Dream
“I’m a magical girl who spreads peace, dreams, and the future….”
Hope must’ve loved that magical girl movie. Ever since, whenever she plays alone, she mimics one like this. She copies the poses from the film, and chants her own special spells. It’s just pretend, nothing magical happens, and she doesn’t actually turn into one—but the girl dreaming is happy as can be.
“Unni, play with me!”
“Sorry.”
“Eeeh~ You looked so good last time. You really seemed like a magical girl.”
Her compliments dredge up an embarrassing past I’d rather forget. It’s a fond memory for her, but not for me. Dreams are a kid’s privilege. My heart’s grown too big for cringey poses and lines like that. Magical girls just don’t suit me.
The drone’s chat keeps egging me on. Are they genuinely into it, or just trolling? Or both? Either way, it digs right into my soul.
Ugh. Even thinking about it now makes my face burn. I’d gotten so used to our alone time that I forgot the drone was there. All those people must’ve seen my ridiculous magical girl act and cracked up. Shame floods in.
The embarrassment boils into rage, and I grab the taunting drone, shaking it like crazy.
“Forget it all. Wipe every last bit from your heads.”
Just like that, my dark history is born. I wanna bash every head that saw it. But I can’t, and the viewers cheer my freakout even louder, laughing their asses off.
Stop laughing! In my shame, I claw at my head with both hands and twist my body—then Hope’s bright, innocent face pops in.
“Unni, but do magical girls really exist?”
Eh? What? Her sudden question calms me right down. It’s like asking if Santa’s real. Who’d tell a kid “nah, fake, doesn’t exist”? Anyone who would is trash.
“They do.”
“For real? So can I be one too?”
I shoot the drone a death glare like shut up already, but it doesn’t land—they just keep laughing and chatting away. I sigh inwardly at their carefree bullshit.
“Sadly, no. Your expiration date’s passed.”
Saying they exist is one thing; saying you can become one is another. Normally I’d white-lie my way out, but the chat’s got me on edge, and honesty slips out.
It’s you guys’ fault! Too late now—I can’t take it back. Hope’s bright face falls, of course.
“Eh? Why? ‘Cause I’m a bad kid?”
As if. If they picked magical girls by character, she’d qualify. Hope’s a good girl. Time for some adult bullshit to match her level.
“Nah, you’re super sweet. But to be a magical girl, you need a mascot. And those are all gone from this world now. So you can’t, even if you want to.”
“Why’d they disappear?”
“No world left to save. They went back home and won’t come again.”
Yeah, what business would they have here? Snow, rubble. Broken machines, trash heaps. That’s all that’s left. Even if mascots were real, they’d have bailed on the assholes who wrecked it all.
Survivors never stopped fighting till the bitter end. Their war for survival destroyed everything and dumped us in this silence.
We had nothing, but the three of us together was enough to be happy….
The memory sours my mood. I shake it off and look at the girl before me.
Ending the story like this feels off. Can’t unsay it, but….
I pat her dented helmet and smile.
“Someday, when the world gets better—full of people again—they’ll come back. Like in the movies.”
“Yeah!”
Her face lights up. Good—kids should smile.
“So, what’d you do first as a magical girl?”
“Me… um….”
Hope crosses her arms, thinking. Her furrowed brow blooms like sunshine.
“I’d make Unni laugh a ton!”
“...What?”
“You make weird faces sometimes. So like the sisters in the movies, I’d make you laugh every day! Magical girls spread happiness, right?”
“……”
“Ah, you smiled.”
I yank down her beaming face, hands behind her back. She flails her cute little arms for me to let go, but I don’t—too embarrassed to show mine. To kill the sweet, ticklish vibe, I toss out a question.
“Magical girls all have cool nicknames. What’d you want yours to be?”
“Uh… Ah! Like the protagonist from the movie! I love that one!”
“Hm, wouldn’t recommend that one….”
It’s got nothing to do with magical girls. Sounds more like world-destroyer. She likes that? She puffs her cheeks at my reluctance, and as I soothe her—
Such clueless chats. For the bored ones, today’s plan is…
“Nap time.”
“Moving every day’s work too. Gotta rest to keep going. Y’know, don’t drive sleepy or you crash.”
“Look around. Sky’s clear, breeze is warm, birds chirp… wait, no ears. No flowers. But! Perfect nap weather, right?”
“Say what you want, I’m sleeping. Got it?”
I find an empty building, snag a sunny room. Spread a blanket on the floor, and we lie down. Back’s a bit uncomfortable… but fine for sleep. Before closing my eyes, I glance at chat—protests everywhere, as expected. Ignore the noise, eyes shut.
Built-up fatigue hits; body goes limp. Quiet, pleasant sun warms me… consciousness… fades……
……Like that……
“Yesterday’s vid views are insane. Collab or not, it’s skyrocketing… Collab power? Best!”
Car horns and birdsong mix outside. Cool breeze, so window’s open. Refreshing views nonstop—they keep climbing. My streams do well, but this is nuts. If algo picks it up, subs too… heh heh.
Knock knock.
“Time to pick up Hope?”
Familiar voice stops my mouse. Turn—Grandma peeks in, eyes meet. Wrinkled face. Gentle tone.
“Huh? What’s wrong? Hate comments? I told you, ignore ‘em.”
A tear rolls down my cheek. Weird. Why? She’s Grandma, who adopted us from the orphanage. See her daily, yet longing surges.
“No, not that. Time already…? Ah, Hope’s school’s out.”
Scramble into clothes, grab keys.
“Be back.”
“Careful.”
“……”
“What?”
“Nothing. Need anything?”
“Nah. Don’t speed.”
“I won’t. Not a kid… Anyway, bye.”
Drive steady—no red lights today. Zoom, school quick. Time left, hit the lot. Usual vending machine!
“Ooh, two. Lucky. One for Hope.”
This one sometimes doubles. Good day? Sitting on bench, sipping sweet canned drink quietly.
Murmurs. Lot folks glance, whisper.
“See her? Celeb?”
“Never seen someone so pretty.”
“Real people like that exist.”
“Ask for autograph?”
“Rude to a stranger….”
Ugh. Pull hat low, avert gaze, turn head. Good looks are nice, but tiring sometimes. Hate it? Nah, not really.
Reborn girl, natural beauty. Draws crowds. Offers pile up, worse in crowds… Sigh. Hat, mask, shades out—but useless.
Ah, time.
Toss can, head to school. At gate, Hope spots me, runs, hugs.
“Unni!”
“How was it?”
“Fun! Tag with friends—no catches. I’m awesome, right?”
“That’s my Hope. Oh, here—drink.”
“Ooh, juice. Love this flavor.”
She gulps, sighs refreshingly. Pet her face, into car.
“Grab dinner? Cravings?”
“Kimbap! No, tteokbokki. Wait, donkatsu… Uh, what?”
“Get all.”
“For real?”
“Yeah.”
“Yay, Unni best!”
“Party tonight.”
Chatting happily, then sirens blare citywide. Brake hard, look out. Giant monsters rampage past buildings; girls transform, fight.
And.
“Unni, I got this.”
“Huh?”
Hope transforms like them, flies at monster. What the hell? Confusion, bewilderment—
Ah…. Haha.
“It’s a dream.”
Hands cover face. Peaceful world, streamer fame, living Grandma… all dream. No wonder luck today. Lucid now?
Street folks turn scarecrows. Buildings props. Monsters kids’ doodles. Sky cracks.
“Unni, beat the monster! How’d I do?”
Her proud grin; I smile warmly.
“Best. Top magical girl.”
“Yup. Your sister.”
She rubs nose.
“Hope, happy?”
“Yeah! Friends daily, Grandma, now magical girl! Happiest ever.”
“Yeah?”
She hugs me. I stroke her little back.
“Thanks for making my dream real, Unni.”
“No prob.”
Dream paradise crumbles; harsh reality shows. Ruined city, lonely snow, debris, broken bots. Happy dreams end—you wake.
Tears for dreams we can’t have in this life.
Wipe ‘em. Broken world, but we live. Painful, tough, hard—but we do. Can’t match dream happiness, but no regrets: give our all daily.
Like dream Hope’s smile. Make real Hope smile too.
That’s my job. World falls, vision darkens. But familiar voice, light seep in. Approach—awake.
“Unni, up?”
“Slept great. How long?”
“Dunno what, but UFO says one hour.”
“Cool.”
Stretch stiff body.
“Let’s head out.”
“Yeah.”
“What good dream’s got you grinning?”
“Became magical girl.”
“Nice?”
“In the dream, I….”
Hope chatters joyfully about it. Her laughter echoes in the silence.
Two sleeping a full hour. Never thought they’d nap on live stream, let alone so deeply. Viewers stunned.
Usually controversy bait, but their peaceful sleep mesmerized everyone. Steady snores in quiet room. Like fairy-tale princesses. You get why the prince fell at first sight. Even mad viewers wanna forgive.
After nap stream ends, some movie trailer of sleeping princess drops—timing suspicious. Trailer’s trash tho. Comparisons flood SNS, chaos ensues.