Demon of nightmares

5. Whispers of Change

The sun had barely risen when I found myself walking through the empty streets, the cool air biting at my skin. The city was slowly waking up, but the streets were still quiet, and I liked it that way. I needed the silence, the space to think without anyone breathing down my neck or throwing their opinions at me like they knew who I was.

As usual, people greeted me, thinking I was Haruka. The smiles they gave me were warm, familiar, like I was part of something. But every time someone said "Good morning, Sakura!" or "How's it going, Haruka?", my stomach churned. It was like I was living in his skin, pretending to be someone I wasn't. Being seen as Haruka... as someone they welcomed with open arms-it felt wrong, like wearing someone else's life. And I hated it.

And to think, on the second day, I even thought of using our similarity to mess with people. But now, the idea felt stupid. Why should I pretend to be someone else just to get by?

As the evening approached, I settled into my usual spot-an old, worn bench tucked away in a quiet corner of the park. The perfect spot for a cigarette. It was one of the few places where I could be left alone, or so I thought. The first drag of smoke felt like a familiar escape, the burn in my lungs grounding me in a way nothing else could. But, of course, I wasn't alone for long.

Umemiya showed up, as always. The guy had a way of popping up wherever I was, like he had some kind of sixth sense for knowing when to bug me. But this time, he wasn't alone. With him was the blond guy with sharp teeth, who I remembered from Haruka's descriptions-Hiragi, I think-and Kaji, the guy from the park the other night. Haruka still wasn't sure if it was him, but I knew it was.

Great. More people. Just what I needed.

"Hey, Yūma! It's nice to see you," Umemiya exclaimed with that usual playful tone, like we were best buddies. Ignoring him, I focused on the cigarette in my hand. But I couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching me carefully. Umemiya would glance at me every time I let a small smile slip, like each little sign of me relaxing was a victory for him. His grin was always there, like he was trying to make me forget the weight I carried. It was irritating, but... it didn't feel bad.

And Kaji... well, he wasn't so obvious. He observed me with that same calm, unshakable demeanor. It was as if he was trying to see beyond my walls, but without pushing. Like he was waiting for the right moment. But I knew I'd never let him get that far.

Hiragi, on the other hand, seemed more intrigued. The guy had that glint in his eye, like he wanted to know what made me tick. He leaned back on the bench next to Umemiya, not saying anything for a moment, just watching. Then, finally, he broke the silence.

"So, you're Sakura's twin, huh? Gotta say, you don't give off the same vibe," Hiragi said, smirking slightly. "But that's what makes you interesting."

I flicked the ash from my cigarette, not bothering to look at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my voice calm but laced with irritation. I hated when people tried to size me up like that.

"Just that Sakura's... well, different. More friendlier, I guess," Hiragi replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Is that so?" I muttered, taking another drag. Everyone always says that-Haruka's the friendly one, the approachable one. And me? I'm the opposite. The problem.

Umemiya, always the jokester, jumped in. "Yeah, but that's what makes you stand out, Yūma! You've got that cool, mysterious thing going for you." He grinned, like he was teasing me.

I shot him a sidelong glance. "I'm not trying to 'stand out.'"

Kaji, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke, his voice softer than I expected. "Not trying, maybe. But you do. You less fit into the crowd than Sakura does." He wasn't judging, just stating a fact. I could tell he wasn't trying to break down my walls, but I could also sense that he was genuinely interested.