After saying yes—
Mochi went home.
Cold fingers.
Warm chest.
Shaking heart.
Candy sat on the living-room floor.
Six years old.
Building a crooked Lego castle.
She looked up.
Big round eyes.
Paused.
"You look weird," Candy said.
Mochi sat beside her.
Quiet.
"Candy… something happened today."
Candy's eyes lit up.
"Did you fight a bear?"
"No."
"A tiger?"
"No."
"A boy?"
Silence.
Mochi's ears turned red.
Candy froze.
Then gasped.
"YOU TALKED TO A BOY?"
Mochi hid her face in her sleeves.
Candy climbed into her lap.
Poked her cheek.
"What did he say?"
"What did you say?"
"Why is your heart going thump-thump-thump?"
Mochi breathed in.
"He asked me on a date."
Time stopped.
Candy froze.
Then—
Her smile exploded.
"OH! CONGRATULATIONS!"
She hugged Mochi's neck.
Tight.
"I'm happy for you, sister!"
"Someone likes you!"
Mochi's breath shook.
"Candy…"
"Do you think I'm weird?"
Candy tilted her head.
"No."
"You're my sister."
"You're the softest human pillow."
Mochi laughed.
Small.
Shaky.
Real.
That night—
Candy slept hugging a giant stuffed carrot.
Mochi stared at the ceiling.
Wide awake.
He chose me.
Why me?
What if I disappoint him?
What if… he really likes me?
Her chest hurt.
Happy.
Terrified.
Sleep didn't come.
Sunday morning.
Nine o'clock.
Mochi sat on the sofa.
TV on.
Not watching.
Legs shaking.
Hands sweating.
Heart pounding like a drum played by a toddler.
Candy walked in.
Milk cup.
Messy hair.
"You scared?" Candy asked.
"No!"
Pause.
"Maybe."
Pause.
"Yes."
Pause.
"No."
Pause.
"YES—NO!"
Candy nodded.
"You're scared."
Before Mochi could react—
Candy grabbed the phone.
Called Maya.
"MAYA!"
"Activate mission: Fix Sister!"
"CANDY, NO—!"
Too late.
Eight minutes later—
Door slammed open.
Maya entered.
With her mother.
Hairstylist.
Armed.
Brushes.
Curlers.
Spray bottles.
Battle ready.
Mochi tried to escape.
Maya grabbed her arm.
Candy grabbed her leg.
Maya's mom tied her hair.
No mercy.
Brush.
Heat.
Cold spray.
"More glitter!"
Mochi surrendered.
When it ended—
Her hair shone.
Cheeks soft pink.
White winter jacket.
Bunny gloves.
Pink knitted cap.
Tiny scarf.
She didn't know.
"We're taking you," Maya said.
"No—"
They dragged her out.
Like a kidnapped princess.
Amusement park.
Cold bench.
Earbuds in her ears.
Then—
They vanished.
Behind a tree.
Masks on.
Mochi sat stiff.
"Why… earphones?" she whispered.
"For training," Maya whispered.
"For comfort," Candy added.
"For spying," Maya corrected.
Candy nodded.
"Yeah."
Mochi didn't understand.
But they did.
Ten o'clock.
Sharp.
Mochi sat straight.
Legs together.
Hands in lap.
Eyes down.
Heart shaking like a baby goat on ice.
Candy whispered through the earbud.
"Smile!"
Mochi whispered back.
"I forgot how…"
Five minutes passed.
Cold wind.
White breath.
Thoughts twisted.
Maybe he forgot.
Maybe he saw me and left.
Maybe I'm not pretty enough.
Candy's voice trembled.
"Sis looks sad…"
Maya whispered.
"Wait. He'll come."
Ten minutes.
Mochi stood.
Eyes shiny.
Lip trembling.
"I… want to go home."
"SISTER NOOO!" Candy cried.
Maya clutched the tree.
"Just a little more!"
Mochi whispered—
"It… hurts to wait."
She sat again.
Smaller.
Quieter.
Hope thinning.
Twenty minutes.
Cold deeper.
Breath white.
Of course he's not coming.
Boys don't like girls like me.
I should've known.
A tear fell.
Onto her glove.
Candy whispered.
"She's crying…"
Maya snapped.
"WHERE IS THAT IDIOT BOY?!"
Mochi stood.
"I'm going home…"
She turned—
And everything was about to explode.