(Momo’s POV — Friday Morning)

  My little sister is the worst liar on the planet.

  Seriously. I’ve seen dogs do a better job hiding their emotions than Aika.

  Yesterday she practically choked on her own face trying to act like she wasn’t thinking about some guy. And don’t get me started on how fast she snatched her phone when I walked into her room. If she moved that fast during PE, she’d be captain of every sports club in school.

  So, yeah.

  She’s into someone.

  And I am living for it.

  She’s been pacing around this morning like she’s trying to wear out the floorboards.

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  “I don’t know what to wear,” she mutters.

  “It’s school,” I say, sipping my tea. “You wear a uniform.”

  “I mean… like… hairstyle.”

  “Right. Because a slightly different ponytail will definitely make him fall in love with you.”

  She glares at me. “It’s not like that!”

  “Oh?” I raise an eyebrow. “So it’s not about that Kazama boy you mentioned mumbling about in your sleep?”

  “I DIDN’T MUMBLE ANYTHING!”

  Okay, maybe I made that part up. But her face just turned the exact shade of strawberry milk, so I’m counting it as a win.

  After she finally storms off to school (fifteen minutes early, suspicious), I sit back in my chair, smiling to myself.

  Aika’s always been hard to get close to.

  Too serious. Too guarded. Like she built a wall around herself and sat on top of it with a sniper rifle.

  But this guy… this Kazuma kid…

  If he’s making her act like a teenage romcom protagonist, then maybe—just maybe—he’s the real deal.

  I might have to “bump into” him sometime.

  You know. Just to check.

  Protective big sister stuff.

  Definitely not to tease Aika in front of him.

  …Okay, maybe a little of that too.

  To be continued…