Me or Me II

I grinned. "For me, it's always the same... Bissan GTR." I headed toward the display near the window, where a sleek, shiny Bissan GTR sat on display, gleaming under the soft lights. The car was the epitome of style and speed, and as I approached, I couldn't help but admire its sharp curves and powerful stance.

"This one's perfect," I said, tracing a finger over the smooth surface of the car. "It's got everything I want."

Sakura stood behind me, still scanning the rows of cars. "You've really got a thing for fast cars, huh?"

"Can't help it," I said with a grin. "Some things are just a given."

I stood in front of the Bissan GTR for a moment, admiring its sleek design. Then I snapped back to reality and glanced around. "Alright, time to find the keys," I muttered to myself.

Making my way toward the receptionist's desk, I noticed how out of place the modern, polished setup felt in the quiet, empty dealership. I leaned over the counter, scanning for any sign of the keys. But the desk was completely bare—no keys, no papers, nothing.

"Great," I muttered under my breath. "Guess I'll have to look somewhere else."

I walked toward the back of the showroom, where a door led to the storage area. It was slightly ajar, so I pushed it open and stepped inside. The room was dim, rows upon rows of keys hanging neatly on the wall, each labeled with the car models they belonged to. It was like a hidden vault of cars, all waiting for the right key to bring them to life.

My eyes quickly scanned the wall until I found it—the key labeled for the Bissan GTR. "Jackpot," I grinned to myself, reaching up and grabbing the key.

Sakura, who had been standing near the showroom floor, glanced over. "Find it?" she asked.

"Yep, we're good to go," I said, holding up the key triumphantly.

She gave me a nervous look. "I'm nervous… Don't go too fast, okay?"

"We haven't even driven it yet," I chuckled. "Come on, let's just get in."

I walked back to the Bissan GTR, key in hand, and slid into the driver's seat. The interior was just as sleek as the exterior, everything polished and immaculate. Sakura hesitated for a moment before getting in beside me, her nervousness still evident.

"Wow... first time in a supercar..." she said, her voice tinged with awe.

"I can say the same," I replied, turning the key in the ignition.

Vroom...

"Uuuh... hear that sound? It's like heaven," I grinned, the engine's roar filling the air.

Sakura's eyes widened as the car rumbled to life, the power beneath the hood palpable. She clutched the seat for a moment, her nerves mixing with excitement. "This feels... unreal," she murmured, her gaze fixed on the dashboard.

I shifted into drive and slowly eased the car out of the dealership. The streets of the mirror world seemed empty, the stillness adding to the strange sense of freedom. "Hold on," I said, a grin spreading across my face. "Here we go."

I pressed down on the gas, and the Bissan GTR shot forward with surprising smoothness, the speed exhilarating. Sakura let out a soft gasp, her hands gripping the edge of her seat. "Hikaru, I said not too fast!"

I laughed, glancing over at her. "It's fine, Sakura. The roads are empty here, and we're not in any rush."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "I'll believe you... just don't crash us into anything."

"Crash? I'm a pro," I teased, though a part of me was definitely paying extra attention to the road. We cruised through the mirror world, the wind whipping through the car's open windows, and for the first time in a while, I felt like I was truly in control of something.

As we drove, I couldn't help but feel that the mirror world, despite its eerie emptiness, was offering me something that the real world couldn't.

The car came to a smooth stop in front of an impressive building that exuded the air of a luxurious five-star restaurant. The sign out front read "Kamakura Restaurant," its elegant design and pristine exterior making it seem like it belonged to a world much grander than the one I was used to.

I looked up at the building, still feeling the rush from the drive. "Well, we made it," I said, grinning with excitement.

Sakura, on the other hand, didn't seem as thrilled. As soon as the car stopped, she opened the door and stumbled out, pressing a hand to her stomach. "Ugh... I don't feel so good," she muttered, before quickly leaning over and throwing up onto the sidewalk.

I blinked in surprise, unsure of what to do. "Sakura, are you okay?"

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her face pale. "I-I'm fine... just not used to that speed," she groaned, trying to straighten up.

I chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of my neck. "I told you to hold on, didn't I?"

She shot me a weak glare but couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "I'm fine, really. I just wasn't prepared for that kind of thrill."

"Alright, I'm sorry," I said, feeling a bit guilty. "Let's go inside the restaurant."

We entered, and the atmosphere was calm and quiet, the only sounds being the hum of the air conditioning, the soft background music, and the occasional noise from the television.

 "So, what are we gonna do here?" I asked, looking at her.

Sakura seemed a bit better now. She took a deep breath and walked around the restaurant. "I've never tried food from around here," she said, heading over to a table where food was neatly arranged. It was strange—normally, in the real world, people would be eating the food, but here, it just sat there untouched.

"Want to try some of the food? I guess I'll give it a go too," I suggested, walking over to join her.

Sakura turned toward me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Why not? It's not like we have any other plans. Let's try it."

I picked up a small plate and placed a few items from the table onto it, intrigued by how everything looked so perfect—almost too perfect.

Sakura followed suit, taking a bite. "Mmm... it's perfect," she said, her eyes lighting up. "I could live in this place for the rest of my life."

I smiled, glad to see her enjoying it. "Yeah, it really is something. Maybe we should make this our regular spot."

Sakura chuckled, shaking her head. "If only we could bring it back to the real world."

"Uh... we can, don't you remember yesterday?"

"I mean! Like, you know... in the real world, we go here and... chill, with no one else around, just the food..."

"Oh, yeah, I get what you mean now."

After that, Sakura got up from her seat. "I want to check the kitchen, take some stuff... for home."

"Hmm, what kind?" I asked.

"Anything interesting," she replied.

Sakura wandered into the kitchen, inspecting the area with curiosity. After a moment, she returned to the dining area, holding a restaurant-branded apron in her hands. "Look what I found," she said with a grin, showing it off.

"Nice," I said, amused. "Anything else?"

She shrugged. "I'll wander around."

Sakura wandered off again, this time poking her head into the back rooms. I stayed seated, casually looking around the restaurant, still amazed by how surreal it all felt. Everything was so perfect and still, like a moment frozen in time.

After a while, Sakura came back, this time holding a small box. "Found this in the storage room," she said, holding it up. "Some kind of dessert... want to try it?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Sure, why not?"

She opened the box to reveal several delicate, intricately decorated pastries. "These look too good to be real," she said, taking one and offering it to me.

I took it, biting into it. "Well, they taste real enough," I said with a grin.

Sakura and I wandered into the office area, which was more extravagant than the rest of the restaurant. The walls were lined with luxurious decor, and the furniture was sleek, exuding an air of authority. A large desk sat at the far end of the room, surrounded by shelves full of paperwork and odd knick-knacks.

"Looks like the CEO's office," I commented, running my fingers over the polished surface of the desk. "Wonder if there's anything interesting in here."

Sakura nodded, scanning the room. "Maybe we'll find something useful."

As I walked around, my attention was drawn to one particular painting on the wall. It was a large, serene landscape, but something about it felt off. I tilted my head, studying it closer.

"Hey, you know how in cartoons, there's usually a hidden safe behind a painting?" I said, half-joking.

To my surprise, when I pushed gently on the edge of the painting, the wall behind it shifted, revealing a sleek, metallic safe.

Sakura's eyes widened. "No way... You were serious?"

I stared at the safe, still in shock. "I honestly didn't think that would work."

To Be Continue.