Chapter 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1

EVERYTHING started one fine spring Sunday afternoon just as the cherry blossom trees began to bloom. With only three more days until her university entrance ceremony, Yuki idly spent the rest of her spring break stretched out on the sofa, gazing absentmindedly through the window. Past the deck of her condominium on the fourteenth floor she could see the clear blue sky above Tokyo Tower.

Her mother, Nobuko, was cheerfully packing clothes in the dining room, which Yuki assumed was her putting away their winter clothing now that spring was here. Her father, Kaito, was reading his newspaper at the dining table as he sipped his coffee. Kaito’s gray hair shimmered silver in the gentle sunlight shining through the windows.

It was a peaceful day. Yuki was oddly excited as feelings of curiosity and anxiety built over what awaited her in university. She hoped she could continue to relax until the entrance ceremony—there was a lot she had to fret over in the coming days.

Yuki looked nothing like a college student should. No matter how someone looked at her, they would only see a girl no older than ten, which was to be expected—she hadn’t aged a day since she turned ten. Several months after her tenth birthday, Yuki noticed her hair hadn’t grown at all. She reached her eighteenth birthday without growing another inch taller or gaining a single ounce.

Luckily, her parents didn’t have a problem with her unique situation and often supported her, so she grew up without developing an inferiority complex.

She avoided curious eyes and rumors for most of her childhood thanks to attending an escalator school from preschool until high school. Everyone assumed her growth period ended early. However, university meant a massive increase in the number of people who didn’t know her or her condition. That was one reason why she felt depressed on this fine spring day during her vacation.

“Nice weather we’ve got today,” Kaito muttered to no one in particular, flipping the page of his newspaper.

“It really is,” Nobuko chimed in cheerfully.

Nobuko and Kaito were a couple who always got along no matter how much time passed. Yuki took great pride in her parents’ relationship.

“It’s the ideal weather. I’m glad we chose to do it today after all. Don’t you think so too, dear?”

“It really is.”

“Oh? Is something happening today?” Yuki asked. Her parents exchanged looks. Nobuko glared at Kaito with a dubious expression.

“You didn’t mention it to Yuki, Kai?”

He chuckled in embarrassment scratching his head, “Nah, well, you know how hard it is to find the right way to bring this kind of topic up, right? Remember the day I told you?”

“Good grief,” Nobuko admonished, puffing out her red cheeks.

Yuki had no idea what they were talking about. They almost seemed embarrassed.

“Fine, then. I thought it’d turn out this way. Yuki, dear, we have something important to discuss with you, so come here.”

Urged on by her mother to sit at the dining table, Yuki sat down, curious why her parents were being mysterious. She felt weird sitting at the table with her whole family when they weren’t eating.

“Yuki, have you ever thought there’s something weird about Kai when you look at him?” Nobuko asked, looking Yuki straight in the eyes with a curious expression.

Yuki assumed her mother finished packing, because her attention was focused on Yuki now. Yuki glanced at Kaito sitting opposite of her with a stern expression. He watched Yuki with stunning violet eyes.

“Something weird about Papa? Yeah, like his eye and hair color.”

“That’s right. Until now, we told you that Kai’s eye and hair color are caused by a genetic disorder and that you inherited the same disorder. We assured you there’s nothing strange about any of it.”

“So, what? Are you saying that’s not true?”

“Yes. You see, Kai is actually…from another world,” Nobuko confided.

Yuki froze for a full minute before releasing an over exaggerated sigh. “Oh, come on. Another joke? I’m going to be a college student soon, you know? You can’t trick me anymore.”

“I’m sorry. I wish it was a joke, but it’s not, so we can’t joke about it.”

“Huh? What? Is it a joke or not?” Yuki asked, confused.

“Yuki, the reason you’ve been so listless lately is because of your body, right?”

“……”

“See, I knew it,” Nobuko said to Kaito.

“Sorry about that, Yuki. I didn’t notice until Nobuko mentioned it to me,” Kaito apologized.

“So I discussed it with Kai. And he said, ‘Maybe she’s more suited to that world and that’s why she can’t age in this world.’ You know how children with parents from different countries end up more like one ethnicity than the other, right? Like how you can have a child who ends up looking more Japanese or more American. So we thought maybe it’s that way for children with parents from different worlds too,” Nobuko explained.

“…Huh?” Yuki was confused. They were basically saying she couldn’t age because she wasn’t suited to Earth. It’s not like she could casually reply, “Is that so?” after hearing her mother’s convoluted explanation. But Nobuko fervently rattled on without noticing the dumbfounded Yuki.

“That’s why I’m super, incredibly pained and saddened by this decision,” her parents glanced at each other before staring at Yuki, “after a great deal of discussion I decided we should send you to his world. And do it today.”

“Haah,” Yuki rolled her eyes.

“I’m certain you’ll become a beautiful and grown woman if you go to that world, Yuki. You’re my and Kai’s daughter after all. It’s only obvious. You’ll definitely enrapture men with those eyes you’ve inherited from Kai.” Nobuko winked. Kaito nodded beside her.

“Okay, here’s your luggage. I packed for you. You’re terrible at packing, right? For the time being I put food, clothes, and supplies that will help you survive wherever you end up.” Nobuko held out Yuki’s favorite white with red polka dots backpack—it was bursting at the seams.

“Oh, right. Take this too for protection. Think of it as a kind of protective charm.” Kaito pulled a tubular case from somewhere. “It’s an archery set. I bought you a new one. Be sure to keep it with you.”

Nobuko strapped the backpack around Yuki’s chest and stomach instead of her back. She wasn’t sure what was inside, but it was heavy and awkward hanging from her chest. Something was strapped onto her back next.

“This is a parachute. Make sure to use it if you end up falling from midair.”

“Huh? Midair?”

“Listen up, okay? Be sure not to follow any suspicious people anywhere. Even if they offer you food. Also, I’d be worried about the water, so if it doesn’t taste right, make sure you distill or filter it first.”

Kaito bent down to eye-level with Yuki who was wearily listening to Nobuko’s lecture. He peered into her eyes before finally speaking.

“That world may still be dangerous. So Yuki, if you happen to manifest powers, you mustn’t use them indiscriminately in front of others. Promise me you won’t.”

“Powers? I have no idea what you’re going on about. Come on, guys, aren’t you taking this joke a little too far?”

“Take this seriously. You’ll probably be able to communicate with the locals, and the food isn’t half-bad there either. They aren’t modernized or technologically advanced like Earth, so I’m sure there’s a lot of stuff you’ll have a hard time with. Also, they have no weapon laws like Japan, so it’s normal for people to have a weapon on them. Be careful.”

“What’s with that? It sounds dangerous! I mean, what fantasy story did you pull this from?”

Kaito forced a smile and wrapped his hands behind Yuki’s neck.

“Come now, I understand you don’t believe us Yuki, but listen closely. For your own good. This is the only thing I brought with me from there. Use it if you’re ever in any trouble. Never let it leave your side. Treat it like it’s a part of your body.” Kaito clasped a chain around Yuki’s neck. A ring dangled from the chain.

“Aah, geez, just how much effort are you guys putting into this? It’s not even April Fool’s Day.”

“Why are you so impatient, Yuki? I guess you get that from Nobuko. Ah, right, let me tell you my name in that world as well, just in case. It’s Leuco Cahn—”

“You don’t have to go as far as thinking up a fake name.”

“…It’s not a fake name, though.”

“All right, time to jump,” Kaito said after he and Nobuko finished getting Yuki geared up for her trip, while she stared on in blank amazement at how far her parents were taking their joke.

“Huuh?”

“Like I said, time to jump from the balcony,” he said like he was explaining to a young child. Yuki looked from the balcony to Kaito.

“Yeah, but this is the fourteenth floor? Where do you want me to jump from? Are you trying to kill me?”

“I’m not. I fell from a precipitous cliff into the ocean. So falling from high places has to be the way between worlds. Not that I’d ever want to do it again,” Kaito said with a mischievous smirk. He hugged her tightly.

“I hate having to put you through the same thing, but I want you to find happiness as the beautiful young lady you are meant to be, instead of trapped as you are.”

Before she knew it, Yuki was stuck in a hug between Kaito and Nobuko.

“I wish our family could be together forever, but I shouldn’t say something so selfish,” Nobuko said stepping away. Kaito scooped Yuki up.

“Hey! Wai—Papa! Wait a minute!”

“No, I won’t wait. My resolve will shatter.”

The inside of the room gradually moved away as Kaito carried her. Nobuko must have opened the balcony glass door, because Yuki heard the rattle of the door sliding open. A cool spring breeze blew into the room. Buildings surrounded every angle, and she could no longer see Tokyo Tower.

“Stop it. I’m scared. It’s impossible. I’ll die from this height!” Yuki protested.

“You’ll be fine. You’re our child. You won’t die, Yuki. Upsy-daisy.” Kaito sat Yuki on the edge of the balcony’s stone rail.

Terror shot through Yuki at the drop to the alley below as she was held firmly on the balcony’s railing. Their condo was positioned in such a way no one could see their balcony, not even from the building across the street. All anyone would notice is a body when it splattered against the road below.

If I had a bigger body, I would have been too heavy for him to carry, Yuki thought grudgingly. She desperately clung to Kaito’s neck to keep from falling.

“See ya, Yuki.”

“Don’t…”

“Have a safe trip,” said both Kaito and Nobuko as they pried her hands off his neck and lightly pushed her shoulders.

Her body fell off the rail. She stared up at the clear sky as the roar of wind ripped past her ears.

I never imagined I would die this way. I thought it was a joke. Have my parents finally given up on me because of my inability to age? Are they trying to be rid of me for good? Many thoughts raced through her mind and disappeared in a whirlwind of emotions. Before long, everything turned black.