Dreams

....

"Get up, Nakamichi Noah!"

Tch... That hurt quite a bit.

"There was no need for that at all, was there?" I stood up, dusting my pants.

"Yeah, but I wanted to win this time. You will not best me yet again!"

"Glad to see you're sticking up for yourself, Joseph."

"Damn right I am! Haha!" Joseph laughed, albeit in a smug tone.

"It's only your first ever win. I hope you're ready for our next duel, Joseph."

"Same man. Look forward to it."

Joseph then left the dojo. I was left to clean up the ruckus that we had caused. I know how though, since I was raised in this dojo when I was young.

"The practice swords go here... Ah, all done." I said, organizing the weapons.

Kyoto, Japan. It was September, and the weather was starting to cool down a little. I smiled to myself as I cleaned the dojo, reminiscing the past. As I child I practiced daily here with my family, who loved the art of the sword.

That was until, I was sent to Australia on my 10th birthday, where my mother's relatives were. I was born half-Japanese; my father being Japanese, and my mother who was an indigenous Australian. I was sent to Australia to live with my Uncle Tane until I went to high school, where I was sent back here to Kyoto, to live in the school dorms.

I regained the dojo once I graduated from high school. I don't know much about how it works, but upon reaching the age of 18, I was given the holder rights to the dojo. My parents kept it, even after death; this place was all that was left of them.

I have hence been living at the dojo since graduation break begun, maintaining its condition. It was stationed way out in the mountains, but my good friend Joseph still takes the Shinkansen to come over every now and then. My parents aren't here anymore, so it does get lonely every now and then.

"Damn, it seems to be getting late. Time to prepare dinner." I looked outside, with the setting sun in sight.

Closing the sliding doors, I walked towards the kitchen, and opened the fridge to check for ingredients I could use to cook with. Because of how my uncle was frugal, I also grew up to be quite frugal with money, so I usually only ever buy things on sale at the local supermarket, meaning that my fridge would be empty most of the time.

"Tch. Looks like I ran out of ingredients again." I sighed to myself, disappointingly.

The sun has already gone down, but I have no food available to me in the household right now. I suppose the instant noodles at the supermarket will have to do.

And so with that in mind, I put on my green trench coat and ventured out into the now ascending darkness.

Locking the gate to the dojo, I put on my boots and started walking towards the supermarket. The night was beginning, and the skies were pitch black at this point. There aren't many streetlights near where I'm living, so I always had to be careful when traversing in the dark.

Continuing down the dark road, I saw a light in the distance. It was the supermarket, and I was not too far away from it. It was only a 5 minute walk, which was nothing compared to the daily kendo training I put myself through.

Entering the store, I immediately went for the instant foods section, and grabbed the cheapest cup noodle I could find there. There really exists no point in complaining about quality; cup noodles are cup noodles.

I then walked up to the register and proceeded to checkout.

"Oh my, cup noodles again? You won't grow up healthily if you keep this up, boy."

"I know... It's getting rather late, and there's nothing left to cook with, so I'm just going to eat instant goods." I replied, tired of her always acting like a parental figure. "Apologies if I worried you, Mizushima."

Mizushima Ran. 21 years old, 3 years my senior, a college student finishing up 2nd year working part-time at this convenience store. Apparently, I'll be enrolling into the same university as her, so I got along with her from frequenting the convenience store. Despite her age, she acts as though she's my mother, caring too much about the little details.

"Please look after yourself. You were gonna head to Lake Kawaguchi at Mt. Fuji tomorrow right? I heard that the Shinkansen was acting up again, so you might want to check the news to see if your train's delayed." Mizushima expressed, with a tone of concern.

"Yeah, I did check earlier today. There was an accident that happened yesterday, regarding a bullet train heading to Osaka. Several people died, and multiple were missing, youngest 19, oldest 54." I explained, detailing the news report regarding the incident.

"It's honestly a really tragic accident. It's a loss that some people died, but I hope that 19 year old boy can recover soon... He's still so young."

"According to the news I have here, he's got into a comatose state."

"Looks like you did your studying; you're always prepared, no matter how much I worry, huh?" Mizushima sighed, slouching over the counter.

"That's right. It's important to always be prepared." I emphasized, ensuring that the message got to her.

"Alright, alright. Be careful on your way back."

"Will do. Thanks." I expressed, leaving the store afterwards.

I guess she does have a point. The train departs early morning tomorrow, so I'll need enough nutrients and sleep to be able to stay alert for the entirety of tomorrow.

It's been a while since I've been to that lake. I always head there to admire the ducks and do some rafting. There are also some local goods there, known to be delicious. 

Tomorrow is a special day though. I'm going there to do some bass fishing; something that I don't usually commit to doing. I figured it would be nice to try some new activities, since it's graduation break right now. School is not going to start for another 5 months, and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, so I should as well enjoy it while I still can.

Arriving back at the dojo, I gently opened the door and turned on the light. The dojo's walls and doors are quite antique, so I always take care not to break anything by accident.

It's always a bit lonely here since there's no one here. Maybe I should invite someone from school to stay over.

Wait, I don't have any friends other than Joseph... 

This was mainly due to my stoic and menacing appearance, and my nature as someone who was half Australian.

Well, I did have another friend, but he had passed from an accident a good while ago.

It's a shame. Sucks to be me, I suppose.

After boiling some water for my noodles, I poured it in and let it sit, while I went ahead to take a shower. After that, I finished my meal. I then ensured that all the doors were locked, and turned off the lights for the living area. I feel exhausted today for some reason, so I just went to sleep afterwards.

***

"Ahh... Today is a diamond, huh?" I said to myself, waking up to the view outside my window.

The sun was rising in the distance, and I was all good for my trip to Lake Kawaguchi. It's not as though I needed to pack much, as it was only a day trip. I slowly made my way downstairs, and quickly packed the essentials that I needed for my trip. With my backpack, tarp, some rations and hiking boots packed, eager to go fish for some nice bass. I then placed my wallet in my pockets, and unplugged my cellphone from the charging stand. I was ready.

I went out the dojo, locked the gate, and waved it goodbye. Alas, despite knowing that I would not be gone for long, I would still miss the nice, warm feeling of home. It also usually worries me whenever I am not around to clean it.

I then spent the next 20 minutes walking towards the train station. The sky slowly brightened up, and various people living nearby were also coming out, one by one. I waved to some of them as I left; I knew some of the nice folks in this town, so they replied with a smile.

Arriving at the station, I purchased my ticket for the bullet train to Lake Kawaguchi. The station was bustling with commuters and travelers, all in a hurry to reach their destinations. I glanced at the digital display, noting that I had just enough time before the train departed. With a sense of relief, I stepped onto the platform and found a spot to wait.

The train arrived with a soft hiss, and passengers started boarding. Finding my reserved seat, I settled into the comfortable train carriage. The interior was modern and sleek, with plush seats and large windows offering panoramic views of the passing scenery. I stowed my backpack beneath my seat, making sure my belongings were secure.

"This will take a while, huh?" I silently said to myself, sighing in the process. I looked out the window, leaning and supporting my head against my hand. "A moment to reflect."

Might as well learn a bit more about the lake itself. People praise it for being a beauty, so I should probably do some research regarding it. Hence I pulled out my phone, and searched up photos of the lake. Scrolling through photos of the serene lake I embraced the beauty of it and its the colorful foliage. Damn, it's gonna be something else.

While I was enjoying my findings on my phone however, I came across a conspicuous yet interesting article. It was published by a user named "Fargo", who I had no idea of.

"Legends say that there exists an invisible portal to the Otherworld, at the bottom of the lake." I read to myself, scrolling through the pages. "Only a select few with a unique fate can enter."

The post appeared to be another delusional rant made by a sad man who had no life. Just gonna ignore it. There was no point in believing such a thing online. Nevertheless, the narrative intrigued me, as it unraveled legends and stories associated with the lake.

"The final thing to note: If you are dragged into the Otherworld through the portal, return to where you end up on, and by chanting the name of the capital of Japan, you will be able to go back home."

By the time I had finished reading the whole blog made by that user. The train had less than 30 minutes left before arrival. It took a really long time to finish the story; around 2 hours I would say.

"Weird post, but I enjoyed it." I shrugged, turning off my phone.

Looking outside, I could see Mt. Fuji in sight, its view breathtaking. The train was going to arrive shortly, so I spent the last few moments enjoying the scenery outside. Been a good while since I went to Tokyo, and never have I had the chance to come to Mt. Fuji.

And so as the train approached the station, I gathered my belongings to disembark, ready for some good ol' bass fishing. 

Arriving at the lakeshore, I was greeted by a stunning panorama. The calm waters of Lake Kawaguchi reflected the vibrant colors of the surrounding foliage, creating a picturesque scene that captivated my senses. It was a perfect scene, with everything perfectly in place.

"I should buy the recreational fishing pass." I reminded myself, ensuring that I had not forgotten to get permission first.

I headed over to the nearest fishing store. It had a red tag, just like how the sites said, indicating that they were a verified store for fishing.

"How can I help you, young lad?"

Entering the store, I heard the voice of an old man. He seemed to have lots of experience under his belt.

"I'd like some bait, and for you to check if this rod is alright for fishing." I said, handing over the rod.

"Hmm... Seems all good. You know how to fish, lad?" The old man said, smiling at me.

"Yes. I learnt how to through my parents." I said, smiling softly. It was a good memory.

"Ah, well then here's your ticket. Get out there and enjoy." The old man said, handing me my rod and my bait.

"Thank you, sir. I shall cherish each moment."

After that, I made my way to a secluded spot by the lakeshore, set up my tarp and unpacked my fishing gear. Casting my line into the water, I patiently waited for a bite, awaiting the unsuspecting tug that would signal the presence of the fish.

"I shall commence my fishing endeavors," I spoke with resolve, adjusting my grip on the fishing gear. "Time to see what the waters hold."

With that, I spent my time and fished out bass by bass, numbering to a total of 5. The bait must've been top-notch, as expected of that old man.

"Hm. a fine session," I remarked softly, briefly admiring flailing fishes within my bucket as they bounced and flapped in resilience. With a swift swing however, I picked up the bucket and sent them all flying back to the lake. "You shall return to your domain!"

Feeling satisfied, I planned on packing up to head for some grilled fish at a restaurant. All the fishing made me hungry, and I was ready to call it a day.

However, picking up the rod stationed on the lakeside, I felt an enormous tug, enough to drag me towards the water.

"Come, fish! You will not best me!" I yelled, gripping and pulling with my fishing rod as the force continued to drag me towards the lake.

Despite my efforts however, as the war continued, my arms were losing power, and I was getting tired. I could not keep up with the force dragging me in, and all I could do at that moment was yell for help.

"Is there anyone nearby? I need some help over here!"

The fish(?) continued to pull me in, not letting go of the hook and tugging continuously, each time with more force. I found myself losing to that monstrosity, and fell into the lake, water splashing all over my face.

"Gah, I did not want to get drenched..."

Soaking wet, I tried swimming back to shore, thinking it was all over. But the force was still there, tugging me towards the center of the lake. There was an unimaginable power, preventing me from leaving. I yelled for help again, but to no avail.

I swam and kicked as hard as I could, yet I could not do anything. My leg cramped as I struggled, and felt myself drowning towards the bottom of the lake. I panicked, as I sank downwards, unable to do anything.

This was it for me, wasn't it? I wish I could've at least shared this experience with Joseph...

Or maybe since I'm going to drown now, I can finally see my parents again, after so long...