Akumu: A Japanese Ghost Story

Chapter 6- The Next Morning

Just like the morning before, Shindo woke up in a sweat. Even though nothing too horrifying happened (at least he did not fall to his death), he felt emotionally drained from the dream. Even after arriving at work, Shindo had a pallid look on his face.

"Shindo? You don't look so good," Makihara said as he walked by her.

"No, I'm fine. Just in a funk, that's all," Shindo replied. In actuality, Shindo was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The man in the fire still plagued his mind, and he wondered if he could get through the day without dwelling on it too much.

He then arrived at his workstation and opened his e-mail. The most recent e-mail, sent by his boss, had today's requirements for the dream-themed video game. He had to analyze the programming for some of the game's sprites this time. There was just one problem, though.

One of the sprites was the man in his nightmares.

"What the f-," Shindo started to shout before he caught himself. He did not want to get fired on his second day of work.

Makihara happened to hear what Shindo said. "Ryo Shindo, something IS wrong with you."

"What. Is. That?" Shindo asked, pointing to the sprite.

"That's what's known as a Yume no seirei. You've never seen one before?"

"No," Shindo answered quickly. Realizing his mistake, he then said, "Yes. In my dreams."

"You're saying you encountered this thing while you were sleeping, and you've never seen it before?" Makihara inquired.

"Yes."

"I see," Makihara said.

"What's weird is the fact that I encountered it two nights in a row," Shindo recalled. He then whispered in Makihara's ear in a shaky voice, "I am fucking terrified of sleeping now."

"Wow, this guy is not in a good place," Makihara thought. "I feel like I should do something, though... but what?" She cleared her throat and asked, "Are you doing anything after work?"

"Other than getting dinner at that izakaya, no," Shindo answered. (An izakaya is a Japanese bar).

"Would you like to go to my sister's house after work? She knows all about Japanese mythology, including that thing that's bothering you," Makihara offered.

"Sounds good," Shindo answered.

"Great! See you then," Makihara said.