There was a Sakura tree.

It was a warm spring day, as a single Sakura tree stood in the middle of the courtyard of the Saimori residence. The light pink flowers were in full bloom, scattering everywhere. 

Miyo realised that this was yet another dream. But this time, it seemed different from the consecutive days of nightmares.

Because that Sakura tree was no longer in the Saimori house.

That tree was already there when Miyo's mother, Usuba Sumi, married into the Saimori family. However, following her pa.s.sing, the tree too withered within a year. 

That's right, this Sakura tree was still blooming when Miyo was still living as the daughter of the Saimori family. Thus, this was not a nightmare.

However, while the previous nightmares were like reliving her past memories, she had no recollection of this scene. Though that is to be expected as the tree did die when she was just about 3 or 4 years old.

She stared dazedly at the sight in front of her before realising that someone was standing under the tree. Miyo immediately recognised who that was.

(Okasama...)

Beautiful, long glossy black hair. Apparently, her mother deeply treasured that cherry-coloured kimono. Miyo treasured it greatly too, as a keepsake of her mother's, until it was taken away by her stepmother. Wearing a kimono the same colour as the blooming flowers,  the image of her looked so fleeting. Her mother's beautiful and delicate figure made her look just like a fairy, hiding amongst the flowers.

Although Miyo may have been too young and her memories of her mother were vague and murky, she knew for sure that the woman standing before her was her mother. Though it did feel rather strange to call the woman, who looked to be about the same age as herself, her mother.

「————」

Her mother's gaze was directed pointedly at Miyo. Her lips were moving like she was trying to convey something. However, they were too far apart and Miyo couldn't make out what her mother was saying.

「W-What...?」

「————」

Miyo couldn't move closer even if she wanted to. She couldn't hear anything.

「Okasama.」

「————」

「What are you saying?」

She looked like she was constantly repeating something, yet no sound could be heard.

Then.

「...fwoo」

Suddenly a strong gust of wind blew up the flower petals and her hair, obscuring Miyo's vision, causing her to close her eyes.

『W-Wait... Please wait, s.h.i.+nichi-sama.』

The sound of her mother's voice sounded so desperate as it echoed in Miyo's mind. For some reason, though she had no idea how, Miyo instantly understood that this was something her mother had said when she was still alive.

『That's not the case!』

『What isn't, Sumi?』

Now she could hear her father's voice as well. This seems to be a conversation that took place between her parents in the past.

『Miyo, Miyo is...』

『She has no ability. What else is there?』

Miyo hadn't seen a single supernatural being since the moment she was born.

Her father sighed unhappily. 

Although the extent of Miyo's knowledge on the subject was not great, based on what she heard, those with Paranormal Vision are able to see the supernatural since infancy. However, that's still in a pretty unstable stage and the vision wasn't always perfect. It was only at the age of 5 that the power starts to stabilise. And only when the vision has become perfect even during normal times was the talent to see the paranormal considered「Awakened1」.

On the contrary, if one stopped being able to see those paranormal beings as they grew up, they would be judged as「Talentless2」.

Furthermore, if one, like Miyo, did not display the power to see the paranormal during infancy, the likelihood of them having Paranormal Vision was greatly reduced. There were exceptions. But they were so rare that 90% of parents simply give up when they find out that the baby was unable to see the supernatural shortly after birth. And the child would be determined as talentless.

In order words, Miyo had been abandoned by her father even when her mother was still alive. 

『Please, please do not forsake her.』

『...If we were not of the Saimori family but one with no relation to abilities, I would've loved her.』

(lilies: omg you piece of s.h.i.+t)

His tone sounded very cold.

In the past, she had heard that he was very kind to Miyo, but that was a superficial kindness. It was simply the compa.s.sion for an infant, nothing more.

——Being forced apart from the woman he loved into an unwanted marriage. Yet the daughter born of this marriage was talentless. One could feel the despair he felt.

After her father left, her mother muttered softly to her in a crying voice.

『I'm sorry Miyo... Forgive your mother's inadequate self.』

It was Miyo who should be apologising. There was nothing more sinful than her not having any power and bringing unhappiness to the people around her.

『But it's alright. Once you grow older——』

(Eh?)

The voice resounding in her head was cut short and Miyo's eyes sprung open.

The Sakura tree was still there, but her mother was gone. 

(When I get older...?)

What did her mother say after that? Could it be that she was still hoping for Miyo to awaken her Paranormal Vision despite the circ.u.mstances?

With a strange lingering feeling3, Miyo was driven out of that gorgeous dreamscape.

＊＊＊

Sitting in front of the dressing table, Miyo combed through her hair with more care than usual.

Though it was probably pointless to comb her hair with a cheap brush with missing teeth. If she took the time to comb through meticulously, it did feel like it helped, somehow.

Thus, the hair that took twice as much time as yesterday to arrange, seemed to be slightly glossier than normal.

「Okasama was so beautiful...」

The mother in her dream had gorgeous, l.u.s.trous straight hair.

(Could my hair become like that if I cared for it properly...?)

Miyo tried touching her hair and sighed gently. ——Unfortunately, that doesn't seem very possible. The added thought of going out with Kiyoka made her feel a little melancholy.

「Miyo-sama, may I enter?」

「Please.」

Yurie entered the room with a thoughtful smile on her face.

「You look very pretty, Miyo-sama.」

「Ah... no, that's.」

「Do you not plan on putting make-up?」

Miyo stiffened at the question.

Makeup. Of course, that was part of the grooming of the average lady. However, Miyo didn't have any makeup tools. 

「U-Umm... I'm not good at doing makeup.」

「Then, please leave it all to Yurie.」

「But, I don't have... any makeup items at hand.」

Seeing the nervousness in Miyo's eyes, Yurie's smile only deepened.

「It's alright. Look, we have all the necessary items here.」

These were most likely prepared right from the start as Yurie produced a box of makeup items in her hands.

(They must have noticed... that I don't have anything on me.)

After all, this house was only so big. It's natural that they would notice. 

Just the thought of this information being relayed to Kiyoka, made Miyo so embarra.s.sed she wanted to simply disappear. 

「Alright, please turn over here.」

Unaffected by Miyo's anxiousness, Yurie spread out the makeup tools she had at hand and began applying Miyo's makeup.

「There, I'm done.」

As Yurie said that, a knock came from the fusuma at the same time.

「...It's about time to leave.」

「I-I'm coming! Thank you, Yurie-san.」

「Nono, please enjoy yourselves.」

Miyo rushed out of the room without even checking herself in the mirror. There stood Kiyoka in a kimono.

「S-So sor-... I mean, thank you for waiting.」

「No, I didn't wait long. I didn't mean to rush you. Well, let's go then.」

「Yes.」

Today was the day where she's going out with Kiyoka.

The day had finally come and Miyo gathered all her energy and followed behind him.

1. Written as '見鬼の才が発現した'↩

2. Written as '見鬼の才はなかった' I was trying to make it fit into the sentence for both, so it's not exactly a direct translation↩

3. Written as '釈然としない気持ちを抱きつつ' ...idk how to phrase in english -o-↩

Yayy finally something kinda happy!! Next few chapters will be funnn ٩(˃̶͈̀௰˂̶͈́)و

Well I had fun at least lollol

Please feedback to me in the comments below if you find any typos or terrible grammar, etc that you think I should change. Or maybe you think my interpretation is completely off lol Help me help you have a better reading experience ahahah what a tongue twister XD

Thank yous!! (˶‾᷄ ⁻̫ ‾᷅˵)

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and have a great day!!

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peace lilies~