The Yellow Brick Road
Chapter 17: TWIN – Kira and Cagalli settle who's older
March, C.E. 80
It's rare for Cagalli to visit Kira and Lacus in their home, but given Kira's recent escapade, Cagalli felt she might as well drop by and see how the couple's doing while she's in the PLANTs for the annual peace summit. While Lacus prepares tea and pastries for the three of them, Cagalli finds herself looking at the framed photo of her and Kira being held by their birth mother while they were still infants. The photograph is sitting on the mantle above the fireplace, along with other framed photographs. And the more Cagalli thinks about it, the more she becomes annoyed. If there's anything Cagalli detests, it's unfinished business.
Kira must have seen her fuming by herself. It isn't difficult to guess: Cagalli's brows are all scrunched up; her lips are pursed, and her nostrils are slightly flared. Kira approaches her cautiously. He looks at Cagalli, then to the photo, then back to his sister. "Heads, I'm older. Tails, you're older."
Cagalli whips her head to Kira's direction, and Kira swears he sees some smoke coming from her ears. "What? This is a matter of grave importance! You can't settle this with just a coin flip!"
Kira chuckles, shrugging, and he places his hands in his pockets. "Does it even matter?"
"Yes!" Cagalli looks at him as if he's stupid. "So that I know if I have the birthright to boss you around or not!"
Now it's Kira's turn to have raised eyebrows and pursed lips. "That is such a narrow understanding of sibling dynamics."
"Well, she's not entirely wrong," Lacus chimes in, carrying a large tray of tea and pastries. She places the food on the coffee table before seating herself on one end of the sofa, watching the bickering pair in amusement.
Kira sends Lacus an annoyed look, which she dismisses easily. He faces Cagalli again and sighs at her determined expression. "Cagalli, not even my mother knows. It's useless trying to find out who's older."
Cagalli takes a moment to think, going over all possibilities, before raising both hands in surrender. "Fine. Then do the coin flip."
Lacus' smile widens, and she offers Kira a coin from her purse. Kira finds a spot in front of the sofa, while Cagalli positions herself behind Lacus, her hands pressed firmly against the leather couch. Kira flips the coin, and the three can only stare as the gold piece flips in the air and lands on the couch, stuck in between two cushions. The coin maintains upright, neither settling for heads nor tails. Amidst the laughter that erupts in the room, Cagalli wails in anguish, cursing her stupid brother for not knowing how to flip a stupid coin, and demanding that he do it another time — and to do it right this time.