Ep3

I waited for the car to pass before I cross the street.

"I am not sure I got this right but..."

"Everyone, tomorrow, 10 a.m.! Meet me at the fountain at Stadtbelle Plaza."

Before we all woke up, I believe Ray told all of us to meet up with him today. I take a glance at my watch, saying it is just before 9:30.

"I got here a little too early." I said to myself walking to my destination.

I'm so nervous, I am meeting them in the real world for the first time .

I make my way to the fountain, it showing me being showed in fresh drops of water into the basin below as I walk over to the other side of it.

Oh.

I quickly stop in my tracks seeing someone already there, on the bench the person with silver white hair sitting by himself eyes closed.

That person looks just like Subaru.

The earbuds he has in his ears tells me he wants to shut the world out, I lick my lips to moisturize them and muster up the courage to walk over to him.

Okay, its now or never.

I take slow steady steps towards the man, but just as I get close enough to him, he opens his eyes and looks up at me.

Oh!

Looking at him, the resemblances instantly puts a image of Subaru in my mind, his two toned eyes shining brightly in the dark.

But this guy, he doesn't...

He keeps looking at me, confusion written on his face, as I stand there mystified, he tilts his head to the side, furrowing his brows together, getting the sense it may have no been him I quickly apologize.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were friend of mine, but I must have mistaken you for him." I smile awkwardly, embarrassedly scratching the back of my head. "Sorry for disturbing you sir, please carry on with your business.." I back away a bit, but he just blinks at me.

He gets up and walk towards me, almost offended.

"Do I really look that different to you?"

Recognizing his soft spoken voice I instantly realize I made a mistake.

"S-Subaru?!"

"Sit down." He requested to me nicely, going back to the bench sitting down, patting the spot next to him, urging me to take a seat.

I wonder how long has he been waiting here for. Was he anxious like me and came here early as well?

I walk over and take a seat next to him, I sigh.

"Sorry for acting so weird, I just been super anxious since this morning. I couldn't stay in one place, so I came here early. What about you?"

"I just made an excuse to go out, it feels rather uncomfortable staying at home."

"Oh, do you have problems with your parents?"

He leans back into the bench crossing his legs together.

"No it's nothing like that..."

I guess Subaru doesn't like being home, I wonder if it has anything to do with him not liking his eyes. What must have happened to him to make him so self conscious about them?

I look at him, gazing at his blue left eye, that usually is the red one that I have seen.

They're so captivating.

Noticing me staring at him, he turns to me, clearly feeling a bit unsettled.

"What?" he asked

"Oh! N-Nothing, it's just that..." I turned away

He's wearing a colored contact lens, isn't he?

"I know this is a very touchy subject for but I really do like your eyes Subaru, your real eyes are beautiful just the way they are. "

Subaru looks at me wide eyed, but he doesn't say anything but his gaze grows even more intense.

Gah! Stop looking at me like that!

"Umm..."

Just as I was about to speak to try and sooth the situation my stomach starts to rumbles.

Oh Shit! I was in such a hurry I totally forgot to eat!

I glance over at Subaru as he chuckles, covering his mouth with the back of his hand as if trying to hold back his laughter.

Dammit stupid stomach!

"Oh come on. This is not something to laugh about!" I pouted wrapping my arms around my stomach hunching over.

"Ahahaha!" Without keeping it in, instead, he lets out a bug hearty laugh.

"I've never heard a stomach growl so loudly before, it is quite interesting." His words come out with a hint of a smile.

I am really embarrassed by all of this, but Subaru is laughing at least, and its a genuine laugh as well.

I just stare at him in awe.

I have never seen him smile before, He is really cute when he smiles.

Being smitten by his smile, I can't help but giggle with him. Subaru looks as if he's surprised for a moment and quickly retracts his smile.

"What is it?"

"Oh its nothing..."

It's just nice to see you smile, but not like I can tell them that.

"Okay then, let's go." He said standing up from the bench, I then look up at him.

"Where are we going?"

Subaru jerks his chin up to the café across the street.

"I'd like to get a bite." He said looking down at me.

"Do you want to join me?" He asked me this more quite and somewhat reserved as if he is embarrassed.

I blink a few times, noting a bit of redness appearing on his cheeks.

Oh is he shy? That is adorable.

Somehow, he seems listless while having many sides to him at the same time. I wonder if I can learn more about him if I do go out with him, but thinking that the others may come soon I might as well leave it.

"Oh, umm... I don't think we would have enough time. I am sure the others will be here any minute now, I don't what to keep them waiting."

Subaru presses his lips together in a thin line thinking about it, he nods.

"Okay." and sits down next to me once more.

Was he just being nice and asked me out knowing I was hungry? That is so very thought of him.

We stayed silent for a few minutes after that, he doesn't say anything more, and I am just too shy to start any conversation. We endure this awkward silence till Ray shows up. Its is exactly 10 o'clock, and Ray shows up, There's no mistaking him, even from afar. He's wearing his signature university jacket. He quickly runs up to us.

"Is it just you two here?" He asked

"It seems so." I answered him.

He clicks his tonged and looks at his watch. He seems already irritated tapping his foot, it has only been a few minutes but he seems already impatient. Telling he likes to be punctual, I can also tell he hates being kept waiting. He doesn't even sit down anywhere, while Subaru doesn't seem to mind though.

"Seriously, which part of 10 in the morning didn't they understand?"

"Let's wait a bit long, I am sure they are on their way here."

He folds his arms, I lean a little forward, trying to get a better look at him, with so much light around his I can see him better without the dark. He seems very similar to the Ray I know in the nightmare world.

But well, of course he is, he the exact same person., but the atmosphere around him is now...

"God, We are wasting time just standing round here."

Yeah, this is definitely the Ray we know.

"Come on. lets go." He huffed about to storm off.

Just as me and Subaru stand up to follow him we hear a voice in the distance.

"Heeey!" He calls out.

"Is that Thoma?"

We see Thoma dashing towards us, his bright smile even more magnificent in the light of day. He halts as he reached us, crunched over trying to catch his breath.

"Were you really about to leave without me?" Thoma ask acting like he was hurt

"You were late." Ray snapped

"Just by 10 minutes, jeez!"

"Hey Thoma! I knew you were going to show up soon." I smile at him trying to stop things turning sour.

He laughs while standing up straight from his hunch position.

"Wow, look at you guys, I can't believe we're all here. " Thoma isn't any different than he is in the nightmare world, still as cheerful and hyper as usual. He can be kind of obnoxious, but his presence always lightens the mood but...

"What about Licht?" I asked

They all turn and look at me.

"You didn't forget, did you? We should wait for him as well."

"Hey! So you be willing to wait for Licht, but you weren't going to wait for me? Wow, (Y/N). I see how things are." He complained.

"Okay, Okay." Playing along with his sarcasm, I lightly pat him on his cheek.

We spent a hour at the park waiting for Licht, but he hasn't shown up anytime soon.

"I guess its no use waiting for someone we are not certain is coming. We only did meet him last night and we didn't get much information from him either. " Ray spoke up

"For all we know, He could be dead." Subaru mutters, My voice shaking.

"C-Come on, don't say stuff like that."

"We can't really rule that option out though."

"Hmm. If he died, we would've heard about it on the news this morning wouldn't we?" Thoma asked.

That is true.

Someway, Thoma's words offer me some sort of relief.

"Well, whatever the case maybe, we have stuff on our agenda we need to do. So if he just being lazy about coming here or not, we should just get moving without him." Ray argued suddenly walking off, we look at each other first then decided to all follow him.

As we are walking, I just help but not think about Licht. Sooner rather than later, we end up at Ray's house.

"Just wait in here." Ray said leading up to his living room, while he walked off to somewhere.

I stand there with everyone else looking around the room.

The room looks really clean. So clean in fact it is making me feel a little uneasy

Ray soon comes back, Thoma speaking first.

"Wow, You sure got a nice place here Ray. Do you live alone?"

Without answering Ray just passes us and goes across the hallway, Subaru looks around as well, but looking interested in the bookshelf.

"Oh look, he looks so cute as a kid." Thoma stated picking up a framed photo, I look at him walking over and taking a peek as well. A smiling woman who is stand next to a little boy with a very determined smirk.

"Oh you are right, look at his cute cheeks." I squealed looking at the cute boy. "Is this his mother?" I smile to myself studying the picture while Thoma's hand tremble ever so slightly.

What is wrong with him?

"We, um, we should better put this picture back." Thoma said placing the picture back to where he picked it up from.

But, for a brief second I could have sworn I saw a small sad expression displaying on his face.

Thoma?

"Yeah, I understand it already." We hear Ray voice over the hallway, him coming out with a woman dragging a suitcase behind her.

"I'll call you in the morning, alright?" the woman says

"Mm-hmm. Yeah, have a safe trip." He nods slightly, smiling gently at her.

Whoa! okay that's new, never seen that before.

The woman notices us and stops in her tracks.

It's the same woman from the picture.

"These are the people I told you about." Ray says

"Oh hello. It's not often of Ray bringing his friends over. Unfortunately, I'm on my way out the door for a business trip, but you call can make yourself feel at home, alright?"

"You better be going, or your gonna be late for the train." Ray spoke up reminding the woman. Shooing her away in a playful manner.

Aww I didn't know he can be so sweet as well...

The scene before me warms my heart nicely, reminding me how my life is like at home.

Even if we do end up like adventures in the nightmare world, we are all still kids in the end.

"Must be nice." Subaru murmured, making me glance over at him. It was barely audible, but I couldn't help but hear it clearly, but I remembered the short conversation I had with him when we were waiting for Thoma and Ray.

"Oh, do you have problems with your parents?"

"No, nothing like that..."

Subaru, I hope that one day, he'll find a place where can feel safe to just be himself.

As soon as Ray came back into the living room Thoma locks his arm around Ray's neck.

"Aww! I didn't know you were such a mama's boy."

"Hey, let go of me!" Ray yelled at Thoma trying to break free from his grasp. Instead Thoma just laughs letting go of Ray as he fixes his messed hair plopping down on the couch, us sitting down along with him.

"Alright, I believe we have things to discuss about?" Ray started off.

"Really? Why are you bring so serious again? Didn't you bring us here to celebrate the joy of being alive?"

"We will have no life to celebrate if we can't figure out a way to stop and escape these nightmares. " Ray snapped as usual.

"Your right, but your mom was in such a hurry, we didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to her."

Looking away awkwardly Ray replies.

"Yeah, about that..." He started bringing his thumb to his lips, softly biting it.

"She isn't my actual mom, I don't even have a dad, by the way, she lost her husband long before I entered into the picture."

Wait, what?

"So you are basically adopted." Subaru said.

"Why are you suddenly bringing that u?" Thoma asked him confused and surprised.

"Because if my hunch is correct, that means the same goes for everyone of you as well."

Is Ray saying that we're all adopted?

The suddenness of this stupefies me

No, no ,no. There is no way I am adopted, I was raised by my real-

I stop myself before I could finish that sentence in my head. I guess I won't really know for sure unless I check my family records.

"That is not cool man. You can't just be going around and telling people they're adopted Ray. Why would you even have that thought in the first place?" Thoma spoke a little shaken

Unfazed by Thoma's reaction Ray continues and answers his question.

"Well, you yourselves admitted to not having any childhood memories."

"That still doesn't mean..."

Ray just folds his arms, looking at Subaru and back at Thoma.

"Subaru seems to agree with me on it. "

I slightly bite my lip, glancing at Subaru, who is quietly listing to the conversation.

Is that the reason he is so hesitant to talk about his parents? Because he knows they aren't his real family?

"To some extent, I makes sense. We're all without a past. Ray and I already known we've been adopted. There's the orphanage to take into consider too. There is a 50% probability it is all related to the nightmare we've been having. "

The statement he said and the revelation of it hits me hard. In an instant, the image of my parents flashes into my mind.

We're happy, aren't we? I've always wondered about my past, but I never had the thought cross my mind that I might have been adopted.

"(Y/N)?" Subaru called out to me quietly.

"I-I'm sorry, I am just very surprised by this, that's all. "

I am so overwhelmed by this but, my parents have been with me my entire life. They're the only family I known. They never even hinted or mentioned anything about me being adopted.

"I don't know if this is true or not."

Thoma just grits his teeth in hear of what I said. Thoma, knowing full well this is much of hard information to digest like for me, wanting to help I decided not know, knowing it probably make him feel worse.

This is certainly hitting him hard, that is for sure, but is there I could do?

"Okay, for the sake of debate, lets say we're all adopted, I will have to live that in my mind for the rest of my life." Thoma spoke

"You don't have to accept it right away, we don't know for sure it is true yet." Ray spoke, trying to be sincere in his words. "But if it turns out to be true, it might just be the key to solving these nightmares."

I understand now. Ray is usually abrasive with his words, but he knows when something needs a lot of time to accept it and take it in.

I then start to think of the parents who have raised me.

I probably should find out to make sure, but I just can't bring myself to ask them about this.

We spend some time trying to put the clues and pieces together of the nightmare until evening.

"Oh, time sure does fly by, it is already 8 p.m." I say looking down at my phone, yawning stretching my arms wide.

Although I know I have to stay vigilant, I just can't stop myself from yawning. Come to think of it. I'm wide awake 24/7, awake during the day and awake in the nightmare world at night, Do I ever get to genuinely rest?

"Hold on, you're sleepy already? I thought we planned to stay up all night? If you're the only one to fall asleep, won't you be pulled into the nightmare world all by yourself." Thoma said to me concerningly and warning, but his words slap me awake. I am terrified of sleeping if that would happen.

Out of no where, Ray sets four pill capsules onto the table in front of us.

"Here, maybe this might help."

"Adderall?"

"Oh, I've heard of this before, isn't it a stimulant." I spoke,

"Don't you need a prescription for one of those?" Subaru said right after me.

" I guess you can say that is one of the perks of being a med student." He smirks playfully, as we all decided to take the medication.

"I do hope it actually works." I say after swalloing it.

"Of course it will." Ray said confidently.

But at this point, it is probably impossible to stay awake forever, at some point...

He then makes his way around the table to sit right next to me, I turn and look at each of their faces.

No doubting it, they all know this, just choosing on not saying anything,

We fall into silence for quite some time till Thoma finally breaks it.

"Damn, I feel so wired right now!" Standing up acting somewhat energetic.

Ray grabbed onto Thoma's arm and dragging him down.

"Sit down." He ordered. "Why can't you just keep quite for one minute? "

Thoma just chuckles as he stands up again and leaving coming back with a glass of juice for each one of us.

"Y'know, I'm just feeling it. Didn't you say we would get high off this drug didn't you?"

"You make it sound so illicit." Subaru mutters reading a book in hand, he then looks at Ray holding it. "Do you mind if I borrow this?"

"No, Go on ahead. We all need at least something to do to keep us awake."

"I wish we had coffee though." Thoma playfully complained

"Well it's not on the menu."

"What if we get nightmares while were awake?"

"Is that even possible?" I inquiry

"Yeah, you know like with a daydream, but with the nightmare."

"That would be more like hallucinating more than anything." Ray said knocking down the possibility Thoma brought up.

Then out of no where, Thoma starts clapping, then looks at us and claps faster. It is so weird and stupid but I find myself grin wryly at him.

"Would you stop that?" Ray asked him annoyed more than his normal.

Without acknowledging Ray's words, Thoma just starts clapping even more. A few more minutes passed, and on my way back from the bathroom, I feel a cold breeze wafting to me through a open window.

This breeze feels nice.

I think to myself as I lean on the window looking out.

"This is so refreshing. "

I turn my head to the left, finding Ray standing outside by himself on his balcony.

"What is he doing there all by himself?" I ask this but to no one particular but myself.

I prop my head on my arm watching Ray intently. He looks up at the sky, looking at the stars and the moon, as he exhales his breath.

Why does he look so lonely?

I just get this weird gut feeling that if I leave him to himself like he is now, he'll go off somewhere, without any of us knowing the location, before I knew it, I was on my way to Ray. Without thinking, I grab the helm of his black shirt.

"Don't go anywhere." I whispered lightly

But, seemingly he heard me, he turned around surprised. His face glows radiantly under the moonlight.

"What are you doing out here?"

I finally realize what I was doing and pull my hand back looking away.

"Um, um, n-nothing. I just that you looked rather lonely, that's all."

"Oh where you worried about me? " He asked me this in a teasing sorta way, his face displaying the emotion.

"No! Well..." I still look away, looking anywhere then his face. "I guess it wasn't worth me worried about you, if you don't need me for anything, I'll head ack inside. You should probably do the same before you get sick. " Just as I turn around to walk back inside, he speaks up.

"Y'know, sometimes when I'm looking up at the stars like this..." He looks up at the sky, and I can't help but follow suit.

"... I feel like all of my problems are insufficient compared to the grand scale of thing. "

I somewhat understand where he is coming from.

Then he looks at me.

"Would you stay here with me, for a bit?"

My heart suddenly aches when I see the pained smile expression on his face. I wanted to say 'Of course' but before I could form the words the wind creeps over our skins once more and I shiver.

"It is pretty chilly out here Ray. I think it be wise if we headed inside, don't you think?" I advise as calm and quietly as I can, also sweetly.

He takes a sharp inhale, putting his hands in his pockets, thinking it over. He nods and turns to me.

"Yeah okay, its a shame." He states walking past me and I follow him back into the living room.

"Hey guys! Look what I found!" Thoma yelled excitedly, holding up a box from underneath the table.

"Ohhhh! is that Snakes and Ladders!" I exclaimed happily. "That's a classic!"

"Come let's play, Board games are fun and can help us from not dozing off."

I wanted to ask Subaru if he would join, but I don't want to sound desperate so I just glance at him, but he is too absorb into the book he is reading.

Would he like to join us?

Reading my thought Thoma asked him.

"Hey Subaru, come play with us!"

"I don't really know how to play that game. "He flatly said still reading his book.

"Seriously? Who doesn't know how to play Snakes and Ladders?"

Thoma gets up and grabs and pulls Subaru with him to sit down with him.

"Hey watch it!" Subaru shouted at him placing the book down beside him

"Now listen up. Lucky for you, the master is in the house."

" 'Master'?" Ray asked scoffing "This game is for little kids, it doesn't take any effort to be a master in it." Ray doesn't seem to want to budge, so I catch him by the wrist before he can do anything.

"Come on Ray. It'll be fun and at least something to do."

Relcutantly he sits down with us sighing as he picks out a player token from the box.

"Yeah! Alright!" Thoma cheered.

Before we start playing Thoma gives Subaru a quick rundown of the rules of the game. Naturally, Subaru being Subaru, he catches on pretty quickly.

"So with the ladder, the token goes up, and if it's the snake, then we have to go down, is that right?"

"Yes you got it Subaru." I said to him, him showing me a slight ghost of a smile on his lips.

"Alright, alright, let's get this started." Thoma said.

And, at that very moment both Thoma and Ray both proclaimed in unison. "I'll go first."

Oh boy...

It was going well fine, then they both look at each other competitively like two toddlers fighting over a shared toy.

"It's my game, so I get to go first." Ray claimed, reaching over for the die, but Thoma slaps the back of his hand.

"I was the one who suggested we play, so it should be me."

" Guys, that's not really-" I speak up trying to do my best possible to defuse the situation between the two but the continue on.

"Besides, you didn't even wanted to play."

"I'm playing now, aren't I?"

When I was going to speak up one more time, Subaru reaches over the board and picks up the die and starts to roll it, in the end of it, Subaru was the one to go first. After a few match Thoma oppose the results of it.

"I can't believe it. I demand a rematch! "

"Stop bothering me, I've already had enough." Subaru snarled obvious irritation in his words.

"Noooo!" Thoma playfully screamed clinging onto Subaru, pleading for another round.

Thoma was bit upset earlier, but I am glad he is back to his usual playful self at least.

"Haha! Come on, guys, He doesn't have to play if he doesn't want to anymore." I said smiling to them, then my field of vision starts to shake violently.

What?

The ringing of the bell resounds in my ears, a painful reminder that our fun has come to an end.

"No, no, n! I can't go to sleep."

I try to blink, fighting the drowsiness, but in the end of it, I finally closed my eyes.

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