My twin sister and I were born just thirty minutes apart, and to my parents surprise, we were both born with not an ounce of color on us. Growing up, as sisters, we spent a lot of time together, seeking comfort in one another as we both looked exactly alike. I'm not sure when, but at some point, I was afraid of how different we looked compared to the rest of our family. I'm sure my sister thought the same way, but despite our worries, we were still treated normally, actually if anything, we felt as though we were closer than other families.
It made us feel stupid in worrying over something like that as not a day went by that we didn't feel included. It was only when we all went out in public did we get strange looks from people, but that didn't stop us.
("Haha! What is that? Your hair? Weird!")
("Hey! Leave my sisters alone!")
During a time when my sister, brother and I were playing at a park, some kids picked on my sister and I. But our brother was there, quickly brushing the smaller kids to the side before they could lay their hands on us. He always looked after us when our parents were busy, and my sister and I stuck to him like glue when things got rough. It felt like we didn't need to worry about anything as long as we had each other, which makes looking at that picture even more painful... That said-
"I'm done~ I filled up the bath for you!"
Cutting me off from reminiscing on the past, the girl comes out from the bathroom. I didn't notice it, but she seemed to have brought clothes over with her. I guess those are the clothes she planned on wearing at her friend's place?
"Nn, make yourself at home."
I say before grabbing my change of clothes before making my way inside the bathroom.
"Haah..."
Instead of a shower, I submerge myself into the bath all the way down to my chin, my hair gently floating out on the surface. I'm not about to waste money draining away the water that the girl put in, even if I much prefer a shower.
("Ah! Hehe, Reina!")
("Take that sis! Hehe~")
Despite not wanting to, I think back on times when my sister and I would bathe together. We'd always start off with a battle, splashing water at one another. We were little so we honestly didn't know who was the winner or loser half the time, but we simply did it for fun and it soon became somewhat of a ritual between us.
"Reina..."
Thinking back on the times, I timidly splash some water towards the other end of the bath, but of course, there's no one there to retaliate... Maybe a bath was a mistake after all. But after seeing the filled bathtub that the girl filled up for me, my body ended up moving on it's own.
"Khh!"
Before the pain could assault me again, I submerge myself fully into the water, washing away the eye makeup from my face while trying to drown out these feelings.
After drying myself off after getting out of the bath, I get dressed into my pajamas before stepping out into the living room, not knowing how long I was in there for.
"Welcome back~"
"...Nn."
For a moment, I thought I was alone, but right... She's here. Wait, and she's also wearing pajama's? Don't tell me-
"Are you planning on staying over?"
"Mhmm! The rain's still pouring down, so I figured I'd stay the night here."
And she made that decision without asking me? How troublesome. But she's right. I don't even need to look outside the window to know just how heavy the rain has gotten. I can't just send her out there. I do have an umbrella here, but even still...
"...Fine."
"Hehe~ Thank you."
Wait, she's holding-!
"Ah-"
Her eyes widen in surprise as I snatch the white bunny plushie from her hands.
"Don't touch that!"
"Eh?"
I raise my voice involuntarily, but I just couldn't stand to see someone else hold it. It's a bit damaged, but that's all the more reason why I don't want anyone to touch it.
"S-sorry... I didn't know it was special to you..."
"I uh-"
However, seeing the look on her face makes me waver. She really does look sorry as she casts her eyes down, not wanting to look me in the eye.
"...It's okay. Sorry for yelling."
"You don't have to apologize. I'm the one intruding, so... I'm sorry, I won't touch anything."
This plushie... It was given to me on mine and my sister's 1st birthday. Of course I cannot remember how that day went, but for the longest time, my sister and I had these plushies with us all our lives, carrying it around everywhere we went... Including the night that all of it ended...
"Luna?"
"Huh?"
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah... Sorry, I'll get started on dinner."
I say before heading into the kitchen, wanting to change this gloomy atmosphere.
"W-wait! You know how to cook?"
"Hmm? Of course I do."
"Mmmmm~ Th-thank you!"
After getting together a cheap dinner, I sat down at the table with the girl as we soon began to eat.
"This is the first time I'm having someone else's cooking."
This girl talks while she eats? I was hoping to just eat this and get ready for bed... But I guess I'll humor it.
"You don't eat take out?"
"That doesn't count~"
"That still counts as eating someone else's food."
"Mmm, fine. Then it's my first time eating home made cooking from someone else!"
"What if the take out you eat is made in house?"
"Agh! You know what I mean!"
"Hmmm."
I know I'm just teasing her, but seriously? She hasn't had her boyfriend cook for her or something? Am I really her first?
"So then why can't you eat dinner tonight at your parents?"
"Well get this! My mom ate my last pudding that I was saving for today!"
"...You're kidding."
"I know right?! How could she do that?!"
"No, I mean, you're kidding. You ran away from home just for that?"
"Eh? Uhm... Yes."
This girl...
"Haah~ You know, you really should value your family a lot more than that. Running away for a stupid reason like that will just get you into trouble."
"I know... I know, but it was just the heat of the moment."
"Your parents are probably worried sick."
"Ah, don't worry. I sent them a text earlier saying that I'm staying at my friend's place."
"Huh, I didn't know that we were friends."
"Well, we are now!"
Just how carefree can this girl be? It's because of this that you get into those kinds of dangerous situations in the first place... Of course I don't say that to her though.
"How can we be friends when I don't even know your name?"
"Eh? Wait, you don't know my name?!"
"Don't take it the wrong way. I don't know anyone's names beside's the teachers."
"Mmm. Then, let me introduce myself!"
Shouldn't we be eating first...
"My name's Midori."
"You mean like the alcohol?"
"N-no!"
"Joke~"
I say before going back to eating the dinner.
"...So even the ice queen can make jokes, huh?"
"Hmm? Ice queen?"
"You don't know? That's what everyone calls you."
I think back during the time in class with that guy sitting next to me. He did call me cold, so was that his way of saying that I'm the "ice queen?" I guess it's true that I'm distant to everyone, but I didn't know I had a nickname like that. But what's the "queen" for anyway? It's not like I'm royalty...
"You always hang out alone yet you excel at everything. It's impossible for people not to take notice. Especially with your looks."
"Yeah, I get it. I look gross."
"N-not at all! Quite the opposite actually..."
Now "that" I find quite amusing. I almost want to think that she's lying, but what would she gain from it? To deepen our "friendship?" I don't know.
"You have this- otherworldly appearance. It makes it hard for people to approach you."
"Good, I'd like to keep it that way."
"...Hey."
Suddenly, her voice goes a lot softer as she looks up at me.
"What?"
"Why do you push everyone away anyways?"
"..."
("P-papa!!!")
Upon hearing that question, images of the past replay in my mind, quickly assaulting my brain.
It was the day of my mine and my sister's 7th birthday, December the 26th, 2006. Because our birthdays fall on the day after Christmas, we save opening the presents from "Santa" for the morning of our birthdays instead as we spend the day together as a family.
My sister and I always opened our presents together, and this year, we got matching winter gloves along with a scarf that's big enough to wrap around the both of us. Since it was cold, we immediately wore them, wrapping the scarf around the both of us, smiles across our faces. But today seemed to be different than normal.
Today, the presents didn't stop there, but there was also tickets inside an envelope tied to the Christmas tree that had four tickets to the amusement park. And just like that, we soon headed out to do just that.
The drive there was smooth as my sister and I looked out the windows in excitement as the amusement park was coming into view.
("Sis! Look, look!")
("Fufu. Don't get out from your seatbelts you two~")
("Kay~!")
We both listened to our mother who was watching the three of us from the front seat while our dad drove. It'd also be our brother's first time at the amusement park so he was just as excited as us.
When we arrived, we immediately set out to ride as many of the rides as we could. Thankfully, with it being the day after Christmas, there wasn't that many people, making the lines for the rides quite short. I still remember the thrill and excitement of the rollercoasters as both my sister and I had our arms up the entire time, letting all the blood rush to our hands. Our brother on the other hand, despite getting all excited at the beginning, ended up screaming in fear during the whole ride, making for an even more enjoyable experience as my sister and I laughed non-stop until our lungs felt shriveled.
We stopped for break, mostly for our brother as we filled our stomachs for lunch, eating as many sweets as we wanted. But because of that, our parents decided that thrill rides like that rollercoaster was no longer a good idea. So we instead went on the more calming rides as we all continued to enjoy our time together. I still remember the gorgeous view on the Ferris wheel as we all watched the sun begin to set.
It was until the sun had set that the park had made us leave due to it closing down for the day. To be honest, even now, I wish that we could've stayed back...
During the drive back home, the rain started to pick up, much like how it is right now outside this apartment. And it was during this drive back that it happened.
The first thing I remember is the feeling of suddenly being pulled to one side of the car, smashing my head against the car door as the sound of tires screeching filled my ears.
("Aaahh!!!")
Panic quickly overcame us as our car drifted on the wet road. Dad was trying to dodge the incoming car that was trying to overtake a car that was on the other side of the road. They must not have seen our car and a head on collision was about to happen, but even though my dad tried to swerve out of the way to dodge, the wheels didn't budge on the wet surface of the road and in the next moment- it happened.
The next thing I remember is glass shattering followed by a loud crashing sound as our brother shielded me and my sister in the backseat. I couldn't make out if there were screams or not but before I knew it, everything went dark.
"-Luna...?"
When I woke up, I was still in the car, my head in a daze as my ears were ringing. I wasn't sure how much time had passed.
("No...No...)
The first thing I hear is my dad. With my vision clearing up, it was then that I realized what had happened. There in the front seat, our dad was desperately trying to reach over to our mom who was crushed by the front of the car that the other car had crashed into.
("NO!")
His screams filled the car as me and my sister clung to one another in tears. Thankfully, she was unharmed, but the same can't be said for our brother... I still remember the sight of blood covering his right eye, but he was alive.
The ambulance soon arrived after that and before I knew it, we were in the hospital. My sister and I had a mild concussion, but our parents along with our brother were quickly rushed into surgery. My sister and I refused to leave each other as a nurse watched over us. The both of us were so in shock that we didn't even know whether to cry or not.
The other members of our family soon arrived into the hospital after hearing the news, but the last thing I remember is when the news of our parents entered our ears.
("I'm sorry...")
Our mother was pronounced dead by one of the doctors, with our father in critical condition. Our brother was apparently fine, but was still recovering.
It was only when things felt like they were turning around when my sister and I could see our father.
("Luna... Reina.")
("Papa!")
It was only then that my sister and I could cry upon hearing our father call out our names. We rushed to his side as he gently pat the two of us on our heads. But little did we know that this was the last time that we'd hear his voice.
("Don't be scared.")
("Eh? Papa?")
We were both confused at his words as we both looked up at his smiling face, looking down at us.
("Luna... Reina... Your mother and I will always be with you. So, don't be scared.)
His words, matched with his gentle movements from his hand petrified my sister and I as I could see our father's eyes begin to grow hazy, his words beginning to grow weak.
("So... Stay strong, no matter what happens... Look out for one another...")
Despite him saying for us to stay strong, I'm struggling to hold back the tears that's piling up. I still remember Reina gripping my hand back then...
("I love you...")
Those were his last words and also the last thing I saw as my vision quickly became blurred in tears as I felt his hand drop off our heads.
("P-papa! Papa! PAPA!!!")
We tried to climb onto the hospital bed, but we were soon dragged away from the nurses and family members.
That's... The last day I saw my family.
"Hey, Luna?!"
Huh? Wait, how long as she been looking at me like this?
"You spaced out just now. Are you okay?"
"...I'm fine."
"Sorry if what I said was rude."
"I said it's fine... I just... Don't want to get close with anyone."
"...Okay."
What? She's giving up just with that? Is she trying to be considerate of me? I was prepared to have her come up and ask me, questioning me further, but she just dropped it with a vague answer like that?
"Thanks."
"Eh?"
"For not pushing further."
"Well, that'd be rude of me... I can tell that you don't want to talk about it. I don't want to trouble you any further than I already have."
"Nn... Thank you."
She smiles at me as we both go back to enjoying the dinner.
After cleaning the dishes, we both got ready for bed as it soon came for us to go to sleep.
"You can take the bed. I'll take the sofa."
"Eh? But this your home! I've already intruded enough."
"Then you're fine with the sofa?"
"Absolutely!"
"...Alright. Suit yourself."
Not wanting to press the matter any further, I give a blanket and pillow from my bed to Midori. Looking at it now, she's quite small in size so she doesn't need to bend her legs in order to fit. This should be fine.
"Thank you for letting me stay that night, Luna."
"Nn. Goodnight."
"Goodnight~"
With that, I slip under my own covers in bed after turning off the light. Darkness quickly encroaches the room as the only sound that's present is the sound of rain from outside, crashing against the window in an attempt to combat against the darkness. I end up holding the white bunny plushie close to my chest as I slowly close my eyes. No matter what comes at me, once I feel the comfort from this plushie, I feel my consciousness beginning to fade as the sound of the rain slowly dissipates with it.
"Reina..."