We went back to Beacon. It was a nice day out, the kind of day where everything felt just a bit lighter as if the sun itself was smiling down on us. The air was crisp, and there was a sense of calm that followed us as we made our way back to the academy.

But, of course, that peace was quickly interrupted.

“Oh, honeycomb!” I heard a voice call out, dripping with exaggerated sweetness. I didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was. I could practically see the wide, mischievous grin on his face from the tone alone.

“Josh,” I muttered under my breath. I swear, there were times I wished I could just shoot him up into the stratosphere.

“You’re back!” Josh sang, practically floating over to us with a spring in his step like he was gliding on air. “And looking positively radiant, darling! Did you have the most fabulous time? I simply must know every detail, every juicy tidbit!”

He batted his eyelashes dramatically, his whole demeanor as flamboyant as ever. He had a way of making even the most mundane greeting feel like the grandest of entrances.

I sighed, trying not to let his over-the-top energy get to me. “Yeah, we’re back, Josh,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.

But Josh wasn’t one to be brushed off so easily. “Oh, don’t be coy, sweetie! You know I live for the drama! Tell me, tell me! Did anything… interesting happen while you were out and about? Any *delicious* secrets you’re hiding from me?” He leaned in close, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, clearly fishing for gossip.

I felt my ears twitch slightly, a reflex I was still getting used to showing in the open. “Nothing you need to know about, Josh,” I replied, trying to stay vague.

But of course, that only made him more curious. “Oh, come now, don’t be like that!” he said, pouting theatrically. “I can see that little glint in your eye, sugar. You can’t fool me! Something happened, and I’m dying to hear all about it!”

I exchanged a glance with Dan and the others, who were all trying not to laugh at Josh’s antics. Yang was smirking, clearly enjoying this more than she should. I could feel the warmth of the earlier kiss still lingering, but there was no way I was going to give Josh the satisfaction of knowing about it.

“Maybe next time, Josh,” I said, patting him on the shoulder as I tried to make a quick escape.

But he wasn’t letting me off that easily. “Oh, you tease!” he cried, clasping his hands together in mock despair. “But fine, keep your little secrets, for now! Just know that I’ll be watching you, honeycomb. Always watching.” He winked dramatically, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

As we finally managed to leave him behind, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Josh was a handful, but at least he meant well… most of the time. And for now, that was enough.

“You know I can kick his ass.” Dan looked at me. “I wouldn't even feel sorry doing it.”

I know it's true too. I looked at my team and saw how tired they looked.

We all got to our bunks. I couldn't sleep yet.  The others were asleep already. I wonder what they dream about.
___________________

~Dan’s Dream~

I was looking at my Father. He was disappointed in me. I couldn't help being born the way I am.  He had his belt in his hand.  I stood there, rooted to the spot, staring at my father. His disappointment was palpable, cutting through me like a knife. The room around us was a twisted version of my childhood home, the familiar walls now distorted and cold. The warmth that once filled the space was replaced by an oppressive chill.

My father held his belt tightly in his hands, the leather gleaming ominously in the dim light. It was a symbol of the discipline and expectations he had imposed on me throughout my life. I could see it in his eyes—the frustration, the disapproval. It was as if every flaw I had ever been criticized for was manifesting right in front of me.

“You never lived up to my expectations,” he said, his voice resonating with a harsh edge. It was a tone that made me feel like I was standing before an impenetrable wall of judgment. “You’ve always been a disappointment.”

I tried to speak, but the words felt stuck in my throat. “I didn’t ask to be born this way,” I managed to choke out. “You think I wanted this? To be someone you’re ashamed of?”

His gaze remained steady, unyielding. “You could have been better. You should have been. All your flaws, all your mistakes... they’re a reflection of my failures as a father.”

The belt in his hands seemed to grow heavier, symbolizing the weight of expectations I could never seem to meet. I felt a knot of fear tightening in my chest. “I’ve tried so hard,” I said, my voice cracking. “I’ve worked my entire life to prove myself, to be someone you could be proud of.”

But my father’s expression didn’t change. There was no sign of forgiveness, no hint of understanding. The disappointment was etched deeply into his features, and it felt like it was all I was ever going to see.

“You never truly understood,” he said, the words echoing with a finality that made my heart sink. “You were never enough.”

As his figure started to fade away, the dreamscape around me blurred and twisted, the walls of my childhood home dissolving into darkness. The weight of his words lingered, settling heavily on my chest.

I woke up with a start, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. The room was dark, but the oppressive feeling from the dream clung to me. The shadows of my father’s disappointment felt as real as ever, casting a long shadow over my waking life.

I woke up to see Corey looking at me. His cat ears are pointed down.

___________________

~Sumire’s Dream~

I was back at home with my Dad, Sister, and mother. We lived on the streets, I was with my Ex, Rose Mary. She was a petite thief. I didn't know what I saw in her.

I found myself back in the familiar, harsh reality of my old life. The streets were as grim as ever, and the weight of poverty was palpable in every corner. My family and I were huddled together in a makeshift shelter—a space barely big enough for us all. My father, mother, and sister sat around a small fire, their faces illuminated by its flickering light. The harshness of their expressions spoke volumes about the struggles we faced.

Rose Mary was with us too, her presence a sharp contrast to the dire circumstances. She was petite, with a quick smile that never quite reached her eyes. As always, she seemed out of place among my family. I could see the tension between her and the rest of us. She was a thief, a skilled one at that, but her thefts never brought us much relief. I often wondered why I was drawn to her in the first place.

The dream shifted, and I was now outside, standing beside Rose Mary. We were in the midst of a dark alley, the shadows closing in around us. Her fingers were deftly working on a lock, and I could see the determination in her eyes. I felt a pang of regret, realizing how far removed we were from the family I once knew and the dreams we had of a better life.

“Why do you stay with me?” I asked her, my voice tinged with confusion and frustration. “Why are you here, in this mess with us?”

She looked at me, her gaze piercing through the dim light. “Because this is where you are. And I’m here because I care about you, despite everything.”

The alley seemed to close in, the walls pressing tighter with every word. The fire from the dream's earlier scene now felt like a distant memory. I was trapped between two worlds—the family I wanted to protect and the life I chose to live with Rose Mary. The guilt and confusion intertwined, leaving me feeling lost and helpless.

I woke up with a start, the remnants of the dream still haunting me. The harsh reality of my past lingered, a constant reminder of the choices I had made and the paths I had taken.

“Corey, did you seriously fart? It stinks.” I looked at our leader and for some reason, he was still up at two in the morning.

___________________

~Azu’s Dream~

I hovered in the darkened skies of the Land of Darkness, the oppressive gloom around me a familiar shroud. My body, a black, segmented form with three sets of legs, moved with a grace that belied its size. The white armored mask and armor along my back gleamed dimly against the darkness. My four red transparent wings fluttered silently, carrying me through the murky air. My stinger, a deadly weapon, twitched in anticipation.

This was my original form, the form I had not seen in years—the Queen Lancer of the Grimm. My drones, extensions of my will, swarmed around me, their presence a constant buzz in the air. Our mission was clear: hunt down and eliminate any humans that dared to tread in the Land of Darkness. The thought of their lives extinguished by my command filled me with a grim satisfaction.

As I flew, memories of my past life as a Grimm Queen came rushing back. I remembered the battles, the strategy, and the cold efficiency with which I carried out my orders. My drones and I moved as one, a well-oiled machine of destruction. The thrill of the hunt, the rush of victory over human foes—it was exhilarating and terrifying, all at once.

The Land of Darkness was my domain, a realm of shadows and despair where the only rule was survival of the fittest. Humans were the enemy, and my purpose was to exterminate them. I commanded my drones with precise, calculated movements, directing them to scour the land and seek out any intruders. Every human I found was a target, every confrontation a chance to fulfill my grim duty.

Yet, amidst the chaos of my mission, a sliver of doubt began to creep into my thoughts. The Land of Darkness, with all its power and cruelty, was my home, but it had also become a cage. I was bound by the role I was given, trapped in a cycle of violence and destruction.

As I surveyed the desolate landscape, the sky darkening even further, I felt a pang of nostalgia. The past seemed to intertwine with the present, and I questioned the path I had chosen. Was there more to my existence than just this endless cycle of hunting and killing?

The dream shifted, and I was no longer the Queen Lancer. Instead, I was a Grimm turned human, standing at the edge of the Land of Darkness. The realm behind me was a place of shadows and memories, while ahead lay a new world, one filled with possibilities and unknowns. The transition was jarring, and the conflict within me was palpable.

I woke up with a start, the remnants of the dream lingering in my mind. The weight of my past, the role I had once embraced, and the uncertain future ahead were all too real. My life as a Grimm was behind me, but the echoes of that existence continued to haunt me.

I saw Gold-Senpai looking at me. As if I said something in my sleep. These humans still perplex me.