Blank Dream

Yuzu

"Huh? You saw one of my mirrors?! Whoa, Mishiro, what a discovery! Lead me there right away! If we're together, even those realms won't scare me!"

The mirror shows Yuzu's reflection.

"You're right... It's me. I'm getting nervous all of the sudden. But these are my  memories. I need to remember them "

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EIGHT YEARS AGO

A MIDDLE SCHOOL

I sighed. During break time, I, Yuzu Hanasaki, sat down in my seat and sighed. 13-year-olds are seen as audacious, but they still have troubles and internal conflict.

"Hanasaki!"

"Eh? Oh, what?"

"The day duty diary. It's your turn today, so the teacher..."

"A-ahh! That's right! Thank you very much, Utsuro."

"That's all..."

"Ah..."

Once again, we couldn't keep talking. Though I longed to talk with her more. I, Yuzu Hanasaki, was captivated by Utsuro. She was so unlike the other students. A girl of few words, with a mysterious air, long eyelashes, always looking tired. Her skin and hair were white as snow... It was apparently a kind of albinoism. At first, I thought I just wanted to be her friend, but I quickly realized it wasn't that. Even if it was puppy love, I was certainly in love with her.

It was strange. I loved her, but at the same time... I hesitated at the idea of loving a girl. I at least want to be more friendly with her. If not as a lover, then as a good friend.

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"Ahaha, I remembered...Those are my memories from age thirteen... It's fine not to break it... Because of you, I've finally remembered something else about myself. Thank you. I'm thinking surely they show memories with something to do with my wish. I'm excited but a little scared at the same time."

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"Pretty sunset, huh, Utsuro?"

"Sunset is a witching hour. This moments beauty comes from it being when the sun dies. Even though we see the sun twelve hours a day, we always forget it's beauty."

"Hmm, I guess. But I like the sun in the day, too!"

"You're positive about everything, Yuzu."

It's been a year getting to know Utsuro. I still haven't been able to tell her how I feel, but we're together as best friends a bunch. Of course, I still like her romantically. But just spending time together is enough.

"Twilight is a vacuous thing. It's neither day nor night, and people spend it preparing for the coming night. Twilight isn't watched and enjoyed. It's just empty and hollow... Much like my name."

"Is the sunset making you sentimental? I think Utsuro's a great name!"

"A great name? I hate it. To be called "hollow"... it feels more like a denial of my existence."

"Hmm, but I like how it feels all translucent. It matches your mysterious air, too!"

"Is that right..?" She paused. "You know, Yuzu... I'm... I'm a person who shouldn't exist in this world."