The dawn rose slowly. The birds outside started chirping slowly as they woke up one by one, gradually building up the dawn call. Usually, Miu woke up after she heard the dawn call, but this time, she was earlier. I'm up earlier than an early bird, she thought grimly. After her nightmare, she didn't even bother trying to fall back asleep. She was much too shaken, so she got up, turned on her desk lamp, sat down, got a piece of paper and gathered ideas on how to tell Miyako to not go on the space trip.

Now, the sun was rising, so she didn't need her desk lamp to see. It didn't matter, since she had no ideas and she barely wrote anything down, so the whole piece of paper was mainly blank. Anything that was actually on it were scribbled and crossed out. The ending tick-tock of her bedside table clock seemed to mock her. This is getting nowhere. Frustrated and tired, she slammed her pen down onto her table and flopped onto her bed. Someone told her that ideas needed to 'incubate' for awhile, so she lay down onto her pillow, thinking. Not concentrating on her empty piece of ideas (she usually had lots of ideas, so the emptiness was distracting her) she could hear that the dawn call had finally ended, leaving an peaceful silence. Great. More time wasted.

However, it wasn't completely silent, Miu found out. The small road she lived on occasionally rumbled as a car passed by. Her grouchy neighbours were arguing yet again, their shouting, whining and protests rang out in the chilly morning air. Some sounds came from the house too. She heard the toilet flush and the someone was brushing their teeth. I never knew someone wakes up this early in my household. She listened harder. A gentle thud came from the bathroom. A familiar grunt followed. That's Uncle Koichi! Miu was surprised. She knew her Uncle woke up early, but not this early.

Her door opened, and Koichi's face appeared in the doorway.

"What are you doing up so early? And why's your desk lamp on? The sun's shining already." He said in his gruff voice.

"I...uh...I-I had a bad dream...yeah...bad dream..." Miu said lamely. At least no one can deny I had a bad dream. Koichi looked quizzically at her, but said nothing. Miu was relieved.

"Well, breakfast is ready when you want it." He continued, dismissing the subject. He closed the door behind him. Miu was stunned. Ever since Aunt Haruna died saving her six years ago, her uncle never paid her much attention, ignoring her as much as possible. She gotten used to it, but she missed her uncle, since it was him and Aunt Haruna who raised her up. She never met her parents.

After finally deciding she was hungry, she got up and went to the dinning room. Koichi was true to his word. There was breakfast on the table. Steamed rice, miso soup and side dishes. The usual. She sat down to eat. Her uncle was also at the table, reading the newspaper. He was radiating despair. An awkward silence settled. I think I should say something. "Uh, Uncle Koichi? I won this chance to go to space." She mumbled.

"Oh." He replied, not paying attention. No one's ever THAT indifferent, she thought furiously. She tried again.

"So, uncle, what do I need to do about it?" Miu asks loudly.

"Need to do about what?" Koichi asks, confused.

"The space trip, of course!" Miu replied, exasperated. Koichi blinked in shock. "My, my, that's quite a feat." He said. "Do think it's safe, though?" He asks, and continues reading the newspaper. An idea floats into her head. Sipping the last of her miso soup, she opened the door and left without a word.

Hefr ace was cold. A sheet of frost had gathered onto her cheeks. Sometimes, I just wish I could drive. She looked at her smartphone. It was already nine o'clock, and she still hadn't arrived at the park. Just as she was putting it away, her phone beeped. It was Miyako.

|k. c u there

Miu told Miyako to tell her to meet at the park at 9:30 when she left. I lucky I'm almost there. Don't want to keep her waiting. Then, a group of trees caught her eye in the distance. She was finally at the park.

She sat down under one of the many bare cherry blossoms. She was tired and cold.

"Hey Miu!"

She looked up. It was Miyako. "Oh...hey."

"What's with the gloomy face? Aren't you suppose to be excited? We did win that trip to space." Miyako remarks, poking her in the process. This is my chance. I better not muck it up, Miu thought. She propped her head on her arms, showing a sad face. "I don't know if I can go...Uncle Koichi doesn't like it. He says it's not safe. No one has been on Star Straight before." Miyako shakes her head in disapproval.

"Really, Miu. Haven't you ever heard of the saying; No risk, no reward? You're seventeen for goodness sake. You can make decisions on your own. Your uncle can't control you all the time any more."

"Yeah, but I don't want to break the peace between us. If I do that that, it's going to be like Aunt Haruna dying all over again. I don't want to face that again."

Miyako nods sadly. "Then, if you don't do it, then you're going to be under his control even longer. You should be free!" Miyako waved her arms wildly. Some people noticed and looked at her awkwardly. She didn't notice. "Well, what do you think?". Miu looks at the ground. "I don't know...what happens if something really does happen?"

"We'll be fine! After all, we are pretty awesome." She grinned a convincing smile. "Let's just hope your uncle lets you go. Come on, let's go inside. I'm freezing!"

Miyako took her hand and pulled her away. Miu's plan had failed.