Morning arrived softly, like a whisper sliding across the sleeping earth.
Birds chirped in delicate rhythms, bees hummed in golden circles above the garden, and the first rays of sunlight stretched through the curtains as if reaching out to touch a peaceful dream.
And inside that dream, little Miyako Yukishiro stood barefoot on the beach—warm sand beneath her feet, wind tangled in her hair. The sea glittered like a polished mirror, calm enough to reflect her gentle smile. She felt weightless, free, as if the world had paused just for her.
But dreams are fragile things.
And peace never lasts too long.
A sudden roar cracked the sky open.
The horizon darkened, swallowed by monstrous clouds. Wind whipped around her, claws of air tearing at her clothes. The bright ocean twisted into violent waves.
Then—
BOOM.
A thunderstrike ripped the heavens apart.
The beach trembled. People screamed. The gentle sea rose like a furious beast, towering higher, higher, higher—
A tsunami lunged toward her, swallowing the sky, the sun, the very air—
Miyako squeezed her eyes shut—
"MIYAKO! WAKE UP THIS INSTANT!"
Her eyes snapped open.
The tsunami dissolved into her mother's furious face leaning over her.
Breathing hard, Miyako blinked up in confusion.
Her mother, Sayuri Yukishiro, stood with her hands on her hips, eyebrows arched, voice sharp enough to cut through destiny itself.
"Do you want to FAIL your last exam? It's the FINAL exam of the session, Miyako! Get up!"
Miyako groaned and pulled the blanket over her face.
"Five… more minutes…"
"Five minutes? Five minutes?" Sayuri's pitch rose with dangerous precision. "I've been calling you for thirty!"
A softer voice joined in—calm, collected, warm like early sunlight.
"Sayuri, let her breathe," her father, Daichi Yukishiro, said as he entered the room. "It's just morning. No need to bring a natural disaster into the house."
Miyako peeked out from under the blanket, clutching it dramatically.
"See, Mama? Even the tsunami in my dream was quieter than you."
Sayuri gasped. Daichi tried not to laugh.
"Daichi, don't encourage her!" Sayuri snapped.
"I'm not," he said, sitting at Miyako's bedside. "I am simply protecting my delicate, innocent princess from unnecessary stress."
Miyako immediately hugged him.
Sayuri looked betrayed.
"I'm the villain now? Really? I woke up at five to make her breakfast!"
Daichi patted Sayuri's arm lovingly.
"And we are all grateful for your… powerful ways of expressing love."
Sayuri sighed dramatically and walked out, muttering, "This family will be the death of me…"
Daichi chuckled and tugged Miyako's blanket.
"Come on, sweetheart. Up."
"Fineeeee," she groaned, finally sitting up.
Her long hair was a mess, her eyes half-closed, but there was a spark in her—something restless, something alive. Because Miyako Yukishiro wasn't just a student.
She was a dancer.
A girl who moved like water, who breathed music, who dreamed of stages larger than life.
And today was her last exam—after this, she would run to the dance studio again, to her world, her passion, her fire.
Her cousin, Asuka Takayama, who trained with her in dance class, always pushed her to work harder.
Sometimes they competed fiercely…
But they always hugged it out like sisters.
She quickly freshened up, grabbed her bag, and ran downstairs—still buttoning her uniform.
The Yukishiro household was already alive.
Her grandmother, Emiko, sat near the window, reading the newspaper with her glasses low on her nose.
Her uncle, Kazuki, drank tea while arguing with his wife, Marina, over a TV remote.
Little Airi—their daughter—was spinning in circles, pretending to be a ballerina.
"sister Miyako! Good luck!" Airi squealed.
Miyako lifted her hands dramatically.
"Pray for me, my child."
"You're not that old," Airi pouted.
They laughed.
The driver stood outside, ready.
Her mother shoved two rice balls into her hand.
Her father fixed her collar like she was five, not fifteen.
Her grandmother kissed her forehead.
And just like that, she was off.
---
After the Exam-
The moment Miyako stepped out of the school gate, she exploded with joy.
"EXAAAAMS ARE OVERRRRR!" she shouted, spinning dramatically in the school yard.
Other students looked at her like she'd lost her mind.
Miyako didn't care.
Freedom tasted better than oxygen.
She jumped into the car, still bursting with excitement.
When she reached home, she threw open the door—
"I'M FREEEEEEEE!"
The entire family turned toward her.
Daichi walked forward, smiling knowingly.
She ran to him and tugged his sleeve.
"Daddaaa… remember what you promised?"
Daichi pretended to think.
"Promised? Did I? Let me recall—"
"DAD!" she whined.
He laughed, tapping her nose.
"Of course I remember. I never forget anything my princess asks for."
"Then when are we going?" she asked, bouncing.
Daichi leaned close and whispered, "Next week. Tickets already booked."
Her scream could've been heard in the next city.
She jumped. She hugged him. She almost knocked them both over.
Airi joined in, hugging her legs.
Emiko wiped a tear.
Sayuri pretended to scold but secretly smiled.
The Yukishiro family was loud, chaotic, loving—built on warmth and small joys.
And in the middle of that warmth, the front door opened.
Hikaru Yukishiro, Miyako's older brother, entered with his bag slung over his shoulder, exhaustion written across his face. He'd been doing an internship in another town for months.
"broooo!" Miyako gasped.
He barely had time to react before she threw herself onto him.
"Easy! You'll break my spine!"
"You're back! You're back!" Miyako said, punching his shoulder lightly, then hugging him again. "You didn't even call!"
"I told you my phone broke," Hikaru laughed. "But no, you never listen. You only dance and shout."
"What can I do?" she smirked. "Some people are born talented."
"Talented in being a disaster," he muttered.
She kicked his shin. He pulled her ponytail.
They laughed, fought, hugged again.
The house felt complete.
---
One Week Later —
Morning chaos erupted before sunrise.
Sayuri yelled at everyone to hurry.
Kazuki couldn't find his socks.
Marina packed snacks like they were going to another continent.
Emiko told everyone to wear an extra layer because "weather changes fast".
Airi cried because she wanted to carry her giant teddy bear.
Hikaru threatened to leave everyone behind if they didn't get ready in five minutes.
Miyako danced around the house with overflowing excitement.
She couldn't stop smiling.
They were going to Disneyland.
Her dream trip.
And for once, the entire family would be together.
Bags were ready.
Shoes were tied.
The car was waiting outside.
Miyako clasped her hands.
"Dad! Let's gooo!"
Daichi smiled as he picked up his phone from the table—just as it started ringing.
He looked at the screen.
"Who is it?" Sayuri asked.
"Unknown number" daichi replied.
He lifted the phone to his ear.
"Hello who is it?"
A moment of silence.
Then—
His breath caught.
His eyes widened.
All color drained from his face.
The phone slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a sharp, unforgiving sound.
"Daichi?" Sayuri whispered.
"Brother?" Kazuki called.
"Dad?" Hikaru stepped forward.
Miyako froze.
Her father didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't breathe.
Something terrible…
Something unthinkable…
Had just entered their world.
The cheerful chaos fell into a suffocating silence.