16. Dishonest Physics

Wait. H-how did she know?

I couldn't help but wonder about the meaning behind that question.

However, all I did was take a breath and answer her accusations silently.

"Well... I mean, it's not like I want you to win so badly." I smirked. 

Or at least, I tried to.

I said it! I really said it!

The most cliché tsundere line of all-times just appeared in my mind instantly.

Though, it's more like I didn't want to acknowledge I had lost.

Just like Rin, my pride simply couldn't accept it.

However, as usual, her reaction to my answer was... truly unexpected.

Even for me.

"Heh, really~?" Shiro replied with her so-called teasing remark.

That was...

No, wait. Wasn't she crying before?!

There were still trembles in her voice, yet her lips now curved anyway.

As if nothing really happened.

"Hehe..."

She grinned like an idiot.

"I didn't know you could be shy enough to say that you wanted to let me win."

Her pointy finger poked my cheek like it was nothing.

Is she drunk? Wait, no. Boundaries, Shiro. Boundaries!

My mind froze, which was immediately followed by my entire body.

My vision was still blurry, and I couldn't see her clearly.

"Hey, hey. Tell me, Kamiya-kun..."

But from here, I could simply tell she was smiling and just wanted to tease me.

Even a tsundere could be this... playful, I guess?

I dared myself to look at her.

Her face is... kind of cute. 

Reddened, with a soft texture around her cheeks and contours.

Her eyes were bright, dazzling.

Those were ones made out of candy.

Sweet enough to rot you.

More than enough to melt anyone's heart.

All glittery that isn't gold.

That yellow boxy creature was actually right.

Okay, wait. What was I thinking?

I got accused here, remember?

But all of a sudden—

She whispered, a warm breath slipping into my ear.

No, I couldn't take it anymore...

The heart attack simply was too much.

"Eh? Kamiya-kun! Kamiya-kun!"

Her voice was faint in my ears.

But then—

...

My eyes opened once more.

Again. For the second time.

And the scene already shifted.

Two Shiros were standing against each other this time.

No, wait... that didn't come out right. 

What?

"Seriously, are you that dense? Look at him!"

That Shiro with longer pink hair snapped her head with a smack.

The other Shiro couldn't help but let out some small tears.

Could that be my imagination? 

Maybe.

My vision was still blurry, and I tried my best to wake up.

"Oh, you are already awake. Lazy bum."

Okay, who?

"Uh, Shiro? Hanase-san?"

Hearing that, the Shiro who cried earlier couldn't help but hold back her laughter.

"Shut it!" the other Shiro yelled at the other one.

Wait, no...

"Take this, Akira-kun, you idiot."

She offered me my glasses, so I started wearing them.

Oh...

The world snapped, and Shiro no longer stood there.

Turns out it was Hanase Rin.

But wait, wasn't she being a tsundere too?

"Hmph..." she pouted.

They both truly are similar, after all...

Hanase Shiro, beside her, was still trying her best to hold back her laughter.

She muffled it, even chuckled.

Perhaps the idea of these twins being the same person was actually funny for her.

Or hold on...

"No, wait..."

"So, which one of you is Shiro and which one is Rin?" I asked, still wondering.

"Me," they both replied.

"No, wait—that's not important!"

They screamed in unison.

I flinched.

"We still want your explanation, Akira-kun."

Rin folded her arms.

Her hair was a bit messier compared to when she had stood gracefully in front of me.

It was more like Shiro’s.

So, that’s why...

"Y-yes, Kamiya-kun, you idiot."

"Though, that was really funny. Right, sis?"

She said. Her eyes were smiling.

"No, not at all." She looked away.

Did she really just deny that?

Actually, wait... since when did I notice the difference between both?

...

Tanabata festival, two years ago.

It was quite an eventful, sunny day.

"A-Akira-kun."

An angel had just come out of the mansion.

She was wearing a blue yukata with a tender, lighter blue accent.

In contrast to her pink hair—the one that somehow matched her personality.

I was more of an awkward teenage nerd back then. 

I didn't care about socializing as much.

So, I didn't know how to describe it properly.

However... such scenery was, at best, one made out of heaven.

Or that's what I thought.

"Hanase-san..." My throat tightened with nervousness.

"What is it, Akira-kun?"

"Do I look... beautiful? Perfect?"

"Or charming, even? Hm?"

Well, about that...

"Pffft."

I couldn’t help but stifle a chuckle, especially since I had been acting nonchalant as usual.

"Heh, what's so funny?" she pouted.

"No, nothing." I smiled faintly.

"Your confidence is truly something else." I said, lifting up my glasses.

"Hey, I was trying my best, you know?" She snapped.

"You idiot! Idiot! Akiraaa!"

She punched my shoulder playfully several times.

"Hey... I mean, sorry about that."

I replied softly, not wanting to disrupt the joyful environment.

"Hmph... what about you then? Why wearing something like that?"

I myself was just wearing something unusually formal—a shirt and trousers.

"Oh? I got these from my father during my birthday."

Next to her yukata, it felt oddly out of place.

As if I were some kind of European man proposing to a Japanese woman.

Wait, that kind of thing has happened before...

Shōgun... the sixteenth century. William Adams.

"I see. But it still looks weird... you know. Why not wear a yukata too?"

Her voice cut sharply into my monologue.

The thing is, the old one I used to wear was, let's say, no longer fitting.

"I mean, I don't have one, and it feels weird to wear something too casual."

"So, yeah..."

I immediately shifted the conversation by raising my hand.

"Forget about it. Wanna go there?"

And just like that, she gladly accepted it.

She reached for my hand. 

Welcoming gesture.

Pressured, but still as gentle as ever.

"Mhm. Sure!"