Chapter 42

Toko was sitting up in bed, and Sharl was standing dumbfounded in front of the door, both staring intently at one another.

It felt as though time had stopped, as neither of them moved a muscle.

“Toko?”

Sharl waved a hand in front of Toko’s face. But receiving no response, she turned toward Sharl.

“Sharl?”

Waving a hand in front of Sharl this time, it was to no avail as she too didn’t respond.

“Maybe I should have come back another time when they were feeling a bit better…”

“「Of course you should have!」”

Both women spoke in unison.

“Oh, you’re back online. Toko, Sharl said she has something to talk about, so wake up. It’s already 10 a.m.”

Hearing this, Toko glanced at the wall clock.

“10 a.m.? Did I oversleep… no! No way! Why is the President here!?”

“Well, uh…yeah, I guess she did come in with me.”

“How did she!? No girls are allowed in the boys’ dormitory!”

Ah, so that’s what she’s thinking.

“Never mind that. Sharl lives in Japan. We met in the park the other day.”

“Japan!? Park!? Wait… Were you hitting on her!? ”

Why does she jump to that conclusion?

“Anyway, get up and get dressed. I’ll be right here.”

“Here!? Together!? Wait, are you two…?! President, you’re becoming my sister-in-law!? ”

What is she even saying?

“Go wash your face and wake up, idiot.”

“You’re the idiot!”

Ugh… why so noisy…

“Alright, I’ll be in the next room.”

With that, I left Toko’s room, grabbed Sharl who was still standing there like a statue, and headed to my own room.

“Close the door already.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll borrow a zabuton (cushion) and bring some tea too.”

I took a zabuton from Toko’s room and closed the door. Leading Sharl into my room, I said,

“This is my room.”

“Huh… wow…”

Sharl looked around the room, her eyes darting everywhere. I pulled out a folding low table and placed it along with the zabuton.

“Sit down.”

“Ah, okay…”

With Sharl sitting down cutely, I sat across from her.

“Honestly, I’m not in the mood to study today after yesterday, but my parents always said that consistency is key… so might as well get to it.”

“That’s a splendid idea… what! No, no way!”

That’s the same reaction as Toko.

“What?”

“How come Toko-san is here!? Is this…Tsukasa’s house!?”

Sharl clearly started to panic.

“It’s my place…”

“Why is Toko-san sleeping here!?”

“It’s her house too…”

“Living together!?”

Not incorrect, but it’s not what she thinks it is.

“Wait a second.”

I stood up, grabbed an album from the bookshelf, and pulled out a photo.

“Here, take a look.”

I placed the photo on the table, and Sharl looked at it closely.

“Oh, how cute… Huh? There are two Tsukasa’s… Wait…”

She compared the photo with me. In it, the two of us at age five were dressed identically, with the same hairstyles, giving peace signs to the camera. This was one of those twin things.

“This one is me, and this one is Toko. See? The one on the right is way cooler, right?”

I pointed to the one on the right.

“Hmm…Can’t say I agree… Wait… Twins!?”

“Yeah.”

“Eh? Really? Ah, I see… Earlier when Toko-san called you ‘Big Brother’…”

“Yeah, I’m the older one. Not sure how that works exactly with twins – was I born first or not?”

“Hmm… siblings…”

Sharl stared at the photo.

“Nagase-kun! Open up!”

Toko’s voice came from outside.

“Nagase-kun, huh? Still calling me that?” I called out.

“I’ve brought tea but my hands are full!”

Ah, I see.

I walked to the door and opened it. There stood Toko, now in her roomwear, balancing a tray with tea.

“Is barley tea okay? Or should we get wine since you’re French?”

“Fwah…”

Sharl let out a laugh and turned away.

“What’s so funny?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, come on in.”

Toko placed the barley tea on the table and sat down beside me. Sharl frowned and glared at Toko.

“What?”

“I-It’s nothing…”

Her frown deepening, Sharl glanced at the photo before abruptly turning away.

“What’s so funny?”

“Pfft…Ahem, Ahem! Could it be you have a cold?”

After pretending to cough, Sharl faced us again. Her face seemed normal, but she flipped the photo over right away.

“Why is everyone laughing?”

“It’s annoying, isn’t it?”

“I’m not laughing, but it feels like all the puzzle pieces are falling into place. Now that I think about it, you guys act so alike.”

Alike… where?

“Where?”

“For instance, the joke about wine – Tsukasa said that too, and the casual way of speaking is just the same.”

“「So annoying.」”

“…Can you stop with the twin thing, please?” Sharl said narrowing her eyes.

“Big Brother, why did you bring the President?” Toko, ignoring Sharl, asked.

“Sharl is here to help with studying – usually at a family restaurant, but today we decided it would be here. Plus, she said she had something to talk to you about, so I brought her along.”

“Something to talk about? Wasn’t it yesterday’s victory declaration!? Alright, bring it on!”

Toko started shadow boxing.

“What the heck?”

I smacked the top of Toko’s head, which was leaning forward.

“Oh, I see… That makes sense,” Sharl said, nodding.

“What makes sense?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing.”

I don’t believe nothing… but whatever.

“Alright, Sharl, you talk.”

“Just one moment please… Before we get to that, why do you two have different last names?”

Sharl placed her hand on her forehead, palm facing us while holding her other temple.

“Nagase is the father’s last name, right La Folle?”

“Indeed, Nagase-kun.”

We both nodded.

“Sorry, I’m getting confused. Can we just speak normally?”

“Right, the father’s Nagase, so officially, both Toko and I are Nagase too.”

“Got it. And my real name is Nagase Toko.”

And our mom is Nagase too.

“Really?”

“Our houseplate says Nagase.”

“Ah, you mean the nameplate. Not a sign… you’re not stupid?”

Toko, you’re too noisy.

“Alright, it did say Nagase… Wait, what about La Folle?”

“The mother’s maiden name. You know, the beautiful lady… She wasn’t Japanese, was she… Wait, did I really go by Iver?”

Sharl frowned again.

“Yeah, you did.”

“Ahhh…”

Toko looked at the ceiling while covering her eyes.

“By the way, is Tsukasa from La Folle too?”

“Yeah, right?”

“Wait… If you’re from La Folle, why did you train Toko? I’m Iver after all…”

“Not interested. And I’ve never even heard of Iver anyway.”

I never heard a word from Grandpa and Grandma La Folle.

“Traitor!”

Toko gave me a light punch on the shoulder.

“I’ll give you 10,000 yen.”

“Alright, maybe I’ll buy some clothes.”

We don’t have enough of the leftover 20,000 yen to buy a Trident anymore…

“Such a cheerful family… I’m shocked to find out I’m part of the La Folle family. My only friend is La Folle! Now I’m depressed!”

“It’s fine though,”

“Rojujuli?”

What the heck is “Rojujuli”?

Thank you for reading! If you found this story “Interesting!” or are curious about what comes next, bookmarking the story or rating it with the ★★★★★ stars would greatly encourage me to keep writing.

Thanks a lot!