Yet another anniversary drabble! I actually like this one, so I would love some feedback on it.

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Pretend

A One-shot

By Natsudori Lina

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She remembered the sparkling crown; the pink feathers that adorned it; her own chubby little hands eagerly reaching up for it so that she could nestle it safely between her odango. She remembered adoring the games of dress up, wearing a floofy white dress and issuing giggled demands for entertainment. She remembered racing around the house, squealing as her Papa—the 'monster'-- chased her, and darting behind 'Sir Shingo' for safety.

She remembered being called 'Princess.'

Now, she sees an ordinary school uniform, one like it worn by hundreds—maybe thousands of girls. There is no crown. Her subjects and civilization have long since perished. Her 'knight in shining armor' is driven to destroy her.

And the monsters are real.

Usagi shook herself from her contemplation as Naru called from ahead of her. "Usagi-chan! We're going to be even later if you don't get a move on!"

"I'm coming, Naru-chan, I'm coming!" she shouted back, running to catch up. "Haruna-sensei'll kill me dead if I'm late one more time, ne?" she laughed, threading her arm through Naru's as she darted past. She spared a fleeting thought for arguments in the afternoon, tossed test papers, and cheeks flushed with anger—and maybe something more. Her expression darkened briefly before she pasted a painful grin back on.

Usagi was growing so tired of playing pretend.