Chapter 32 – The Journey Within the Dream World
Mugi's POV
"*moan* Wh-What…where am…I?"
I woke up due to a bright light in my face and looked at my surroundings. Where I ended up was rather…rather concerning.
"Th-This is…m-my room? W-Wait, how the hell did I end up here?! Wasn't I was supposed to…"
*STING*
"Ow! What the…" I then looked at my finger to see that there was a huge deep cut on it. seeing it made me realize something. And when I opened my window to be absolutely sure, I was rather shocked about it.
"No way…everything looks all too real…but is this truly the Other Side?"
"Indeed it is, Tsumugi-san." I suddenly heard a familiar voice. And I turned around to see a…rather familiar person.
"H-Huh? Kaho-chan?"
"Welcome to the Other Side, Tsumugi-san. Or, as it is better known as…the Dream World."
"The Dream World…?"
"A new form of the Other Side in which the dreams of the dead come true in the form of their own special world. It is now how souls these days, how you say…"rest in peace"."
"Rest in peace, huh?" I went silent for a bit as I looked around this dreamy version of my bedroom.
It really looks identical. The wall color, the furniture, the items…even the self in which Sumire and I kept all of our Yuri manga is exact. Alphabetical and listed by volume and all. It's crazy.
"So…is this…"
"Correct. We are currently inside your father's Dream World."
"Wow…" I then went silent again. "Uh…hey, Kaho-chan. You seem different, all of a sudden. You're not stuttering and both of your feet are on the ground."
"Oh, um…that is because I am one of the angels of this world. Me and others like myself are in charge of guiding each soul to their correct Dream World. It is more like a side-job with my work of protecting the Hakone Shrine. Plus, this place is so soothing. It calms me down to the point where I do not stutter."
"I see…"
I don't really get it. But I'm not going to ask any further. For one, I'm not supposed to be here this early. So, to ask how the afterlife works is way beyond the human boundaries.
"So, this is my father's Dream World, right? Where do I find him?"
"Me, personally…I do not know. Since you know your father best, you would have to find him yourself. In fact, there is not much I can do for you, Tsumugi-san."
"Huh? Then why did you come here?"
"It was only to inform you of where you are. I am not allowed to interfere with the Dream Worlds of the dead. So, I am already breaking the rules by letting you come here. That is why I gave you the hour-long time limit."
"I see…"
Even then…an hour is still all I need.
"Well…thank you for your help thus far, Kaho-chan. I should be able to do the rest on my own."
"Please do not take long, Tsumugi-san. I shall wait here when you are finished."
"Alright. I'll be back soon." I said as I opened the door and went out of the room to explore this Dream World that belongs to my father.
A world that my father owns…come to think of it, that's always been a dream of his.
Walking around the mansion was a bit nostalgic for me. As I haven't been inside this place in a little over six months. And even though this is all part of a Dream World, everything around me just kept giving me memories.
Ones of my father when he wasn't such a workaholic.
"This specific corner right here…I remember getting hurt by it while learning how to walk. And then Father comforted me until I felt better. I was only 2-years-old at the time. And the only focus in his life."
I then fell silent as I felt tears running down my face. The memories that were overflowing my mind were now filling me with nothing but pure sadness.
Father…where the hell did we go wrong? What started this mess? Why couldn't we…just be happy?
"Ojōsama?"
"S-Sumire?!" I turned after hearing a familiar voice to see someone I didn't expect to see in here. "H-How did you…"
"Ojōsama, what are you still doing here? I thought you had left to meet up with your friends."
…
…
…
"H-Huh?" I was confused.
"You do not remember? You had left minutes ago to meet up with your friends from school. Something about looking for a guitar for a girl named Yui."
"Uh…"
I think I get it now. This must be the Dream World version of Sumire. But due to her looking identical to the real-world version, I almost mistook her for the real deal.
And from what she's talking about, it sounds like this time period is back when Ricchan, Mio-chan, Yui-chan, and I first started Hō-kago Tea Time. And brought back the club as a whole.
It's also…back when I had no idea who Miharu was. Or that she even existed.
"O-Oh, yes. I did leave." I said. Deciding to just play along with this situation. "But I came back because I wanted to talk with my father about something. Do you know where he is?"
"Oh. I am not sure. He left shortly after you did. Possibly to a company meeting or something of the like."
"I see. Thank you, Sumire. You may leave now."
"As you wish, Ojōsama." Dreamy Sumire said before walking away from me.
*sigh* She's still got that little sister charm to her. Even if she isn't the real Sumire.
"So, my father left, huh? Which means that can't really talk to him. Even in his own Dream World, work is more important than me."
I took out my phone and looked at the time. Looking around the place and talking with the Dream World version of my maid/sister only took 5 minutes of my 1-hour time limit. Though, I thought it was longer than that.
"Well, no point in staying here. If I want to find Father, then I'll have to go out and explore this Dream World place that my father dreamed up. Then, I could see if it is as identical to the real world."
And with that in mind, I made my way for the front of the mansion. About to leave it and walk on inhumane territory.
Meaning…explore my dead father's world made of dreams.
My dreamy adventure awaits, I guess.
*50 MINUTES UNTIL DREAM WORLD DEPARTURE*
I was now walking down the streets of Shiga looking at the dream world around me. Everything seemed to be identical to the real world…except for one thing. The sky was less blue and more…rainbow-y. If that's even a thing.
Nobody seemed to care that the sky was basically a giant rainbow. So, I'm guessing that this is normal for them.
Although, even I gotta admit…it makes this world prettier than the real world.
"This world is so…well, it's a lot of things, really. Big, pretty, identical…oddly crowded. Finding Father is going to be harder than I originally thought. I hope I can still do it within the time…"
*BAM*
"Ow…Oh, my goodness. I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
"Oh, it's okay. It's my fault for spacing out." Said the girl who I had bumped into. I then froze in total shock. As I had recognized the voice almost immediately.
N-No way. D-Did I seriously run into…
"You look like a very nice girl, anyway. My name's Tsumugi Kotobuki."
Aw, crap! I bumped into my dream world self!
"O-Oh, really? That's uh…really cute name." I said.
"*giggle* Thank you. It was my father's idea. I like it very much."
"I see…"
"So, what's your name?"
"Tch! M-My name? W-Well, it's…"
Come on, Mugi! Think! You can't use your actual name or else she'll get suspicious! Just think of something really quick!
"Uh…my name is…Tsumire Katabuki. I-I just moved here from…Okinawa."
"Tsumire Katabuki…what a cute name. And from Okinawa, too? You sure are lucky."
"Yeah…I guess." Was all I said.
Thank God I was a gullible rich girl back in the day…
"So, what are you doing out here, Tsumire? Are you meeting somebody?"
"Uh, well…" And as I was about to answer…
"Hey! Mugi-chan!"
"Oh, look. Here come my friends."
"Fr-Friends?!" I yelled in a panic.
Please don't tell me these friends are who I think they are…
"Yui-chan! Ricchan! Mio-chan! Over here!"
Damnit!
"Hey, Mugi. Early as usual, I see." Said the Dream World version of Ricchan.
"Sure am. I'm so excited to chillax and go out on the town with you girls. It's going to be so tubular, yo. *giggle*"
The four of us grew a huge sweatdrop over what this girl had said.
Was I seriously THAT oblivious over everyday life?
"Right…" Dreamy Ricchan said. "So, who's your friend?"
"Oh, right. This is Tsumire Katabuki. We bumped into each other not long ago and we were just chatting amongst ourselves."
"Um…hello." I greeted the dreamy versions of my friends.
"Tsumire Katabuki…for some reason, you look very familiar." Dreamy Mio-chan said.
"Yeah, no kidding. It's almost like I've seen you before." Dreamy Ricchan added.
"O-Oh, really? You must be mistaken. I just moved here from Okinawa."
"From Okinawa?! Wowie! That's so cool, Tsumi-chan!" Dreamy Yui-chan yelled in excitement.
"Ts-Tsumi-chan?"
"Yui…don't be giving nicknames to people you just met." Dreamy Mio-chan said.
"Hehhehheh…sorry."
"N-No, it's okay. I don't mind, really." I said.
"Anyway. You girls ready to go?" Dreamy Ricchan asked. "The music store should be around here somewhere."
"Isn't it inside the mall?" Dreamy Mio-chan asked. "*sigh* The fact that that I'll have to be around so many people…"
"You worry too much, Mio. It'll be fine."
"You make it sound so easy, Ritsu…"
"Oh, that reminds me, Tsumire. What were you planning to do today?" My dreamy self asked me.
"Uh…"
The music store…wait a minute! Father owns that store! I could just ask the employee there and I'll soon find my father! It's perfect!
"Well…I'm actually looking for someone. But I don't really know where he is. We were actually planning to go to a music store together."
"A music store? Well, what a coincidence. We're on our way to one, ourselves."
"You can tag along if you want." Dreamy Ritsu said. "We certainly don't mind right, girls?"
"I'm fine with it!" Dreamy Yui-chan cheered. "Let's hang out together, Tsumi-chan!"
"How are you guys fine with hanging out with someone you just met?" Dreamy Mio-chan asked.
"It should be fine, Mio-chan. Tsumi-chan looks like a nice girl. Right, Tsumi-chan?"
"Uh…yes. I truly am a nice person. Nothing to worry about, uh…Mio-chan, was it?"
"Hmm…" Dreamy Mio-chan looked at me with her eyes squinted and her hand over her chin.
Crap! I think she's onto me!
"…Well, fine. If you say so. Katabuki-san."
Phew. That was a close one. But I truly think that she's onto me. As expected of Mio-chan.
"Alrighty, then! Let's go! My first guitar awaits!" Dreamy Yui-chan cheered.
"Race ya to the bus stop, Yui!" Dreamy Ricchan said before running off ahead of us.
"Ah! No fair, Ricchan! You got a head start!"
"H-Hey, wait, you two! Don't run!" Dreamy Mio-chan yelled as she ran after them. Leaving me standing side-by-side with my dreamy self. Trying to act as calm as possible.
"Your friends sure are interesting, Tsumugi." I said.
"*giggle* Yes, they are. But they're also so near and dear to me. I'm glad to have them as my first friends."
"I see…"
She isn't wrong there. I truly am grateful for the friends I have now. And also for one special sister.
"Well, now. Shall we head off? We're getting left behind."
"Uh…sure. Let's go." Was all I said.
The two of us then walked at normal speed to catch up with the other girls. On our way to the same music store that brought my bond with these girls on a higher level.
Only this time…the bond that I want is from my father's dreamy spirit.
Author's Note: Mugi wakes up in the alternate afterlife, known as the Dream World, in search of her father's spirit. Only to run into the dreamy versions of herself and her friends. And with one of them suspicious of her, this journey through the Other Side may be a bit harder than she originally thought.
In case you couldn't tell, the plot for this chapter is highly inspired off of Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. The fact that this "Other Side" is known as the Dream World and that there are "dreamy" versions of the characters should've been a dead giveaway. I just love that game to death. Easily one of the best RPG's out there.
Thanks for reading. Later.
