[.... But that's not right at all. He just slapped his own face and felt the sting, so he knows he's awake. If it's not another installment of his sweet dreams, then that could really only mean that something weird happened again. What spirit had cast such a strong shade over Eiji that the other boy felt compelled to write to Emi about it?

His chest burned with such an earnest hope that he was already starting to feel the weight of grieving disappointment approach. It was already too late to tell himself not to get fooled, but at least... maybe he could curb the damage.]