"Huh? Why does this place look so familiar?"
Why am I here? I remember moving out of my ancestral house…
Kori scanned her surroundings. The place was bustling with movement—maids running frantically as if something had happened. But amidst the chaos, one maid stood still.
And then she saw her.
A little girl, sitting alone in a corner, dressed in a delicate kimono.
Kori's steps slowed as a strange sense of déjà vu settled over her.
Wait a second… she looks familiar. Those deep blue eyes…
Her breath hitched. "That's me."
Before she could process the shock, a voice cut through the noise.
"Why is she still alive? Why can't she just die already? Miss Akiko is sick, and I'm stuck here with her. If she dies, no one's going to care anyway… Then I could finally focus on Miss Akiko instead."
Kori's heart pounded. A suffocating pressure wrapped around her chest. She clutched her head, hands pressing against her ears.
"Stop it."
"Stop it! Stop saying that!"
A voice—familiar and urgent—began calling her name, echoing through the haze.
"Kori! Kori! Wake up, Kori!"
She jolted awake, gasping for air. Her body was drenched in sweat, her heart hammering against her ribs.
So… it was just a dream.
But her head throbbed, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to her like a shadow.
A voice pulled her back to reality.
"Kori, are you okay? I came to wake you up, but you were breathing heavily."
Akiko stood by her bedside, worry evident in her eyes.
Ugh, my head hurts. That damn dream.
She exhaled, forcing herself to relax.
"I'm fine, Akiko. Just a nightmare," Kori muttered, running her finger through her hair. Then she noticed the apron Akiko was wearing. Her expression immediately darkened.
"Wait—don't tell me you're making breakfast. Oh God, is this going to be my last meal? I don't want to die so soon."
Actually… I do. Just not like this.
Akiko pouted. "I'm just helping, so don't worry. You're not going to die. Also, can you wake Haruka up?"
Without waiting for an answer, she left the room.
Kori let out a sigh of relief.
For a second, I really thought my life was over. she thought
Her gaze flicked to the clock. 7:30 AM. Guess I overslept today.
"Ugh, I'm already tired," she mumbled, dragging herself toward Haruka's room.
When she reached his door, she debated knocking or not
Nah, let's just go inside.
She pushed the door open and, as expected, found Haruka sprawled across the bed, snoring like an idiot.
I should kick his ugly face. The thought was tempting, but she let it go—for now.
"Haruuuu, wake up!!!"
Haruka jolted upright, groggy and annoyed.
"Kori, can you stop shouting every time you wake me up?" he grumbled.
"If you don't want me to shout, maybe try waking up on your own for once." She crossed her arms. "Anyway, get ready."
"Yeah, yeah, I will," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
Kori left the room and headed back to get dressed.
"That little brat. He really doesn't have any manners, does he? I don't know what those old geezers taught him." She sighed as she slipped into her uniform.
It had been a while since her last nightmare.
Maybe I should start taking sleeping pills again. living is such a pain.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, her phone buzzed with an incoming message.