Interlude 2

I peered into the oven, checking the progress of my cookies. The star-shaped treats, illuminated by the orange glow of the heating element, looked like a group of idols standing on a stage.

I checked the timer. Thirty seconds left. I decided they looked done and hit the cancel button, pulling the "idols" out of the oven.

The spicy, fragrant scent of ginger wafted through the kitchen. It was a smell I loved—and more importantly, a smell loved by the person I loved.

Since it had been our planetarium date today, I hadn't been able to bring my usual batch of ginger cookies. That’s why I was practicing for the next time I’d see him.

"I’m out of the bath."

Sayuki-oneechan, dressed only in her underwear, poked her head into the kitchen while drying her long hair with a towel.

"Thanks. I’ll head in soon."

"Are you making ginger cookies again? Why don't you try something different for once? Like chocolate chip?"

"Because Ryuuichi-kun says he likes these! So they have to be ginger!"

I knew more about Ryuuichi-kun than she did. I could never beat Onee-chan at school, sports, or fashion, but when it came to Ryuuichi-kun, I wasn't backing down.

I decided to take my bath while the cookies were cooling.

In the dressing room, I pulled off my clothes and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

...Still as flat as ever. A perfectly leveled sports field. We were twins—how could we be so different?

I went to put my discarded shirt in the laundry basket, but my hand stopped. Something in the basket caught my eye.

"Wait... Onee-chan had a shirt like this? Whoa, it’s so cute."

It was a casual white blouse with slightly sheer sleeves. Onee-chan had always been fashionable, but I didn't think I’d ever seen this specific piece before.

But wait... I had seen it somewhere recently. At the planetarium... there was a woman standing next to Ryuuichi-kun who was dressed exactly like this...

No, I’m just imagining things.

Right then, my phone vibrated in my skirt pocket. It was a call from Yuria.

"Miharu, hey. You got a sec?"

"Yeah, hey. Today at the planetarium was great, wasn't it?"

"Good practice for the observation camp. Anyway, how are things going with Shibukawa? Any progress?"

"U-um... we held hands for the first time today."

I heard a sharp whistle from the other end of the line.

"Nice. How’d it go down?"

"I just... sort of laid my hand on top of his."

"And then he grabbed back?"

"No. That was it."

"...You just laid your hand on his? You didn't even do a proper 'lover's grasp'? Are you guys in elementary school?!"

"I-I mean, he was feeling sick, so it felt like I was taking advantage of him... he might not even remember it."

"Ugh. You’re both hopeless."

I felt like Yuria didn't have much room to talk since she didn't have a boyfriend, but I kept that to myself.

"You’re both so shy. Next time, you should go for a kiss or something."

"T-that’s too much of a leap! That’s going from a standing long jump to a pole vault!"

"It’s exactly what you need! If you keep moving at this snail's pace, someone else is going to snatch Shibukawa away, you know?"

The moment she said it, a horrible image flashed through my mind.

Sometimes, even when Ryuuichi-kun was looking at me, I felt like he was actually searching for someone else. Was he thinking about another girl? I was dying to know, but I didn't want to be a clingy, possessive girlfriend, so I hadn't been able to ask.

"You’re being dramatic, Yuria. Ryuuichi-kun isn't very social. There aren't any other girls he’s close to besides us..."

"What about... Sayuki-san?"

My heart gave a painful squeeze.

"N-no way! Onee-chan isn't interested in boys at all. You know she’s been turning down every guy who’s confessed to her since middle school, right?"

"But she and Shibukawa both love stars. And you guys are twins—it’s not impossible that you’d like the same guy..."

"Nope. We are the most un-alike twins in the world."

"Whatever. If you’re dating, you should be getting closer. This halfway distance is the worst. You need to show everyone around you: 'We are a couple!' Go out there and make a scene."

"Yeah... thanks, Yuria. I’ll do my best."

She was right. Ryuuichi-kun was my first boyfriend. And he was the only thing I had that Onee-chan didn't. I couldn't even stand the thought of losing him. Especially not to Onee-chan...

For Ryuuichi-kun’s sake, I had to be a better girlfriend. I had to make him love me more—much, much more. And if I had to be bold to make that happen...

I gripped my phone tight, my resolve hardening.