("You close your eyes first.")
("No you first!")
("Nuh uh!")
Sis and I sometimes would argue on who would sleep first, which ended up leading to a staring contest between the two of us.
We would just smile as we both stare into each other's eyes. It was like looking into a mirror, almost like some sort of illusion, only my reflection would blink when I myself didn't. I found it mesmerizing staring into sis' eyes as she too refused to break eye contact. I could honestly stare into her eyes for eternity, but sleep would eventually take over as we both slowly fall asleep in each other's arms.
"M-mmmmmh... Eh?"
But the moment I open my eyes, my heart stops at the sight in front of me.
"S-sis?"
There in front of me, was someone who looked like an older version of my sis. No... They were my sis.
Wait, am I still dreaming? Wait weren't I going out to take a breather?
Before that fateful night-
After having dinner with Kanon's family, I figured it was time for me to go out.
"Huh? But the news said that it might be snowing tonight?"
Kanon's mother of course was against the idea, but I really couldn't budge with this. With everything seeming to be going well with me all ready to start school next week, I really didn't want to just sit in my room again, not being able to get much sleep. The closer the days get to that date, the harder it is... Especially with it starting to snow...
"I'm sorry, but I need to go."
"Is there a reason?"
"..."
Kanon's father also speaks up with wanting an explanation, but it's hard to explain... My grandparents understood this despite worrying over me catching a cold.
"It's alright~ Mom, Dad. It's not too late, plus I have a coat if you need it, Reina."
"Th-thank you."
Anna jumps in to support me with a smile on her face. We've managed to get along quite well with her video games. Usually that's all we really do, but I'm glad that I feel more accepted in this house than I was before.
"Mmmm... Then be sure to stay on well lit roads!"
"Yes, I promise."
"And here. You don't have a phone yet, right? If anything happens, call us. And if you're not back before 10pm-"
"Mhmm. Thank you."
They really do treat me like one of their own here... It's a nice feeling of course, but it only adds to the pain I'm feeling, knowing that my "real" family is still out there, which only makes me want to hurry up and leave this house...
And so, after a bunch of worries out of the way, I set on out on a walk with nowhere in particular in mind in hopes to get away from this pain building up inside.
I learnt my way around the area with Kanon's mother driving me places in preparation for school. During one of those days, I saw a hill that seemed quite nice. I was planning on heading over there tonight, but- THAT'S RIGHT! Then I saw sis! But what happened after that? I think I remember running over to her, but my memory of it is hazy. But then-
"..."
I gently shuffle closer to sis who's still sleeping peacefully. Feeling her warm breath tickle my nose felt all too real to be just a dream. Before I knew it, my hand found it's way towards the few strands of hair that's in front of her eye, gently brushing it over her ear, revealing her long eyelashes.
"...Sis-"
Just as I was about to whisper to her, I hear a strange buzzing sound coming from somewhere nearby. It was when I looked over to the other side of the bed, away from sis, did I notice my coat, the same coat that Anna gave me. I slowly reach into the coat pocket before pulling out the phone Kanon's father gave me.
Message: "WHERE ARE YOU?! ARE YOU OKAY? IF YOU DON'T RESPOND, WE'LL COME GET YOU!"
I notice that there was 3 other messages with similar messages along with several missed calls. Right... I was meant to return earlier, but it's nearly midnight according to the time displayed... I quickly send a reply, letting them know I'm okay before letting them know what's happening.
Once I finished messaging Kanon's family, I tuck the phone back into the coat pocket before moving it off the bed, hanging it on a nearby chair.
"So this is where sis has been..."
I decide to let sis sleep as I cast my eyes around the room. I can't really see much with how dark it is, but I'm not about to find a light switch and wake her up, plus the moonlight coming in through the cracks of the curtain is enough to get a rough layout of the room.
"You've been living alone like this?.."
It's quite a spacious apartment with the bedroom door left open, allowing me to see a bit of the living room. That said, this looks like it might be the only bed in here...
I found myself looking back towards sis who's still peacefully sleeping away. I don't feel all that tired, but even so, I slowly slide myself under the blankets, back where I was originally as I gently grasp hold of sis' hand, not wanting to bother checking out the rest of the place.
"Please let this not be a dream..."
The warmth in her hand feels far too realistic for a dream as her hand gently tightens around my own in response. However, I still worry that it might-
"Mmm-mmmm..."
"Ah-"
But right at that moment, sis' eyes twitch for a few moments before relaxing once more. I wonder what kind of dream is she having? The moment I think that however, her hand tightens even more around mine, pulling my hand closer towards her in her sleep.
"...Sis."
Her relaxed expression almost looks pained now as I feel my own chest tighten, almost like someone had just grabbed hold of it before digging their nails inside of it with no sign of letting go... kind of like how sis is holding my hand...
"...Mm-"
I gently move forward, planting a soft kiss on her lips, at least that's what my intention was, but I ended up kissing just off to the side on her cheek instead. We've kissed numerous times as kids, but for some reason it feels a bit weird to do that now. Sure we've been apart for most of our lives, but we're practically adults now. Doing something like that is a bit childish I feel like-
"Mmm?"
Amidst my thoughts, my eyes open wide as sis' eyes gently flutter open before quickly opening completely as our eyes meet.
"Reina..."
"S-Sis!"
Hearing sis call my name, my body immediately reacts, pulling myself closer to her, wrapping my arms around her as I feel her arms gently wrap around me as well. It's like her voice alone calmed down the pain deep in my heart from earlier, her warmth quickly spreading over my body, replacing that feeling with a feeling of what I could only describe as ecstasy.
"So it wasn't a dream..."
"Mm!"
Sis was thinking the same thing as me... So she wasn't the only one dreaming about each other... Hah~ That makes me so happy... but right then, sis tightens her hold around me as our foreheads gently rest against one another. It's only then that I realized just how hard my heart is beating as we both continue to gaze into each other's eyes, as if re-enacting my dream from earlier. Wait, but could it be sis' heart that I'm feeling? I can't really tell...
"...Sis-"
"You feeling okay?"
"...Eh?"
"You suddenly collapsed in the cold..."
Ah... So that explains why my memory is a bit fuzzy... Wait, I collapsed?!
"Wait... So then, you brought me back here?"
"Hehe. It took everything I had to get you up those stairs."
"I... I'm sorry."
"It's alright. I'm just glad you're okay."
She slides a hand over my side before gently resting her palm against my cheek. Her hands feel incredibly warm as I could feel my heart beat even faster as if to try and catch up, but it's when I tried to speak that I find the words getting stuck in the back of my throat.
"Welcome home, Reina."
"I'm... I'm home- mmh?"
But right as I managed to get a response out, sis closes the distance before us as I feel a soft yet familiar sensation on my lips. It only lasted for a split second, but in that moment, it felt like the past came flooding back inside me, overflowing out like a damn had just burst inside me as I begin to feel a tickling sensation running down my cheek. It was only when I looked again at sis did I notice that she was tearing up as I then realize that I too was doing the same. I end up pulling myself tighter against sis, holding her as tight as I could, but at the same exact time, sis did the same, almost as if we're in sync with one another. I couldn't help but smile at the fact, letting my tears continue to fall freely.
"Reina..."
"Yes, sis?"
"Mm-mmmm..."
I didn't end up getting a response as sis quickly fell back asleep as if her eyes were tied down by weights as we both continue to hold each other in each other's arms.
"Sweet dreams, sis."
With my heart finally having calmed down, I let sis rest her head against my chest as I hold her head from behind, trying to comfort her the best I can as I feel her left over tears soak into my shirt. But despite not being tired, I also found my eyes growing heavier by the second, as if her sleepiness was infecting me. Before I knew it, I too fell back into a deep sleep, a feeling of weightlessness overcoming me as I all I could feel was sis in my arms... a feeling that I refused to let go of...
The following morning-
It was honestly a bit confusing going in and out of dreams, seeing Reina there regardless if it were a dream or not, but with the morning sun finally coming to greet us, we finally get out of bed... much to our discomfort though.
"Hnnn... I could've slept like that for a while longer."
"Hehe, same. But we can't just lay in bed all day. Here-"
With how chaotic it was last night, I pass Reina some of my clothes to wear as she was still dressed in the same clothes as when I first found her, except for that heavy coat that is now hanged over one of the chairs.
""Ah-!""
But as Reina stands up from the bed to take the clothes from me, we both come to an unexpected realization that-
"Sis is taller?!"
"L-looks like it..."
It came as a shock to both of us. I thought that since we're twins, we'd be exactly the same, but it appears to not be the case as it seems I'm a couple centimetres taller than Reina. It's a slight difference sure, most people might not even see the difference, but both of us noticed immediately after mere moments upon standing up.
"I'm not that much taller... These clothes should still fit."
"Mm... Thanks sis."
"I'll put your clothes in the wash with mine. You can change first if you like."
"Okay."
"!"
But the moment I say that, instead of going into the bathroom to change, Reina ends up stripping right in front of me. But my surprise would quickly come to a halt when I notice her right shoulder as she strips down to her underwear.
"Is that-"
"Ah... Sorry. I got into a bit of an accident, aha."
She shyly covers the bandage with her hand, but I stop her hand before she could do so. I knew it was no accident already, but even if I didn't know what happened, Reina still looks a bit suspicious.
"Can I see?"
"I-It's... ugly"
"Even still."
"..."
Halting the change of clothes, Reina undone the bandage for me after some hesitance to reveal quite a site. Thankfully the cut looks to be healing quite nicely, but with how badly it looks, I can't help but wonder if it'll scar. Reina's face looked quite gloomy as I looked over her shoulder, catching my attention. Is she maybe still scared about those guys?
"Hey, don't worry. Those guys won't be a bother anymore."
"Eh?!"
The moment I mention them however, Reina's eyes light up in surprise. A stark contrast to her expression just a moment ago.
"They got taken into custody the other day. So don't worry about-"
"WAIT! You know about it?"
"Nn...
"How?!"
"Well, see I had a run in with them in the past. When I saw them a second time, they said something about 'cutting me up.' I realized then that maybe they might've cut 'you' up instead."
"Ah... That explains it then..."
"Hmm?"
"Those guys. They said something weird as well, before they did this. It was like they wanted payback or something even though I've never met them before."
"Ah~ Right... Sorry. I guess I did beat them up a bit back when I first encountered them, haha."
"Sis?!"
"It's fine~ Hehe. My friend was in danger so I had no choice to get involved. Ah, well they weren't my friend at the time, but-"
Just then, I hear my phone buzz next to us, cutting my conversation a bit short. I end up reaching over to pick up my phone before opening up to see a message. Reina, still only her underwear, leaned over as if to read it with me.
Midori: Good morning! I know it's early, but my dad said it's okay for me to come searching with you today! That's of course if you're up for it that is~"
"Is that your friend?"
"Nn."
"Fufu. She seems lively."
"Oh trust me, she's a lot worse than you think, haha."
"Fufufu. I'm glad sis has- friends like that..."
It was then that Reina's face took on a more seldom look. She was still smiling, but the sadness in her eyes gave way to her true feelings.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing. I was just thinking about someone from school."
"Could it be Yume?"
"EHH?! Wait, how do you know about HER as well?!"
Reina once again looks at me with complete astonishment, completely different to her melancholic look seconds before.
To make sure we're up to the same page, I end up telling her everything about the events up until now, about how I met Yume on accident when trying to find Reina after Nicole had seen Reina at the train station. I didn't talk about anything else like how I ended up getting sick because of it as I don't want to worry Reina any further.
"So, you were also trying to find me... If only I had come on that day as well..."
"Were you also looking for me?"
"Yes, but things came up and I couldn't look for a while... I'm sorry sis."
"Hey, it's okay. We're here now, right?"
"Mmm."
I wrap an arm around her waist as her head gently nestles its way onto my shoulder, a smile gently forming on her face.
"We've both been struggling, huh."
"Yeah."
"But I'm glad... I was dreading spending another Christmas without you sis."
"Nn... Same here."
We stay like that for a bit longer, enjoying each other's warmth before I finally end up sitting back up from the bed.
"Alright, but seriously lets finish getting dressed."
"Fufu. Okay."
I was a bit hesitant with changing in front of Reina, but when I thought about the countless times I've changed for PE at school, I wound up brushing the nerves off as we both changed our clothes together.
"Ohhh~"
"..."
However, unlike in PE, Reina was staring away as I was starting to put on fresh clothes. Her eyes scanning over my entire body, looking all over my bare skin. I recall Midori looking, albeit briefly, but Reina is showing no signs of stopping... I can feel my face heating up already, as if her gaze is some sort of heat ray. I mean, I can understand it, I too find myself scanning her body as well, looking at how much she's changed since the last time we've seen each other.
"Does sis workout?"
"A bit..."
"So cool!
This feels so weird, I'm struggling to even put my top on with Reina acting like th-
"HNNGH!"
Suddenly, catching me off guard, Reina trails her fingers along my abdomen, her fingers gently gliding along my skin, shooting bolts of electricity up my spine.
"So toned..."
"..."
"..."
Huh? Wait, Reina's face is also heating up? I can't really see clearly as she's looking down where her hands are touching me, but I can clearly see her ears are also beginning to turn into a shade of red as she slowly raises her head to look over more of my body.
"I wonder if I can look as beautiful as you..."
"You already are."
"Eh- HHNG!"
As if for payback what she did, I too wound up touching her abdomen as she too is still in her underwear, gently caressing her skin with my fingernails. Sure Reina might not be as fit as me, but she's completely wrong in saying something like that. If anything, Reina gives off a much more feminine look than me. Her waist is slimmer, making her hips appear larger than mine despite being a bit shorter than me. As for our chests, I guess they're pretty similar in size? Also her skin in general feels a lot softer than I imagined... Wait, how long have I been touching Reina like this by now?
"S-sis."
"Reina."
With my eyes moving back up, our eyes both lock with one another, but in that moment, a loud ringing tone butts into the heated atmosphere that was building up, cutting it cold almost instantly.
"Ah, hold on, one sec!"
Reina raced to grab the phone inside the coat's pocket before answering as if running away from what we were doing... But just what was about to happen just now? Reina didn't try to back away, but I guess I didn't either... What would've happened if things had continued for a bit longer?
"Haah..."
I end up finishing changing my clothes before responding to Midori's message from earlier, and once Reina was done with the call, she too finished getting dressed in my spare clothes. However, I'm still trying to calm myself down with what happened just before. We haven't seen each other for so long, could it just be nerves from being apart for so long? Hahh~ I shouldn't worry about it too much I suppose.