Chapter Two: A New World

The next time I opened my eyes, there was sunlight streaming through the window onto the floor next to my bed. I groaned; had I really fallen asleep in my dress with my makeup on? I was sure to break out with acne if I didn't wash my face soon. I got up, my vision still somewhat blurry, and made my way to the bathroom. My apartment felt strange today, and looked different too, although I couldn't quite understand what it was.

Yawning, I splashed water onto my face, applying face wash, then rinsing. How odd… even my face felt different today, and I felt as though half my body weight had disappeared. After drying my face, I glanced back at the mirror, checking for a breakout. For a few seconds my brain didn't register what I was seeing. The face of a very drowsy anime looking girl was staring back at me. It was sort of funny, she had my same eye color and hair color, only she was, well, anime. What was she doing in my mirror? I looked behind me quickly… and the anime girl turned around at the same time. There was no one behind me. I turned back. So did she. The surprise on her face was just as genuine as the surprise I felt. My heart was racing, and my confusion growing.

I stuck out my tongue, and the girl stuck hers out too. I raised my right arm, and so did the girl. Finally I leaned closely in, her copying me, until we were nose to nose. I reached up and touched my face. She touched her face. I traced the outline of it with my fingertips and slowly the truth dawned on me. This… girl… this was me.

My enormous eyes grew wide in shock and I backed away slowly. What was going on? I quickly ran to my closet. All my clothes were there, only, they were all my new size, what was I… size negative ten or something? I never knew it was possible to be this thin. I started to panic. I couldn't just live like this, I had no clue what happened, and what would I tell everyone?

"Don't worry guys, it was just some MAJOR cosmetic surgery. And liposuction. And bone restructure. Hey but it's my life, I'll live it beautifully. Sono Bello!" yeah so not happening. I sighed, and changed into my largest sweats, trying to hide my size zero body. I was freakishly skinny and I may as well break my new image in fragments; hair, eyes, rest of my face, my skinny body could come later.

Peaking outside, the breath caught in my throat. Where am I? The sky was unusually bright blue, the clouds bright. The trees were full of color, and flowers grew everywhere. My apartment was here.. only… it appeared my apartment was a house. And my city? Forget about it, it wasn't anywhere to be seen. Everything was brilliantly colored, wind wisped through the nature delicately, and the sun emanated a kind of warmth I never knew existed.

I opened the door and the breeze blew through my tousled light brown hair. I cautiously put one foot out, and then the other, and there I was. Standing in this brilliant world full of color, fringed with a subtle yet constant hint of hope. What was this place? It looked like a scene from those anime shows my friends used to watch. Only, more beautiful, and much more real. Unless… I chuckled to myself… did I really just wonder that? But what else could it be? It had to be.

To a place where dreams come true. I had said. And now this? Where was this? Even in my dreams, I had never pictured a place like this.

"This isn't exactly what I had in mind" I said to no one. And yet, I was drawn to this place. I started walking down the road, into the woods for a while, then down a long hill. At the base I looked up and there were a few buildings a block or so away. I could see if anyone could help me out in any case.

The first building I encountered was what looked like a bakery. I shrugged, I may as well go in and see what I can find. Opening the door, I was relieved to discover I wasn't the only anime looking person. There was a woman there with long auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail smiling at me.

"Why hello there, welcome to the Furukawa Bakery! How can I help you today?" I blinked.

"Uh… this might sound a little odd, but I'm new here and I was wondering if you could please tell me where..uh…exactly this is?" Her smile only grew.

"Of course, this is the town Hikarizaka. And where are you from?"

"Uh.. I'm from Seattle…" my voice trailed off as I realized it was no use to try to explain. It probably didn't exist in this world, wherever it was. She laughed, "Well, I'm afraid I can't give you directions, but you're welcome to stay here if you need to. We love company! My name's Furukawa Sanae, by the way."

"Oh, thanks for the offer. I'm Roya," I reached out to shake her hand but realized she wasn't about to do that, instead she bowed a little, so I copied her motions, "I'm going to look around town, but I'll most likely see you again later," I smiled. I stepped outside, just as a guy was stepping in. Needless to say, we had quite the collision.

"Hey!" he yelled as the grocery bag he was carrying was thrown on the ground, scattering groceries all over. I was knocked against the wall, and after regaining composure I immediately helped him gather his belongings.

"Sorry about that," I apologized, "Didn't see you there."

"Yeah, I noticed that," he said, standing. He was about a foot taller than me, with bluish black hair and blue eyes. I raised an eyebrow at him, before proceeding to leave the Bakery when I saw a package of romen soup had fallen unnoticed outside. I picked it up and turned back to him, "Hey you dropped this."

"More like you knocked it out of my bag," he muttered and I sighed. "Look, you don't have to be so hung up over it. It was an accident." He shrugged, "Whatever. I'm just glad I'm not the one who ripped my pants falling." My eyes grew wide in embarrassment. I had ripped my pants? I looked down quickly, checking all over for the hole. Which didn't exist.

"Rude," I said, "nice one."

"I try."

"I'm Roya." I said and he paused a second, looking at me, before he shook his head a little,

"Okazaki," he said, "Tomoya Okazaki."