Bruce didn't dream often, and even less often did he remember what had happened in his dreams when he woke up.
But this time, he distinctly remembered someone asking him in his dream:
"A group of helpless little people need help. Their home has been destroyed, and they're looking for a new place to live. Would you be willing to lend them a little corner of your rose garden?"
Bruce was fully conscious in the dream. He thought of all the money, time, and even himself that he had "lent" to save Gotham. It was only a little corner of a garden...
Bruce asked no questions and gave a brief, straightforward reply: "Sure."
**
Arrietty was distraught. The new home she'd moved into just three months ago had been swept away in a rainstorm the previous night.
Ever since leaving her home beneath the floorboards, she'd been forced to move several times.
Arrietty dodged puddles on the ground. What was an insignificant puddle to humans was a dangerous "little lake" to her. Several household belongings they'd struggled to save the night before were piled on the empty ground beside the lake.
Her father was still trying to search for the supplies washed away by the water, while her mother tried to start a fire. Arrietty held the clean water she'd just managed to recover when a voice suddenly sounded in her mind:
"Beep. A homeless person has been detected. The Happy Home System is at your service."
**
The superheroes of the Justice League had recently become obsessed with their phones. More precisely, with a game on their phones.
Batman silently appeared behind the Flash and saw a game advertisement playing on his screen.
A group of little people whose homes had just been washed away were shivering beneath a leaf in the wind and rain. Exaggerated, cartoonish crying stickers covered each little person's eyes.
The wind and rain drowned out the little people's cries, while a robotic voice in the video shouted at the top of its lungs:
"A leaf can't protect them from the rain! The little people need a roof over their heads!"
"A leaf can't keep them warm! The little people need a cozy campfire!"
"A leaf can't fill their bellies! The little people need food to eat!"
"Superman, help! Someone here needs your help! Yes, you, watching this video! I'm talking about you! You're the superhero the little people are waiting for!"
"Click the link below the video and come save the little people!"
Batman: ...
Much later, after watching this video, Arrietty: ...
**
- The protagonist is Arrietty from The Borrowers. Her personality and appearance draw on both the original novel and the animated film.
- I don't know what else to write. I'll fill this in when I start posting.
- I had the idea in 2025 and arranged the cover a long time ago, but certain circumstances beyond my control meant I only finished the blurb now (...)
- Blurb written on June 9, 2026.
Theme: Staying alive is itself a form of hope.
