Miyazaki Aria has been my friend since kindergarten. She's a fascinating girl, the type who radiates positivity wherever she goes. But did you know that the Aria we know today wasn't always the same?
Back then, I mistook her for a boy.
Her short hair, her tomboyish behaviour—nothing about her suggested she was a girl. To me, she was just a peculiar "boy" who liked hanging out with the girls. At that age, most girls didn't enjoy playing with boys, but Aria was an exception. There was something about her—a charm that made her likeable to everyone. She was cool, and to be honest, a bit handsome in her own way.
But that's not why she became my best friend.
I still remember the day that changed everything.
My mom couldn't pick me up after school, so I had to stay late at the kindergarten. The caretaker tried to keep me entertained, but it wasn't fun. I could tell from her eyes and forced smile that she wasn't enjoying herself. To her, I was an extra burden, something standing between her and her evening plans.
I pretended not to notice, quietly playing along, when a voice called out from behind me.
"Huh? There's another kid still here?"
It was Aria.
The caretaker seized the opportunity immediately.
"Oh, Aria! Your parents aren't here yet either? Don't be sad. You can play with our little friend here—Viola."
"Okay…" Aria said with a calm voice.
Meanwhile, I was a bundle of nerves. I had never spoken to a boy before.
"Hello, friend! Wanna play with us?"
She extended her hand toward me, her expression bright and welcoming. But I instinctively pulled back, avoiding her touch.
"Don't touch me," I said, my voice quieter than I intended.
She didn't seem fazed by my reaction.
"What's your name, friend?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, her tone still friendly.
"Viola," I replied hesitantly. "My name is Viola."
"Viola? That's a pretty name," she said, her smile widening.
She then looked around, as if searching for someone.
"Hey, Irana! Come here! Look, we have a new friend!"
That day, Aria and Irana started talking to me. Just like that, we became friends.
At first, it felt like nothing had changed in my life. I still preferred keeping to myself, and my days passed as uneventfully as ever. The difference was that now I had someone to play with—two, in fact. Not that I didn't have friends before, but I'd always chosen not to interact much with other children. In turn, the other kids chose to ignore me.
One day, as we sat under the shade of a tree, Aria spoke up.
"Hey, Viola, you don't have many friends, huh?"
The way she said it was so blunt, so straightforward, it caught me off guard.
"I just don't want to play with them," I replied, hoping the excuse would end the conversation.
Aria frowned slightly, her expression growing serious. "Do they ignore you? Tch, what a bunch of bullies."
Her words surprised me, and I felt the need to clarify.
"Well… I'm the one who pushes them away to begin with," I admitted, my voice calm, almost indifferent.
"Why?"
It was such a simple question, yet one I couldn't answer truthfully.
"…Befriending me will bring bad luck," I finally said, averting my gaze.
It wasn't entirely a lie. The reason I avoided others was because of my power—my curse. The ability to teleport was something I couldn't control. If I touched someone, even by accident, there was a chance they'd be teleported away to a random location. It had happened before, and the consequences were… unpleasant.
Aria looked at me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, she gave me a mischievous grin.
"Bad luck, huh? Well, that's just a challenge for me!"
"What?" I blinked, unsure if I'd heard her correctly.
"Nothing's gonna scare me off, Viola. Besides, Irana and I are tougher than we look. You can't get rid of us that easily!"
Her confidence was baffling. I didn't know how to respond, so I simply nodded, unsure if she truly understood what she was signing up for.
But from that day forward, Aria and Irana's persistence never wavered. Slowly, they chipped away at the walls I had built around myself.
Despite Aria and Irana's unwavering kindness, I couldn't shake the constant fear that loomed over me—the fear of my uncontrollable power. One wrong move, one careless touch, and I could send them—or anyone—away to an unknown place. It was a ticking time bomb, and though it hadn't happened yet, the possibility haunted me.
But everything changed on the day of that incident.
We were in grade school at the time, walking home together like we always did. Our houses were close to each other, so it was a daily routine. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the quiet streets.
We were laughing about something trivial—I don't even remember what—when suddenly, two figures stepped out from a side alley.
They looked suspicious, dressed in dark clothes with caps pulled low over their faces.
"Which one's the target?" one of them muttered, their voice low and chilling.
Every instinct screamed at me to run, but my body wouldn't obey. Fear paralyzed me, rooting me to the spot. Irana stood frozen as well, her wide eyes darting between the strangers.
But Aria was different. She stepped forward, positioning herself between us and the strangers. Her hands clenched into fists, her stance steady despite the danger.
"Who are you people?!" she demanded, her voice sharp and fearless.
The men ignored her completely.
"The one with glasses," one of them said.
"You sure?" the other replied.
I didn't even have time to process their words before a shadow lunged toward me. My vision blurred, and I felt a sharp pain in my side. Everything went black.
The last thing I heard before I lost consciousness was Aria's voice, filled with rage and desperation.
"What did you do to Viola?!"
What would happen next? It scares me to imagine. These people who kidnap me probably doing some sort of illegal experiment involving young Esper. The thought of being subjected to cruel tests or endless confinement… It scared me.
Then, suddenly, I heard a commotion from the outside.
"What happen?" I whispered to myself, trying to make sense of the muffled noises. There seemed to be a battle going on—shouts, crashes, and the sound of things breaking. My heartbeat quickened. Could it be? Had someone come to rescue me?
Before I could piece anything together, the door was kicked open with a loud bang. My heart skipped a beat as the force echoed in the room. I could barely see the figure who had entered—the light from the corridor was blinding against the dim space I was in.
"Viola!! Are you alright?"
The voice was unmistakable, filled with urgency and worry.
"Aria?" I managed to croak, my voice weak and trembling.
"Thank goodness you are okay. Don't worry, Irana already called the police," she said, her words like a lifeline.
"How?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. My mind was racing. How did Aria manage to get here? These people weren't ordinary—they had to be seasoned Espers, highly skilled and dangerous. How could a mere grade schooler have defeated them?
"Hehe, I am actually quite strong, you know," she said with a silly, confident smile, the kind only Aria could pull off in such a dire situation.
She then reached out her hand toward me, her intent clear.
"Wait, no!!…" I panicked, my voice breaking. If she touched my hand, there was a chance she'd be teleported away—to who knows where.
"Even now, you're whining not to touch you? At this situation?" she said, exasperation mixed with amusement in her tone.
Before I could protest further, she grabbed my hand forcefully.
And then…
Nothing happened.
"What?" I stared at our joined hands, completely bewildered.
Aria grinned, her grip firm but reassuring. "Your hand is so smooth—it's nice," she said, her voice softening as she flashed me a charming smile that made my cheeks flush.
I quickly turned my head away, my face burning. "We… we need to get out of here quick," I stammered, trying to ignore the warmth spreading from where our hands touched.
At that moment, I was sure I fell for her. There was something about her unwavering determination, her strength, and her ability to make me feel safe even in the darkest moments that left a permanent mark on my heart.
Years have passed since that incident. Life continued its steady rhythm, and before I knew it, we entered middle school. That's when everything changed.
It was the first day of the new semester. Aria, Irana, and I were excited to find out which dorm we'd been assigned to. The thought of living together in the same dorm felt like a dream come true.
When we reached the dormitory, the three of us stood outside the entrance, marvelling at the building. After checking in, we were given our room assignments. It was then that the realization hit me—our names were all on the same room number.
"That's strange," I muttered to myself. "Why would a boy and two girls be placed in the same dorm room?"
I glanced over at Aria, who seemed completely unbothered, casually carrying her luggage and chatting with Irana.
"Aria, don't you think this is a mistake? Maybe they didn't realize you're… a boy?" I asked hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper.
Aria tilted her head, confused. "What are you talking about, Viola?"
"You know, dorm rules. Boys and girls can't share a room," I explained, trying to be tactful.
Irana burst out laughing. "Viola, what are you saying? Aria's not a boy!"
I froze. "W-What?"
Aria looked at me with her usual nonchalant smile. "Viola, did you really think I was a boy this whole time?"
My mind raced, replaying all our memories together. Her short hair, her tomboyish demeanour.
My heart dropped, shattering into a million pieces. All this time, I thought I had fallen for a boy, and now I was standing face-to-face with the truth.
But then, as the initial shock wore off, I felt something strange. It wasn't disappointment or rejection. It was a fluttering warmth that spread through my chest.
Maybe my heart hadn't broken.
Maybe it was a new door opening.
Like hell, that would happen!!