The room was dead silent.

Of course Tokiwa was frozen, but Mahiru and Asahi both stopped and looked at us.

Asahi had a shocked expression, while Mahiru simply gave a bitter smile.

“H-How would you know, Yuudachi-san. . .”

That’s right. I knew that from the time I switched with Asahi, so of course it would be weird if I knew that.

But it was more than a year ago. I have completely forgotten about that conversation. It just popped up in my head.

“Isn’t it. . .Impossible.”

I stood up to leave the room, but my arm was then quickly grasped. 

No, why is she smiling happily? Please don’t look at me with those shining eyes. The same you do to Asahi. Don’t be moving your fingers like that. Don’t get closer!

“At last. I found my Onee-sama.” 

“Hyi. . .W-wrong. I-I uh, I heard it from Asahi. . .Yeah! Asahi told me the story. . .Right, Asahi?”

“This is too painful Yuu-chan. Haah. . . I understand now.”

I gazed at her and she looked back. But she had an expression of acceptance.

She lightly bowed her head to Mahiru and said. “I’ve lost. I accept my defeat.”

Then she stood up, faced Tokiwa and I. And lowered her head.

“I am sorry for being silent this long. It’s true. Yuu-chan and I swapped at the aquarium. Which means it was her at the wall don.”

“A-Asahi!?”

I thought we were going to work together and make an excuse. But she just let the cat out of the bag. I need to try and fix this.

“- – -W-What, are you sayin- -” 

“Tokiwa-chan, I’m really sorry.”

I was about to try and mislead her, but Asahi cut me off.

“I was just afraid if I told you, You’d hate me. I. . .I just couldn’t muster up the courage to tell you.”

I unintentionally look down, as She started to cry after saying that.

Asahi and Tokiwa relationship, was built. . .on a lie. . .A lie, I created. . .

At the beginning she surely thought Tokiwa was a disgusting person, but now it seems like she became an important friend to Asahi. Important enough to invite to a sleepover.

I didn’t know. . .I didn’t realize how much that was worrying her. . .

I should have realized. . .

“I’m sorry.”

I don’t know if I’m apologizing to Asahi or Tokiwa, but I feel like I should.

However Tokiwa naturally laughed in a high pitched voice.

“I don’t care about that. It was fun. Like a detective game.”

“But. . .I’m not the person you thought I wa-”

“Onee-sama is Onee-sama. Certainly that was Yuudachi-san that day, but there is no doubt that I adore Asahi.”

“But, I.”

“Oh, give it a rest! Asahi-san and Yuudachi-san are both my Onee-samas! This is my decision, no ifs or buts!”

She puffed her cheeks and declared that.

Asahi and I looked at each other, then both of us gave a bitter smile.

Wait. I’m a certified sister now?

Well, now that I think about it. . . If it’s just that. Then it’s not that bad.