Time Travel
689 Words
"Why are you saying it like that? I've actually been really busy these days, so I haven't had time to talk to
you," Haruka responds, picking at his fingernails. He then asks aggressively, "So, do you believe in time
travel?"
"No," replies Akira.
"I thought you would. Alright then, why was I even doubting you?" Haruka whispers silently to himself.
"Doubting me," Akira mutters to herself as Haruka leaves the room. "He's a crackhead."
Akira turns off the lamp, lying on her bed as midnight approaches. "I wonder if I'll be able to sleep," she
murmurs to herself. Shifting her position, she finds comfort in the soft glow of moonlight streaming through
the window, eventually drifting off into sleep.
Akira wakes up suddenly in the middle of the night and quietly slips out of her bed. She makes her way
downstairs to the kitchen and takes a drink of water. As she walks past Haruka's room, she notices light
spilling out from under the door. Curious, she approaches and peeks inside to see Haruka watching a movie,
silently cheering for the hero.
She then heads back upstairs, reflecting on how Haruka has never acted so outgoing in the past 13 years.
When he was a child, he was mischievous, just like their father used to say. But at the age of 10, his
demeanor changed, becoming more mature. He began speaking less and spent most of his time outside,
often sitting in the nearby gardens, visible from Akira's window. Now, at 23, he seemed to be returning to
his mischievous ways, engaging with Akira more freely, albeit in a teasing manner. As Akira reaches her
room, she opens the door and climbs into bed, ready to sleep once more.
As Akira wakes up from what seemed like a dream within a dream, she feels a sharp prick on her
skin. Startled, she reaches out and finds a hard, uncomfortable object—a broken tree stem. Confused and
with a pounding headache, she pulls herself up, only to realize that she's surrounded by trees and leaves in
a vast forest. Panic sets in as she struggles to comprehend her surroundings. She calls out for help, but
there's no response, only the sounds of bugs chirping in the night. Trying to reassure herself that it's just a
dream, Akira sits down, tears streaming down her face. She questions why this is happening to her, pleading
with God for an answer. Fear grips her as she imagines wild animals lurking in the darkness. Suddenly, she
feels something crawling on her hand and screams, only to find it's just a harmless bug. She, finds a bright
firelight on her, fire on a tree branch, the girl holding it Akira sees; is dressed in a coat made from bear
skin, with rough stitching holding it together. Her pants are old but dusty, and she wears them with
determination. Her hair is wild and untamed, and her face shows signs of a hard life with scars and marks.
She carries a bag made from bear skin slung over her shoulder, which holds arrows and a bow. Overall, she
looks tough and capable, like someone who knows how to survive in the wild. Confused and frightened,
Akira asks who the girl is and why she's here. The girl dismisses her as another hunter and invites her to
accompany her home. As they walk together, Akira whispers to herself, desperately clinging to the belief
that this must be a dream.
As Akira gazes around, she notices a small cleared area where it seems the trees had been removed to create
a makeshift seat. While lost in thought, she's startled by the crackling sound of the fire growing louder as
the girl adds more wood. Disturbed from her reverie, the girl leans closer to Akira, squinting her eyes as
she rubs them, admitting, "Actually, I can't see that well."
"Well, who are you? I've never seen you before. Are you from the Oda clan?" the girl questions, but Akira
shakes her head. "Come, let's sit and talk," she suggests, motioning for Akira to join her on the floor.
- Writer
