Connection - 3

-----Kaede's POV

I find myself standing next to the train tracks, waiting. I left a bit earlier than the other times, but before I could even start worrying about the time, Yui shows up before the train's scheduled pass. It kind of makes me happy to see that she left early as well just to meet with me.

Yui: "Hey."

Kaede: "Good morning."

And so, we began our first walk to school together. But I'd have to wait till next week to continue it since today is Friday.

Yui: "So... What brought you to walk to school with me?"

Kaede: "Hmmm. I just wanted to see something."

Yui: "Eh?"

Kaede: "...Do you ever get like, weird dreams?"

Yui: "What do you mean?"

Kaede: "Like..."

Oh god... I was going to just blurt out something embarrassing! Who thought this was a good idea?! My tired brain mustn't have realized how stupid this plan was! But I'm already here, so I have to figure out something...

Kaede: "...Seeing blood and stuff?"

Yui: "Blood?"

I figured dreams of blood would be better to talk about rather than the "other" visions I've been having.

Kaede: "Yeah."

Yui: "No. I think I have normal dreams... Why?"

Yup! I'm totally screwed! I have no idea how to continue further with this! Do I just say it?

Kaede: "Well, actually... It's not really a dream..."

Yui: "Hmm?"

Kaede: "...You know when I stood up and made that commotion in the cafeteria the other day?"

Yui: "Yeah?"

Kaede: "Well... The reason why was that... I saw blood all over the table, and a body was also ontop of it."

Yui: "...Was it someone you knew?"

Kaede: "No... But it happened when I looked at a boy while I was eating."

Yui: "Like a hallucination?"

Kaede: "Yeah..."

Her eyes tell me that she thinks I'm crazy. Just like a imagined. Hahh~

Yui: "Have you told anyone else?"

Kaede: "No."

Yui: "...Then why are you telling me this?"

Kaede: "...Because I've also had weird... Dreams of you... I think."

Yui: "..."

What the hell am I even saying?!

Kaede: "Sorry! I know that's a creepy thing for me to say!"

Yui: "Pfft, hahaha."

Kaede: "Huh?"

Yui: "Sorry. I just didn't expect for a cute girl to be dreaming of me, haha."

Kaede: "Mmmm. Hey, this is serious. So you don't have these dreams?"

Yui: "No. Just normal dreams I feel like."

So it's just me...

Yui: "Kaede?"

Suddenly, the image of Yui changes, as I find myself walking along a dirt path, with trees surrounding us. Yui also now has long, red hair, done up in a ponytail. But we weren't alone this time. Looking around, I could see two people in front of us, with ears elongated and pointing out, reminding me of elves in fantasy stories. And their long purple hair really gives them an otherworldly appearance.

There was also a little girl, holding onto my hand. Her eyes matching the same color as my own with her light blue hair flowing in the wind as we walk. Wait... This girl reminds me of the one dream I had when I was flying in the sky... But she had red eyes at the time, but now she has golden, auburn eyes? She also called me mom...

Yui: "Kaede?"

Kaede: "Huh?"

Just then, my surroundings return to normal, but I can't help but think of Yui as the same person in my dreams... Why do I keep having these episodes when I'm around or thinking of Yui? I don't get it.

Yui: "You alright?"

Kaede: "Sorry. It's nothing."

Yui: "..."

I already sound crazy enough, I'm not about to make things worse.

Yui: "Did you see blood again just now?"

Kaede: "N-no."

Yui: "What did you see then? You suddenly started looking all over the place."

Kaede: "Hahh~ Fine. But don't laugh this time."

Yui: "...Okay."

Kaede: "...Just now, we were walking through a forest, and there was a couple people who looked like elves in front of us. And there was a girl walking on the other side of me... I also saw her in one of my dreams before. You also looked different, with long hair."

Yui: "You have quite an imagination."

Kaede: "No... This has never happened before. I've never had these experiences before. All of this has been happening since the first day of school."

Yui: "Maybe you're just stressed out from school starting?"

Kaede: "Hehe. That's what my friend said. But no... It's not that."

I did think that maybe that would be the case, but after repeatedly seeing the same visions and dreams over and over again, and even correlating with one another... This doesn't just seem like something stress will induce. At least that's what I like to think.

Yui: "Haha, maybe you have super powers."

Kaede: "Huh?"

Yui: "Like maybe you're seeing into the future? You did say that I had long hair just now, right?"

Kaede: "Well, yeah."

Yui: "Well, it's true that I do want to try and grow my hair out again. So maybe it's just that?"

Kaede: "...But I've been having these visions since the start of school. Before we even met or had that talk yesterday."

Yui: "Hmmm."

Kaede: "So, could we hang out again?"

Yui: "Eh?"

Kaede: "I just... Feel like I'll find some answers if I hang out with you."

Yui: "W-why is that?"

Kaede: "'Cause, I feel like I only get these strange visions when I'm around you."

Yui: "!"

Suddenly, Yui turns her face to the side, hiding her embarrassment. I get it... I just said something completely stupid. I wouldn't be surprised if she just cuts contact with me and-

Yui: "...Okay."

Kaede: "Hmm?"

Yui: "Then why don't we hang out this weekend?"

Is she serious? I know she thinks I'm crazy, so why would she humor this idea of mine?

Kaede: "Are you sure?"

Yui: "Mm! I can't say I'm not curious as to what you'll envision next. Plus it seems fun!"

Kaede: "Pfft, hehe."

Yui: "What?~"

Kaede: "Nothing. You're just really nice. A part of me thought you would want nothing to do with me."

Yui: "You kidding? Like I'd do that to someone who came by to see how I was feeling and to look after me. Plus, you're cute."

Kaede: "Eh?"

Yui "..."

Is she that uncomfortable with giving compliments to people? Her face is even growing a bit redder as I can't help but smile.

Kaede: "Hehe. I think you're cute too."

Yui: "H-Huh?!"

Kaede: "See? You're reactions are cute. Even your face looks like it's on fire."

Yui: "W-well I can't help it when someone like you calls me like that."

Kaede: "Hmm? Someone like me?"

Yui: "Ahh! Nevermind! Alright, then I'll see you tomorrow!"

Suddenly, Yui runs off ahead as the school gate was just ahead of us. I can't help but chuckle at the sight of her running off like that.

...

I continue making my way to school, as when I came up to change my shoes, Yui was nowhere to be seen. But I can't help but feel relieved in knowing that maybe we can continue being friends. I'm sure she has a lot of questions, but I'm still just as lost myself.

?: "I did it!"

But just then as I was closing the shoe locker, a noise echoed in my head, causing me to collapse on the ground. What the hell was that?

?: "Kaede. You can hear me, right?"

What? This voice knows my name? I look around, but all I see are a few people looking at me with confused looks on their faces. I quickly stand back up before dusting myself off. Am I hearing things?

?: "I'm sorry I took a while."

Wait. Somehow this voice sounds familiar...

(?: "I'm sorry... Wait for me... I promise I'll fix this.")

This voice... It's the same voice I heard back when all of these visions and dreams started.

Kaede: "Who are you?"

I try and ask it a question in my mind, but I doubt it would-

?: "Ah~ So you don't remember."

Kaede: "Remember what?"

?: "But it looks as though you're still drawn to Yui despite that."

Kaede: "What are you even talking about?"

Can she even hear me? Am I just talking to my subconscious at this point? At this point, I wouldn't be surprised.

?: "Kaede! I can't answer everything, but time has been reversed."

What?

(Yui: "-Maybe you're seeing into the future?")

Kaede: "..."

?: "I'm sorry, I'm a bit busy right now, but I'll be back."

Just what the hell was that about?

Emi: "Kaede~"

Kaede: "Eh?"

Maria: "Good morning."

I honestly am too deep in thought to process anything else. Time travel? That's just purely science fiction, there's no way that exists...

Emi: "Kaede?"

Kaede: "...Sorry. Let's head to class."

That voice in my head has disappeared now, but I still can't get what she said out of my head. Anyone would think time travel would be stupid to think about it becoming a reality, but is it really impossible?

(Yui: "-Maybe you're seeing into the future?")

I also can't get Yui's words out of my head either. There's no way that's possible... That would mean that I'm somehow a vampire that can fly? And have a daughter? And... Drink, Yui's blood...