Extra Storyline: Dreamrealm

"Where?" Gakushu sat up and looked around confused. He remembers going to sleep and now upon 'waking', he finds himself in a garden next to a pond full of koi fish.

At this time he can think of three scenarios.

-(f/n) put something in his drink and he's hallucinating

- this is another one of the twin's elaborate prank

-(f/n) finally killed him in his sleep and this is heaven

He flinched when he felt a sudden foreign presence. "Who?"

"Behind you." The voices spoke.

He turned around and standing before him is an alluring woman, familiar yet not. She possesses red hair and donned a black kimono. Her eyes as dark as the void.

"My, you two must've had lots of fun if you're able to see me now." She giggles covering her mouth with a sleeve.

"Who are you?"

"Isn't it obvious by now?" The woman smiles. "I'm the mother of those twins."

"I thought their mom was dead."

"Oh make no mistake, I am dead."

"But you are... here?"

"yes." she nodded.

"Does that mean I'm dead?"

"Oh no." She burst out laughing. "Of course you're no dead." She spread out her arms, "Think of this as a dream. I'm honestly not too sure how you're able to see me but if I have to guess I'd say it because of your physical relationship with my daughter."

He averted his eyes immediately.

She watched amused by his embarrassment. How can she not tease him?

"So are you thinking of making (f/n) bear your children?" She asked causing the other to choke into a fit of cough. "I do hope to be a grandmother soon." She continues to enjoy herself as she teases her son-in-law, watching him turn redder and redder.

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you now." She waved her hands.

"I can see where (f/n) gets her personality from." Gakushu glanced at her.

"Of course, she learned from the best."

"So everything (f/n) said about you invading her dreams is true?" He asks.

"Pretty much, we have a round, and the winner gets to have a little fun." She smirks, waving her hand and out appears a kotatsu table along with a game of Chinese Go. "Care to join?"

************

"Oh, I lost..." Gakushu said disheartened.

"You know, I thought you'd be more upset over your loss."

"When you have someone like (f/n) as your wife, losing is pretty much a daily occurrence." He shrugs.

"My condolences, although I might be partially responsible for that." She hums. "Losing to me every night might've made your marriage a living hell."

"I dont mind being an outlet for her frustration, and losing isn't that big of a deal. (What are you a saint?) As long as I don't lose to Karma." Gakushu said. "Besides I won her heart, did I not?"

"Oh my, when did you become such a romantic."

"I'm not." He scowls. "She can't hear this conversation right?"

"She can if I let her, but then I'd lose my teasing materials." She smiles. "If she knows that's how you think of her, her ego will become unbearable."

"I see that you're just as horrible as (f/n)."He sighs.

"Are you sure that's what you want to say to the person who's about to serve you your penalty for losing the game." She raised a brow.

"Please go easy on me mother." He bitterly smiles.

She laughs then summons what looks to be a file from thin air, flipping through it similar to reading a book. "Alright, I got the general picture... Come here." She said beckoning him over to her.

He got up and made his way to her. She then hums and placed a hand over his forehead. "Brace yourself." She warns before everything went dark.

************

When the light finally returned to his eyes, he finds himself no longer in that garden with the koi fish instead he finds himself on a roof of a two-story building with the attic right below him.

"Why am I on a roof," Gakushu exclaims. "I'm not (f/n), are you trying to kill me."

"Oh please, you can't die in the dream realm even if you wanted to." Her voice echoed within his head. "And don't bother looking for me, think of me as God, passing along words of wisdom."

"Have fun," she said, her presence now officially gone.

"Some god you are." He mutters bitterly, then looks down at his hands. In his hands is a bento box along with a note. Setting aside the boxes he opens the paper.

Unless you ask, that daughter of mine will probably never go into details about her past, but with your personality, that's never happening.

So I'm letting you see what happened for yourself.

If you need anything just have the image in your head and it will appear.

Just dont let (f/n) see you conjure stuff out of thin air.

I don't need believers in this family.

"Wow, great parenting." He rolled his eyes. Unfortunately, his trail of insults for his mother-in-law was cut short when he heard a loud noise coming from below him.

It sounded like a man yelling. Gakushu couldn't make out what the guy was saying but one thing did catch his attention... the person he was yelling at was (f/n). After a few, he heard a door slam. Followed by a series of dry coughing.

He turned and took a peek through the window. he can't say he was shocked since he heard many storied from the twins about her horrible childhood was, but seeing for himself here and now cause an ache in his chest. As if someone had stabbed him repeatedly in the heart.

Inside was a table, the only notable furniture that occupied the small room. The table seems like it was ready to collapse under the sheer weight, if it wasn't already buried in it. Everywhere he looked, was piles upon piles of paper, mountains of books, and scattered broken writing tools.

But his attention wasn't focused on the poor state of the room or the lack of furniture, his eyes were set on the girl who sat in the center of the mess that is bound to give anyone a papercut.

This version of (f/n) was young, she looked younger than when he met her at the start of junior high. But compare with junior high, who's lively and arrogant, this one is but a husk.

Her eyes are dead without a trace of light and her flaming red hair seems to fade in color. She looked frail and weak like she didn't eat a decent meal in a while. (f/n) sat staring at the door in a daze as if waiting for someone to come through but no one did.

It's the least to say that this scene broke his heart. In his head, he contemplates what to do in a situation like this when his thought was interrupted by a small thud.

He looked back inside and his eyes widen. (f/n)'s body swayed slightly before collapsing onto her side. His body moved before his brain had a chance to respond.

Gakushu jumped in and lifted her small frame to inspect her condition.

"Sh*t," He inwardly curses. no matter how you look at it, a grown man putting his hands on a little girl can't be good. Especially if it's in said girl's room.

(f/n) had her eyes opened the entire time, as though it has forgotten how to blink. Her eyes moved slightly to look at him. "How did you get in here, Senpai." She asked in a hoarse voice.

"Senpai?" He blinked. I'm a full-grown man no matter how you look at me. In the corner of his eyes, he saw a glint of light, he turned and spotted a very convenient mirror standing by its' lonesome in the corner. It wasn't broken necessarily, but it did have numerous cracks on it. (like the screen on my phone *cough cough*)

He was startled, the person reflecting from the mirror is not what he expected. He looked down at his hands, moving it a bit to make sure it is actually his. "this is..." His hands are smaller along the rest of his overall features, he was younger like how he looked back in junior high.

What is this voodoo magic? Well at least now dont look like a pedophile, though it still feels wrong.

"You are older than me, right? What else am I suppose to call you besides senpai." She laughed or at least tried to, then started coughing again.

"Well, that sassy attitude you're infamous for is still intact." He muttered patting her head.

"You feel familiar, Senpai. Do you know me?" She asked with her large innocent eyes, not looking as dead as before.

"You can say that." He answered, then gave her another look, "Are you hungry?"

She looked at him tilting her head, "One should not accept food from a stranger, I don't even know your name. Besides I'm not allowed to eat..."

"Is that so." Gakushu sighed then let go of her and heads out the window. (kinda like a certain someone we know.)

When (f/n) was let out of his embrace, she felt disheartened watching his fleeting figure. She sighed and stared at her hands remembering the warmth. The room was once again quiet, and lonely.

Much to her surprise, he came back. Gakushu didn't notice the change in her reaction as he came back into the room with a bento box in hand.

"Then what am I suppose to do with all this food." He pretends to be in distress.

This may be the same (f/n) but right now they are in a dream, and in a dream, (f/n) truly believed she was in her nightmarish childhood days. She's not as quick-witted as her future counterpart. Gakushu had gone through high school with that natural disaster, this is nothing he can't handle.

He sat down then placed the bento box in front of him, then turned around to face the other way.

"What is this?" (f/n) asked him suspiciously poking at it. He turned his head around to see that she is practically drooling, clearly knowing what's inside. He took a moment to reframe himself from laughing.

"Your father may be a tyrant, but he doesn't know everything." Gakushu placed a finger on his lips. "Sees no evil, knows no evil."

She sat bewildered at the statement so much so she didn't even realize that he turned back around. Glancing back and forth from the pile of papers and the food, she quickly made her decision.

He smiles to see (f/n) stuffing her face and took this moment to really take in the details of the room. The details of this memory are extremely vivid, it shows just how long she's been in here. The scenery from outside may also show the same quality, but if he looked closely at the actual house and everything beyond that is all but blurry.

Adjacent to the mirror there is another large pile of books, which he later realized was actually more like a nest made out of Encyclopedias, along with a single thin blanket. He went to pick one that seems to be the most worn. It was on astronomy.

"I was four when Mother first gave me an encyclopedia, she told me that this world possesses limitless knowledge." (f/n) craked her first genuine smile at the memory of her mother. "Then again Mother says lots of things, like how humans are all dumb animals."

Again, great parenting.

"That was my favorite," She points at the book in his hand. "But unfortunately I can't see them for myself thanks to the light pollution."

He glanced at the book then at her 'bed'. "Do you always sleep like this?"

"Mother always did say that I tend to sleep wherever there are books around." She shyly rubbed her arms.

That explains why I would always find you sleeping in some corner of the school's library buried under books.

"Would you like to go outside?" He decided to change the subject. Her eyes widened for a moment with excitement, but that look soon disappeared.

"I can't go out," she glanced at the pile of unfinished paperwork.

He chuckles lightly remembering the time when (f/n) would ditch class right when the teacher would come in to greet them. Leaving all her work unfinished as always.

"What's so funny?" She angrily demands.

"Nothing... just a memory." He answered. "How about I finish those papers for you," like I always do. He kept the last part to himself.

"You would do that?" She asked suspiciously. "I don't trust you can actually do it."

Nevermind my previous comments, (f/n)'s no different than her future counterpart.

She stood up and slightly tugs on his shirt, gesturing him to follow her towards the pile. She then patted the floor urging him to sit, to which he complies. She then climbs onto his lap and made herself comfortable.

"So I'll watch," She said sheepishly and continues her meal. He laughs again patting her head.

He picked up one of the papers, then furrows his brows. "you've been doing this level of math?" Gakushu asked the girl who's happily munching on a chicken leg.

"Yeah. why?" she answers with a sadden expression. "Mother only ever taught me the history of mathematics, but not the actual practice so I'm very lacking."

What is this girl talking about? She's not even 10 and she's already doing complex algebra. This 'graph' may as well be a blueprint. And where is her calculator?

'I know parents are strict but this is ridiculous.' he faintly smiles. 'Not even my father was this hardcore.'

"Mother taught me many things before she died. Astronomy, biology, history, psychology...." (f/n) counted with her fingers while swinging her legs.

"that nice, what else did she teach you," Gakushu said barely able to keep up the small talks with her, as he is too busy crunching numbers.

"Language!" (f/n) snapped her fingers, then giggles. "Mama said science and math are best learned in English. But she really just likes speaking in all kinds of languages. Sometimes she forgot to switch back to Japanese, its really funny when Mother finally realize."

"That's interesting." He said resting his chin on her head. So that's why everything is written in English instead of Japenese. "Can you write in kanji?"

(f/n) shook her head. "kanji is too hard, I hate kanji."

She then looked at the papers. "wow, I can't believe you actually finished one, especially while talking to me." She exclaims, impressed. "It usually takes me an entire day to complete one page."

'So you aren't a robot,' Gakushu inwardly said looking as if he wishes to cough up blood. 'who do you think I was competing against, I won't lose to the younger version of you.'

"Did you finish your meal?" He asked changing the subject.

(f/n) nodded cheerfully, "I can really leave? where will you take me?"

"Anywhere you want." He answered patting her head, pointing at the window.

"But..." she hesitated, glancing at the door.

Gakushu sighs then knelt down to look at her eye to eye, taking hold of both her hands. "Do you trust me?" He asks sincerely.

"yes," she replies instantly. When she realized what she had just blurted out she shyly averted her eyes, and attempted to cover her face.

"really?" He was also shocked by her response.

"No, no of course not, I don't know why I said 'yes', I don't even know your name." She quickly denies, her cheeks reveal a slight shade of red.

How cute. Her subconscious probably remembers who he is.

"Then, will you believe me when I say that if you come with me. He won't hurt you." He said extending his hand.

She looked up at his face once before placing her hand on his. "ok".

***********

"Hey senpai, do you always jump out of the window?" (f/n) asks, while still holding onto his hand.

"No, I don't." He replies. 'but a certain someone -who doesn't know how to use a door- sure loves to make it a habit.'

"When was the last time you had a walk like this?" Gakushu asks.

"Mm, when mother was still alive," she said.

"Oh... um sorry for bringing it up."

"Why? All living things die, no need to apologize." (f/n) gave him a smile, then continues walking.

He blinked at her unable to refute her statement. 'you are one demented child. Not even an adult would say something like that.'

"Hey what does Phở taste like?" (f/n) asks pointing at a menu. "I saw this menu sitting on the table once when I sneaked into the kitchen for food."

"It's basically a bowl of noodles, mostly soup. The noodles are flat, there are meat and vegetable if you want them." He describes poorly since he's not much of an eater like (f/n), eating anything that's edible. But that seems to be enough to make eyes sparkle.

"Can we try some?"

"Didn't you just eat?"

"Let me enjoy life." She pouts.

He sighs, why do I bother asking, her stomach is a bottomless pit. He walked into the place ordering 2 bowls. He then turned around realizing she didn't follow. "Are you coming?" She quickly nodded and ran over.

************

'I swear she inhaled that bowl of noodles.' He watched her drain the last of her soup then turned around and stare at him with her big round eyes. After losing the staring contest he surrenders his portion over to her. Pity he only got one bite in.

The same thing continues to happen at every food stall. She would ask what it tastes like, he would go to order two, but just before he takes a second bite he is 'forced' to surrender his food to her.

"ooh, a library. I haven't been there in forever." (f/n) exclaims pointing at a large building. "Can we go, can we?"

"You really do love books, dont you?"

"Yep, I eat, sleep, and breath books." She chirps.

"Mother is always going on and on about chemistry, Karma got sick of hearing periodic table this and formula that." She said skimming through a chemistry textbook then setting it aside. "She loves psychology, getting into people's heads are her specialty." (f/n) hands a textbook to Gakushu. He glanced at the title, sure enough, it was the same one he saw her reading back in their junior high days.

At supposedly 6 pm, (time is hard in the dream realm), the library is closed and they are left to wander the streets again.

Nothing seems too abnormal, but this is (F/n)'s dream. Sure enough, he sees a faceless man walked by carrying what looks like a hundred toilet paper.

"...Can I ask what is going on over there?" He asks the owner of these memories.

(f/n) turned around and laughs. "I thought it would be funny if the people in my math problems actually exist." She then points to another person. "Look it's Johnny with 18 bottles of dish soap and that guy has 10 cookies and a dead body."

"Why is there a dead body?"

"Because the problem said someone took 5 from him. But clearly that's not how life works." She answered sweetly.

"I wish I never asked." He facepalmed.

*************

"Hey, when will you finally tell me your name, Senpai?" She asks him while staring at the full moon, still holding onto his hand.

"Hm... I kinda want to keep that a secret." Gakushu decides to tease her a bit.

This made (f/n) pouts. "Fine don't tell me." She huffs.

He chuckles and pats her head, "Why do you wish to know so badly?"

"I don't know, you just feel important to my life." She beams at him. "I once read that life is about finding pieces of yourself... maybe you are one of those pieces."

His eyes widen at her, stunned. He took his time to admire that pure angelic smile on the little girl's face, knowing he'll probably never see this again.

He then bents down and place a peck on her forehead. "Gakushu, Asano Gakushu. Remember it well, Rank Zero."

With that, the dream fades.

**************

Bonus, a gift from this author: If the dream continues (f/n) would've addressed him as 'shu-chan'.

**************

They both awaken the next morning.

"So did you enjoy yourself?" (f/n) asks sitting up.

"Will you believe me if I said no?" Gakushu answers, sitting up as well resting his arm on a propped up leg.

"Any opinions?" She inquiries.

"uh... you love your mother. Karma is useless during your childhood... and your father is a jerk." He listed the first few things that came to mind.

"Sure, what else?"

You were book smart and ignorant to the outside world -ow why did you hit me." He said.

"No dumbass, you should've said that despite my brutal childhood I'm still a freaking genius, and my personality never changed." She crossed her arms.

"That's not true, you definitely changed." He grumbles.

"I'll kill mother for digging up my dark history!" She growls.

"I thought she's already dead..."

"I'm gonna purge her soul." (f/n) loudly declares.

"And you were so cute back then..." He sighs. 'what happened?'

**********

Editor: why did this give me Rapunzel vibes. A man takes a girl from a tall building, showing her the world.

Director: I thought it was that one chapter from Mo Dao Zu Shi, the incense burner scene.

Author: you're both so wrong. I just wanted Gakushu to see the innocent side of (f/n).