Chapter 23: Unexpected Advent (1/2)

When we finally got back to the camp, we found Joijiro and Misa still playing with their PSPs.

They shut their PSPs off before approaching us.

”We will do night watch in pairs,” Nao announces,

”First off, the guys sleep for four hours. When you wake up, take our spots and watch till morning.”

Misa moves to her seat and starts playing her game, while Joijiro directly goes into our tent to rest. As I'm about to follow him inside, I feel a tug on my arm. I stop and turn around.

”Here have this.”, Nao says as she hands me her music player with the headphones.

”Keep it.”, she continues.

Hm? She wants me to keep her music player? Why?

”Don't ask any questions and just go.”, she states.

I nod in response and put the music player and the headphones in my pocket.

Nao then turns around and wants to head to where Misa is, but before she can take a step, I startle her by swiftly and gently hug her from behind. I don't give her a chance to say anything as I casually kiss her cheek before I let her go and go into the tent.

Once inside, I see Joijiro who's already fast asleep. Taking the spot beside him, I pull out the music player from my pocket and put on the headphones. I select a song with an interesting title and lie down on the futon next to Joijiro's.

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Where am I and when did I get here. I am eating rice. My body is doing it subconsciously and I have no control over it whatsoever.

I see Ayumi sitting on her seat across from me, eating her dinner merrily. I take a look around and notice that it's the old house we used to live in.

Then, I notice the presence of someone that shouldn't be here. A gray-haired guy that seems to be older than both of us.

His face is unrecognizable, but I have a feeling that if I focus hard enough I will be able to discern it.

”Otosaka.” I hear someone call out me. Before I can look around, everything goes dark as I hear, ”Wake up, it's our turn now.

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As I gradually open my eyes, Joijiro's face comes into my sight. Beside him is Nao who is keenly staring at me.

A dream again... Who is the gray-haired guy? Why can't I recognize him?

My thoughts don't last long as Joijiro says,

”Come on. Let's not make them wait any further.”

Oh right! Now is our turn to night watch.

Joijiro and I head out, while Yusa, who seems to have returned to controlling her body, heads into the girls' tent with Nao.

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