Dreams and Aspirations

​“Hey, Chiyo.”

​“Yes?”

“If you wouldn't mind me asking—have you ever heard of the [***]?”

​This is a question. What is a question? It's something you ask someone, right? That's the basic understanding of what an inquiry is, and yet when it's a certain question, things start to take a turn.

​It's when that query is somewhat unsettling or maybe unexpected. She must not have expected that question, either. Because the way she reacted told me my answer; she knows. Or maybe she doesn't. I have no way of knowing unless she answers truthfully.

​“Could you please repeat that?”

​“Why? Have you met her already?”

​“What?! No, I was just making sure I heard you correctly. Now then, to answer your previous question; I've heard of her, but most people think she's a superstition, so…” She trailed off for a moment, then continued. “I don't really like to dwell on such matters.”

​“Ah… I see… well, guess what? I saw her when I was headed this way.”

​“You what?! You mean you actually saw her?”

​“Yeah, although I only managed to catch a glimpse of her.”

​“Hiro-chan, if what you're saying is true, then something fortunate will happen in your future. It's said that anyone who is lucky enough to meet her will be blessed with a wish. Who knows, you might have even gained her favor.”

​“Is that true, though?”

​“Yes, but so far, it's only been a rumor and superstition. No one before now had ever met her, so it has never been confirmed. But since you managed to run into her, then that confirms her existence, don't you think?”

​“I guess so. Well? What's your wish going to be?”

​“My wish? Hiro-chan, the wish will be yours.”

​“And I'll choose to give it to you, my lady.”

​“Aww, thank you, but I can't accept it,” she purred with a healthy smile.

​“Why, though?”

​“I can't tell you; it's my little secret,” she murmured wistfully, placing her index finger on her mouth as if silencing me.

​Besides, my wish has already been granted.

*****

​[20 hours later - 06:00 am.]

​I lay on my bed as sweat overwhelmed my entire body. My face twisted as my arms twitched. The room was dimly lit; only the rising sun provided light. Even though I was on my bed, in my mind, I was somewhere else.

​This place was pitch-black with no light in sight. Just then, I saw the mysterious girl, but she wasn't alone. Another girl stood before her. The girl from before was as pale and mystical as when I first saw her a few hours ago.

​But the new girl was as black as the void we were in. She looked more like a shadow than a human, as she seemed to not possess a physical body. Her entire being was nothing but dark energy, which made the atmosphere a little eerie and somewhat frightening.

​“Dalma,” the pale girl said simply.

​“Kitsune, it is not too late you know. We can still rule together, only, on a higher level than that of mortal comprehension. Please, come—”

​“Nay. I shall continue following the path that fate has paved for me. Nothing you say could sway my heart, Dalma. So I beg of you, come back.”

​“You are choosing mortals over your own family? Very well.” The shadowy girl turned toward my direction as she trudged slowly. She passed me, and immediately, I was overwhelmed by the amount of evil she carried with her every step.

​Weirdly enough, the two girls couldn't see me, meaning that what I was seeing was either a vision or a memory. The girl turned to Kitsune. “You do know that I will come for you someday, right?"

"Yes, I am well aware."

"You will join me soon enough, dear sister.”

​“Then I shall wait patiently for the day we cross paths again. Until then, Dalma.”

​Dalma dissolved into nothingness, which I presume was an ability she had, while Kitsune stood there facing where Dalma disappeared.

​Which happened to be the direction I was in. Just then, I blinked, and when I opened my eyes again, I was in a forest running away. From what? A poltergeist with long black hair and red eyes. It flew through the air like a serpent on grass. 

It caught up to me as it looked at me with bloody eyes, covered with sand. I leaned on a tree, my body trembling, my heart throbbing in an unending rhythm.

​“Help me, please…” the ghost murmured as it trailed off.

Everything faded to black when a loud bang woke me. I shot up and gazed at the door while I wiped my face and eyes. That was a crazy dream. Anyone would think that if I told them exactly what happened in complete detail. I myself am having a difficult time trying to understand it.

​“Hello, are you dead for real this time? Hey, Mom, I think he's really dead this time!”

​“No, I'm not, you idiot!”

​“False alarm, he's alive.”

​“You do know it's really easy to knock like a normal person, right?”

​“Says the guy who climbs fences.”

“Erase that from your memory at once.”

​“Not gonna happen, my liege.”

​“Fine, whatever, now get lost, will ya?”

​“Oh, you've done it this time. I'm getting the scissors. You'd better start saying goodbye to your little buddy, 'cause he's done for.”

​Crap, she's serious.

​I quickly bolted towards the door and opened it without wasting any time. “I was joking, I apologize, okay?”

​She raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh, you'd better watch yourself.”

​“Heh heh heh, sure, I'll watch myself.”

​We made our way to the living room as I caught sight of Mom sitting in the kitchen wearing an apron. I noticed that she wasn't hurrying as usual; today, she was just cooking normally without rushing, which made me curious.

​“Good morning, Mom.”

​“Mornin’, tiger. How'd you sleep?”

​“Okay, I guess, but uh…” I tilted my head. “Why aren't you hurrying to work?”

​She took the pan from the stove and turned to the plate on her left. She took the omelet from the pan with her fork and placed it on the plate as she said warmly, “It's my day off. Why? Do you not want to see your dear old mommy?”

​“Of course I do. I was just wondering. What's that you're making there?”

​“Omelet rice. She requested it.”

​I looked back as I saw Miyu leaning on the couch, looking at me smugly. “I requested it, buddy.”

​“I guess that explains that. You know, I always ask myself why you look so girly, yet don't act anything like a proper girl. This might just be one of the world's unsolved mysteries, hmmm…”

​“Well, I'm always wondering why you snore like a hungry lion.”

​Mom laughed a little as she cooked the rice in a medium-sized pot. “Good one, my little pumpkin.”

​“Touché. And why are you taking sides, Mom?”

​“I'm not taking sides at all, but if I was, I'd take the side that's winning.”

​“Which one might that be?”

​“You don't want to know the answer to that question, my dear brother,” Miyu mocked as she placed her hand on my shoulder while nodding.

​“You really are a gremlin.”

​“Maybe, maybe not. Now let's go watch some rom-coms!”

​“I haven't even taken a bath yet.”

​“Oh right, go bathe. You smell like sweat.”

​Oh, so now you notice. Sigh, I pondered as I headed toward the bathroom. I showered, dressed up in my other athletic wear, and joined Miyu and Mom as we ate breakfast together as a family—something we hadn't done in a long while.

​Even though these two are basically a cat and their kitten when they're together, they can still be warm when they want to be; but Miyu can easily scratch that delusion without hesitation.

​Two hours later, Mom decided to go on a quick shopping trip, and weirdly enough, Miyu didn't volunteer to go with her. Her missing a shopping trip was quite something to behold, which made me realize that something was going to happen. Maybe hell might freeze over or something.

​While we sat on the couch watching a rom-com called My Summer With You, we heard a knock on the front door. I had to go check. Why? Because reasons. Miyu wouldn't budge from her seat since it was the best spot on the entire couch.

​I went to the door and held the handle. I opened it, and to my pleasant surprise—Chiyoko was standing right in front of me with a radiant smile that curved her lips cutely.