I asked the boss for extra hours today! I was so excited to see Aki-nee! The sun was peeking through the clouds, the breeze was cool, but not chilling, and my obess- I mean, my lovely sister was only a few more steps away! She's not actually my sister, but that's not important. I crashed through the entrance of the store where we work, just me and Aki-nee, and a few NPCs that don't really matter because they work the night shift. Anyway, I didn't really crash in because the doors are automatic, but the look on my sister's face was priceless! She was so happy to see me. She even said my name in a whisper, like it was a precious treasure. "G'morning, nee-san!"

"You're early, Bakari. I need you to help me out because last night was rough."

"You always have a rough night when you have to come in." I was genuinely concerned for her well-being. For the past couple of shifts, she's been getting terrible sleep. Maybe a smile will cheer her up!

"Your shift isn't for another hour."

She noticed! It made me happy to know that she was aware of my schedule. "I asked for overtime!"

"Of course." She must have been tired, because I was expecting a little more emotion in her response. "Can you give me a minute? I have a headache."

I strode past the counter toward the break room to put my stuff down. "If the lovely Suzu-sama wishes my presence dismissed, I shall vanish to appease her royal whims!"

She turned around to look at me, and what I saw was frightening. Dark circles around her eyes. A pale, ghost-like complexion. Slumped shoulders. She was a zombie! I unintentionally backed away in horror. There was only one way to fix this. I had to help her in any way I could!

I hurriedly put my belongings in my area and got to work. I wiped off shelves, cleaned spills, and restocked items. I was almost done before I realized that I hadn't restocked the mochi. I ran to the back and grabbed three boxes. Just as I was rounding the corner, my pocket got caught on another shelf, and bang! The mochi--all of it--was on the floor. Aki- nee peeked over the counter, and I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. I quickly picked up the fallen parcels and apologized profusely.

I know now it was probably a bit much, but I couldn't help myself. Not even halfway through, and I had already messed up my perfect plan. I managed to get everything back in order by the time lunch rolled around, but, man, it took some time.

I noticed Aki-nee sleeping in the break room, and I didn't want to disturb her. She seemed so peaceful and delicate. I watched her breathing rise and fall, a steady pattern that was sometimes broken by a snore or a senseless mutter. Something about a "stupid" something or another and a "redhead".

There was a blue string on her pinky, and I don't think she ever noticed when it got there, but it matches the one on mine. First, the strings, and then something completely different. I hadn't noticed the threads until a few months ago, but I figured that they couldn't be all that bad. We were twinning, after all. It was the 'something else' that concerned me.

I was so enamored with my lovely nee-san that I didn't feel the presence that belonged to the breath on the back of my neck. "You smell off. Not normal."

I whipped around and pushed the person back out the door. What the heck?! That's such a weird way to greet someone you just met. I looked at the unusual figure and crossed my arms. "Who are you, and what do you want?"

"Nunya, and I'm here for the woman. Uhhh... Suzu something..."

This rando knew Aki-nee?! Who would have guessed she knew so many colorful characters? "Hold on a sec! I'll get her." I skipped to the break room and shook Aki-nee softly. "Wake up, nee-sama!"

"Just 15 more minutes..."

"It's important, though."

"Are the chickens on fire?"

"Huh? No? What chick- Nevermind... Aki-nee, get up."

"Nuh-uh."

This proved to be a task. Aki-nee was in nap mode, and there was no rousing her from her slumber. I tried again. "Aki-nee!"

"WHAT, Bakari?!"

I pointed to the front. "There's someone here to see you. And they think I smell funny."

"Well, do you?" she asked sleepily.

I sniffed my shirt. The cologne from this morning. "I don't think so."

"Hold on."

She's absolutely adorable when she adjusts her glasses. I watched as she waddled to the doorway and peeked out. In an instant, she was alert and ready. The blue string twitched. Irritation mixed with panic. I cocked my eyebrow. What could the man out there possibly have done to cause this reaction? From where I stood, I could see the man with his face pressed against the window. He looked ridiculous, and honestly, it was kind of funny to think that he didn't act as scary as he looked. Perhaps I could play a game to determine which version is real. Maybe he was like me.

"I told youuuuu!" I felt electricity run down my spine. The beast that I had only noticed a few weeks ago began to stir, and its thoughts and my thoughts began to sync. "He seems fun to play with." Whatever it had sensed about that orange-haired freak excited me. Or maybe it was the other way around.

Aki-nee muttered something, then pointed to the doors. Her friend sure was strange. He couldn't even get through the entrance, which makes me wonder how he managed to get in the first time.

Aki-nee was clearly fed up with his antics. "Just walk through the doors, you stupid fox!"

I tilted my head. Fox, eh? Even though I could visualize the sly, shiftty characteristics, it wasn't fair! I wanted a pet name from my nee-san! "I totally can see it! Do me next, Aki-nee! What am I? What am I?!"

Before she could answer me, the fox spoke and caught me off guard. "I'm surprised you can't tell what you are. You smell like a long history of grief."

The gall! I looked at my nee- san. "Did he say that I smell depressing? Do I smell depressing?" Never in my life had someone insulted me like that. It was a little off-putting. I really don't like this guy-

"Just drop it, Bakari. He's a big ball of joy once you get to know him." The statement was dripping with sarcasm.

Well, if she says so. But there's still part of me--of us--that wants to tear that guy to shreds, I think.

The cocky bugger had a smart remark. "Don't lie to him. I will hunt him and anyone else down if I deem them to be a threat."

And there it was. Our reason to end it. For Aki's sake, of course. The game could begin. "Aki-nee! Let me play, please. You have fun friends."

"He's not my friend. He's my temporary tenant." Wait. Say whaaaa?- "Bakari, this is Fluffy, who's renting my spare apartment. Fluffy, Bakari. My co-worker with a big sister complex."

Fluffy is a ridiculous name, but even more ridiculous is that he's staying with my nee-san. And she thinks I have a sister complex?! "Aki-nee! I do not! I just appreciate you so much. And I want to protect you from stuff like you protected me. And..."

Once again, that stupid, stupid peasant cut me off and sniffed me. "He really does have a complex. What are you?"

How dare he? Aki-nee found me almost a year ago, stranded on the street with nothing but the memories of my name. She got me this job and helped me get back on my feet. That's when I decided. She was mine to protect.

Aki-nee stepped in front of us, preventing me from making my move. "Fluffy, why are you here? I didn't even tell you I was leaving."

The jerk dared to look cute and confused. "I left the apartment to do some scouting, and I caught wind of your scent."

"So you got lost?"

"No. Merely... redirected."

Stupid, admit it. You got lost, and now you need Aki-nee to save you.

She turned away from Jerk-kun, but he firmly grabbed her wrist. Oh, heck no. The air in the store suddenly turned heavy, as if it were being sucked out by a vacuum. The 'electricity' from before wasn't a spark anymore; it was a lightning strike straight down my marrow. Before I knew it, my hand was gripping his wrist. Not passively, but something past aggressive. Killer almost.