Why does this person know so well that I want to prove myself — to prove I'm better than my sister, to prove I can be something too?
She couldn't possibly be a little angel sent down by God to save me.
But since when do little angels have venomous tongues and go around teasing people at every turn?!
She's clearly a little devil…
Shiina Taki stood in the supermarket's ready-meal section, staring blankly at a sardine rice bowl.
This was her first time grocery shopping with a close friend.
When she thought about it that way, her life was actually kind of sad…
"Psh. It's not like I care about any of that. I've been doing just fine without friends, haven't I."
Well — technically she did have friends, just not the close kind. Not the kind who'd pull all-nighters with her, hug her to sleep, or drag her around a supermarket.
"What's with you? Are you having some kind of episode? You've been spacing out the whole time we've been walking. Anyone who didn't know better would think you needed Photosynthesis."
Chiose pushed her little cart around Shiina Taki.
She didn't particularly enjoy saying things like that, but she had to keep up the persona — so she said it anyway.
Though she was starting to notice… saying these things was weirdly addictive. It made her want to keep going.
It was just like the drinking in the last simulation…
"I'm not."
"Ah, I see. So you were having a conversation with the sardine rice bowl, then. Oh, let me join in — that sounds fun."
Yoshiiro Chiose plucked a bento box out of the freezer section and held it aloft. "Sardines, sardines, what have you two been chatting about? Let me in, I want to play too."
"You're the one with the episode! I wasn't talking to it at all!"
"Huu huu, funny thing — now I want sardine rice too. Into the cart it goes."
Are you even listening to me?!
Taki helped push the cart, watching it fill steadily to the brim with snacks and bento boxes, a creeping sense of bewilderment settling over her.
"Are you really going to eat all of this?"
"Yep. It's not like I gain weight anyway."
All this food…
Taki couldn't help swallowing.
This must cost a fortune.
Chiose's wallet really must be stuffed. Then again — she does live in an apartment with that kind of decor… and she's alone, so maybe her parents are just too busy to come home. They might be expat executives who've been overseas for years.
"Wrong, Taki. I'm not exactly rolling in money either."
"What? How did you know what I was thinking?"
"Intuition. A formidable and mighty gift — one that a small fry like you simply could not comprehend. Also, I never said all of this was for me alone. You're eating at least half of it, you know."
"I'll turn into a pig."
"Not my problem. I told you, I don't gain weight. Come on, let's go home."
...
The afternoon hours evaporated in a blur of three back-to-back films.
This time, though, it was different — Chiose had brought Taki to her bed to watch.
They used a projector.
Watching films with a projector in a room sealed off from daylight was a genuinely magical experience.
"Time's up. Now I want you to walk me through what we just watched. Go ahead."
"Okay… let me think…"
Taki had barely gotten a few sentences out before Chiose cut her off.
"Stop. You idiot. That was basically the same level as this morning — not the slightest bit interesting."
"Let's just go straight to reading."
"This… okay, fine."
All this effort, just to write lyrics? So when do I actually start writing lyrics? Actually picking up the pen is the most important thing, isn't it?
"I can still guess what you're thinking. You're wondering when we're going to actually start writing, aren't you."
「!!!」
That gave her a start. Taki tugged at Chiose's blanket, which had been draped over her — but the moment the faint lingering scent of Chiose's body warmth reached her, she let it go again.
"Soon. After we go out for material next weekend and come back, you'll start writing. And that's just when I'll need to start getting my guitar practice back in shape."
Suffer more in simulation, enjoy more when it's done!
Chiose tossed a copy of Nabokov's Lolita onto the bed beside Taki.
"Have a look — but don't dwell on the content. Focus on the way the words are used. It might come in handy."
"Sure, I'll give it a try."
"Just make sure you read it critically — though, to be fair, some songs carry the same kind of premise as this book."
"What's it even about? This book."
"The confession of a degenerate — but one with an extraordinary command of language. Worth studying."
"Huh?" Taki gave the cover a puzzled look. There was a girl on it wearing sunglasses.
How degenerate could a book like this really be? The cover looked perfectly wholesome.
"Read it and you'll find out. I'll be next door practicing. If you miss me, come find me for a hug."
"I'm not a child! I am absolutely not doing that! Say that again and I'm going home!"
"Oh my, oh my~" Chiose threw her arms around Taki and pressed her already impressively developed chest squarely into Taki's face in a complete dimensional mismatch. "My adorable little tear-mole girl — don't go. I'll play you something."
"Mmph! Fine, I won't — now get out! I'm starting the book."
"Alright, alright. Our darling little Taki has already made herself right at home in my bedroom. My, my, someone certainly warmed up fast."
Chiose teased her a little more, and when Taki looked about ready to blow her top, she bolted for the next room.
Slam —
The door crashed shut behind her.
Taki ground her teeth. In all her years, this was the first person who'd ever dared talk to her like that. If it had been anyone else, she'd have picked a fight on the spot.
But… for some reason she couldn't quite put her finger on, she didn't really mind Chiose getting under her skin like this. She was actually happy — happy that someone could fool around with her like this.
She almost felt like, even if it went a little further, she'd be okay with it.
Yeah. She definitely had a screw loose.
Lying in Chiose's bed, Taki became aware that the scent wrapped around the tip of her nose was growing richer by the moment.
Earlier, she'd been too absorbed in the film and in the Chiose curled up beside her to pay it any mind.
But now that she was alone in this space, it was a different matter entirely.
The nightstand, the bookshelf, the large bed and its blankets — even the armchair by the bedside seemed to breathe with Chiose's presence.
"No, no — I need to read. I can't…"
Shiina Taki made a fresh attempt at opening the book, but within a few lines her concentration scattered again.
At this rate she'd never get through anything — and if her knowledge base stayed thin, she'd have nothing to draw from when it came time to write. That would be a disaster.
She had made a promise with Chiose, after all. They were going to write a song together.
Taki plugged her nose with a tissue and switched to breathing through her mouth. Gradually she adjusted, and just as the words on the page began to pull her in, a faint thread of guitar drifted through the wall.
Then came more — note after note in close succession. Halting at first, then loosening, until it flowed smooth and beautiful.
「!!!」
Incredible. Was this Chiose's actual level?
In a way, it felt like she was almost catching up to her sister.
____
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