– ‘Yuki’

– “Okay Yuki, you said he will come to the tournament right? And you said he can open dimensions?”

– ‘Yes, of course. I didn’t see when he opened,’ Yuki let out a tired breath, her tone flat and dull. ‘But I just listened.’

– “And you said something about the guy being the protagonist?” Yui tilted her head, confusion flickering across her brow.

– ‘Huh, it is like a hero. If he is a hero, I can’t become the protagonist right? We are side characters.’

Yui frowned slightly, one eyebrow twitching. – “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But in my opinion, they are the heroes or heroines of their own lives.”

She sighed, brushing her fingers under her chin as if changing the subject. – “Okay, just drop that topic. I don’t know much about opening dimension portals and going to other worlds. But I think there’s a limit to living in other worlds.”

– ‘Can you also open?’

She nodded slowly, her arms loosening as she answered calmly. – “Yes, I can open one if I have the scroll. But I don’t want to go. I just want to live here peacefully. Before that, I didn’t even know where, why, or how scrolls work…”

– ‘You’re just boring,’ she groaned, pouting dramatically inside her mind. ‘Okay, well, first we have to grasp our situation. Go in front of the mirror.’

Yui raised an eyebrow, suspicion creeping in. – “Why?”

– ‘Just go, I want to see the face.’

Yui stepped toward the mirror and froze mid-glance. Her eyes widened. – “Hey… now I’m looking slightly younger. Is it because of you?”

– ‘How old are you?’ Yuki’s tone turned sly, teasing like a poke to the ribs.

– “W-why are you asking? T-twenty-five.”

– ‘Don’t lie,’ Yuki said, half-scolding. ‘I’m twenty-five. If you’re twenty-five yet look younger because of me, how can you be the same age? …Wait, I’m not a boy, you can tell your real age.’

She said with a sigh, – “Th-thirty.” And turned away, cheeks puffing in embarrassment.

– ‘I thought you were different from other ladies, but you’re not.’ she sighed, clearly disappointed. ‘Okay, can you give me control? I want to talk outside.’

– “Huh?” Yui folded her arms tighter. “Why would I give my body to you? And why?”

– ‘Just for a moment, I want to test something.’

She sighed again and gave control, already guessing Yuki wouldn’t listen anyway. A flicker jolted through their mind like a passing spark.

– ‘Ah, shit…’ Yuki let out a bored sigh. ‘I thought my face would show up, but it’s still yours.’

– “What’s with that dull reply? Of course it’s my body. My face is the one that shows.”

– ‘Hai, Hai, here, take it back,’ Yuki said with a mischievous laugh.

– “Seriously, your laugh is creepy,” Yui muttered with a frown. “You’re a weird girl. Why do you laugh like that?”

– ‘Take control. It’s your body,’ she said playfully.

A jolt ran through their minds for a millisecond.

– “What are you trying to do?”

Yuki broke into a giggle, high-pitched and off-beat. – ‘Ha ha ha…’

– “First, stop that bloody laugh. Just laugh naturally.”

– ‘Now I’ve confirmed one thing. I think you didn’t notice it.’

– “Huh! What do you confirm?” She blinked rapidly, confusion slipping in with a frown.

– ‘When I take control and laugh openly outside, your body also laughs,’ Yuki let out a small smirk in her tone, laced with mischief, ‘but when you’re in control, even if I laugh, your mouth doesn’t move.’

– “So what?” Yui waved a hand, shrugging, “When you’re in control of my body, it reacts to your actions. When I take control, it reacts to my actions. But ultimately, I’m the one who controls.”

– ‘Don’t boast yourself,’ Her voice softened with a grin, ‘okay, you’re the one who can control. But I’m saying… even if I get shocked inside, unless we’re both shocked at the same time no one outside sees our reactions.’

– “Stop with your plays,” she groaned and looked away. “I’m worried about you… but you’re playing games with my body?”

– ‘Please give me control,’ Yuki’s voice dropped with a cunning lilt.

‘Shit… why did you get into my body?’ Yui sighed under her breath.

– ‘Hey, I can hear your thoughts too,’ Yuki chuckled low and sly, her voice dripping with mischief, ‘come on, give me control.’

For a fraction of a millisecond, a strange flicker ran through their minds. (It happens every time when they switch.)

Yuki snickered and brought one hand up to grope Yui’s chest. With the other, she slowly began lifting the coat, fingers twitching, about to sque—

Yui’s voice snapped out with full fury as she yanked control back. – “You ⬛! What are you doing with my body?! I was starting to trust you, and then this?”

– ‘This is what it means to play games with your body!’ She laughed out loud, breathlessly.

– “…”

– ‘Can we play again?’ She giggled again, shamelessly.

– “…”

– ‘Hey?’

– “…”

Her giggle died off, voice dropped to a guilty whisper. – ‘Sorry… I just wanted to tease you. Not with any bad intention…’

– “…”

– ‘Hey? Talk back. I said sorry, right? Please! Please please please please—’

Yui groaned, her eyebrows twitching with irritation. – “What is with that ‘please, please, please’ nonsense?”

– ‘Sorry… I won’t do it next time,’ Yuki’s voice turned sheepish, low like a guilty whisper.

– “Huh?! Then that means you already have plans for next time!” Her eyes narrowed, anger flashing through her tone.

– ‘Okay, okay, stop,’ Yuki cut her off with sudden seriousness, ‘we have to confirm another thing.’

– “Don’t talk to me, I won’t do anything. First, we need to find a way to return you to your world.”

– ‘Please don’t say that!’ Yuki’s voice cracked into a fake sob, drawn-out and whiny, ‘You’re the only one who talks to me… I don’t want to go back.’

– “Stop your acting,” Yui rolled her eyes and sighed, clearly done with the drama, “just don’t do anything silly from now on.”

– ‘Okay!’ She replied quickly, her tone switching to a sudden cheerful spark, ‘The next thing I want to figure out is—’

– “Hey! I already said I won’t do anything!” She snapped again, clenching her fists.

– ‘Please, just listen… just this once.’ Yuki’s tone turned sincere, pressing, ‘It’s about our thoughts.’

– “Thoughts?” She blinked, brows furrowing.

– ‘Yes, if I sleep… can I see what you’re seeing or hear your thoughts? And the same when you sleep and I’m in control. Can you hear my thoughts?’

– “Why would I give control to you while I’m asleep?” Yui folded her arms defensively, looked annoyed, “You also sleep and rest.”

– ‘You fool!’ She huffed, ‘if that works, we could work in shifts!’

– “You’re the fool!” Yui narrowed her eyes, then sighed. “Suppose I sleep at night and can’t hear or see. You’ll sleep during the day and won’t be able to hear or see.”

– “Then what’s the point of working separately? We won’t be able to talk like this. Then based on our average sleep time, we’ll only be able to talk for eight hours… and if I do anything, I’ll have to explain it to you.”

– ‘Well… you’re right,’ she mumbled thoughtfully, ‘but that’s assuming we can’t hear thoughts during sleep. What if—’

– “Stop assuming like a fool,” Yui waved her hand. “Wait… when you woke up before, did you think anything? I heard something like, ‘What is this, suddenly!?’ I felt something strange, so after that you listened to my voice, ‘What’s happening!?’… so, if you think of something—”

– ‘Really? You didn’t hear anything?’ Yuki’s voice trembled into a soft cry, ‘I thought about my dream… I even talked to your brother. Shit. So I guess my plan failed.’

“You talked to Yuta? I don’t remember that part!” Yui’s eyes widened. Her voice turned hard. “And stop that stupid crying. It was a stupid plan anyway. We just need to sleep and wake up together. That’s it.”

– ‘...’

Her voice softened. – “Well… it’s also an advantage, right? You said you want privacy. So, when I sleep, you can think all you want.”

– ‘Yeah… Then what’s your plan? Are you participating in the tournament?’

– “The limit is 25.” Yui shrugged with a helpless smile. “How could I participate?”

– ‘So what? You look younger, right? Just lie about your age!’

– “Are you crazy?” She laughed suddenly, as if the whole conversation had turned into a joke.

Yuki blinked, her face full of confusion. – ‘Why are you laughing? Did I say something weird?’

– “You don’t know my world, right?” Yui smiled with pity, then her voice dropped a little. “Even if I lied about my age, I’ve already participated.”

She tilted her head and added, – “Sensemitters can detect my Kairo energy. It’s useless.”

Yuki blinked again, tilting her head like a puzzled kitten. – ‘Sensemitters?’

– “You really don’t know anything,” she sighed with mild frustration. “Sensemitters are—”

– ‘Wait!’ She cut in quickly, her eyes lighting up as she remembered something. ‘But the guy in my dream said we could fake our age and they won’t do anything. Because lots of people don’t want to participate because they get bored.’

Yui laughed again, shaking her head in disbelief. – “Who said that nonsense?” She folded her arms. “Do you think normal ninjas can fight skilled ones?”

She scoffed and continued, – “Sure, maybe a 16-year-old could beat a 25-year-old or maybe not. But the limit is set to that. It’s their choice whether to enter or not.”

Yuki scratched her head, clearly confused. – ‘He said people will listen to winners’ words, so we can’t stop them if they fake their age to participate.’

– “Hey,” Yui burst out laughing. “I feel pity for you.”

Then she leaned back, her tone softening just a bit. – “By the way… that was just a dream, right? It might not be real.”

– “In my opinion, there is only one way to enter if even age is above the limit.” She tapped her chin. “But that’s not possible… who could even plan something like that?”

Her gaze grew serious as she added, – “If they lie about their age while registering Kairo Energy… and then, if they participate for the first time, the Sensemitters can’t know either.”

She exhaled. – “That’s the only possible way, I think.”

Yuki paused, voice tinted with skepticism. – ‘Registering the Kairo energy? Wait… what even is Kairo energy?’

– “Ugh, well…” Yui rolled her eyes hard, her voice tired. “I think your world is different.”

– “It’s hard to explain with your dumbness.” She waved a hand at nothing in particular.

Then she pointed her finger toward an imaginary map. – “Well… First, when we enter the kingdom, the Sensemitters will detect us.”

Her voice settled into explanation mode. – “If we ask to live here and they trust us, they’ll register our Kairo Energy.”

– “Then we can go anywhere, even if we leave and come back, they don’t do anything. Because we’re registered citizens.”

– ‘Stop. My head’s spinning,’ Yuki groaned, pressing her temples with dramatic flair. ‘Okay, I believe you. Whatever that “sense…” thing is. Then the guy in my dream lied… Wait! The way he talked felt suspicious…’

– “See? Whenever I want to explain, your dumb brain doesn’t get it.”

– ‘I’m not dumb. I just don’t understand your world.’ Yuki groaned again, flopping back like a tired child. ‘Whatever. I’ll just stay and figure things out, well… how old is your brother?’

– “Yuta? Why are you asking? Do you like my brother or something?” Yui smirked, her voice all sly and playful, then suddenly went flat like flipping a switch. “But I won’t allow it.”

– ‘Huh?! Why would I like him? I just want to know if he qualifies.’

– “You’re saying it so flatly… is my brother not your type?” Yui blinked, eyebrows raised like she’d been personally offended. “Hmm. Well, he’s 24. He’s participating in the tournament.”

– ‘Then we’re going too!’ Yuki’s voice burst with excitement. ‘Even if we don’t join, we can still watch, right?’

– “Well… What’s got you so excited? You just want to meet the guy in your dream, don’t you? It might not even be real.”

Yuki’s voice bounced like a child tugging a sleeve. – ‘Heyyy! Please, let’s go with your brother! Even if it’s not true, I still want to enjoy watching it!’

– “You’re 25, but your brain hasn’t aged a day. She sighed with an amused smile. “Fine. I’ll tell my brother we’re coming too.”

Author’s Note:

Dear Readers, Actually, I don’t want to repeat myself. I briefly explained this in chapter 1 but didn’t make it very clear. I want to add more gestures, actions, and expressions to enhance the reading experience. After re-editing some chapters, I ran into some limitations. I’m uploading on multiple platforms like Tapas, which has a 15,000-character limit, so I have to trim the chapters because they’re already uploaded. You may notice this in chapters after this one. I couldn’t fit an Author’s Note there, so I’m clarifying it here in chapter 5.

Thank you for your time and support. I appreciate your patience as the story develops and look forward to sharing this journey with you.