Chapter 13. The quackening

"Sakura, it's... uh... time to do your chores"

"But I don't want to, mom!"

The room changes little by little. I guess I must play along.

"Sakura... ehrm... mommy is having some... headaches so if you could just help her, please?"

Uzuki looks at me, like knowing I'm definitely not into this at all.

"Okay, mom. Sakura is going to be an obedient and considerate girl with her mom because she can't even grasp the idea of having a daughter, actually, being in theater club and in risk of dead would make anyone think this is a serious situation and make her act accordingly but I guess it's not enough"

The room goes back to normal.

"Uzuki, this is too hard. I mean, I know we're kind of in a bad spot but-"

"Not kind of, we're literally about to die. What if any other copy comes up and tries to do anything? We don't even know if the dumb paper copies other stuff besides appearance! Or if anyone controls the clones!"

"Quack!"

Oh no.

We both turn around slowly. On the doorframe, Sayuri stands expecting an answer.

"S-Sayuri, what are you doing here?"

"What a great question!"

She comes up to me.

"You see, ma’am, or lady, well, I don't know how I should really call you. Normally people get offended when you call them ma’am if they are old, I mean, not that you're old or anything but I think If I called you young you may also get it as an offense? Because I have this friend, Honoka, who is like 2 years older than me, but she looks super young and she..."

She looks at Uzuki and crouches.

"Oh, what a cute little girl!"

"Sayuri! It's me! Uzuki!"

She looks at her strangely, then looks at me.

"Cosmetics are really something these days, huh?"

Uzuki pulls Sayuri's shirt as in wanting to be serious.

"Sayuri, we're in a big, huge issue. Can you help us? All you gotta do is act."

"Oh, I'm super good at acting! There's this teache-"

"Okay, enough."

"By the way, what are you doing here? Did Uzuki call you?"

Uzuki looks at me and sighs.

"She was right behind me. I called her for backup."

"Seems legit. Is Makima with you?"

"I'm here"

I hear her faintly over her phone. We get near to check on her.

"I can confirm everything is completely true. Uzuki called here, we came here. She told you about her friend Honoka, right?"

"Uh, we cut her out."

Makima giggles.

"Well, she's a good girl for what I've heard, but never mind. The point is that Sayuri is up for doing anything."

"Right, Ai, It's time to do your thing!"

I take the brush out and I change her appearance to the only person left.

The older, cool sister.

She looks powerful, cool, radical, snarky. But then she opens her mouth...

"Wowie! This really is magic! I'm so tall! Now I really look like my friend, Shiori! She was like, this totally amazing girl, I mean, she is the class presid-"

"Sayuri, just stop. Focus."

Uzuki can barely reach her, I'm about to burst into laughter.

"Your name is Atsuko, 20 years old. You are part of the basketball team at a girl's school nearby. Everyone calls you 'The prince of Setagaya' because you act boyish. You're part of a loving family and admire your peers, especially your mom and your sister, Sayoko."

Sayuri salutes and attempts to be serious.

"Atsuko, 20 years old, basketball, prince, loves her family. Got it!."

She slaps her face twice, then her entire aura changes immediately.

"Hey mom, so, why are we here? Is there anything wrong? Even the pipsqueak here is worried"

"Shut up! I'm not a pipsqueak"

I'm amazed. I've never seen someone take a role that fast.

Well, now it's like a competition. This is something I can get more into it.

"Atsuko, don't call your sister like that. It's rude."

The room starts changing again.

"Then, why are we here, mom? On Sayoko's room, I mean."

"Well... I've been a bit bothered by her. So I thought we might as well wait for her to come in"

We all look at the door, as it begins to open, we can see Sayoko stepping in.

"Hi dear, sorry for the sudden surprise but...you had us worried."

Uzuki goes to her and hugs her.

"Sis! What's wrong sis?"

"That's Sayoko for you, always hiding things to not hurt others."

Sayuri smiles while she goes to Sayoko.

"W-what's wrong?"

"You see, dear. We have noticed you have been acting strangely. Is something the matter?"

Something's weird for sure. How is copy paper involved in all of this? What is the purpose of multiplying everything twelve times?

"You don't get it..."

"Uh... sis? Are you okay?"

Sayuri now is weirded out. Uzuki backs out a bit.

Then Sayoko... cries?

"You...you don't get it..."

"Honey..."

I get near her and hug her. Both Uzuki and Sayuri follow me.

"You know you don't have to make too much effort on this. We can do this. I'm glad you're helping but you don't need to carry this much."

"You...you are right, mom. Sorry..."

We continue for a moment, then Sayuri stands up and gives her a light pat.

"C'mon, there’s no use in keeping things sad! Let's go downstairs and play something! That will cheer you up, right?"

She smiles.

"Thanks Atsuko. You always know what to say"

"Right back at ya, sis!"

She winks and goes downstairs.

When the door gets closed, I get near Uzuki and carry her.

"Come on, sis is waiting for us"

We head downstairs too. Sayuri is at the fridge.

"Aw man, we're out of soda..."

Sayoko freezes.

"Is... something the matter, dear?"

She starts to glitch, and the illusion fades out. I get Uzuki down.

"Wait, this isn't supposed to happen. We stayed in character the whole time!"

Sayuri goes back to the usual klutz

"It's because of the soda, right? I knew it. I've got this friend, Chika, she loves orange soda, but I always tell her is loaded with sugar so-"

"This isn't the time, Sayuri!"

"Mom?"

We turn around in unison.

Sayoko Nishima.

"What...are you doing here?"

I am weirded out.

"W-what do you mean, dear? This is our house"

"No, what are you doing here?! I told you to run!"

Run?

"Run from what, sis?"

Sayuri regains the act and she approaches.

"There is no time, she's almost here, she'll-"

*click*

Sayoko freezes in place, then

*flick*

Flowers burst from Sayoko.

"You should've listened to your daughter"

A figure emerges from the entrance.

It's... Houraiji Hikari?!

"W-Who are you?!"

I try to keep the act. I know a single flaw can ruin everything.

"That doesn't matter, miss"

"Mom, I'm scared"

Uzuki hugs me.

"What did you do to my sister?"

Sayuri drops a soda can and looks at Hikari. She's angry.

"Hold it. No need to jump to conclusions. If you want her back, you may want to listen to me first."

"You just murdered my child in front of me, you monster! Why would we do anything you tell us?!"

"I just told you; you can get her back."

I try to check behind her. Oddly enough, Katsuya is nowhere to be found.

That's...weird. Normally she'd be behind her at every time.

"Okay...what are your terms?"

"Glad you asked"