PRETEND PRINCESS
When the screen came on and I saw Yuki's name, something inside me broke.
The video arrived. His face filled the screen.
I breathed in sharply.
He looked terrible.
His hair was uncombed and longer, swept back into a sloppy ponytail that never remained in place. His face was thinner, paler, with dark circles under his eyes. He wore a hoodie three sizes too big, and his past was dark and alien. Japan, I guessed. A rented flat, maybe.
"Yuki."
He didn't smile. Only looked at me, his eyes blinking slowly. "Took you long enough."