Summer is the Season of Lies

As the sweltering summer heat lingers in the classroom, I hear my classmates groaning and complaining relentlessly. My hair sticks to my sweaty forehead. Why does the air conditioner have to break down at a time like this? With a soft grumble, I slump forward in my seat and press my face against the cool desk surface. If only my friends would hurry up and arrive - then I could distract myself with conversation.

As it turns out, I don't have to wait for them for a distraction.

"Kira-san~!" A familiar figure enters my blurry field of vision. It takes me a second to realize who it is.

"M-Mura-san!" I immediately sit up straight. Okay, now look into her eyes. This is how a normal human conducts a conversation.

Mura-san is the student council secretary, as well as our class president. She's also a very likeable person.

I look into at Mura-san's dark brown eyes. The curious and friendly gleam behind them makes me turn away the next second. Seriously, too likeable for her own good. I decide to focus on the chibi scribbles on the blackboard behind her, but it doesn't distract me from the heat building up in my face and the loud pounding of my own heartbeat.

"It, um, sure is hot today..." I mutter, fidgeting nervously. Wow. Masterful conversation starter. I mentally slap myself in the face.

"Yeah...I hope they get the air-con fixed soon," Mura-san agrees, giving me a helpless grin. She takes the chair behind her, turns it around to face my desk and sits down, resting her elbows on my desk. Too close. "So, Kira-san. Your family name is Suzuki, right? Suzuki Kira?"

Yes, my brain replies. It takes me a while to realize that I forgot to say it out loud. "Um, I think so..."

You think so? What are you talking about, you absolute moron? I resist the urge to bang my head on the desk. "I mean, yes. That's me."

I get a brief inkling of where this conversation is going - it's undoubtedly related to last week's catastrophic event. But the thought disappears as quickly as it enters my mind - I'm completely distracted.

As Mura-san chuckles at my hesitant answer, the sunlight grazes her dark hair. Even drenched in sweat, she still manages to look so effortlessly stunning. I watch as she puts her hand to her mouth, choking back a few last laughs before turning back to me. Once again, I find myself instinctively avoiding her gaze. That's rude, Suzuki Kira. Look at her in the eyes, damn it!

"Right. Well, I'm sorry in advance, Kira-san, but..." Mura-san takes a deep breath. Here we go...she's going to mention what happened last week. I swallow nervously but motion for her to continue.

"I'm about to barrage you with a bunch of questions. Please just answer without questioning me, okay? It's nothing weird or suspicious, I promise." She pauses to clear her throat. "Ahem." Cute.

"Do you have a brother? Any male relatives? If so, are they named Suzuki? Actually...do you know any male Suzukis?"

The questions surprise me slightly - I didn't expect her to just skip over last week's disaster like that. But to avoid suspicion, I answer her questions as quickly as she asks them.

"No, yes, no his name is Tanaka, yes but only the other 3 in our class that you already know."

I answer without hesitation, my speed matching that of her questions. But the words fall out of my mouth before I can filter them properly.

Did you just say 'other 3'? As in, the 'other 3 Suzuki-kuns'? Doesn't that imply... I flinch and cover my mouth. Sh*t.

My heartbeat accelerates, pounding harder than ever, drowning out the background chatter. An overwhelming sickness washes over me. I grab the edge of the desk, my knees wobbling as I stand. "If that's all, I'm going to the bathroom. Excuse me!"

And with that, I turn on my heel and run.

"Ah! Kira-san..."

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"Mura-san, Mura-san! No need to look any further, I am the Suzuki you're looking for! I'm right here..."

That annoying male voice begins to creep out as soon as I step out of the classroom. I hurry to the girls' bathroom and lock myself in one of the stalls. The voice continues to drone on and on with no regard for its volume.

"Shut up! Calm down!" I glare at the chibi 'clone' of myself that has appeared in front of me, floating in thin air. "We're in the girls' bathroom. What if someone hears you?"

"Sorry..." My clone lowers his voice apologetically. "But why do you have to run like a headless chicken every time I'm about to come out? There's no point in fighting my existence, you know..."

I sigh and rub my temples, looking straight at my feet. "This whole fiasco started because of you and your big fat mouth. Now she's actually looking for you. What do you have to say for yourself?"

My clone remains silent and stares at the floor. At his answer I can only sigh again. "You've been nothing but a nuisance ever since you showed up. I really, really wish I hadn't done that stupid video trend back then...ugh. I've said it once, and I'll say it again. Stop. Causing. Problems. Please?"

"Kira..."

Even in his tiny monochrome chibi eyes, I can see the pitiful look he's giving me.

"I know it's hard, but you'll have to come out eventually and show them...show her that I'm the real you. Isn't it painful to dress like this every day at school? Don't you...feel like an impostor?" He gestures to my skirt.

"You see, it's this naive side of me that I hate the most." I grit my teeth and flick him in the stomach with a finger. "Just go away, okay? Class is about to start."

My clone looks at me, his eyebrows furrowed, before finally disappearing into thin air.

"Ugh..." I collapse onto the toilet seat and check my wrist watch. 5 minutes until the bell rings. Well, I guess that's just enough time for me to remember and regret my bad decisions of the past week…

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~ One week ago ~

I had just returned from the hairdresser that day. Before going home, I worked tirelessly on the unfamiliar wig on my head in the reflection of a nearby department store, hoping it would look flawless and natural.

I checked my phone for a photo of myself before the haircut. Hmm...looks okay. I took a deep breath and finally stepped into my house. "I'm home."

"Welcome home." My mother's fingers on her laptop paused for a moment as she looked over, her eyes sharp and serious. "Why are you late today?"

"I stayed late to study with my classmate after school," I explained, keeping a poker face. It's okay, it's not the first time you've lied to her. I tried to hide my nervous beating heart.

My mother's eyes narrowed, but I kept mine on hers, unyielding. Still, endless worries ran through my mind.

I'd deliberately chosen a difficult alibi for my mother to confirm - my classmates. After all, she never asked about who I hung out with at school - she'd have no way of reaching them faster than me. Worst case scenario, I could at least call a friend and ask her to play along.

But there was no way to hide the secret of my haircut other than the wig - it was in plain sight.

What if she sees through it?

Finally, my mother sighed and went back to her work. "Contact me first if that's the case. It's not good for a young girl to be out so late."

A young girl. I tried to stifle the poisonous thoughts that clouded my mind. Stop getting so worked up, Suzuki Kira. I took a deep breath and lowered my head.

"Understood, Mother."