CHAPTER 7
"Yui! You made it," Mugi greets her with a warm smile.
Ui returns the smile, trying her best to act like her sister. "Yep, I'm here. Sorry for being late."
Mugi stands up and walks over to Ui, adjusting her hair as she says, "No need to apologize. Let me help you with your hair."
Ui nods, feeling a bit awkward but appreciative of Mugi's kindness. She can't help but think how different this is from her usual interactions with Mugi and Ritsu.
The unfamiliar faces of students she doesn't know and the different classroom environment makes her feel somewhat out of place. Not only does she barely know most of the students there, but she can't even bring herself to act properly to talk to Mugi and Ritsu.
Ui tries to maintain Yui's usual cheerful demeanor. The class was a way different experience than she is currently used to. The lessons go by smoothly, with Ui trying her best to participate and fit in. However, every time she raises her hand to ask a question, she notices the students' reactions. Ritsu looks like she's about to have a heart attack as the world is about to end, and Mugi seems absolutely fascinated by Ui's newfound enthusiasm for learning having stars in her eyes. Fortunately, there weren't any quizzes and the lessons were easy enough, most of them at least.
Ui just tried laughing it off.
…
It's finally break time and Ui can finally go check on her sister.
Ui wonders how Yui is doing. Hopefully, she's doing well. Has Azusa or Jun caught her yet? Ui can only go to find out.
During the break, Ui finally has a chance to check on her sister. She's curious about how Yui is managing in her place and whether Azusa or Jun has caught onto the switch. Ui's concern for her sister is evident, and she's determined to find out how everything is going.
stepping out of the classroom during the break. She's on a mission to find her sister, Yui, who is impersonating her. As she walks down the hallway, she can't help but be worried.
Suddenly, Ui spots Ritsu and Mugi in the hallway, chatting animatedly. They're discussing the unusual behavior of their friend, Yui, who seems to have transformed overnight into somehow a responsible and diligent student.
Ui approaches them with a friendly smile, trying to maintain her Yui persona. "Hey, Ri-chan, Mugi-chan! What's up?"
Ritsu and Mugi exchange glances, still clearly bewildered by the drastic change in Yui's behavior. Ritsu, the most outspoken of the group, can't contain her curiosity any longer. "Yui, is that really you? You're acting so... How can I put this?... not like you!"
Ui chuckles nervously. She's doing her best to mimic Yui but it doesn't seem to be working as much as it did. she's not fooling her friends entirely. "Haha, yeah, I guess I'm just having a good day today. You know how it is!"
Mugi, always the polite one, chimes in, "It's wonderful to see you so focused, Yui. But are you feeling alright?"
Ui nods vigorously. "I've never felt better! Anyway, have you seen Ui around? I wanted to ask her something."
Ritsu and Mugi exchange glances again. "We don't know, unfortunately. You can always ask Azusa since they're classmates after all..
Ui nods, not wanting to raise any more suspicion. "Yeah, maybe you're right. Well, I'll go find her and have a chat. Catch you later!"
As Ui continues down the hallway, she can't help but feel a mixture of confusion and concern. Her sister seems to be adapting surprisingly well to her role. Ui wonders how the real Yui is handling her responsibilities and if she's managing to fool anyone in her class.
Pushing aside her worries for the moment, Ui focuses on finding her sister. As she rounds a corner, she spots Azusa and Jun chatting near the entrance to the classroom. They seem engrossed in conversation, unaware of Ui's approach.
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves putting back her Yui mask, Ui approaches them with a bright smile. "Hey, Azunyan, Jun! What are you two up to?"
Azusa looks up, surprise flickering across her features before she quickly masks it with a smile. "Oh, Senpai! How's your fever?
Ui's heart skips a beat. She hadn't expected Azusa to ask so directly. She fumbled for a moment before replying, "I'm all better now, I'll feel much more better with my Azu energy" Ui improvised by going with a signature Yui hug which Azusa quickly dodged. Ui hopes she did everything perfectly.
"Anyways, do you know where can I find Ui?" the brunette asked.
The two could tilt their head in question. Ui could only find these reactions rather concerning.
"Ui… well I think she went to the library after class which is rather weird, she's usually glued with Jun-san. Come to think of it she was rather acting weird the entire class." Azusa recalled.
"Weird? How so?. Ui asked thinking about every possibility of what her sister did.
"Well… to start things off Ui felt more distant today and kinda unapproachable I think?" Azusa explained.
"You think?"
"It was a surreal experience that's all I can say, She was smiling the entire time, when we tried talking to her… she smiled even wider. I can't… like she was thinking of something… creepy… It's hard to explain we don't get it too but maybe something happened?" Jun added as the two looked towards the brunette's direction.
"I'm not sure…"
Walking towards the library. Ui racks her brain for a plausible explanation. Everything has been weird since she and Yui switched places. She can't shake off the feeling that something is off, but she can't afford to let their friends know the truth. As she reaches the library, Ui's heart pounds in her chest. She's not sure what she'll find inside.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, Ui steps into the quiet sanctuary of the library. Rows of bookshelves stretch out before her, and the scent of old paper fills the air. She scans the room, searching for any sign of her sister.
And then, she sees her.
Yui is sitting at a table near the back of the library, surrounded by a stack of books. Appearing as graceful Ui had ever seen her flipping through the pages, completely engrossed in whatever she was reading.
Ui's relief is palpable as she walks over to her sister. "Onee-chan, there you are! I've been looking all over for you."
Yui looks up, a bright smile lighting up her face. "What are you doing here? Onee-chan." The older sibling said playfully. "Shouldn't you be in class? I think we only have a few minutes left"
Ui hesitates for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Yui seems to still be playing her role,
"I... uh... it's just you left the house so suddenly earlier. I wanted to talk more." Eyeing her sister's reaction, she looked indifferent as if she didn't even hear her, her focus remained on the books she was reading.
Her sister never was one to have an interest in reading, at least in her knowledge. Ui finds it Odd, Ui can't hold her curiosity any longer she asks.
"How about you? What are you doing here?"
Yui shrugs, her smile never faltering. "Oh, just doing some research."
Ui's unease grows as she watches her sister's behavior. There's something unsettling about the way Yui seems so engrossed in her reading as if nothing else matters.
"Research?" Ui echoes, trying to keep her voice steady despite the growing sense of dread in her chest. "On what?"
Yui's smile widens, sending a chill down Ui's spine. "Oh, just some... interesting topics," she replies cryptically, her eyes glittering with an intensity that makes Ui's skin crawl.
Ui tries to shake off her growing sense of unease, but it's impossible to ignore the feeling that something is terribly wrong. She glances around the library, suddenly acutely aware of how empty and silent it is, as if they're the only ones there.
"Onee-chan, we need to talk," Ui says, her voice barely above a whisper.
Yui looks up, her smile fading slightly. "Talk? About what, Onee-chan?"
Ui swallows hard, trying to push down the rising tide of fear threatening to overwhelm her. "About... about what's been happening. About why you've been acting so strange lately."
Yui's expression shifts, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Strange? Whatever do you mean, Onee-chan? I'm just being myself."
But Ui isn't fooled. There's something about Yui's demeanor, something cold and calculating beneath the surface, that fills her with a sense of dread.
"You're not yourself, Onee-chan," Ui insists, her voice trembling. "You're... different. And it's scaring me."
Yui's smile fades completely, replaced by a look of cold amusement that sends a shiver down Ui's spine. "Scaring you, Onee-chan? Whatever do you mean?" she asks innocently, but there's a dangerous glint in her eyes that Ui can't ignore.
Before Ui can respond, the library door creaks open, and Azusa and Jun step inside, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion.
"Ui, there you are!" Azusa exclaims, her voice breaking the tense silence that had settled over the room. "We've been looking all over for you."
Ui couldn't help but feel relieved. She gathered her things quickly, eager to escape the oppressive atmosphere that had settled, not before looking into her sister's eyes, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was already in too deep,
"We can talk more later at home, Onee-chan," The older sibling says, her voice sending a shiver down Ui's spine.
Ui forces herself to nod, her heart pounding in her chest.
Everything feels wrong
CHAPTER END