Frigid water bubbled up around Yuuki, engulfing her in its darkness. Stretching her arms and legs, she quickly cut through the water, swimming back to shore. A comfortable burn settled in her muscles. Turning to the horizon, Yuuki noticed clouds gathering in the distance. A faint clap of thunder echoed over the lake.
Looks like my time here is up for today, She thought, climbing from the water. Immediately, the chilly fall air met her skin, causing her to shiver. Yuuki quickly dried herself with a towel, slipping on a warm pair of boots and a long coat. Breathing out a warm sigh, she grabbed her bag and walked to her apartment complex.
At the door, she paused. To her left, a tall girl who looked not much older than her leaned over the rail, staring wearily at the distant city lights. The night lights hanging on the wall made her skin glow a milky white. Chestnut hair cascaded over her shoulders. The girl's body was turned away from Yuuki, so her face was barely visible. Clasped in the girl's hand was a phone, the screen lit up with alerts that would only ever be ignored. Yuuki suddenly felt the urge to call out to the stranger. Perhaps it was that she looked so lonely, standing quietly on that balcony.
"Cold night, huh?" She asked, her voice surprisingly steady.
The girl on the balcony backed up and stretched. "Too cold for angels to fly."
Yuuki stared at the girl, puzzled. Sensing her confusion, the strange girl turned around to face Yuuki. "Nevermind. It just slipped out - more of my mindless ramblings." The chestnut haired girl grinned, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. When she had turned, Yuuki noticed a small white object in the hand not holding the phone. A cigarette, still smoldering. The smoke curling around the girl left a sour taste in Yuuki's mouth.
"You shouldn't smoke. It kills you, you know?"
"I don't do this usually. Just on days when I want to fly back to my past. It's nice to lose myself there."
Yuuki was surprised that this girl was telling her so much when they had just met. Already, she was intrigued by her.
"I see...Well I wish I could stay and talk, but I still have to make dinner and prepare for school. Maybe we'll see eachother again. Do you live here?"
"Yes, I moved in recently, since I will also be attending school nearby."
"Alright, good night then..." Yuuki's sentence tapered off.
"Asuna. My name is Asuna Yuuki."
"Ah. Good night, Asuna," Yuuki said, giving a small wave.
"Yeah," Asuna glanced at the placard on Yuuki's apartment door. "Good night...Yuuki."
For a second Yuuki wondered how she had learned her name, but then realized it was written on the metal placard by the door. Seeing Yuuki's slightly bewildered expression, Asuna let out a small laugh. Her laughter was clear and light, like Christmas bells. Yuuki smiled before pulling out her apartment keys and stepping into her apartment.
After locking the door behind her quietly, Yuuki slipped off her boots and damp coat. She placed her bag and keys on a countertop with a clack.
"I'm home," She whispered into a dark, empty room. Of course, the only response was the quiet chirping of crickets and a car speeding past outside. Yuuki could imagine Asuna in the other room, slowly breathing out thin wisps of smoke in the stagnant night. Soundlessly, Yuuki walked into the kitchen, shivering as her feet met the cold tile. She flicked on a light, and it felt as if time had resumed its ticking once again.