Project Honkai

2

I take a moment to take a glimpse around at my surroundings. Large buildings tower over me. I stare up at the sky and become enchanted by all the bright swirls of blue and pink. Loud noises of laughter and chatter fills the atmosphere, giving the city a friendly and warm aura.

Yume turns back at me with an obnoxious smile on her face and raises her arms, "Welcome to the city of Advent~" She then, without my consent, grabbed my wrist and started dragging me around the city. It looked almost identical to cities from the other 'place'. Or is it other dimension? Other timeline? Who knows! It doesn't matter anyways! This all is just most likely some strange dream after all... I hope.

I got snapped back to reality when Yume suddenly had stopped. I glance over at her then look back forward, only to be immediately charmed by the sight. There was a tree, but not just any ordinary tree. It was large, about the width of three sequoias. There were windows, balconies, as if it were like a hotel. The branches were covered in colorful banners with glowing lanterns hanging from them. In the day, it looked like it was just another sun. Imagine how it would look at night! The marvelous tree was surrounded by patches of grass, dry from the heat of the summer. Both the tree and the grass looked unnatural in the large city filled with skyscrapers and such.

Before I could catch my breath, Yume grabs my wrist again and we both run over to the obnoxiously large tree. In the distance, I find a girl with long dark blue pigtails in front of us. Wait... In front of us?! I shake Yume's shoulder, "Hey, you idiot look forward-" But, it was too late. We ran into the poor girl. I immediately get up and send about 5 bows as an apology. Yume, instead of apologizing, hollers, "What the fuck," at the top of her lungs. The girl stands up, brushing away any dirt on her skirt, and sighs, "It's alright, you're new here aren't you?" I respond with a muffled, "Yea," before helping Yume up. Considering she's my only guide in this place, I probably shouldn't let her get injured and die or something of the sort. The girl then turns to Yume and plasters a disappointed look on her face. On the exact moment the girl turn to Yume, Yume immediately apologizes, or well, it wasn't much of an apology, but it did the same thing. "Eugh, sorry I guess! Next time you shouldn't have been in the way of an absolute goddess like me!" I mentally facepalm.

The girl sighs, "Yume..." I turn over to Yume, giving her a 'you know her?' look.

"Tsk, newbie, meet the number 2 s-rank valkyrie in Advent.." Oh. Oh.............

...

Silence is the only thing that could be heard. After about 10 or so seconds of silence and staring, I grab the pink one's arm and drag her away.

"Huh...? You're going the opposite way! The big ass tree was over there!" Why do we even have to go to that tree in the first place?!? Before I can say my rebuttal, she immediately drags me all the way back to the tree. Or well, a bit closer. We're still a good distance away. About maybe 50 or more paces away. I look up at the tree. I just can't stop myself from staring at the large structure once again.

I mean, it is a pretty cool tree. It's not everyday you get to see some big tree in the middle of a city with a bunch of windows as if you were in a fairytale of some sort.

I look forward to find that Yume was standing up close to the tree, gesturing for me to come. How did she walk over to there that quickly? There was a good amount of space between where we were both standing to the tree! I fast walk over to where she was, still pondering in my mind on how the hell she got over there so quickly. Maybe I'm just slow, who knows?

Right as I arrive, Yume turns back to the tree, mumbles some words, and waves her arms around like if she was a scizo. Suddenly, a portal appears, large enough to fit someone around 5'11 or under. To my surprise, she just walks in casually like it's nothing. Considering she is my only actual guide in this 'place', I reluctantly follow her through the portal.

Woosh!

Huh. Around me are various chandeliers, fancy walls that don't match the area outside of the portal at all, and a receptionist desk, sitting right in front of me. I look over at my side to see Yume in completely different clothes. At this point, I shouldn't even ask. She wears a more 'comfier' and 'casual' type of outfit compared to her other one. She wears a pink top, still having multiple bows all around it, with some baggy pants under and her hair undone.

She walks up to the receptionist, me quickly following after, and starts saying some random unimportant stuff that may be used against me in the future.

She then turns back at me, "Alright! I got us a place to stay!" I nod then glance over to a nearby clock on the wall. {7:27}, it had read. Already?!

I sigh. "Where even are we.." I asked, slowly losing patience.

"Huh? Oh, I signed you up for a magical girl agency again your free will."

What.

What.

WHAT.

Yume takes one look at the surprised look on my face and shrugs while walking away instead of clarifying what she had meant by... that. "Tch, tryouts are tomorrow. Catch," she tossed me some keys and then turned back, "What's with that look on your face? You're lucky y'know, this is free food, clothes, shelter... as long as you pass in the tryouts.." WHAT? ARE THEY JUST GOING TO THROW ME OUT ON THE STREETS IF I FAIL? "Good luck~" I stare at her as she continues to walk away. "Oh, and by the way, your temporary dorm is on the 6th floor!"

I watch in disbelief as my guide leaves me on the spot. What a great guide. I look at the keys in my hand, {128.} She said it was on the 6th floor right? I look around for a nearby elevator.

I spot one ahead of me, about to close, but I fortunately get there quick enough that I can still enter. I lean against the back of the wall, letting out a sigh of relief that I was finally alone-

Oh.

It was the girl from earlier. I immediately slide to the back corner, trying to pretend that I was never there in the first place.

...

...

...

The silence was loud... And way too long.

But luckily, the doors slid open and I was free! My eyes search across the long corridor, trying to find my room. 128... 128.... There! Right as I open the door, I flop onto the ground, unable to stand back up again... Until I realized I forgot to close the door.

After taking care of that I flop onto the large white bed. Finally, alone. No Yumes, no random elevator girls, no nothing.

This isn't a dream, is it.