The Reborn Witch Princess

Strange Day

The setting sun cast long shadows in the hallway as Chihara dragged her tired feet up the stairs. "I'm home!" she called out, her voice echoing faintly in the quiet house.

The hallway was adorned with a gallery of family photos—each frame capturing a moment of shared joy and warmth. A faded tapestry of memories hung on the walls, giving the house a lived-in, nostalgic feel. The light from the setting sun filtered through the lace curtains, creating a warm, golden hue that bathed the space in a comforting glow.

Her mom, Adelia Joy, emerged from the kitchen, an apron tied around her waist. The apron was decorated with cheerful, multicolored flowers that seemed to match the vibrant and welcoming ambiance of the kitchen. Adelia wielded a spatula with practiced ease, the aroma of a home-cooked meal wafting through the air.

"Welcome back, honey! Are you hungry?" she asked with a radiant smile that could brighten the dullest of days.

"No, Mommy. I'm tired. I'm going to take a nap first," Chihara replied, her gaze heavy with exhaustion.

Chihara's tiredness was palpable—her posture was slouched, and she emitted a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of her day. Her voice was barely a whisper, and her eyes bore the telltale signs of sleepless nights and relentless academic pressure.

"Sure," Adelia said, her smile faltering slightly as she watched her daughter. She sighed, shaking her head with a mixture of concern and resignation before heading back to the kitchen. The clinking of pots and the sizzle of cooking resonated as she went about preparing dinner.

Turning the doorknob of her bedroom, Hara walked in and closed the door behind her with a soft click.

Hara's bedroom was her personal haven, a sanctuary filled with a mix of academic awards and personal treasures. Shelves lined with stacks of textbooks and neatly arranged mementos created a sense of organized chaos. The room was dimly lit by a single lamp on her study desk, casting a warm pool of light onto the cluttered surface. The curtains were drawn tight, shutting out the outside world and cocooning her in a comforting darkness.

She dropped her heavy bag and a few textbooks onto the study table, which was situated in the corner of the room. With a huff of exhaustion, she sank into her chair, letting her shoulders slump in defeat.

After a grueling day of tackling college assignments, Hara felt completely drained. Despite her impressive academic record, the relentless workload was taking its toll.

Resting her elbows on the desk, she buried her pounding head in her hands and closed her eyes, seeking solace in the darkness. She didn't understand why she felt so drained. Her body ached all over, a stark contrast to how she felt yesterday. The weight of today's responsibilities felt heavier than usual, casting a shadow of unease over her.

Hara's thoughts were a tangled mess of frustration and weariness. She was overwhelmed by her academic obligations and haunted by a vague sense of dread she couldn't quite identify.

Shaking her head to dispel the unsettling thoughts, she decided to push them aside for now. After a few minutes of trying to calm her racing mind, sleep began to pull at her.

'Maybe I should really take a nap,' she thought, her eyes growing heavier.

With a resigned sigh, Hara sat up, her movements slow and deliberate. She walked toward her bed, peeling off her clothes with the casualness of someone too exhausted to care, leaving herself in just her underwear. She pulled the soft, inviting blanket over her body and settled into the bed, the plush mattress cradling her as she quickly drifted into a deep, much-needed sleep.

"Hara! Wake up!"

The voice pierced through Hara's dreams, and she growled in response, gripping the pillow beneath her head and hurling it toward the bedroom door in a futile attempt to block out the sound.