It was a quiet, eerie morning in Silver Ridge, the old town seeming shrouded in mystery as the distant sound of a church bell echoed through the mist.
Our house stood secluded from the others, far from the main part of Silver Ridge, nestled between the trees of a misty forest. It was huge and imposing, owned by our wealthy family for generations. While other houses in town had been rebuilt and modernized over the years, ours remained untouched, protected as a cherished family property that no one dared to alter.
My sister Miyu and I were getting ready for school. Since our school was far from home, we had to leave earlier than other students to catch the bus. I was 16, while my sister was 18. We couldn't finish the breakfast our mother had prepared before rushing out.
Miyu managed to eat two slices of bread and gulp down some tea. I wasn't as fortunate since I had come downstairs late.
"What took you so long in your room, Akira? Let's hurry," Miyu said, already getting up from the dining table and slinging her school bag over her shoulder.
I emerged looking different than usual, wearing makeup for the first time after watching some online tutorials. I was hoping for a genuine compliment, though I doubted one would come from my sister. Miyu barely glanced at my face, too hurried to notice the change. Had she seen it, she would have certainly teased me. She always did when given the chance.
"But I haven't eaten anything, Miyu," I said with a shrug.
"Who told you not to? Don't waste my time." She reached for the door first, and I scrambled to follow.
Mom had already left for work. And Dad was also getting ready to head out. He consistently refused to drive us to school in his car, claiming it would delay him, even though it wouldn't have been much of a detour. After we left, our housekeeper would tidy up before our return.
"AKIRA!" Miyu screamed from outside.
"Coming, sis!" I took a quick sip of tea and rushed out.
"I'm not full either," she said, her voice softening. "Don't worry, I'll get us something to eat when we get to school." Miyu patted my shoulder affectionately.
She was a sweet big sister whom I always relied on and looked up to as a role model. Miyu Nakamura was intelligent, outgoing, curious, and often the one who brought lightness to heavy situations. Her natural optimism and fearless attitude served as comfort to me.
Miyu's bright eyes and infectious smile set her apart. She had a more carefree style than me, often favoring vibrant, youthful clothing that reflected her lively personality. Despite sharing similar features, Miyu exuded a warmth and boldness that made her instantly likable. We shared many memories from childhood, and she seemed to be living the life I had always dreamed of. So free and unencumbered.
She had once confessed her feelings to her crush, and it turned out he felt the same way. They were dating now. It was something I... couldn't do. But today, after much contemplation, I planned to change that. What if I lost him to another girl without ever asking him out? I had liked Takumi since the day I started this school, but I had been avoiding him, constantly hurting my own feelings and feeling jealous when he chatted with other female classmates.
My sister's relationship motivated me. She seemed happy, and I wanted to try that kind of happiness too, once and for all, instead of enduring constant heartbreak.
Takumi had a calm, reassuring presence marked by soft eyes and an easy smile. His style was unassuming yet subtly refined. Reflecting his genuine, down-to-earth personality.
I was so lost in imagining how to approach him that I wasn't aware Miyu had been chatting with me. Before I came to my senses, we had already reached the road and the bus stop.
"There's the bus," Miyu said, and we boarded.
"You don't seem angry despite all the teasing, and you seem distant. What are you thinking about? I miss that angry face of yours." She sounded concerned but chuckled at the end.
I didn't want to tell her it was about a guy, fearing I might not be as lucky as she had been. I didn't want to imagine how she might react. So I pretended it was nothing, even as she kept pestering me about my makeup.
"Well, maybe I'm getting more mature, so it will be hard to see my angry face now because of your jokes," I said with a smirk.
"Oh! Sorry," a guy beside me said as he accidentally stepped on my foot when the bus lurched. He was standing because all the seats were occupied. He had boarded late. The bus wasn't big enough for everybody in the school. Just one bus for a prestigious institution that included both high school and university students.
It was the most elite school in town. Only children from wealthy families had the privilege of attending. Other schools were overcrowded, with students packed in like sardines. Many kids envied us.
"It's fine," I replied to the boy.
Just then, my sister ruffled my hair.
"Wow! I'm proud of you, little sister. The pride of the Nakamura family: Akira Nakamura." She raised her eyebrows thoughtfully. "Should I be upset or sad about this now?"
Taking her hands off my head, I replied skeptically, "Why do I feel like this is isn't coming from the heart?" Then I grinned.
We both laughed.
Soon, we arrived safely at school, and my sister told me she would come find me at lunchtime to get me the delicious food she had promised. Then her boyfriend arrived, and they went to class together, leaving me standing alone.
"She looks uglier with that makeup. Does she think it's for everyone?" Some of my classmates were laughing loudly enough for me to hear as they made fun of me. I ignored them, but they grew bolder, coming closer to take photos of me. Just as they were about to do that, Takumi appeared seemingly from nowhere and blocked them.
"What do you mean? She looks perfect to me," he said, then gave me an intense glance. My heart skipped a beat, throbbing in my chest. *My crush had actually come to my defense! Someone I had wanted to ask out myself was saying I was beautiful!*
Feeling a surge of confidence, I blurted out, "You heard him. I'm beautiful! Don't be jealous!" This wasn't usually how I behaved, but perhaps I wanted him to see a stronger side of me, not my fragile one. Still, I wasn't entirely happy with how things were unfolding, as those girls had disrupted what I had carefully planned. Takumi was famous throughout the school for his good looks and kind behavior. Every girl liked him, and he was widely respected.
Soon the girls left, chorusing "We're sorry" as they went.
It was just the two of us now. There was a moment of silence and intense staring between us.
"Did you mean what you said earlier?" I asked, my eyes growing warm as I blushed intensely. Goosebumps covered my skin, and my heart pounded so hard I thought my legs might give way. The air felt thick and heavy with his unspoken answer.
I just wanted a normal, happy life with someone I loved, someone who felt the same way about me.
"Mm-hm," he nodded, while still staring.
"You really mean it?" I wanted to be absolutely sure.
"Of course, you are beautiful, Akira. Though you keep to yourself, I love your character too. You are your own person. You don't bother much about the company of others. That's my dream girl." When he said that, a warm sensation spread through my entire body. I wondered if this was actually happening or if I was dreaming.
"Hey, pinch my cheek," I suddenly requested.
He asked why, clearly unaware of how I had felt about him all this time. But I insisted until he finally did.
"It wasn't a dream... nice!" I murmured, mostly to myself.
I thought it was time to make my move since we were together and the moment seemed right. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, one of the students hit me with their bicycle. I was about to fall when Takumi grabbed me quickly.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concern filling his eyes.
His hand on my arm, his body so close to mine—I could feel his warmth through my uniform. Was this what true love felt like? My heart kept beating wildly, so uncontrollably that my voice betrayed me. I stammered while replying, hoping he wouldn't notice the throbbing in my chest.
Soon he released me, and I couldn't bring myself to tell him how I felt.
*Why these sudden hiccups now? I can't even control my heart. Akira, where is all you had planned?* I scolded myself inwardly, feeling disappointed but enjoying his company at the same time.
I told him I occasionally felt unwell and that the symptoms came and went, as he asked about my sudden change in demeanor and the hiccups. I knew they were from not being able to control my emotions, but he didn't need to know that.
We went to class together, and throughout the day, I lost my focus, imagining even the unimaginable, blushing by myself like an idiot. Even when Miyu took me out to buy the food she had promised, I lost my appetite and could barely eat a thing. She was surprised because it was my favorite food with lots of meat.
"Are you sick?" she asked, placing her hand on my forehead. "You never turn down this."
"I'm fine," I insisted, though my mind was elsewhere, replaying my morning encounter with Takumi over and over.
A few hours later, it was already evening. Because we always stayed for extra classes after school, and today my sister had a musical class too, I decided to wait for her. But she finished late, and her boyfriend came to get her. They had planned a date earlier. She asked me to join them, which I refused.
"Are you sure you'll be okay going home alone?" Miyu asked, concern in her voice.
"I'm not a child," I insisted. "Go enjoy your date."
I didn't want to interrupt their time together. I knew that even if he couldn't say it, her boyfriend wouldn't really want a third party. I was old enough to understand that much. So I was adamant about going home before her and covering for her at home when she came back later.
On my way home, as the streetlights began to flicker on, I heard an eerie sound that sent shivers down my spine. It wasn't the first time I had felt this way, as if someone else was there, watching. It always happened when I was alone, and sometimes I would hear whispering, so scary that I could hardly bear it.
I put on my earbuds to get distracted. As the music began to play, something compelled me to look up. There, hanging in the darkening sky, was the full moon. It was larger and more luminous than I had ever seen it. I had read about such sights in books, but never experienced one myself. Perhaps because I never stayed out late like today.
Ignoring the whispering and cold feeling creeping up my spine, I took out my phone to take a picture of the moon. That's when I finally heard it clearly. A voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. I turned and saw someone appear before me, a figure both stunning and terrifying in the moonlight.
"I have waited too long for today. It's D-day," the figure said with a knowing smile that made my blood run cold.
* * *