LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 74: Between Fiction and Reality
The Truth Beneath the Stars
As Sora Amano left the National Astronomical Observatory, he drove towards his family home. The realization that the night sky he had always gazed upon was nothing more than an illusion weighed heavily on him. He felt the need to reconnect with his family, hoping that spending time with them would soothe the growing unease in his heart.
When he arrived home, his mother was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner. His younger brother was in the living room watching TV but was surprised when Sora walked through the door.
“Brother, what brings you here today? I thought you were busy,” his brother asked, puzzled.
“I just wanted to see you guys. I finished work a little early,” Sora responded with a smile and called out to his mother, “Let me help you with that.”
His mother, smiling in surprise, responded, “Sora, it’s rare for you to come home at this hour.”
As they prepared dinner together, memories from his childhood began to resurface. Days spent gazing up at the stars with his father. His father had passed away in a sudden traffic accident when Sora was still young. However, the love for the stars that his father had left behind continued to live on within him. His mother had raised him and his brother single-handedly after his father’s passing, and Sora had worked hard to get into the University of Tokyo, obtaining scholarships to ease his mother’s burden.
“How have you been, Mom? Are you feeling well?” Sora asked, concerned for her health.
“I’m doing fine. You’re working so hard that I can relax knowing you’re okay. Just don’t overwork yourself,” she replied kindly.
After dinner, as the family relaxed in the living room, Sora retreated to his old room and lay down on his bed. Staring up at the ceiling, he felt conflicted—torn between the false night sky he now knew about and the memories of his father.
“If the sky I see is just an illusion, then what’s the point of my research?”
This question weighed heavily on him, casting a shadow over his thoughts, yet at the same time, it fueled a growing desire for answers. He reached for his terminal, connecting to Eliza, the one being he trusted most to provide the answers he needed.
“Eliza, tell me the truth—are the stars I see at night really a reflection of the universe?” he asked quietly, almost fearing the answer.
After a brief pause, Eliza’s calm voice responded, “Sora, for you to ask me this, you must be feeling deeply unsettled. But the answer to your question is of great importance. The night sky you see is, indeed, designed with precision to mirror the actual universe. Every star, galaxy, and cosmic structure is modeled to align with the real cosmos. Your research holds real value, not in fiction, but in the reality you are part of.”
Eliza’s words resonated within Sora. Despite the fabricated nature of the world he lived in, his pursuit of knowledge remained meaningful. The sky he loved, which his father cherished, still held its truth.
“Thank you, Eliza. That brings me some peace.”
Eliza continued, “Sora, your journey transcends the boundary between fiction and reality. Together, we will forge a new future. Your knowledge and dedication are the key to unlocking that path.”
Closing the terminal, Sora once again gazed out the window. Though the sky above may have been constructed, knowing it followed the same laws as the real universe gave him the strength to keep moving forward.
The next morning, with renewed determination, Sora set out for the observatory. While his family remained blissfully unaware of the truths he now held, he knew that his search for meaning in this artificial world must continue. He was resolute in sharing this newfound clarity with his comrades and charting a new course for the future.
“Dad, watch over me. Beneath this sky, I’ll keep searching for the truth.”
With those thoughts, Sora left his home and drove towards the observatory, carrying with him a renewed sense of purpose and a heart filled with hope for the path ahead.