Scene One: The Dream That Was No Longer a Dream
Haro woke up in terror.
His breath was rapid, his heart pounding as if it were trying to escape his chest.
This was not his first prophetic dream.
Not the tenth.
Not even the fiftieth.
At first, every dream had been a shock—
visions of events that had not yet happened,
words that had not yet been spoken,
danger sensed before it existed.
Over time, shock turned into habit.
Habit turned into silent fear.
Not fear of the dreams themselves…
but fear of what he might see one day and fail to change.
Haro stood in front of the mirror, staring into his own eyes, whispering:
"What if I dream of death?
What if I see someone die… and I can't save them?"
At that moment, the air around him grew heavy.
Scene Two: Narka Appears
A low laugh echoed from the shadows.
"You're late asking that question."
Haro turned sharply.
The shadow was there—but it was not Joseka.
Dark eyes.
A sharp gaze.
A smile without mercy.
"Who are you?" Haro asked, though he already felt the answer.
"I'm Narka," the figure replied.
"I'm the voice you bury every time you say, 'It's fine.'"
Narka stepped closer.
"I am your despair, Haro."
Scene Three: The Confrontation
"You help people," Narka said,
"but have you ever asked yourself why you're always the one who pays the price?"
Haro tried to steady himself.
"I help because it's the right thing to do."
Narka laughed—a short, mocking laugh.
"The right thing?
Or the easiest thing?"
He raised his hand, and images flooded Haro's mind:
Takumi stealing
Ryō lying
People thanking him… then forgetting him
"I remember everything," Narka said coldly.
"Every time you were wronged.
Every time you stayed silent.
I never forget."
Haro stepped back.
"But they changed… some of them became better."
Narka moved closer, his voice heavier:
"And I remain at the moment that hurt you.
Joseka moves on…
I don't."
Scene Four: The Difference Between Hope and Despair
A calm voice came from behind:
"Because staying in pain isn't justice."
Joseka.
His green eyes were steady, fearless.
"We don't forget, Narka…
but we choose not to live there."
Narka looked at him with contempt.
"A choice?
Or an escape?"
Joseka answered quietly:
"I am memory that learns.
You are memory that bleeds."
Silence filled the space.
Then Narka turned to Haro and said:
"Not every dream can be changed."
Haro froze.
The words struck him deeply.
Scene Five: The True Fear
"That's what terrifies you, isn't it?" Narka said.
"Not the dreams…
but the day you dream of something—
and fail."
Haro lowered his head.
"I… I'm afraid to live that day."
For the first time, Narka's voice lost its mockery.
"And I was born from that fear."
Joseka placed a hand on Haro's shoulder.
"And I was born from your decision to keep going."
Haro looked between them.
Despair… and hope.
Both real.
Both part of him.
But the conflict…
had only just begun.
End of Chapter Ten
(In the shadows, Narka smiled faintly—
as if he already knew the coming confrontation would take a long time.)