I Fell In Love With A Girl Who Died Before I Was Even Born

"Yuki, I'm going to need your help here," I said.

I stared into the closet that contained "Ryu's" or mine, kind of, pile of clothes trying to pick what to wear for the yearbook photo.

Everything the guy owned was black.

Black t-shirts.

Black yukata.

Black harem pants.

His badass black kimono with the matching black dragon on the back.

I get it, Ryu, we're got a black dragon spirit connected to us, but other colors absolutely exist.

Then I saw, in one of his jacket pockets, a crumpled note.

Dear Ryu,

I want you to know that I respect your wishes to wear black in honor of your father's recent passing. It wasn't easy for you, after your adoption and move to a new nation, with a new family, and learning a new way of life.

But you were never alone in your journey.

Though we're not your 'real' parents, your birth parents, please do not think that we loved you any less because our bond was not forged from family ties.

Our bond was forged with real experiences, difficult choices, bad decisions, and even better intentions.

In short, the bond your father and I forged with you was created with love. And though he is no longer here to share that love with you, know that I will do the best I can to honor the love he gave you.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

If you ever need anything, I'll always be here.

Love,

Mom

Even though I'd never met Ryu's adoptive mom, reading her letter made me feel better than I had in a long time.

Somewhere, in Kyoto, on mainland Japan, I had an adoptive mom who was waiting for me. And Ryu's dad passed away recently?

I held the crumpled paper in my hand and sat down at the chair beside my desk.

My own father died when I was in grade school. Ryu's father lived for a couple of years longer than my own, but I could still feel for his loss.

I wonder if he'd written his mom.

Suddenly, I felt guilty for not reaching out to Ryu's mom the whole time I'd been at Crescent Moon Academy.

I looked back at the closet, feeling like my own problems were much smaller by comparison, until I remembered that I might be turning into a black dragon, I was inhabiting the body of a fifteen-year-old who borrowed large portions of my own identity, and somehow a mythical kitsune had isekai'd me here.

It still sucked that Ryu's dad died.

"Ryu, what are you doing?" Yuki asked.

I looked up and saw her floating beside the closet.

"I thought you were getting ready to go to school," she said, confused.

I smiled at her.

"Yeah, I was, but then I found this letter from my mom."

I showed Yuki the letter.

"It made me feel a little emotional, but you're right. I need to get ready," I said, getting up.

Yuki floated to the desk and began reading the letter as I looked for something to wear for school photo day.

"Oh, Ryu, I'm so sorry! I never realized," Yuki started.

I turned from the closet and looked at her over my shoulder.

"It's okay, Yuki. I appreciate it. I… wish I'd known Dad better," I said.

That was true. I hadn't known Ryu's dad at all.

In fact, I'd hardly known my own father before he passed.

I sighed, this wasn't getting me anywhere.

"Yuki, I need your help," I said.

She floated to my side immediately.

"Of course! What is it?" she asked, glad to be helpful.

"I've got practically nothing to wear for the school yearbook photo, and no money to buy anything. Everything I own is black or grey. What am I going to wear?" I asked.

Yuki looked confused.

"What do you mean you don't know what to wear?"

I gestured towards my clothes.

"See, everything's black, and I have, like, no nice outfits," I said, exasperated.

She tilted her head.

"Ryu, you're going to school. Wear your uniform," she said, sounding as if she were talking to a child.

I winced.

"Oh yeah, the uniform. I guess that's required, huh?"

She giggled, nodding.

"Yeah, and you shouldn't have to think this hard about not being an idiot"

Man, I was so used to picture day in America.

Not to mention in the 1990s.