Hiyakura cautiously looked around, trying to find the source of the sound.
She straightened her back, clenched her fists, and got ready to fight.
"Who's there? Stop hiding and show yourself!"
Hiyakura shouted loudly, her voice echoing through the sea of flowers.
A peal of laughter like silver bells rang out, drifting in the wind.
Hiyakura looked in the direction of the sound and was shocked to find a girl who looked exactly like her standing nearby among the flowers.
That girl had the same features and figure as Hiyakura, with the only difference being her long, silver-white hair that glimmered in the sunlight.
Hiyakura herself had vibrant red hair.
"This... this is impossible..." Hiyakura said incredulously, her eyes wide open, stammering, "How do you look exactly like me? Who are you?"
The white-haired girl tilted her head, a sly smile appearing on her lips. She lightly walked up to Hiyakura, extending her hand to gently tap the tip of Hiyakura's nose.
"My dear little fairy, what are you talking about? I'm just you! We're the same person!"
The girl's tone was sweet and ethereal, as if she were singing a delightful tune.
Hiyakura was stunned, staring blankly at the white-haired girl in front of her, her mind a complete blank.
After a long time, she snapped back to reality, uncertainly asking:
"You are me? But... but I don't remember having a white-haired self..."
The white-haired girl chuckled lightly, spinning gracefully among the flowers.
Her skirt flared, petals danced in the air with her movements.
"Whether you remember or not, we've always been one."
Hiyakura's heart raced.
She instinctively followed the footsteps of the white-haired girl, stepping deeper into the floral sea.
"If you are me... then you must know who I really am, right?"
Hiyakura's voice was filled with hope, "I know nothing about my past, I even couldn't remember my real name before... please tell me everything about myself!"
The white-haired girl stopped dancing, turning to face Hiyakura.
She extended her hand, gently stroking Hiyakura's face, her eyes warm and compassionate.
Upon hearing this, the white-haired girl beamed a mysterious smile.
She gently took Hiyakura's hand, pulling her into a twirling dance.
The two dancing in the flower sea seemed like mirror reflections, beautifully extraordinary.
"My dear Hiyakura, you are the fairy, my favorite little fairy!"
The white-haired girl's voice was like silver bells, pleasant to the ears.
Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous light, as if she held secrets unknown to Hiyakura.
"What? I'm a fairy?!"
Hiyakura suddenly broke free from the white-haired girl's grasp, stepping back a few paces, her face filled with shock and disbelief.
Her eyes were filled with fear and confusion, her whole body trembling slightly.
"How is that possible?!"
Hiyakura shouted loudly, her voice echoing in the sea of flowers.
"Jasmine and the others said that fairies are the most dangerous and evil beings, bringing endless disasters and slaughter to this world! How could I possibly be a fairy!!"
"This is impossible, absolutely impossible!!"
Hiyakura waved her hands excitedly, her red hair flying in the wind.
Her expression was full of panic, as if facing the most terrifying nightmare in the world.
She shook her head violently, seemingly wanting to deny this cruel fact.
The white-haired girl, however, remained unfazed, instead revealing an even brighter smile.
She tilted her head, looking gently at Hiyakura, as if appreciating a marvelous performance.
"If you are not a fairy, then what are you?"
The white-haired girl asked softly, her voice sounding like a call from deep within the soul, "Why are you here? And why have you lost your memory? What are the reasons behind it all?"
Hiyakura opened her mouth but couldn't make any sound.
She stood there dazed, her face pale as paper, her eyes hollow and confused.
The white-haired girl's words pierced her heart like a sharp blade, completely overturning her world.
After a long while, Hiyakura finally managed to find her voice.
She bit her lip, trembling as she said:
"I... I'm not a fairy, I'm just... just an ordinary human girl... I..."
Her voice grew smaller, eventually turning into a choked sob. Tears welled up in Hiyakura's eyes, and she tightly wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to ward off the cold.
The white-haired girl stepped forward and embraced Hiyakura.
She gently stroked Hiyakura's back, like a mother comforting her frightened child.
"Silly girl, look, even you are not sure whether you are a fairy."
The white-haired girl said softly, a hint of helplessness in her tone, "Stop deceiving yourself, accept the real you. Only then can you find your true home."
Hiyakura's body shook more violently, and tears burst forth, rolling down her cheeks.
She gripped the white-haired girl's sleeve tightly, like a drowning person grasping for the last straw.
"But... but I don't want to become a fairy..."
Hiyakura choked as she spoke, her voice filled with pain and despair, "I don't want to hurt anyone... why, why is it me..."
The white-haired girl gently patted Hiyakura's back, coaxing her like a lost lamb. She whispered in Hiyakura's ear, her voice soft and seductive:
"Don't be afraid, my dear Hiyakura. Becoming a fairy is not scary, and you don't need to hurt anyone; that is your nature. You don't need to feel ashamed or guilty about it."
The white-haired girl lifted Hiyakura's chin, making her meet her gaze. In those eyes, identical to Hiyakura's, shone wisdom and insight.
"The you of now is still very young and has yet to awaken your true power. But one day, you will understand your mission. Go, do what you want to do."
The white-haired girl's voice was like the siren's song, enchanting and making one involuntarily sink into its depths.
"In your pursuit of ideals, you will come to understand what it truly means to be a fairy."
Just as the words fell.
A sudden flash of bright light appeared.
Hiyakura instinctively closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she found herself in Jasmine's room, lying on a soft bed.
"Huh...? Am I... dreaming...?"
Hiyakura mumbled, rubbing her temples, looking around.
Outside the window, dawn was breaking, the sound of birds chirping was pleasant to the ears.
Everything felt so real, without a trace of a dream.
"Who exactly was she? Could she really be another me?"
Hiyakura murmured to herself, the image of the white-haired girl flashing through her mind, stirring an indescribable flutter in her heart.
"Hiyakura, have you woken up? We should get going!"
From outside the room. Came Jasmine's voice. Then, Hiyakura set off on her way to Manju Academy. And at the same time.
On the other side. Tao Yao also opened her eyes. The white-haired Hiyakura from Hiyakura's dream, appearing like a second personality, was crafted by her after deep consideration.