Hana's eyes fluttered open, and the sight of her familiar ceiling came into view. She realized that she was back in her room. As she attempted to get out of bed, a sharp pain shot up through her body, causing her to hiss in discomfort. Looking down, she noticed that her feet were wrapped in bandages.

She groaned softly, memories of the events leading up to her injury flooding her mind. Hana thought about the previous night of her 21st birthday celebration. She remembered going to bed after the festivities, only to wake up suspended in mid-air as if held up by some otherworldly power. Disoriented and confused, she struggled to comprehend what was happening. Questions raced through her mind, such as "Where am I?" and "Did I isekai or something?"

But that was only the beginning. She thought about her unexpected encounter with Yushio, their escape from the three menacing men, and how Yushio had saved and treated her wounds with care. Those memories were still fresh in her mind, and she couldn't help but feel grateful for his help.

The dream world. It all seemed so surreal, like a distant memory or a figment of her imagination. But the pain in her feet was a stark reminder that it had all been real.

She wondered what had happened to Yushio. Had he returned to the real world as well? And what about the men who had been patrolling the forest? Would they continue coming after her?

The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. She needed answers, but she didn't know who to turn to. She was alone in this.

Suddenly, she heard a soft knock on her bedroom door, causing her to jump. "Hana?" a familiar voice called out.

It was her father. Relieved, Hana called out for him to enter. The door creaked open, and her father's face appeared, his brow furrowed with worry and fear as he took in the sight of her injured feet.

"Hana, what on earth happened last night?" he asked, rushing to her side and carefully examining her bandaged feet. "How did this happen?" he inquired with a tone of concern.

Hana drew in a deep breath, attempting to compose herself. She knew it would be a daunting task to recount the bizarre occurrences of the previous night to her father, a man who was notoriously skeptical of anything that couldn't be seen or explained.

Hana hesitated for a moment before responding, "I accidentally stepped on glass shards yesterday.”

“Both feet?” her father asked, his skepticism apparent.

Her heart thumped loudly in her chest. She had to quickly come up with a response if she didn't want to be doubted. “Yeah. I accidentally broke… a glass bottle yesterday while celebrating with my friends.”

Her father sighed and shook his head. "You must be more careful in the future, Hana. Your mother wouldn't want you to be so reckless with your own safety."

"I will," Hana replied, feeling a pang of guilt at the mention of her deceased mother. "I promise I will be more careful."

After her father left, Hana sat alone on her bed, staring at a family picture that rested on the study table in front of her. In the photo, her parents stood side by side, beaming with love and pride, while a little Hana sat perched on her mother's hip. It was a happy memory, a moment frozen in time when life seemed simple and full of possibilities.

But as she gazed at the picture, Hana felt a profound sense of loss and sadness. Her mother, who had been the anchor of the family, was no longer with them. She had passed away when Hana was just a child, leaving behind a gaping hole in their lives that could never be filled.