Regression of a Star

Haruki had always been someone who prided himself on his ability to remain grounded, despite the madness of the entertainment world around him. But tonight, he found himself trapped in a dream so vivid, so strange, that it left him questioning everything he knew about himself—and the world he had chosen to live in.

It started innocently enough. He was standing on the set of a film, but the familiar surroundings were distorted, as if something was off. The lights were brighter, the cameras more invasive. His colleagues, the people he had worked with for years, seemed distant and unfamiliar, their faces blurred and unrecognizable.

Then, the world around him began to shift.

Suddenly, Haruki was no longer on the set. He stood in an empty, dark void, the ground beneath him soft and spongy, like he was walking on clouds. But as he looked around, he saw that the vast expanse of nothingness was filled with thousands of glowing symbols—strange, incomprehensible letters and numbers that floated in the air, swirling around him in a chaotic dance.

At the center of the symbols, there was a screen. The screen flickered, displaying strange text:

"Welcome, Haruki. You have entered the System."

Haruki took a step back, his heart racing. "System?" he muttered, confusion overtaking him. "What does that mean? What is this place?"

The voice that answered was cold and mechanical, as if it were speaking from somewhere far away. "You have been chosen. Your path in the world is not what it seems. You are now part of a greater system, one that will guide you, challenge you, and force you to grow. Every decision you make will affect your future. The consequences will be real."

Haruki's mind raced. He felt like he was being suffocated, trapped in a world he didn't understand. "No, this isn't real," he whispered, shaking his head. "This is just a dream. It has to be."

The voice responded, undeterred by his disbelief. "This is no dream, Haruki. This is the reality you have entered. From now on, your every choice will be governed by the System. Your success, your failures—all will be determined by the rules it imposes."

The System's Rules

Suddenly, the glowing symbols around him began to form into neat rows, creating a menu of sorts. The screen in front of him displayed several options, each with a glowing button that Haruki instinctively knew he could select.

"Choose your path:"

Become the Star: Pursue fame and glory in the entertainment industry, sacrificing your authenticity for success.

Stay True to Yourself: Reject the system's offer and continue to make independent choices, but risk being erased from the public's memory.

Break the System: Challenge the System itself, risking everything to free yourself from its control, but with no guarantee of survival.

Haruki stared at the options, feeling paralyzed. The voice echoed in his mind once more.

"You must choose. Your next step will shape your destiny."

He took a deep breath, his thoughts swirling. Everything he had worked for—his authenticity, his refusal to fall back into the world of fleeting fame—now seemed to be at risk. The System was giving him a choice, but none of them seemed like the right one.

The Pressure of Choice

The screen flickered again, and this time, a new message appeared:

"The System will give you power, Haruki. But with that power comes responsibility. Every action you take will have consequences. There are no shortcuts. Choose wisely."

Haruki felt the weight of those words, and his heart sank. He had spent so long trying to carve his own path, to break free from the cycle of fame and superficiality. But now, it seemed that the System was forcing him into another corner. There were no easy choices, no guarantees that he could retain control of his life.

As the screen continued to flash with more options, Haruki felt a surge of panic. He was trapped. No matter what he chose, he felt as if he was being manipulated, pulled into a game he didn't understand. The nightmare felt too real, the stakes too high.

The Awakening

Just as the pressure became unbearable, Haruki felt his body jerk, as if waking up from a long, deep sleep. His surroundings began to blur, the dark void dissolving around him. The symbols, the screen, and the cold voice all faded away, leaving him in the familiar comfort of his apartment.

He gasped for air, sweat dripping down his face. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his hands shook as he wiped his forehead.

It had been a nightmare. Or at least, he hoped it had been.

But as Haruki lay there, staring up at the ceiling, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. The dream had felt too real. The System—it wasn't just a fantasy. It had felt like a warning, a force trying to pull him into something greater, something he didn't understand.

The feeling of unease lingered, and Haruki knew that, whether the System was real or not, the choices before him had just become far more complicated.