"Chie?"

Her bedroom door burst open. "You can't knock on the door, huh, Sis?"

"Hey, this is my apartment. You're staying here, remember?"

"You're such a snob," Chie stuck out her tongue, teasingly. "What's the use of that door? It's better to just pull it out! You always go in like this."

"You too! Always barging into my room without asking. It's kinda our family thing, don't you think?"

"Are you saying rudeness is hereditary?"

"You are more rude than me."

Her big sister jumped onto the bed. Ne-chan's hair was still a little wet, indicating she had just been in the shower. "Let me borrow your nail clipper. I forgot where I put mine."

"You can't cut your nails at night, Sis!"

"Shut up. You're just like Grandma!"

"If you cut your nails at night, you won't be able to see your parents when they die."

"That's a myth. My big toenail is broken."

Chie pouted. She opened her desk drawer, taking out a nail clipper and threw it to her big sister, who managed to catch it on time. Damn, Chie thought, she was hoping it to hit Ne-chan in the head.

"By the way, what are you doing, Chie?"

"Isn't it too late to ask? You should have asked earlier, before barging into my room."

Ne-chan leaned over and patted Chie's calf. "I'm trying to be a good big sister here," she said. "Why are you just lying around? Don't you have homework to do?"

"My homework is finished."

Sound from the nail clipper filled the room as Ne-chan continued, "How is your part-time job? Have you received any call for interview?"

She sighed in silence. Ne-chan always brought up things that made her feel down. "I'm still looking because my own sister won't help me, even though there is a job vacancy in her office that I qualify for!"

"I told you," Ne-chan patted her calf again. Chie pulled her legs free from the playful abuse and sat cross-legged on the bed. "I can't just recommend you because you're my sister. If I get caught, it will cause trouble."

"I didn't ask for your recommendation. I just wanted the application form."

"Same thing. It's called collusion!" Ne-chan wagged her finger. "Big no-no!"

"We're not the only Maruyamas in the entire Japan." Chie let out a pointed remark, wanting Ne-chan to feel guilty. "If you don't mention we're siblings, no one will know."

"The HR department might still be suspicious if they see your identity and photo," Ne-chan replied, her tone less apologetic than Chie had hoped. "Besides, the job is for an admin. You'll be at the mercy of other employees."

"That's not entirely true. Do you even know what admin work involves?"

"Of course I know!" Ne-chan replied with conviction. "Admin is just a fancy term for office helper. You'll be running errands, making coffee, organizing documents, attending meetings as a clerk, arranging social gatherings, reserving spots in restos for nomikai, and other mundane tasks. You won't gain any valuable skills. You'd be better off working in a restaurant or tutoring."

"What skills would I learn as a restaurant worker or tutor?" Chie countered.

"You'll learn to watch your mouth," Ne-chan quipped back.

Chie pulled her sister's hair, but she caught her hand and squeezed it. Chie marveled at her sister's agility, considering she was only an employee at a cosmetics company who spent most of her time at the office sitting and typing.

"Thanks for the help," Chie sneered. "You're so helpful."

"No problem," Ne-chan replied as she moved to clipping the nails on her other foot.

Chie was lucky because her sister was already working in Tokyo, so she could live in her apartment. Ne-chan didn't mind paying for their food, even though Chie ate a lot. As for college expenses, she still received pocket money from their parents in Osaka. However, seeing Haru, who was already working, made her feel a bit left behind. Spending her days going to campus and studying made life seem meaningless.

"Gosh, look at you!" Ne-chan smashed her face with a pillow. "You're daydreaming again! You... have a crush on someone, don't you?"

"Huh, why makes you think of that?"

"No need to lie. I've been on eight relationships. I'm experienced."

Whoa, Chie thought. At twenty-five, having been in eight relationships seemed like a lot. But considering how attractive her big sis was, she could see why many guys interested.

"So..." Ne-chan poked her waist. "Who is the boy you have a crush on?"

Chie sighed. She was still unsure herself.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Only the sound of scissors filled the room for a few seconds.

"Sis..." Ne-chan had been living in Tokyo for a year. Her knowledge should be broader than me, she thought. "What does gay mean?"

The sound of nail clippers stopped. Ne-chan threw back her hair and looked at Chie. "Why are you suddenly asking that, Chie?"

"I'm just... curious."

"Don't embarrass me. You know what that means."

"I know... it's just..." She couldn't bring herself to continue.

"Gays are men who also like men," Ne-chan explained in a matter-of-fact tone.

Tick. Tick. Tick. The silence stretched for a moment.

"Do you have gay friends, Sis?"

The nail clippers stopped again. Ne-chan glanced up at the ceiling, chewing her lips in thought. "Hmm... I think I do. Kamagi-san is the only guy on our team. He's my manager."

"Your manager is gay because he works at a women's cosmetics company?"

"Are you asking me or testing me?" Ne-chan playfully jabbed the pillow beside her. This time Chie had anticipated Ne-chan's move and easily dodged it.

"Kamagi-san is almost forty; he's really handsome and very charming, like a Korean actor. We often chat, and one topic that often comes up is our significant others. But Kamagi-san has never mentioned having a girlfriend. He said he's single, but we don't buy it. With his looks, it's highly unlikely for someone to stay single at that age."

Chie frowned. "So, you're just suspicious, huh?"

"Well, I've seen Kamagi-san being picked up by the same guy several times," Ne-chan explained. "So one day, I decided to ask him about it. Kamagi-san said the boy was his cousin. I mean, come on. That was the lamest lie I ever heard."

"Haru walks with Fujiwara-san every morning," Chie remarked casually.

"Haru?" Ne-chan sat straight like a meerkat. "Fujiwara-san?"

"Never mind."

"Oooh!" Sinister sparkles lit up in Ne-chan's eyes. "You have a crush on a gay guy, don't you Chie?"

"What? No, I don't!"

"Or are you secretly a fujoshi?" Ne-chan shifted and fixed her gaze on Chie like a hawk observing its prey. "Fujioka-san, my desk neighbor at work, is a fujoshi. She has hundreds of Boys-Love comics and secretly draws her own comics."

"I'm not a fujoshi!" Chie felt the urge to escape but found herself cornered. "I... It's about someone else."

"Who? Tell me or I'll find out by myself."

"Haru," Chie surrendered.

"Haru who?" Ne-chan's eyes widened. "Oh, wait a minute. You mean Haru-kun? The boy who used to swim naked with you in the river when you were a kid? He was often teased by other kids as a demon child, right? He was quite handsome in high school..."

"Seriously, Sis, why do you remember those details?"

"How could I forget? Haru-kun is a sweet child but he didn't have many friends because his skin color was different from his siblings, right? Then when you were in kindergarten, you shamelessly asked the poor kid, 'Are you really a demon child?' Father was so embarrassed that he had to bow down and apologize to Nakano-san. But since then, you and Haru have been close friends until we moved to Osaka."

Chie marveled at her big sis' memory. "Yes, that Haru."

"How is he now? You two are on the same campus, right? Where does he live? We should invite him for dinner next time."

"Yeah, he's fine, he grew like fifteen centimeters last year. He lives in Kunitachi with 'Auntie from Tokyo.'"

Ne-chan's eyes widened further. "The lady who often visited the Nakanos? What was her name..."

"Nishii-san."

"Right. Does this mean..."

Chie nodded, and Ne-chan grasped her meaning. "I think she's the one."

"That means our parents' suspicions were correct. I'm relieved to hear that," Ne-chan sighed and rubbed her chin. The nail clippers laid forgotten. "So he's the guy you like?"

"Ugh, how's that even possible? I know Haru for a long time," she said. "Isn't that a bit weird? Having a crush on your childhood best friend?"

"Who says? Not weird at all," Ne-chan shrugged, grinning mischievously. "So if it's not a crush on Haru-kun, then what? Do you fantasize about him? Imagine him dating someone?"

"Just shut up, will you?" Chie kicked out at her big sis as hard as she could.

Ne-chan stumbled momentarily but quickly regained her balance. "Aren't you and Haru married or betrothed or something? I always thought it was just a joke."

"It was a joke. But what's wrong with actually marrying Haru?" Chie retorted.

Ne-chan casually picked up Chie's hair tie and put it on. She sighed heavily and leaned against the wall with only half of her right foot's nails cut, a pose Chie often caught her in towards the end of the month.

"Ah, I get it. You're pregnant, aren't you?" Ne-chan asked abruptly. "You slept with him, didn't you?"

"Sis!" Chie kicked Ne-chan again. "Do you even hear yourself?"

Ne-chan, now on the floor, quickly got up and placed her hands on her hips. "That's what you were trying to say, right?"

"Is your brain on vacation? 'Cause you sound really stupid right now."

"You want to marry Haru-kun and you're asking for my opinion," Ne-chan continued, pacing around the room like an annoying old lady. "I mean if you're already pregnant, then it can't be helped. I reckon Mother and Father would give their permission... eventually. You'll get scolded first, of course, but other than that..."

"Nobody's pregnant, okay?"

"But you still want to marry Haru?"

"Well, later if possible. I mean..." Chie felt her cheeks burning. Ne-chan was so quick to conclude their conversation. "I mean, aren't we supposed to date first?"

"Traditionally, that's the way to go, but you know what..." Ne-chan suddenly halted. "This sounds a bit one-sided. Have you asked Haru-kun? Do you know his feelings? Does he like you too? 'Cause you're not an easy person to love, I tell you that. You're too noisy."

"Thank you so much."

"I didn't compliment you. Just answer the questions."

"I... have no idea."

Ne-chan didn't answer immediately and just watched her closely. Chie could tell from Ne-chan's expression that her sister was deep in thought.

"Does this have anything to do with your question about gays earlier?" Ne-chan finally asked. "Do you suspect that Haru-kun is gay?"

"About that... I don't know either."

"You're his friend. You hang out with him every day. You should know who he hangs out with."

"All I know is Haru has never dated anyone until now."

"So you concluded he was gay?" Ne-chan's eyes widened like marbles. "This is a serious accusation, you know. Have you ever caught Haru-kun hanging out with a guy?"

"Well, if you put it like that... I think... maybe. There's a guy, his neighbor. His name is Fujiwara-san. They..." Chie trailed off. What are they, Chie?

Ne-chan's eyebrows raised. "They...?"

"They... often go everywhere together. But that's because they are neighbors. Geez, Sis, stop staring at me!"

"Well, it's hard to detect same-sex relationships because they're not as obvious as heterosexual couples," Ne-chan commented seriously. "In that case, I don't think you should jump to conclusions. It's better if you ask directly—"

"Ask directly? Are you crazy? How could I do something like that?"

"Well, you and Haru are best friends. I think he won't hesitate to tell you because he already trusts you. Another option is to look for evidence. For this one, I think you're pretty good. You like investigating."

"I won't spy on Haru!"

"Oh my, of course not like that!" Ne-chan grimaced and climbed onto the bed. She continued clipping her nails. "I'm not saying you have to spy on him, but at least you can gather information about his relationships, right?"

Chie choked. Ne-chan was right, she should find out about Haru's feelings for her. So far, they have been friends, but as for a more serious relationship...

"In that case, I think you're right, Sis."

"I know I am." Ne-chan stood up and twirled the nail clipper chain around her finger. "When you find out, let me know, okay? 'Cause I'm curious about that too."