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Chapter 17

  (Momo’s POV — Thursday Evening)

  “MOM!!”

  I slam open the kitchen door like I’m announcing the arrival of a national disaster.

  Mom flinches mid-stir of the miso soup. “What? What happened? Are you hurt?”

  “No, but Aika is!”

  Her eyes widen. “Is she sick?!”

  “She’s emotionally compromised.”

  Mom stops stirring. “...Momo. Use real words.”

  I slam my hands on the table.

  “Aika. Likes. A boy.”

  There’s silence. A moment of complete stillness. And then:

  “Oh my god,” Mom gasps. “She’s finally going through puberty.”

  “She’s sixteen, Mom.”

  Mom drops her ladle. “Who is it?! Is he handsome?! Does he study well? Is he tall?”

  “Tall-ish. Studies no. Cool? Absolutely not.”

  “Oh no… Is he a delinquent?!”

  “No, worse. He’s a dumbass with a kind heart.”

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  Mom stares at me. “...The dangerous kind.”

  I nod gravely. “Exactly.”

  So here we are, two grown women pacing in circles like we’re trying to solve a crime.

  “I knew something was off lately,” Mom mutters. “She’s been brushing her hair before school. And using lip balm.”

  “She’s cracked,” I say. “Completely emotionally fried.”

  “She didn’t say anything to me,” Mom sighs.

  I smirk. “She didn’t need to. Her face says everything.”

  We look at each other.

  Both serious now.

  “So,” I ask.

  “What do we do?”

  Mom narrows her eyes. “We watch. We wait. And we prepare.”

  “For?”

  “The moment she accidentally brings him home.”

  “Can I tease her in front of him?”

  Mom grins. “Only if I get to bring out the baby photos.”

  “Deal.”

  (Hana’s POV — Thursday Night)

  Ni-san thought I was done.

  He thought the mighty Hana would just roll over and accept "goodnight" as a final answer.

  Foolish.

  I’m sick, not useless.

  I tiptoe down the hallway with the stealth of a ninja — okay, maybe a slightly wobbly ninja wrapped in a blanket. My fever makes everything fuzzy, but I’m a girl on a mission.

  I peek into the kitchen where Mom’s rinsing dishes.

  “Mom…” I croak dramatically.

  She turns around, eyes wide. “Hana?! You should be in bed!”

  I limp forward like a tragic heroine. “There’s something you need to know…”

  “What is it? Are you okay?”

  “It’s… it’s about Ni-san.”

  She stiffens. “Is he okay?!”

  “No,” I whisper. “He’s in love.”

  The plate in her hand slips a little.

  “What did you say?”

  I nod solemnly. “He likes a girl.”

  Mom gasps like I just dropped a season finale twist. “How do you know?!”

  “I witnessed it with my own eyes,” I say, clutching my blanket tighter. “He was all weird tonight. Checking his phone. Zoning out. Blushing like an anime protagonist.”

  Mom covers her mouth, holding back a squeal. “My boy is growing up…”

  I nod again. “It’s serious. Like, anime confession scene serious.”

  Mom suddenly looks emotional. “I thought this day would come later. He’s still such a baby in my eyes…”

  I sniff dramatically. “He’ll always be a dumb Ni-san.”

  We both pause.

  Then she crouches and hugs me softly. “You’re the best little spy ever.”

  “I know.”

  “Want pudding?”

  “Already in the fridge, two hours left before expiration.”

  Mom laughs and ruffles my hair.

  Mission complete.

  To be continued…

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