One More Day

When she finally became conscious of her body, she realized she was lying on a soft surface. Jolting awake, she sat up straight; same grey walls, the window, her desk, and her cherished cupboard in which her most loved tablet was.

The digital clock read: July 27.

The last day she went to bed was July 26.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she took deep breaths, feeling each breath in every fibre of her being.

Never she knew that breathing could feel this nice.

Though still shaking, hugging herself tightly, she rustled out of the bed. It was still four-thirty in the morning.

Izumi walked up the window that led to the balcony. Outside, the dark sky twinkled with silver stars, and the opalescent moon was shone brightly in the obsidian night.

‘It is beautiful,’ she murmured, pushing open the window. From the balcony, the town lay quiet and indifferent.

A breath of fresh air filled her lungs.

‘I am really back,’ she said. The experience of being that blue apparition was still vivid in her mind. Being a spirit was as though she wasn’t meant to exist in this world— like a cloud floating aimlessly, in the sky, longing for a tether to ground. Restless, bewildered and lost.

But now her mind was calm, her body real. She felt anchored, as if she had a rightful place in the world again.

‘It seems…… so strange. Or could all of that was just a dream?’

‘No, no— it wasn’t a dream,’ a voice interrupted.

Izumi’s head jolted to her right. She jumped back, screaming in fear. Balsos, The Grim Reaper stood perched on the fence, causally leaning against his scythe on his right.

Whole body covered in purple cloak, while his skeletal face peered from beneath the hood. Instead of feet, an undulated mass coiled beneath him where his feet should have been. He was exactly as she remembered.

So, none of it was a dream?

‘I forgot to tell you,’ he said, gliding down from the fence. ‘You just have until 10: 12 p.m. today.’

’10:12?’ Izumi repeated. ‘So….so at 10:12 I’ll- I’ll get…. a-a stroke,’ she murmured as her lips trembled in disbelief. I’ll die with a stroke again?’

‘Um, not exactly a stroke,’ Balsos mused. ‘Since you have died already, your soul will simply leave the body. The process of dying will accelerate as the lost time catches up.’

‘Oh,’ Izumi said, absorbing his words. Then, after a pause, she asked, ‘So…. no chance of surviving whatsoever.’

‘Were you planning to try?’ he asked, scrutinising her with his hollow sockets.

Izumi let out a mirthless laugh. ‘Not really.’ A small smile formed on her lips. ‘So, I have one day, huh?’

Balsos nodded. ‘I’ll be to follow you around.’

‘Why?’ Izumi said unkindly.

‘Just curious,’ he leaned in slightly, holding his scythe. When he spoke, his voice seemed to reverberate as though not from this realm.

Izumi scoffed. ‘Okay, whatever- it’s just one day anyway.’ She averted her eyes as the first rays of sun clad the sky in a warm orange hue.

But as she watched the rising sun, she felt something strange—an unnatural heat, as if it were scorching her from the inside out. Uncomfortable, she turned on her heel and marched back inside her room. Balsos followed.

‘I am not sleepy so……. what should I do?’

A thought struck her. Eyes brightening, she hurried downstairs into the kitchen.

After rummaging through the fridge, she gathered eggs, bread, sausages, rice, and an assortment of vegetables. As she chopped onions, the rhythmic sound of the knife against the cutting board felt oddly soothing.

Around five, her mother appeared in the kitchen, gasping at the sight.

‘Ryu, what are you doing?’

‘Making lunch and breakfast,’ Izumi said calmly.

‘No, I mean—why so early in the morning? And… out of the blue?’ Her mother looked concerned.

‘Is there something wrong with that?’ Izumi frowned.

‘No, no, dear. Why would it be wrong?’ her mother said quickly. ‘It's just… unexpected.’

‘I woke up early today,’ Izumi replied, now slicing carrots. ‘I’ve wanted to cook for you for a while. Just got the time today.’

Her mother fell silent, emotions flickering across her wrinkled face before she gave a tearful smile.

Wiping her eyes, she said, ‘Thank you, dear. Let me help—’

‘No!’ Izumi interrupted, raising a hand to stop her. ‘I'll do everything myself. Just sit and wait.’

‘But—’

Izumi's frown deepened.

‘O-Okay,’ her mother murmured. ‘But if you need anything, let me know.’

Izumi nodded. ‘I will.’

With a final nervous glance, her mother left the kitchen.

She had just finished the stir-fried rice when her younger brother walked in. Though younger, he was taller than her, with curly brown hair and black eyes. His lean physique was thanks to his love of sports.

‘What are you doing?’ he asked, startled.

‘Playing tennis. It’s quite fun,’ Izumi deadpanned.

Her brother gave her a flat look. ‘Ha-ha.’

‘What does it look like? I’m cooking.’

‘Yeah, I see that, but why?’

‘Just felt like it.’ Izumi pushed a plate of fried rice toward him. ‘Here, have a bite.’

He eyed the rice suspiciously before taking a spoonful. As soon as he tasted it, his face lit up. ‘This is great!’

‘Right?’ Izumi smiled. ‘That’s your lunch.’

‘Really? Thank you so much!’

‘Now help me set the table.’

Her brother saluted and grabbed a plate of eggs and bread.

‘What are you doing?’ a stern voice cut through the room.

Izumi turned to see her father standing in the doorway. She smiled. ‘I’m making breakfast.’

‘Why are you wasting your time?’ he snapped.

‘What… do you mean?’ Izumi’s smile faltered.

His face twisted into disappointment. ‘Your mother can cook. If you had time this morning, you should’ve used it for studying.’

Izumi stared at him, disbelief washing over her. The silence between them was heavy. Her brother shifted uncomfortably, glancing between them.

Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke. ‘I get it. I'll be more mindful next time.’ Turning away, she flipped the last slice of bread before it burned. ‘But just for today, I wanted to cook for my family. If possible, at least for today, please eat it.’

Her father’s anger deepened. ‘You're too unserious. I don’t understand you at all!’ he roared, grabbing his bag. ‘I'm going to work!’

He stomped out of the kitchen. Their mother called after him, but he didn’t stop, slamming the door shut behind him.

Izumi bit her lip, holding back tears. Her brother noticed.

He gave a small, sad smile. ‘It's really good. I never knew you could cook this well.’

A tear slipped down Izumi’s cheek.

‘Thanks for the effort,’ he said, holding up a piece of bread. ‘For some reason, it tastes better than usual.’

Izumi let out a weak laugh. ‘It’s just bread.’

‘Are you done?’ he asked. ‘Come quickly, let’s eat together.’

She counted the plates. ‘Just one more.’

‘I'll take this one to Mom,’ he said, picking it up.

‘Thanks, Ryusuke,’ Izumi whispered, a small grateful smile formed on her lips.

He smiled. ‘I just told the truth.’

After Izumi was done, her mother, Ryusuke, and Ryu- all sat together to have breakfast. Her mother apologised for her dad’s behaviour, saying ‘he does that because he is worried about her.’

Izumi brushed off her mother’s plea.

That’s the excuse he himself gives for his behaviour all the time.

‘Just because you care about someone doesn’t give you the right to be unpleasant to them. Especially when Izumi does everything perfectly but he never appreciates,’ Ryusuke retorted, angrily stuffing eggs in his mouth.

‘That’s not true! He is your father- parents have a lot of responsibilities-’ her mother cried.

Their Mom had started defending their father, going on about how parents have it all so rough and how children should be grateful, all the while as Ryusuke kept snapping back with more unkind remarks, however, Izumi had zoned out from their banter.

Their voices muffled in the distant.

After a while, she got up from the table, announcing, ‘I am going to school,’ before any of them could give a response, she left to her room.