Chapter 2: A Name That Isn't Mine

The other voice had a name.

She called herself "Yuki."

And sometimes, when I was too exhausted to fight, too overwhelmed by the situation, she would take over. She would tell me afterwards that it was easier that way. That she was everything I wasn't—charismatic, charming, carefree. She knew how to talk to people, how to smile without it feeling forced.

At first, it was just brief moments. A few minutes here and there. But then, days passed where I didn't remember anything at all.

"You seem different," Hikigaya said one afternoon, his voice devoid of judgment but filled with that quiet scrutiny he was known for.

I shrugged, smiling in a way I hoped would disarm him. "I guess I'm just learning how to have fun."

He didn't look convinced. "Right."

But I could see it in his eyes—he was starting to notice the cracks.

The days blurred together, each one indistinguishable from the last. The gaps in my memory were becoming more frequent. There were moments when I would come back to myself in the middle of a conversation, in the middle of a walk home, with no recollection of how I had gotten there.

I stopped questioning it.

But then one evening, I overheard Yui talking to Hikigaya outside the Service Club.

"Do you think Yukinon's... okay? She's been acting kinda different lately."

Hikigaya's voice, low and calculating, carried through the hallway. "She's always been like that. Just leave her be."

I wanted to step forward, to say something, but I hesitated. A strange feeling washed over me, an unfamiliar sense of amusement. And before I could stop myself, I heard my own voice—except it wasn't mine.

"Poor Yui," I said, stepping into view with a smile that didn't belong to me. "Always worrying too much."

They both stared at me. Yui blinked in confusion, her brows furrowing. "Yukinon...?"

Hikigaya narrowed his eyes, and for a moment, I thought he might say something cutting. Instead, he simply stared at me, as if trying to solve a puzzle.

I held the smile for a second longer, then it faded. I could feel the shift within me, like slipping into a different skin. My heartbeat quickened, panic clawing at my chest. "Sorry," I murmured, retreating quickly. "I'm just tired."

But the truth was, I wasn't sure if I was Yukinoshita Yukino anymore.

Author's Note:

Had a lot of motivation this week so here's another chapter. This (probably) won't be a regular occurrence but a man can dream. Thanks for reading, please leave a review if you feel like it.