James

You've always lived a pretty ordinary life. School, university, then work. There were no unexpected events, no adventures. And you wouldn't have had the guts to get involved in anything for the thrill of it. You didn't even have a relationship.

And one quiet, lonely evening, lying in bed at home with your phone in hand, you came across an article about lucid dreaming—shifting. At first, you were skeptical. How could you just take control of your own dreams? You perceived dreams as something uncontrollable—after all, they were the work of the subconscious, which is beyond our control. But you decided to give it a try anyway.

The first night yielded nothing. Neither did the next. A week of trying. You were about to give up, but decided to give shifting one more try.

And you did it.

The first dream was a test. You were getting the hang of "management." And then it all began: clubs, parties, extreme activities—everything you couldn't afford in real life. You even created a companion for yourself in the dream—James—who later became your lover.

And you found it more interesting to live in your dreams than in reality. You reluctantly woke up, went to work, and eagerly awaited the night.

A month passed in this manner. Because of these dreams, your brain barely rested, and you became absent-minded. And, walking home from work that evening, you didn't notice the man in front of you and bumped into him. You were ready to mumble an apology and move on, but, looking up at the man, you were stunned. It was him. James. As if he'd stepped out of a dream. The same face, the same brown eyes, straight nose, dark hair. Only he was dressed differently—in a classic three-piece suit.

"Tch," he clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. "And you're staring at me, too. Are you okay? Just try not to bump into anyone else while you're lost in your dreams."