The sunlight streamed into Miyu’s bedroom, making it impossible for her to sleep any longer. She got up and let out a big yawn.

These jammies are so comfy…

I just wanna fall back into bed…

Miyu wore navy blue pajama shorts with a matching top that had hundreds of tiny little brown teddy bears printed on it.

She dragged herself downstairs. Miyu heard the kettle boil, which meant her father was already awake and downstairs before her.

“Good afternoon,” Miyu’s father’s voice came from the kitchen. “Finally decide to get up, have you?”

She walked into the kitchen where her father stood, making a cup of coffee. “Good… Afternoon, Papa. What is the time then?” she asked.

“Hmm, let’s see… It’s a quarter past twelve! Did you have a late night last night?”

It’s past twelve already?!

“Yes, I was busy reading the book Papa got me. I really like it! I couldn’t put it down.”

Once a week, Miyu’s father brought a new book home for her. She never liked fantasy books, but she was pleasantly surprised by this one.

“I’m glad you like it, just remember you have school work to do in the daytime, so maybe don’t stay up so late again,” her father said.

“I know; it won’t happen again, Papa. I will have my homework done before dinnertime!”

“Oh, and this came for you.” Miyu’s father handed her a letter. “It’s the school newsletter again.”

“Oh, okay, thank you,” she said, taking the letter from her father and shoving it in her pocket.

Miyu made a quick cup of green tea and headed back upstairs. She couldn’t wait to get back to the book she read the previous evening.

She was about to jump into bed when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

Yuck!

Maybe a quick shower while my tea cools is a better idea…

Feeling fresh and revitalized she jumped back into bed and soon, she was lost in an adventurous fantasy world filled with humans, elves, and gods. It was only when she felt the pressure on her bladder that she was pulled back to reality.

It’s almost two o’clock…

Argh, I need to start my homework before Papa gets upset…

Where’s that letter…

Pajama pants pocket!

Miyu found her pajama pants in the washing basket, pulled the letter out of the pocket, and tore it open.

A tiny yellow note fell out and glided down to the floor.

What’s that?

She picked up the note, and chills immediately ran down her spine as she read it.

Dear, Miyu

Please, look out your window at 3 PM.

I have a surprise for you!

Kaito

This is from Kaito?

This is from Kaito!

He has... a surprise for me?

A combination of blushy cheeks and a broad smile made Miyu’s face glow, which was quickly replaced by pure panic.

3 PM…

That’s less than an hour from now!

What am I gonna do?!

She dashed back to her room, had a quick glance at her clock and then rummaged through her closet, looking for something to wear.

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Look out the window? I don’t understand why…

Miyu made a mess of her room with clothes piling up in front of her closet.

Argh, why can’t I find anything nice to we—

Wait! That’s the same dress I wanted to wear last time.

She pulled out the silky white dress her mother had given her. After a quick inspection, she slipped into the dress, which fit her beautifully.

Hair hair hair!

Brush!

What’s the time?

Aah! Fifteen minutes left!

Miyu jumped around, trying to get ready on time while avoiding the piles of clothes now spread across her bedroom floor.

With a couple of minutes to spare, Miyu stood in front of her mirror and was pleased she no longer looked like a complete slob.

As the panic left her, she felt a different feeling course through her body. Her arms and legs felt numb, and her parched throat was almost as annoying as hearing the loud beats of her heart.

She took a deep breath and walked over to her bedroom window. Unfortunately, the bedroom window only tilted open at the top, so there was no way she could peek her head through the window.

At first, she couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. But soon she saw some movement coming from the courtyard on the ground floor. There, three boys stood waiting. Two of them were holding guitars and the other, a strange, tiny drum set.

Is one of them Kaito?

Not long after, her question was answered when a beautiful melody echoed throughout the entire courtyard, followed by the graceful, stunning voice of the boy who sang with her on the day they met.

“Sometimes I wonder

I wonder if you’re real

How can you be

If I’ve only ever seen you in my dreams”

Without knowing it, Miyu grinned uncontrollably, her face grew hot, and she couldn’t believe what was happening.

“I need to pinch myself, and always

Whenever you’re talking

My heart is pounding

The beat to our song”

“You’re my dream girl

The girl of my dreams!

Since the day I first heard you sing

Till the day that I die

You’ll be my dream girl

The girl of my dreams...”

Aww…

Kaito’s words brought tears of happiness to her eyes.

He feels the same way...

She’s never felt so alive before, she wanted to scream out to him, run downstairs, and embrace him.

“I’m not sure how, but I am sure why

These feeling that I’m feeling, they can’t be wrong

What else could it mean when I cry inside, every time

You say goodbye”

“My heart keeps pounding, the beat to our song”

“My heart keeps pounding, the beat to our song”

“You’re my dream girl!

The girl of my dreams

Since the day I first heard you sing

Till the day that I die

You’ll be my dream girl!

The girl of my dreams...”

With red eyes, wet cheeks and the widest smile that’s ever been on her face, she sang the last line of the song with Kaito, “My heart keeps pounding… The beat to our song.”

A bunch of people had gathered in the courtyard by the time they finished the song, but Miyu couldn’t care less at that moment. “Kaito! Wait there, I’m coming!” she yelled as loud as her tiny voice could, then she turned around and walked straight into her father’s chest.

Miyu stumbled backward and was greeted by her father’s angry face.

Oh no!

No no no no!

“Miyu! What the hell is going on here?” her father demanded.

“Nothing, Papa!”

“Don’t lie to me! It’s that boy, isn’t it? He’s not really the new postman, is he? How do you know him?” He grabbed her arms and forced Miyu to look into his raging eyes. “How do you know him, Miyu?”

For the first time in her life, Miyu was scared of him, shaking under his scorching glare. “P-papa! Let go, you’re hurting me!” And in a minute, her tears of happiness turned to that of anguish.

Her father’s face bubbled with anger and dripped with sweat. The stench of alcohol and sweat made Miyu sick to her stomach, but she did her best to ignore it and instead use all her energy to pull herself free from his greasy grip.

Miyu fell to the floor, crying convulsively while her father walked over to her bedroom window with thundering footsteps to catch another glimpse of Kaito.

“So, what’s the plan, Miyu? Are you going to date this boy? Hmm?” His hands flew about furiously. “Does he even know about your disease?”

A sick smile spread across her father’s face, then he broke out in bellowing laughter. “He doesn’t know, does he?” His fists slammed against the wall as if he had just heard the funniest joke ever. “And you think he is going to take care of you?”

“Papa, please,” were the only words Miyu could manage.

“Fine, if you don’t want to tell me, I’ll go ask him myself!”

“Papa, no! Please, don’t do this!” she pleaded, but her father had already stormed out.

Why is this happening?!

Why is life so unfair?!

“Miyu? Miyu!”

That’s… No! Kaito, don’t call me, he’ll hear you!

“Miyu? Are you there?” Kaito’s voice traveled through the crack in her bedroom wall.

Miyu wanted, more than anything, to answer his call but she knew her father would be back soon, and things would be so much worse if he found out Kaito lived next door.

Instead, she crawled into her bed and cried as soft as she could, with her hand covering her mouth.

I’m so sorry, Kaito…

“Miyu? I saw you standing in the window! Come on, say something!”

Miyu’s tiny body shook uncontrollably, and the most agonizing pain she has ever felt, seared through her chest, which made it even more difficult to breathe.

“I… I’m sorry if you don’t feel the same way,” Kaito said. “I thought we had a connection… But I guess I felt like it was more than it actually was… I’m sorry I pushed this on you… I’ll see you around, I guess.”

Miyu couldn’t hold it in anymore; the thought of a life without Kaito scared her more than anything. She jumped out of bed, with her arm reaching out the wall separating them, “Kaito!” she cried out, but at the same time, she could hear his bedroom door slam shut.

No...

Miyu broke down and fell to the floor. Her fragile body couldn’t handle the strain, and again, the entire world around her drained out of color and then, nothing but darkness.

And in that dark place, Miyu felt free. Free from her father; free from the pain. She enjoyed being surrounded by the silence, which allowed her to let go of all her worries.

A beautiful, young woman with glowing white hair appeared in front of her.

Mama!

Miyu embraced her mother tightly, and waves of warmth and comfort washed over her.

Mama? Is this really you?

And just like that, the woman vanished, and Miyu could feel all the sadness and pain pouring into her fragile, little body again.

Mama, don’t go! Don’t leave me again!

I miss you...

When Miyu opened her eyes, her entire room was sideways. She realized that she was on her bedroom floor when she felt the wet carpet against her face.

She pulled herself up from the floor and felt a massive pain rush to her head.

I blacked out again…

What happened…

And just like the pain, her memories of that afternoon rushed back to her. Kaito, her father, and the dream about her mother.

Miyu hopelessly trudged to her bed and collapsed on it.

This is too much…

This is just… too much

And just when Miyu thought it couldn’t get any worse… She heard her father stomping his way up the stairs.

He barged into her room. “Miyu?!” he called out angrily, but just as soon as her name left his mouth, his expression readjusted from anger to shock. “Miyu! What happened? You’re as white as snow!”

Too weak to say anything or even move her head, Miyu just stared blankly at her father.

I… Hate…

You.

“Miyu! Oh, no! Miyu!” He rushed over to her. “I’m c-calling an ambulance! Just hold on, Miyu!” He fumbled around on his phone with one hand and used the other to wipe away the tears flowing from his eyes.

As her father cradled her head in his arms, the last thing Miyu remembered him say was: “I’m s-so sorry, Miyu. I’m so sorry.”