The next morning, I walked into school still looking worn out, but my eyes weren't empty like yesterday. The dark circles remained, but a certain determination shone within them. The sheets with Lumine's fading handwriting were safely tucked away in my bag – my proof and reminder that I wasn't crazy.
My three close friends, Ken, Zeno, and Takumi, along with Riku who was unusually early today, were waiting by the classroom door, looking at me with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"Whoa, Leo, did you pull an all-nighter or something? Your dark circles are even worse," Ken greeted, patting my shoulder lightly. "You still not feeling well? Or still thinking about... uh... that person?"
Zeno added worriedly, "You sure you're okay, Leo? If you're really not up to it, you could skip today. I can invent the 'Leo School Attendance Robot V.2'! (V.1 exploded while testing the coffee-making function)."
Riku, chewing gum, chimed in teasingly, "Hey, Leo, lookin' like a zombie. Or did you secretly communicate with that physics angel of yours in your dreams last night, huh? Haha." Despite the joke, curiosity flickered in Riku's eyes.
Takumi leaned against the wall, murmuring flatly, "Accumulated sleep deprivation negatively impacts prefrontal cortex function, potentially leading to hallucinations or confusion, Tsukino."
I shook my head. "I'm okay... just didn't sleep well." I didn't want to argue with them now. My goal was to find a way to help Lumine, not convince people who couldn't remember.
Suddenly, the group of girls in the corner, led by Himari and Iris, started talking a bit louder than usual, catching my attention immediately.
"Hey, Iris-chan, I had the weirdest dream last night!" Himari recounted excitedly, her eyes sparkling. "I dreamt of this girl… so beautiful, you know? Long, golden-brown hair, like it had a soft golden glow."
"She seemed to be holding this really thick book, dark cover, all the time. And the strangest thing is… I kept smelling this faint scent of lavender, even though there were no flowers in the dream! But her face wasn't very clear, like looking through mist. And she looked so sad, like she was lost... But yeah, probably just a crazy dream," Himari finished with a giggle.
I froze. Golden-brown hair... thick book... lavender scent! It had to be Lumine! I almost jumped up, but Iris spoke first, her voice calm, though her brows furrowed slightly.
"I had a similar dream, Himari," Iris said, her misty gray eyes looking thoughtful. "Not a clear person, but… a feeling, like I was solving incredibly complex equations about the structure of the universe. And there were images of swirling nebulas alternating with deep blackness. It felt like there was something I should remember but couldn't. It left me feeling… unsettled."
I couldn't hold back. I strode over to their desks.
"What did you just say? You dreamed of a girl with golden-brown hair, Himari? Holding a book? And Iris, you dreamed of nebulas and quantum equations? It has to be her! That's Lumine! Komori Lumine!" I spoke urgently, agitated.
"Leo-kun! Calm down!" Himari tugged my sleeve. "It was just a dream," but she exchanged a questioning look with Iris.
Iris stared at me coolly. "Tsukino-kun, dreams are just dreams. Don't mix unprovable things with reality," yet hesitation lingered in her eyes.
"But it's not a coincidence!" I insisted. "I dreamed of her too! Dreamed she was asking for help! How could you forget your own close friend?!"
Riku whistled softly. "Whoa… getting complicated. Or maybe the girl you're talking about is really a ghost, Leo?"
Himari pulled me aside. "Leo-kun… we really don't know anyone named Lumine. Maybe you're tired, or perhaps you could talk to Ms. Rise at the nurse's office again? She seems understanding."
Himari's suggestion sparked an idea. "Yes… Ms. Rise..."
During math class, I zoned out until Mr. Mikey called on me. I fumbled the problem. Mr. Mikey looked at me understandingly. "It's alright, Tsukino-kun. You seem unfocused. Is something troubling you? You can talk to me during lunch if you need."
The moment the bell rang, I headed straight for the nurse's office. I wanted to talk to Ms. Rise. Riku clapped me on the shoulder. "Hey buddy, still out of it? If something bothers me that much, I'd go out and prove it!" Riku's thoughtless words struck a chord. "Prove it…"
At the nurse's office, Ms. Rise greeted me with her usual gentle smile.
"Oh, Tsukino-kun, back again. You don't look too well."
"Uh… I feel like I might have a fever again, Ms. Rise. And… haven't been sleeping well," I feigned illness.
After checking, she confirmed no high fever but agreed I looked sleep-deprived. "Nap here?"
As I was about to lie down, I mustered my courage. "Ms. Rise… um… could I ask for your advice? It might sound strange."
She looked at me with that unreadable expression but nodded. "Go ahead."
I recounted my dream, Himari's and Iris's dreams, my certainty about Lumine's existence, and my feeling she needed help.
Ms. Rise listened intently, without interruption or disbelief. When I finished, she paused, then smiled mysteriously.
"Human feelings are complex, Tsukino-kun. Especially strong bonds. Some believe they're just chemistry, others believe they're a form of invisible energy." She paused. "Dreams too. They might reflect our subconscious, or fears. But sometimes... maybe they're more. Who knows? Perhaps windows to other dimensions, or channels for connected spirits."
She looked at me with understanding eyes. "What I can say is, if you feel your memories and feelings are 'real' to you, and if there are 'traces' or 'clues' you think might lead to answers, why not try following them? Proving it to yourself might be better than being consumed by confusion. Maybe... the answer is waiting where you least expect."
Ms. Rise's words weren't a direct answer but felt like a compass. I felt encouraged. "Thank you, Ms. Rise…" I knew what to do next.
Feeling slightly stronger, I excused myself and went to find Zeno in the Science Club room. He was engrossed in a "Brainwave-to-Haiku Poetry Converter."
"Zeno! Important discussion!"
Zeno looked up. "Oh, Leo! Come try this! 'Low-Frequency Synthetic Laughter Generator V.3'!"
"Zeno! Not now!" I cut him off, recounting the dreams and Ms. Rise's advice. Zeno listened, eyes sparkling, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm… very interesting, my friend!" Zeno nodded vigorously. "Multiple similar dreams, linked to the vanished person… Might not be coincidence! Ms. Rise is right! Feelings are energy!"
Zeno put down his soldering iron, getting excited. "It could be many things! 'Quantum Entanglement' linking your minds! Maybe Lumine didn't vanish but 'slipped' into a parallel universe! Or some 'energy wave' erased memories of her in our dimension, except for those with strong enough bonds! Or psychic powers! Or aliens!" Zeno rattled off wild theories.
"And the dreams?" I asked.
"Dreams!" Zeno snapped his fingers. "Maybe 'channels' receiving 'thought waves' or 'calls' from Lumine! Think about it! If strong feelings like love create 'special frequency waves' that cross dimensions? Like when you think of someone and they call! Love is the ultimate energy, buddy! If your feelings for Lumine are strong, maybe they're the 'key' to connecting with her!"
"Feelings... love..." I repeated, picturing Lumine's face, her last words... "working with you... it meant a lot to me..."
Suddenly! A memory flashed vividly! The cat cafe... the place outside school we met most often... the talk about dreams and parallel worlds... the summary sheets... and her important notebook!
"The library!" I exclaimed. "That black notebook! With the nebula sticker! At the public library! Where she wrote everything about the project and... maybe her personal feelings! Where she talked about dreams! She always sat in that same corner!"
It was where we spent the most time, where she'd opened up... and I remembered she'd left that notebook once!
"Thanks so much, Zeno! You're amazing!" I said quickly, heart pounding with hope. "I have to go there!"
I bolted out, leaving Zeno stunned again. "Well... off he goes again. Guess I'll have to build a tracker for Leo, just in case he gets lost in another dimension, hahaha!"
I ran through the corridors. The pieces were connecting: the linked dreams... Zeno's words... Ms. Rise's advice... Lumine's notes... my notebook where her name was fading... Lumine's last words.
I had to go to the public library… immediately! There had to be something... her last trace... or perhaps... a "door" to all the answers!
The voice calling my name in the dream... maybe it was from the other side! My heart screamed... I was getting closer to her!