The sight before me is similar to that of a movie scene. The band room has a wall that’s made up entirely of windows to have the room filled with natural light. And with that one window open, allowing the pink cherry blossom petals to float about the room like drizzling snow. 

The petals, as well as the morning sunrise have clearly made their impact. So much so, that even the sweet scent of freshly bloomed flowers consumed the air. Spring is definitely present in this room, that’s for sure. 

 ‘Looks like I wasn’t the only one that needed a nap before class. It’s not common to find a girl sleeping in a classroom.’

After that thought, I slowly walk up to the girl, so I don’t wake her. Her head is tilting to the side and her long curly black hair falling over her face, so I can’t clearly see her. A corolla of cherry blossoms are tangled in her hair, reminding me of a mystical fairy in a story I read, in the rehab facility. 

‘Let’s see who this Sleeping Fairy is.’ I anxiously think to myself.

 I cautiously reach out to grab a few strands of hair and place them gently behind her ear, to catch a glimpse of her face. Since her head is slightly tilted, I angle mine the same way to get a parallel view of her face.

 ‘Well, well.’ I think. ‘Look at that. You’re a beautiful sleeping fairy.’ 

It’s not the first time I’ve seen a woman sleeping. But I don’t know…there’s something about her that’s…different.

As I try to come up with an answer, a sudden draft of cold wind blows through the open window, causing the pretty girl to quiver in her sleep. Seeing her face scrunch up, I immediately take off my jacket and cover her petite fragile looking body. Doing that must’ve helped, because her face goes back to being relaxed.

She looks about the same size as Kikyo. And has a similar aesthetic style as her as well. Making that observation, I think, ‘I wonder if they know each other.’

“How are you still asleep?” 

Not realizing I said that out loud, I stand there staring at her, as if she were doing something worth watching. 

‘She’s cute. I’ll give her that, but a little too trusting.’ I think to myself, getting more and more entranced by the sleeping girl. Maybe she is a fairy? ‘Now that I think about it though, with my jacket on her, she kind of reminds me of—‘ I freeze: both in thought and body, finally noticing who this girl resembles. 

‘But there’s no way.’ I try to convince myself. ‘It has to be a coincidence that she looks so similar. Because the girl’s hair, from back then, wasn’t dark, like this one’s is. 

I try convincing myself that, but deep down, my suspicions make me want to believe the latter. But why? After all this time, and all the therapy I’ve been through. It’s like this morning, with the violin case, all over again. I should be past this. But the more I look at her, the more she looks like that girl from 3 years ago—even if her hair color isn’t the same.

I unconsciously grab a strand of her hair and start to caress it between my thumb and index finger. ‘Have I finally found you?’ I think, as I lose myself in the featheriness of her curly hair.

After some time, a cell phone starts to ring, but the ringtone isn’t mine. I stand up and take a step back from the sleeping fairy that is soon to wake. 

Without opening her eyes, the girl lifts her arms to rub them, making my jacket swiftly slide down from her shoulders. Still stroking her eyes, she starts to poke out her chest, to stretch her upper body. Doing so, one of her buttons comes undone, about to make her cleavage somewhat visible. As much as I want to stare, I quickly shun myself away from what can be a pleasurable sight and look at the band room door behind me. 

Staring at the sliding door, I think, ‘Should I just leave?’ Just as I’m about to leave, something grabs my hand. 

‘Oh?’ I think to myself, looking at her slender hand. I can’t lie to myself. I like that she grabbed me. It makes meeting her a lot easier this way, so I don’t have to make the effort to break the ice between us. 

“Thanks for covering me up, Kikyo. Did I sleep too long?” she says groggily.

I look at her now rebuttoned shirt. Without showing my disappointment, I think, ‘Wait…did she just call me Kikyo?’

She stands up, using what she somehow thinks is Kikyo’s hand to help her. “Did you guys finish up?”                       

‘Although this is oddly entertaining, I’m gonna have to ruin her reality for a second.’ 

“Sorry for sneaking off, I was—”

Cutting her off, I say, “Excuse me, but how about actually looking at me, for a sec?”

Still holding my hand, she fully opens her eyes and stares at me without saying a word. ‘She’s still holding my hand,’ I think, now intrigued. ‘I wonder what she’s thinking inside that pretty head of hers.’

“As you can see, I’m not Kikyo. But I’m actually—” Catching me off guard, she suddenly pulls me towards her and knees me in the balls. In pain, I fall to my knees and drop my head to the floor, between my legs.

“A pervert who impersonated Kikyo to take advantage of me, right?”

‘What the fuck?! Did she really just do that?!’

“I’m assuming this is your jacket, then? Well, as compensation for watching me sleep, I think it’s only right if I keep it for myself, don’t you think?”

In too much pain to look up, I hear footsteps receding. ‘Seems like something bad happens every time I actually try helping someone out.’

She must have stopped before stepping into the hallway, and I hear her say, “Maybe next time you’ll think twice before creeping around someone while they’re sleeping.” 

After the classroom door opens and closes, my phone starts going off. It’s probably Kikyo, trying to find out where I am. I don’t feel like talking to her after what just happened. She did have a part in my getting hit in the balls, after all. A girl has never treated me like this before, but I’m not sure why I’m not entirely mad about her hitting me? Maybe, it’s because I’m still trying to comprehend that it actually happened?

‘I should probably see the nurse.’ Attempting to stand, I feel a sharp pain and go back to my previous position. I lightly chuckle painfully to myself and say, “Well, this is about to be an eventful first day.”                        

—

“Wait a second. Haha, So, a girl—one girl—kicked you in the scrotum and took your jacket?” Kikyo’s eyes are wide as she rehashes what I’ve just told her.

“Yes.”

“And you’re sure you weren’t jumped? Because you're usually the one taking people’s things.”

“I wish that were the case,” I say, “because you seem to be very amused by this.” Sitting in the school nurse's office, holding an ice pack between my legs, while explaining everything that happened to my sister, is very emasculating. And Kikyo doesn’t really make an effort to hide her amusement towards my pain. 

“I’m sorry. I know this isn’t funny. I do kinda want to meet this girl though. We’ll be the best of friends.”

“Well, I’m sure you know her. She did grab onto me thinking I was you.”                                                                          

“Wait, what? She thought you were me?”

Kikyo’s demeanor suddenly goes from laughing uncontrollably to serious again.

“Yeah! That’s why she grabbed my hand in the first place! Did you not listen to the story?”

Kikyo blankly stares at me. And although she’s looking at me, it seems she’s looking through me, going through whatever thoughts are coming to her mind. ‘Did I say something wrong again?’ 

“Hey?” I say, getting her attention. She finally jolts out of her thoughts and really looks at me this time. “I know, it’s weird. How could she have thought I was you, right?”

“No. It makes sense. We are twins, after all. It’s an honest mistake.” 

“Yeah, but still….”

Suddenly she’s back to being amused. “Haha, I just wish I was there to see it.”

Seeing Kikyo genuinely enjoying something really means a lot. Even though I’m in pain, it’s nice to see her smile, after being away for so long. But knowing that girl knows my sister, finding out who she is from Kikyo would make my search easy. “So? What’s her name?”                                  

“Haha, who?”

“That girl? The one that we’ve been talking about this whole time?” 

“I’m part of the student council, Kaname, meaning that I know a lot of people. So, how do you expect me to tell you exactly who ‘that girl’ is? You didn’t really say anything that would make her stand out, you know.”

“How many girls sleep at school?”

“Oh, you’d be surprised. Besides, why do you want to find out so badly? She sucker kicked you and took something of yours?”

‘Is she patronizing me, right now?’

Kikyo continues, “Unless, that’s exactly the reason why you want to find out who she is?”

“Obviously. I would like to have my jacket back.” I roll my eyes.

“Good luck with that.” 

“She has silver hair,” I say abruptly. “Does that help?”

Looking at me intently, Kikyo slightly smirks and responds, “That’s—,”                                      

The nurse suddenly barges into the room before Kikyo can finish. “Alright, Mr. Takahashi. How are we doing?”

“Much better, thank you,” I say.

“Great, now let’s get to class. We already missed out on a lot.” Kikyo looks at her watch.

“Good morning, Ms. Takahashi,” says the nurse to Kikyo. “You two really do look alike, huh? It’s quite remarkable!”

“Thank you, so much,” Kikyo replies. I try not to laugh as I watch Kikyo turn into the model student at just a flick of a switch, as she bowed in thanks to the nurse. 

“You two run along to class, now. No more playing hooky. And Mr. Takahashi, you should be sure to be there for your sister. She’s done nothing, but count the days until you—”                    

“Ookay! Here’s the ice pack, thanks again, byyyye!” Kikyo quickly pushes me out of the nurse’s office and closes the door before the nurse could finish what she was saying.  But it’s fine, after seeing how red Kikyo’s face is when I look back at her. I think I have a pretty good idea what the nurse was going to say.