Knock Knock...

  A sharp knock echoed through the quiet apartment. Once, then twice in a gentle yet insistent.

  Outside, a 16-year old girl stood with a paper bag in hand, her grayish-brown hair tied in a distinct side bun. Her face marred with worry as she waited for an answer, shifting slightly on her feet

  Inside, Sachi barely reacted. She sat motionless on the floor, hands furiously wiping away the fresh tears staining her reddened cheeks. The knock came again.

  "...Sacchan? Are you there?" A soft voice called from outside "It's me, Kotori. I brought you something to eat."

  The name hit like a jolt of static. Sachi's grief momentarily stalled as faint images stirred at the back of her mind— familiar yet distant.

  Sachi hastily wiped her face with the sleeve of her pajamas. She stood, legs wobbly, forcing herself toward the door

  "...W-who is it?" Her voice came out hoarse, cracked from hours of crying

  "It's Kotori," the girl repeated. "My mom made curry, she asked me to bring you some for lunch."

  "Kotori..." she muttered under her breath. She hesitated, unease creeping in. hunger gnawed at her stomach, but uncertainty gripped harder. 'Should she open the door? Could she pretend everything was normal? What if she notices something's off?'

  Her fingers trembled as they neared the door handle. Just before touching it, she hesitated.

  "...A-are you my friend?" she blurted out.

  "Eh? I'm your cousin... Sacchan, are you okay?" Kotori's voice was ced with concern

  Panic fred in Sachi's chest. She scrambled for an excuse.

  "Uh! Y-yeah! S-sorry... I was just confused and all..."

  Before she could second guess herself, she grabbed the door handle and pulled it open.

  "P-please come in!" she said quickly, forcing a smile despite the soreness of her throat.

  With the door now open, Kotori's gaze immediately nded on Sachi's flushed cheeks and tear-streaked eyes. A flicker of concern crossed her face. 'I'll tell mom about this ter...' she thought, making a mental note

  Still, she maintained her usual cheerful demeanor, lifting the paper bag in her hands. "Tada! My mom made curry! It's really good, you'll love it!"

  Sachi stood frozen in pce. Her breath hitched as recognition smmed into her like a tidal wave. 'Kotori Minami...? From Love Live?!'

  Her heart pounded in her chest. The voice, the name— it all clicked. 'Is this... an anime world?'

  Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Kotori lowering her outstretched hand. The older girl frowned, stepping closer.

  "Sacchan?" she gently called, still no response.

  Hesitating for only a moment, Kotori reached out and pressed the back of her hand against Sachi's forehead. "Are you feeling okay? You don't seem to have a fever, but..."

  The warmth of her touch snapped Sachi back to reality. She jolted slightly, her thoughts still racing but now tangled with another problem— how was she supposed to react to this.

  "Heh heh... yeah!" Sachi replied nervously, her gaze lowered

  Kotori noticed her cousin's odd behaviour but chose not to press further. 'I hope she's okay...' she thought, concern flickering in her eyes.

  "Alright then, I'll reheat this in the kitchen." Kotori said with a gentle smile, lifting the bag of food as she walked toward the counter

  "Uh... yeah! I-I'll freshen up first!" Sachi blurted before rushing toward the bathroom, her movements stiff and hurried.

  ??????????????

  Thud. Click.

  The bathroom door shut and locked behind her. Sachi leaned against the sink, her breathing uneven.

  Shhhhh.

  Cold water rushed over her hands, sending a brief shiver up her spine as she spshed it onto her face, trying to shake off the weight in her mind.

  'So my new life... is inside an anime, huh?' she thought, staring bnkly at her dripping reflection.

  A towel sat neatly on the counter. She grabbed it and wiped her face, but as she lowered it, her reflection blurred.

  For just a moment, a man's face fshed in the mirror.

  Her breath hitched. "No"

  A sharp pain throbbed in her head. "This is just a dream... A realistic, cruel dream... I'll wake up soon... right?"

  She clutched her head, fingers digging into her temples as a suffocating weight settled in her chest.

  But no matter how much she wished it... reality remained unchanged.

  ??????????????