Answers

-----Kaede's POV

Once I got home, my father was immediately on my case, meeting me right in the entranceway. My mother was behind him, still clearly worried as to why I stormed off.

Dad: "So?! What was all that about! Storming off outside like that."

Mom: "..."

It's not like I can just tell them why... Even right now I'm deceiving them with these contact lenses I got from Maria. And just judging from their reactions, they don't seem to have noticed, despite my eyes clearly being different.

Kaede: "It's nothing."

Dad: "What?!"

At this point, I may as well just continue on with the lies...

Kaede: "Mom."

Mom: "Y-yes?"

Kaede: "Remember my new friend, Maria? She came by the other day."

Mom: "Yes. I remember her."

Kaede: "Well, during that time when we had P.E, back when I collapsed. She was the one that took notes for me."

Dad: "What's that have to do with-"

Kaede: "She lent me her text book and I forgot to give it back. Which is why I ran off like that. I... I didn't want to be a nuisance to her, so I rushed over as fast as I could."

My parents both stared at me as their expressions softened. I'm honestly quite surprised at how skillful that lie was, especially considering this is only my second time.

Kaede: "...I'm sorry."

Dad: "Hahh~"

Mom: "It's okay. But you could've said something before leaving."

Kaede: "I know. I was just in a panic is all."

Dad: "I understand. Just inform us next time, okay?"

Kaede: "Yes, father."

...

We end up having dinner as I move back up to my room before pulling out my phone. Opening up the group chat with Emi and Maria, I see that Maria has already informed Emi that I visited her place just now. I guess I'll just leave it to her.

Kaede: "..."

It was then that I scrolled down to see Yui's name. I'm not sure why I stopped at her name... Maybe because of how I suddenly left her like that. I almost want to message her to see if she's-

Kaede: "Ah!"

Suddenly, my phone vibrates in my hands as I soon spot a new message has popped up. But it was who it was that was the most startling.

Kaede: "Yui?"

It's almost funny as I imagine that the both of us must've been on our phone looking at our chat before the message. But I'm also scared what the message will entail... I'm half expecting a hate message or something, but as I go to open it, somewhat hesitantly, I was pleasantly surprised.

Yui: "What are you doing tomorrow?"

It was a short message, but I couldn't sense any hostility coming from it. If anything, it sounds as though she wants to hang out. Hmmm.

Kaede: "Probably just staying at home. Why?"

I quickly type a response, but almost immediately after, I get another buzz from my phone.

Yui: "Did you want to come over again tomorrow?"

Seriously? Even after I ran away like that? I know it's wrong for me to be around Yui as I could feel myself wanting to do something to her again, but the me right now...

Kaede: "Mhmm! I was actually wanting to see you."

I send the message. Despite how I feel, I can't help but want to be at Yui's side... I seriously don't feel normal, which is obvious considering what happened to my eyes... But even now, my feelings and even my morals have changed I feel like. Even just before, when I lied to my parents straight to their face like that. It felt so natural yet wrong at the same time. My parents probably believed me since they know I'm not one to lie. They trusted me, yet I betrayed them. I honestly feel despicable...

Yui: "I also wanted to see you."

Her message just now calmed down my heart as I feel as though all those negative emotions have just been whisked away. Hehe. So even texting Yui like this is calming... At least with this I know that I won't put her in any danger.

Yui: "So, you good to come over? We can meet somewhere else if you like?"

Kaede: "It's okay. Your house is fine. When did you want me to arrive?"

Yui: "Well, I'll be home all day, so whatever time is good for you."

Hehe.

Kaede: "Then I'll come by in the morning."

Yui: "Okay. Then I'll see you then?"

Kaede: "Mhmm!"

Yui: "Sweet dreams!"

Kaede: "You too~"

Our messages stop with that as I only just now notice the massive grin on my face. But the smile would soon fade away as I realized what I'll need to do. Maria knows about my eyes, but I've already deceived my parents, even lying to them... But to do that to Yui as well... I kind of don't want to lie to her at all. But then would I have to show her my eyes? Won't she think I'm strange? Wait, actually this might be a good chance to practice!

I end up moving into the bathroom as I look at myself in the mirror. My eyes sure do look quite similar to how my eyes looked before. If I could, I'd like to just leave them on my eyes and not worry about it anymore, but apparently it's dangerous to leave the contacts on overnight.

Kaede: "..."

And so, I slowly raise a hand to one of my eyes as I gently move my thumb and index finger closer to my eyeball, using my other hand to help keep my eyelid open. For some reason, it felt easier to deal with when Maria was doing this, but doing it myself, I'm honestly scared... for multiple reasons.

But soon enough, my fingers make contact as I end up blinking by reflex, but thankfully, my eyelid didn't close all the way thanks to my other hand. And just like how Maria showed, me, I gently began to pinch the contact lens that's on my eyes as it slowly began to fold with air quickly being sucked in between my eye and the lens, blurring my vision somewhat. Once the tension was gone, I found myself holding the contact lens in my hand.

Kaede: "Hahh~"

And looking back in the mirror, I was hoping that my eyes would be back to normal, but my eye is still dyed in scarlet red. We couldn't find any information on the internet about my situation, so I have no idea if this is a permanent thing or not. But for some reason, I'm not that surprised. So many things are happening to me it feels like... Sure it was surprising at first to see that my eyes has suddenly changed color, but now that I'm looking at myself in the mirror once more, I just feel like as though I had this coming. Even more so, I feel like this situation is tied in with the visions and dreams I've been having...

I end up taking off the other contact with little to no issues as I end up going to bed soon after.

Kaede: "I wonder if Yui is fine with it..."

?: "Oh?! Yui is fine with what?"

Kaede: "Eh?!"

The sudden voice in my head causes me to sit up from the bed as I look around desperately, however there's no sign of anyone.

?: "Oh? Now this is interesting~"

Kaede: "What is?"

I know this voice. Its the same voice that one time when I was walking to school, claiming that I've been brought back to the past.

?: "Tsk. Seems like I still can't appear here."

Kaede: "What? Can you please make some sense? What exactly is going on here?"

I've been desperately trying to search for answers, and now might be the perfect chance.

Kaede: "And don't run away this time."

?: "Fufu."

Kaede: "What's so funny?"

?: "Nothing. For a moment I thought I saw a ghost."

Kaede: "Huh?"

?: "Well, like I said before, you and everyone around you have been brought back in time."

Kaede: "...I get that. You said that before. What I want to know is what's happening to me! I've been having these weird dreams, and visions..."

?: "Oh? Like what?"

Kaede: "Like, dreams of flying in the sky with... Someone who calls me "Mom." Dreams of being together with someone who shares the same looks and name as Yui. And even dreams of people that look like elves."

?: "Ohoo?~

Kaede: "...What exactly is going on with me? Even now... My body seems to be changing."

?: "Yeah. I can see that. To be honest, I never expected this. Your body returning."

Kaede: "My body returning? Then, do you know?"

I have no idea who it is I'm even talking to, but this voice clearly knows something.

?: "It'd be much easier if this world had mana..."

Kaede: "Mana? You mean like, magic?"

?: "Yes. Kaede... What you're experiencing. They aren't dreams, but memories."

Kaede: "Memories?"

I had a hunch that there was something more to it than that, but then who's memories is it?

?: "Yours."

Kaede: "What?"

?: "Like I said, time has been reversed, but luck seems to be on your side; if you can call it that."

Kaede: "Go on."

?: "Hahh~ Okay, I'll tell you. But please don't panic."

Kaede: "I won't."

Hearing her words actually does make me a bit scared as to what lies ahead, but I've been searching for answers this whole time, so...

?: "The world you're in now. It is in fact your home... At least that's what your past self thought. But at some point, you were driven to suicide-"

Suicide? My heart drops as I recall the vision I had at Yui's place. The lingering pain suddenly returns as I find myself holding onto my stomach. It's not painful, but her words just now reminded me of that pain. But hearing her mention something that I saw in one of my visions makes me believe in this woman's words even more.

?: "At the same time, someone in my world died. Someone who I began to care for, more so than I ever thought I would. So I... Took your soul and merged it with the girl's, hoping to save her. I did end up succeeding, but the person that took over that body wasn't her, but you, Kaede."

Kaede: "What? What do you mean, take over?"

?: "Let me continue... It was then that you spent your life in that world, carrying with you memories of the world you're in right now. There you met many different people and at some point, even found Yui again."

Kaede: "Again?"

?: "Yes. She's the same Yui you know now."

Kaede: "What the hell? So that person in my dreams is undoubtedly, Yui? But why?"

?: "I won't talk about that... It's... Too much for me. But anyway. You began to accept that world, even starting your own family."

Kaede: "What? So then that girl, she really is my daughter?"

?: "Fufufu. Not through birth. You made her your daughter, giving her a place to call home, even going as far as to grant her wish to become closer to you, turning her into a vampire."

Kaede: "!"

?: "Ah, right. You were a vampire as well. I forgot to mention it, haha."

So then... That time when I attacked Yui... And my eyes... I had a hunch, but-

?: "Yes. Although I never expected for your body here to begin changing back. That said, you don't have any mana so it's hard to fully explain."

Kaede: "...You mentioned mana before. That you can't make a "connection" or something?"

?: "Yes. But if what I think is happening is really happening, then it might be possible..."

Kaede: "What is?"

?: "Tell me this, Kaede. What do vampires do?"

Kaede: "Eh? Drink blood? And-"

?: "Mhmm. That's right."

Kaede: "Wait... Are you implying that I-"

?: "Yes."

Kaede: "You're crazy..."

?: "Fufu. Well, I've said as much as I could. Sorry, but I really do need to continue! Bye~"

And just like that, silence returned to the room; or should I say, my head. I collapse back into my bed as I go over everything that woman just said.

To be honest, I didn't learn all too much. I already knew something was up with me, as even the thought of vampires did cross my mind. And the fact that the dreams and visions I've been having are in fact memories of the future... I just got told that it's all real, but I still can't wrap my brain around it. Not to mention that my body is definitely changing, albeit gradually. It was only when i noticed my eyes that it all hit me at once... I'm scared.