Back to normality.

As the darkness enveloped me, it felt as though I was being pulled into an abyss of nothingness. No sound, no sensation.

—just an endless void.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the darkness receded, replaced by the soft glow of morning light filtering through the blinds.

I blinked, disoriented, as I slowly became aware of my surroundings.

The cold pavement of the alley was gone, replaced by the familiar warmth of my bed.

Had it all been a dream? The encounter with Komugitan, Her death, the monstrous error, the mysterious sword—it felt so surreal, like fragments of a nightmare lingering in the recesses of my mind.

Shaking my head to clear away the lingering fog of sleep, I reached for my phone on the bedside table.

A quick glance at the screen revealed several missed calls and messages, all from my friend Sato-san.

With a puzzled frown, I opened the latest message, my heart skipping a beat as I read the words:

"Hey, Takumi! Komugitan's back to good health and will be performing at the Akiba Idol Festival today! Wanna come check it out?"

Akiba Idol Festival—AIF, for short—was one of the biggest events in the idol industry, a celebration of Idol culture as a whole!

 It was the kind of event Komugitan would never miss, but after what had happened last night, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at me.

I glanced at the time—it was still early. Perhaps I should call Sato-san and explain what had happened.

But as I reached for my phone, doubt crept in.

 How could I possibly explain the inexplicable?

With a resigned sigh, I pushed aside my misgivings and replied with a quick "Sure, I'll meet you there," before tossing my phone aside and getting ready for the day ahead.

As I made my way to the festival grounds, the bustling streets of Akiba seemed oddly normal, as if the events of last night had been nothing more than a figment of my imagination.

But try as I might, I couldn't shake the feeling of disquiet that lingered in the back of my mind. Had it all been a dream?

Or was there something more to it, something lurking beneath the surface?

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed as I arrived at the festival grounds, the vibrant atmosphere washing over me like a wave of nostalgia.

Sato-san waved me over from where he stood near the entrance, a wide grin plastered across his face.

"Takumi! You made it! I was starting to think you'd gotten lost or something," he joked, clapping me on the back.

I forced a smile, trying to push aside the lingering doubts that clouded my mind.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Just had a rough night, you know?"

He nodded sympathetically, oblivious to the turmoil raging within me.

"Hey, no worries. We're here to have fun, right? And what better way to do that than by watching some amazing idol performances?"

Despite his cheerful demeanor, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gripped me.

But as the first notes of music filled the air and the crowd erupted into cheers, I pushed aside my doubts and allowed myself to get lost in the excitement of the moment.

Maybe it had all been a dream, after all. But deep down, I knew that the truth was far more complicated than that.

And as I watched Komugitan take the stage, her smile radiant and her voice filled with joy, I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets lay hidden beneath the surface of my seemingly ordinary world.