Author's Notes

This chapter and the next is the "formal" introduction to the dream world. As you will see, shadows are nowhere to be seen.

After all, it might be strange to fight a giant table on your first visit.

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Chapter 3

Studying

I will be the first to admit that my academics aren't that good; I do decently, but not well enough for anyone to really envy me (except maybe the idiots, and even still, they're better off envying someone else.) My mother always insisted I wasn't diligent, and that I was much too lazy. For the most part, I agreed, except that I felt that I was diligent. I was just more diligent about other things. To be honest, going into high school, I wanted to rectify all this, but I was simply too busy before. However, thanks to being a transfer student, no such problem existed. I didn't have a part-time job after school, I didn't nearly as many friends as I used to—and the ones I do aren't anywhere near as needy, and I was only in the baseball team, which practiced three days a week.

The library however, was absolutely crammed thanks to the midterms in one and a half weeks. Walking was a pain, as kids were even standing bolt upright, reading. I found myself surprised as I found even Toshiro studying. Well, I had better get cracking, right?

Studying was never a fun affair, at least not to me. The people who liked to study were people who disturbed me. Sure, some of them said "I like to do well, not to study", but it was one in the same, right, kind of like saying "I like to not die of starvation, not to eat." Perhaps that wasn't the best example.

I cracked open one of my textbooks, and started reading. I felt my mind wander to pirates, ninjas, and a samurai on a motorcycle. No, no, I couldn't let my mind wander. It was getting desperate though, as I started to think about cooking. Anything but studying, come on!

Toshiro leaned over. "Hey, I don't get this.", he said. Welcome to my world, Toshiro, welcome to my world. He pointed to a mathematical textbook. Surprisingly enough, I knew about it. Even more surprisingly, I helped him. Anything but studying.

A few hours passed. Toshiro had left a long time ago, in frustration. He was so screwed.

A dark chestnut haired girl sitting across the table leaned over slightly. "You're that transfer student from a month ago, right?"

I looked up, and nodded. Who the hell was she?

"You look kinda familiar, actually. Have we met before?"

I shook my head. Could this be considered flirting?

"Makoto-kun was talking about you last week. He seems to think highly of you."

I raised an eyebrow. What the hell did she want from me?

"Did you take his spot or something?"

I nodded in response.

"Ah. Well, nice to meet you, anyways. Welcome to the school." She returned to her textbook again, before deciding to call it a day.

I wanted to ask her what her name was, but it was already too late when I considered it.

*

A few weeks or something ago, I had a dream about that field I saw while I was walking to the dorm. Well, I returned tonight.

I was studying late into the night, trying to get ready for the mid-terms, or at least trying to get a nice boost to my mid-terms. After calling it a night, I fell asleep at maybe 11:50 P.M., give or take half an hour in either direction.

I stood in a small town square, surrounded by houses on all sides. The town had many European style medieval homes, as well as traditional Japanese homes. The sun hung above me, unreasonably hot. This time, I decided to go to the market, which was fairly empty. Unluckily for me, I discovered I had no sort of cash on hand. Bummer.

Surprisingly, I did have a kind of a shortsword on me. It didn't look too well, as it was bent in some places, and there were even chips and breaks in the metal. Still, it was better than nothing.

About an hour or something later, I was outside of town, walking down a dirt road. Ahead of me, I saw what looked like a large ox-drawn wagon, around which a fight was occurring. Two men in fine hide armor were, for lack of a better phrase, beating the crap out of what seemed like a man with a poor shortsword, a decently armoured man with a longsword, and a decently armoured man with a katana—or maybe just a short nodachi.

My legs wouldn't move any faster than they would as I dashed to help. I had decided the side of three were being attacked by the two men in hide, judging by position, and the fact that the side of three had the "Oh god why?" look plastered on their face. I wasn't sure how I could help; I was armed with only a shortsword, against two men armed with large axes and armor. Nonetheless, I couldn't do nothing, and moreover, I had to have some fun.

The side of two seemed to notice me as I ran towards them, sword in hands. One of them turned their attention to me, as his comrade could easily handle the three men. This wasn't going to be fun for me.

I never had training in swordsmanship, I'll admit, I've never really been cut out for kendo, and this is the first time that I held a sword. As a kid, I've never really fantasized about being a great warrior (kinda odd that I dream about it, then), and I don't think I fantasize about it now. Yet, I knew in a moment that I wanted to be a hero, at least here. It was some sort of incredibly odd feeling, however, I couldn't analyze further.

The man with an axe was running towards me, readying what was sure to be a deadly swing.