Slipping Away To The Boy From This Reality

March 17/2012 — Dream World

I love my Papa.

The same classic ride.

A slightly chilly breeze, me hugging tightly to his warm back — but this time, it doesn’t feel nice.

“This doesn’t make sense. You and Kamizo didn’t talk in kindergarten even once after that day,” Papa said, sounding genuinely surprised.

I nodded.

“Why?! I thought I completed the mission.” Clearly disappointed.

I narrowed my eyes at him, giving him that you’re-not-even-trying-to-hide-it look.

He brushed off his depressed expression.

“Anyway, you better make it work tonight.”

The shape of his face changed—like a villain who has a plan up his sleeve. “I ain’t backing off today.” He said.

And there it is again—that Team Rocket Leader Aura. Lately, I’ve started to suspect that my Papa might actually be a Team Rocket boss, hiding in the disguise of a Pokémon master.

We reached their house.

Ting-tong.

Bark! Bark!

Yup. There really is a dog inside. I remember hearing it the last time I came here.

Kamizo Mumma opened the door.

“Welcome in,” she said with a soft smile.

This is the second time I’ve seen her, but now I notice just how beautiful she really is.

She might be a Moon Princess disguised as a housewife.

It’s like the same situation turning up again.

Papa and I are on the sofa…

Kamizo Papa is in front…

Kamizo holed up in her room, and Kamizo Mumma is getting us some drinks.

I felt a chill—one that whispered something bad might repeat as last time.

“Please have some juice,” she offered with a smile.

Facing her husband, “Should I call Kamizo?”

Before she could speak up, my father barged in as always.

“No, no, it’s fine. If you call her here, things would end up being the same as before.”

He turned toward me, revealing a nasty smiling face.

I hate my Papa.

“Hiiiyuuuraaa,” he sang, dragging my name, “You go to her room and talk to her.”

Damn it! He planned this all along. I’m never coming with him after this.

I glanced hopefully at Kamizo Papa and Mumma. Surely, they knew Kamizo was an introvert—even more than me.

If someone suddenly barged into my room, I’d barely survive on 1 HP. But her? I’m worried she might faint.

It was up to them to protect their daughter now.

I saw a warm, gentle light glow from Kamizo Papa.

“Takashi… I think that might not be a good ide—” he stopped.

Suddenly, the warm light vanished, and it turned into a blizzard.

“What are you saying, honey?” Kamizo’s Mumma interrupted sweetly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“This might be a good chance for our daughter to make a friend.”

I take it back.

She’s not a Moon Princess.

She’s a Snow Princess.

I signed and accepted my fate

Standing in front of her room.

What should I do?
Should I knock? Or maybe call out to her?

No…she’d never open the door if it’s a stranger's voice.

I placed my hand on the door—it wasn’t locked. Slowly, I pushed it open.

Inside, Kamizo and a dog were lying on the floor, their backs facing me.
At the sound, the dog lifted his head and looked my way.

A husky.
Snow-white fur with streaks of black.

My eyes widened at the sight.

Flashback.

*******

“What?! My Growlithe is evolving?!”
It shimmered, glowed…
“It evolved into an Arcanine!”

“Yayyy! With you, I’ll take down the Grass Gym and earn my next badge!”

*******
It reminded me of Arcanine. A regional Ice-type variant, perhaps.

I couldn’t hold it in and let out a whisper of awe,
“Arcanine…”

Bark! Bark!

Kamizo turned around innocently.

The moment she saw me, I could see her soul coming out of her body.

Arcanine and I quickly pulled her soul back.

Sighing, both Arcanine and I wiped our imaginary sweat in perfect sync.
We’d somehow managed to prevent a total KO—just barely.

“Ahh-Uhh, Hiyura-kun.”
Oh—she remembered my name.

“M-ma-make yourself comfortable.”
That honestly shocked me.

She might be a full-fledged introvert… but maybe she’s also kind and soft-hearted.

I don’t know if I have a habit of noticing things better the second time, but—her voice is really sweet.

Moments like this… they call for the great Pokémon Trainer in me to take action.

I smiled warmly and asked,
“Did your Papa get you this dog?”

Bark! Bark!

She nodded her head.

It felt like the dog was speaking on her behalf.

I patted his head and grinned. “His name’s Arcanine, isn’t it?”

She quickly shook her head in protest.
“Y-Yukki.”

“Ho-ho, I’ll still call him Arcanine.”

She pouted in response.

Yukki—Arcanine—was incredibly friendly. He started jumping on me, playing with me like we were already best friends.

I’d really taken a liking to this dog.

My eyes wandered to the bookshelf.
I pointed at it with curiosity.
Her eyes lit up with excitement.

She pulled out a book and held it up proudly.
[Haily and Mutt]

“It’s my favourite book.”
Oh, she said that without shuddering.

I glanced at the shelf again.
It was a whole collection of picture books—
and most of them were volumes of Haily and Mutt.

Before I even realised, she had started telling me the story from that book.

I couldn’t catch every detail, but it was something about the adventures of a girl and her dog.

Listening to her like this…
For a moment, there didn’t seem to be any difference between her and a normal girl.

“Hiyura! Let’s go. Your Mom called — we’ve gotta leave early,” Papa’s voice came through the door.

The scene in front of me started to blur again…
____________________________________________________________________________

April 7/2012 — Real World

“Wake up! Wake up, Hiyura!”
I rubbed my eyes and sat up.
“Today’s your entrance ceremony, right? Let’s get ready early—we have to leave soon,” Mumma said hurriedly.

I feel like I had a dream—
That same kind I never remember, not even a little bit.

We reached the school and took a commemorative photo beneath the cherry blossoms swaying at the entrance.

After the ceremony speech, my parents walked with me to the classroom.
Inside, a few students and parents were already chatting.

As usual, I quickly said goodbye to my parents and slipped into a corner seat by the window, ready to disappear into my own world.
A champion battle was waiting for me in my Pokémon universe.

But just before diving in, I glanced toward the door—and there they were, my parents still standing there, worry written across their faces.
_____________________________________________________________________________

April 7/2012 — Dream World

“Wake up! Wake up! Hiyura!”
I rubbed my eyes, still half asleep.

“Today’s your entrance ceremony, isn’t it? Let’s get ready early—we have to leave soon,” Mumma said in a hurry.

At school, I spotted Kamizo and her parents near the entrance.
So… she’s going to the same school as me?

“Halo-halo, Nao!” Papa waved cheerfully to Kamizo’s dad.
Looks like he already knew.

I turned to Kamizo.
She flustered and looked away the moment our eyes met.

Both of our families took a commemorative photo together under the cherry blossoms.

After the ceremony speech, they accompanied us to our classroom.
Turns out, Kamizo and I were assigned to the same class — 1-A.

This is going to be awkward, I thought.

I turned to see Kamizo’s expression. She looked a little red and confused.

Our parents left after bidding us farewell.

Obviously, we didn’t talk at all.
Her seat was far from mine anyway.

Papa’s probably going to give me another lecture for not talking to her.
Whatever.

I’ve got a champion battle coming up in my Pokémon world.
There’s grinding to do.
Let’s go — into my world.