The morning sun rose in the eastern sky.
Its rays gradually lit up the city streets.
Cool air lingered around the city of Tokyo.
As usual, Yotsuba woke up early. After washing up and getting dressed, she clipped the leash onto Kuro.
"Shh, keep quiet."
Afraid Kuro might bark and wake her sisters, Yotsuba put a finger to her lips in a quieting gesture.
Kuro obediently stayed silent.
One girl and one dog, sneaking out like little criminals.
The moment the front door closed softly behind them, Ichika's bedroom door opened.
"Finally caught you."
Ichika had stayed up the entire night just to see that guy.
"Let's see what he actually looks like."
Humans can be so stubborn sometimes.
The more you try to hide something from her, the more she wants to know.
Ichika closed her door, glanced at the descending elevator, and took the other one.
Fortunately, it was early, so she didn't run into anyone. The elevator came quickly.
By the time Ichika got to the lobby, Yotsuba had already left the building.
Ichika had to jog to catch up.
When she was less than ten meters away from Yotsuba, Kuro seemed to sense something and glanced back at her.
Ichika, panicking at the thought of being exposed, quickly made a hush gesture toward Kuro.
Unbeknownst to her, Kuro was originally planted in the Nakano household by Takashi as a spy.
It pretended not to notice anything, turned its head back, and simply slowed its pace.
At their usual meeting spot, the boy sat in his usual place, quietly reading a book in his hands.
To his right were two breakfast portions.
It was such an ordinary scene, yet to Yotsuba it felt inexplicably warm and sweet.
"Takashi-kun~"
From a distance away, she waved cheerfully at Takashi.
Even though just yesterday he was telling himself not to contact him anymore, Kuro dashed off faster than anyone else the moment he saw him.
Takashi closed his book and looked up at the two of them.
As the girl and the dog reached him, Takashi scooped Kuro up in his arms, giving him a lift and muttering in confusion, "Did you gain weight?"
Kuro shook his head wildly.
He really didn't want Takashi to find out how well he had been eating.
He was afraid that if he found out, he'd come and fight him for the food.
When it came to being a dog, he really wasn't on Takashi's level.
"Takashi-kun, what's for breakfast today? It smells so good~"
"Savory pancakes."
Just as Takashi and Yotsuba were about to dig in, a sudden voice interrupted.
"Um, I haven't eaten breakfast either! Is there an extra one?"
The sudden voice nearly froze Yotsuba's thoughts entirely. She even forgot to breathe for a moment.
But even so, she knew exactly who had arrived.
When she was a child, that girl had stolen her one and only friend.
And now, like a nightmare she could never forget, she appeared once again.
Yotsuba could already see the past repeating itself before her eyes.
Why?
Why do you always have to take what's mine?
Yotsuba lowered her head, letting her bangs fall over her face.
She didn't dare lift her head.
She was afraid that if she did, Ichika would clearly see the anger on her face.
While Yotsuba kept her head down, Takashi looked up, studying the girl who looked nearly identical to Yotsuba.
The girl had a short haircut, neatly trimmed like a boy's.
Her face and figure were the same as Yotsuba's, and yet, for some reason, she stood out far more when the two stood side by side.
Is it her aura? Takashi wondered.
That intangible quality—"aura." You can't see it or touch it, but it's undeniably real.
Two beautiful girls, yet the one with an aura always stands out more than the one who's just pretty.
[Target: Nakano Ichika]
[Age: 16]
[Intelligence: 3]
[Charm: 8]
[Stamina: 5]
[From: The Quintessential Quintuplets]
[Crush: Fuutarou Uesugi]
[Single, available for dating]
Just as I thought.
Takashi nodded to himself.
He had guessed correctly—all five Nakano sisters were potential love interests.
Wow, he's seriously handsome!
While Takashi was sizing up Ichika, Ichika was also looking at him.
She had already guessed last night that Takashi must be handsome.
But she hadn't expected this. A guy being this good-looking? Unbelievable.
No wonder Yotsuba lied.
Ichika finally understood why Yotsuba had lied.
Luckily it was her who came—if it had been Nino, she would've made a move on him without hesitation.
"Hi, I'm Nakano Ichika, Yotsuba's sister," she said, naturally extending her hand toward Takashi.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kitahara Takashi."
He shook her hand lightly, then smiled as he let go. "Yotsuba did say you five looked alike, but I didn't expect you all to look like exact copies."
Yotsuba and Ichika really did look like they were printed from the same template, like characters from a Kyoto Animation show.
"Right? People say that all the time."
Ichika casually sat down next to Yotsuba, threw an arm around her shoulder, and pressed her face against hers. "So? Can you tell us apart now?"
Focused on Takashi, Ichika didn't notice anything odd about Yotsuba.
"Hm?"
She might have missed it, but Takashi certainly didn't.
He noticed Yotsuba's hands trembling slightly in her lap, her head still down, and most tellingly, the lack of her usual bright smile.
Takashi thought for a moment, then said, "Yeah, you two really do look alike."
That same answer again.
Hearing it, Yotsuba couldn't feel even a hint of joy.
Sometimes she truly wished they didn't look alike.
At least then no one would mix them up.
"But... I can still tell you and Yotsuba apart."
Yotsuba's head suddenly shot up, blue eyes wide with surprise.
She just stared at Takashi in shock.
She hadn't expected him to say something like that.
"There's no such thing as two identical leaves in the world," he said softly.
Takashi didn't know what had happened to Yotsuba, but he could tell she didn't want to hear a simple "yes" from him.
"Same goes for people."
"Even if you all look alike, if you look closely enough, you can tell the difference."
Yotsuba's eyes trembled slightly.
At that moment, Takashi looked directly at her, unmoving.
Their eyes met. His gaze was clear and bright, like a mirror.
In his eyes, Yotsuba saw her own reflection—crystal clear.
Even the refreshing summer morning breeze couldn't cool the rising warmth inside her.
Takashi's lips curled slightly.
He smiled—warm and intoxicating, like aged wine.
"At the very least, I'll never mistook you for anyone else."
___
20 Advanced Chapters available on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics
Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you!
Don't forget to leave a review too~
Check out the other translations too
___