Part 11 : THE NIGHTMARE

**Part 11: The nightmare**

The room was dark, save for the sliver of moonlight sneaking through the curtains. Kyoshi lay in bed, his heart racing as he drifted into sleep. But sleep offered no solace tonight. Instead, it pulled him into a nightmarish landscape that felt all too familiar.

In the dream, he found himself in a vast, empty space, surrounded by the six women he had once loved. Their faces were twisted with anger and hurt, and he could feel the weight of their gazes piercing through him. Each of them, now high school girls, stood in a circle around him, their expressions filled with betrayal.

“Kyoshi!” Yumi shouted, her voice echoing like thunder. “You ruined my life!”

“Why didn’t you care?” Mayumi added, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “You abandoned us when we needed you the most!”

“Do you even know how much you hurt us?” Reina’s voice cut through the air, sharp and accusatory.

He felt trapped, a paralyzing dread washing over him. Each girl pointed a finger, the weight of their blame crushing him under its intensity. Their voices melded into a chorus of despair, each accusation landing like a blow.

“You never tried to fix things, Kyoshi!” Keiko cried, her normally soft voice now filled with rage.

Aiko stepped forward, her face a mix of sadness and disappointment. “You left us to suffer. How could you?”

“No! I tried! I thought I could fix things!” he shouted back, desperation lacing his words. But it was no use. The more he protested, the louder their voices grew, drowning him in a sea of regret and sorrow.

He stumbled backward, feeling the walls closing in on him, and just as he felt himself being consumed by the darkness, a bright light pierced through, jolting him awake.

Gasping for breath, Kyoshi shot up in bed, sweat soaking his forehead. The remnants of the dream clung to him like a heavy fog, and his heart raced as he struggled to ground himself in reality.

“Kyoshi! Are you okay?” His mother’s voice called from the doorway, her silhouette framed by the soft glow of the hallway light.

“Mom!” he exclaimed, his voice trembling. Before he could stop himself, he threw off the covers and rushed into her arms, needing the comfort of her presence.

“Shh, it’s okay. It’s just a dream,” she whispered, holding him tightly. Her warmth enveloped him, a stark contrast to the cold dread of the nightmare. “You’re safe.”

“I—I was dreaming about the girls,” he stammered, the memories flooding back. “They were all blaming me. It felt so real.”

His mother pulled back slightly to look at him, her expression softening. “Oh, sweetie,” she said gently, brushing a hand through his hair. “You know how dreams can be. They twist our fears and worries. It doesn’t mean anything.”

He nodded, but the guilt still gnawed at him. “I feel like I’ve let them down. Like I ruined everything.”

“Sometimes, we’re too hard on ourselves,” she replied, a teasing glimmer in her eyes. “Besides, you’re still my little boy. I’m sure you’ll figure things out. You always do.”

Kyoshi managed a small laugh, feeling the tension begin to lift. “Yeah, I guess I’m just a big baby sometimes.”

“Just a little,” she said, her smile warm and reassuring. “Now, come on. Let’s get you some water. You’ll feel better in no time.”

As they moved to the kitchen, Kyoshi felt the weight of his nightmare begin to dissipate, replaced by the comfort of his mother’s presence. The path ahead was still uncertain, but with each step, he felt a little stronger, a little more ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Chapter end