Notes: Episode 144, "Sparking Summer Days! Ami, the Girl in the Ocean Breeze". Or, "The one with Ami's dream mirror where the girls and Shingo go to the beach."

Episode 144

"Good morning!"

Shingo snorted and didn't look away from the television screen. "It's afternoon."

Much to his irritation, the correction didn't shame his stupid sister into silence. When had it ever, though? "Good afternoon, then!"

He muttered something noncommittal while twisting his entire upper body to the left. It didn't help, and his game character still landed in the volley of fireballs. His thumbs jabbed frantically at the buttons. Stunned, dammit! Was anything more annoying?

"Soooo," Usagi said, plonking herself down next to Shingo and unknowingly answering his question. "How are you?"

His character finally woke up, and Shingo quickly performed the combo to launch himself across the screen in a whirring ball of green and orange death.

"Shingo?"

"What?! I'm fine!"

Usagi said nothing after that, which was nice, but weird. He stole a glance and saw her narrowed eyes and trembling fist. Probably trying not to yell. Heh, good luck with that. Shingo considered mentioning something about her dumb dress or dorky boyfriend, just to watch the fireworks. Instead he unleashed a punch-punch-leg sweep combo and won the battle.

"Round Three! Fight!" called the video game announcer.

Then Usagi's hand was UGH, TOUCHING HIM, feeling his forehead, so gross! "What are you DOING?"

"I'm making sure you're okay!" Usagi snapped in return. She retracted her hand with a sneer that said she wanted nothing more than to baste it in disinfectant and roast it at thousand purifying degrees.

On-screen, Shingo's lifebar was steadily disappearing under a flurry of cheap blows. Stupid cheating computer, and stupid dumb sisters! "I said I'm fine! What do you care, anyway?" He hunched over to try another magnificent comeback. It'd be hard to pull off with Usagi in, like, the same country, but pride was at stake! His character buzzed and glowed with electrical energy that caught the computer character off-guard and he was back in the match. Still, something was niggling at him, something that didn't seem right.

Usagi hadn't answered his question.

Normally, he wouldn't care. She wasn't talking, and his sister not talking was a state of being to which Shingo constantly aspired. But she'd been so forceful earlier.

He told himself not to look. Looking wasn't going to bring any information he actually wanted to know.

He looked anyway, and immediately wished he hadn't. She was doing that THING with her eyes, that thing where they looked three times bigger than normal and like giant swimming pools. Worse, now she knew he'd seen her, it was all the permission she needed to start talking again.

Only it wasn't TALKING, it was that warbling almost-crying thing she did, god he hated it.

"Of course I care!" she wailed. "Yesterday you nearly DIED—"

Before she could get another treacherous word out, Shingo slapped his hand over her mouth. "Idiot!" he hissed, peering over his shoulder and relieved to see no parents. "We agreed not to say anything!"

Usagi shook her head free of his hand, her eyes still shimmering. "But, but, maybe you have brain damage!"

Shingo heard the sounds of his character losing the game. Great. "I don't have brain damage," he said with a sigh.

Usagi dropped her voice and grinned at him slyly. "Are you suuuure?"

He flushed at the insult and pushed her away from him. "I'M fine, but I don't know what your excuse is!"

Ever since he'd woken up on the beach, Usagi had been doing this hovering thing, and it was really starting to piss him off. Why couldn't they just go back to normal, when they just pretended the other didn't exist unless they had to?

There was only one thing for it, Shingo realized with extreme reluctance. He'd just have to … SPEND TIME WITH HER. Once Usagi remembered why that was the worst idea in the entire world, she'd go back to those beautiful days of mostly ignoring him.

He hoped it would be soon.

Shingo grabbed the second controller and slid it across the carpet. "Here. I know you can't do two things at once, so playing should shut you up."

Usagi looked at the controller at her feet for a moment. A really long moment, god, he hoped she wasn't going to turn this into a thing.

"Right!" Usagi finally said, picking up the controller. "You can't win against me, you know. I'm far too pretty and wonderful."

That got a genuine laugh. "Are you sure YOU'RE not the one with brain damage?" he leered.

They traded barbs while selecting their characters, and then the fight was on. As little respect as Shingo had for his sister – and it was an impressively small amount – he WAS forced to admit that she was pretty good at video games.

But he was better.

This was the final round, and he knew he could take her. He unleashed combo after combo, until Usagi was prime for defeat. Just a few more hits should—

"So, you're in love with Ami-chan, huh?"

"W-WHAT?!"

And then Usagi's character backed his into a corner, unleashed a barrage of lightning kicks, and it was all over.

"Yay, I'm the best!" Usagi cheered, leaping to her feet. "Okay, I'm going to find the others. You're just no challenge at all, Shingo!"

Usagi skipped out, singing a little tune to herself, and Shingo felt his teeth grating together.

Sisters.

God he hated sisters.