes widened. The term sounded familiar, too familiar.

Experiment? Invite? Why does this all feel like déjà vu? I couldn’t shake the nagging sense that I had encountered these words before.

Then it hit me. I closed my eyes, and the email I received on September 4th flashed before me.

“That email?!” I exclaimed.

“There’s no time to explain, Araki‑kun.” His voice was already starting to fade, like a signal cutting out. “When you wake up, find me once again. And this time—don’t delete that email.”

The words lingered, reverberating in my chest, as the world around me tore and twisted, dissolving into light and code. The ground beneath me is completely broken and ready to fall.

That’s when he slowly approached me and quietly…pushed.

This feeling…it’s oddly familiar. Ah I see now, It was the same as in that dream. The same fall, the same sensation of being thrown out of a world that wasn’t mine.

Except… every time, it was a different person pushing me. But now I think back, I can’t help but wonder,

Were they also trying to wake me up?

“....raki-kun”

A voice reached my ears—distant, but real. My body felt heavy, hot, shaken—as if someone was trying to jolt me back to consciousness.

My consciousness was slowly fading as I fell. But, I wasn’t just falling this time. I was being pulled… something

Something is pulling me back–

“ARAKI-KUN!!”

“...huh?”, my eyes shut open.

‘Look look, he woke up!’

‘Hey! Are you alright? Can you see?’

Where am…I?

When I opened my eyes, I was blinded by a flood of headlights. I was lying in the middle of the road, surrounded by people with their phones raised, flashes flickering in the night. My body felt hot and I felt so heavy and powerless.

Murmurs echoed in my ears. The vehicle's horn was seamless. Maybe that noise was why I hadn’t noticed it–

“Araki-kun! Thank god, you a-are alive. Don't make me w-worry. What were you doing this late?!”

I turned my head slightly and saw Aoki kneeling beside me in her casual wear, my head resting on her lap.

“Aoki…what’s going on?”

“Please, don’t talk! The ambulance is on its way!”

“Ambulance? For who—ghh…”
A sharp sting pulsed through my forehead. Something warm trickled down my face.

When I raised my hand to wipe it away, I froze.
It wasn’t sweat.

It was blood.

“L-listen to me carefully, Araki-kun…” Aoki’s voice trembled, her eyes wet. “Y-you were… hit by a car.”

…..huh?

“I was just passing by the street when I heard the commotion,” Aoki said, her voice trembling. “They said a high school boy had been hit, so I ran over—and then I saw you…”

Her hands were shaking as she pulled me into a tight hug.

“I thought y-you were dead, your pulse was growing weaker every second…You were unconscious for five whole minutes…” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Five minutes? Wait a sec…

I found a bag that was filled with groceries, splattered across the ground. Soon I realised it was mine. Not to mention, this road and this air, it feels familiar.

【“Once you wake up, you’ll find yourself back where it all began. Don’t panic—just let the events guide you.”】

That’s right–! I was…More importantly, by where it all began. Doesn't that mean??

“A-Aoki, ghh”

“I said don’t talk! Excuse me! Is the ambulance not here yet?!” she shouted, panicked.

“Today… What's the date?”

“Date? What are you even talking about!? Just stay still!”

“JUST TELL ME ALREADY—ghh, what’s the date!?”

“...” Aoki hesitated, then looked down.
“September 4th… Thursday.”

September…4th?

For a second, my heart stopped. The noise around me—horns, people, the city itself faded into nothing. All I could think is–

I’m back. Back to where it all began.

Ding!

A notification snapped me out of my daze. My phone—lying a couple of steps away on the road—buzzed quietly. Slowly, I dragged my hand over the road and picked it up.

But strangely enough, I already guessed what it’s about…

【And this time—don’t delete that email.】

I’m back to where it all began? No, I didn't go back. I…

The notification was an EMAIL. And this time, although the title was the same, the contents were different. It goes like this:

「"WE INVITE YOU TO TURN YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITY: DreamLink Corporation— Selected Participant.

Congratulations on passing the eligibility test. Welcome back to Reality. We’ve confirmed your affinity with dreams. You have successfully distinguished dreams from reality, and thus, we officially invite you to participate in our experiment.

As promised, we'll make your wishes come true. We are awaiting your reply.

With regards,

DLC”」

Yes, I didn't go back. I… woke up from that dream.

【SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2025–7:30 PM: REALITY】

It wasn't a time loop, nor an illusion. I simply came back to where I belong.

I came back to reality.

“So…that was indeed real, huh…hah..hahaha”

“Araki…kun?” Aoki said, puzzled.

Amidst the crowd, while everyone was worried and panicking, I spotted only one person who wasn't doing the same.

He was the only one who wasn't recording like others. He just stood there and watched me.

He smiled at me, almost relieved and moved his lips. I am not sure if I caught what he was saying but I can somehow make out what he was saying–

“Find me”

Realising what he told only made my grin widen. I feel like some sort of fire lit inside me. Before I noticed, my daily, usual routine had taken a turn.

“So it's my turn, huh. Kurogane…”

This is where—EVERYTHING TRULY BEGINS.

CHAPTER 05: AWAKENING

‘Dreams’

For a long time, I've been asking myself– What are dreams?

An illusion? Fantasy? Or an alternative reality that resides in our mind…I don't know.

It's a question I may never know the answer to. And strangely enough, I found myself standing at the doorstep of that very exact answer.

So close yet so far.

But this time I can feel…I can feel it when I hold the knob. The answer is right behind this door.

Beyond this door—will I find salvation, or will I face regret?

I still don’t know.

But one thing is certain—once I open it, there’s no turning back.

Even so… I chose to knock on this door.

This is my story. A dream which I'll never forget, a journey which lives rent free in my mind.

Yes, this is a story about dreams.

⟨DREAMSCAPE: SURVIVAL OF THE SMARTEST– PRELUDE OF THE NIGHTMARE- END⟩