I'm here. I'm also here. So why do you only see her?
"Kirari!"
"Kirari look at this!"
"Kirari you look so pretty."
"Kirari, I'll always be with you."
Why do you always call her? I'm here. Right beside her. Do I have to be her for you to see me?
Little Kirari and you are playing in the garden. The young Ririka watched the two of you.
"She's been visiting us very often lately." Rin said. He and Ibara sat beside Ririka on a bench.
"She's very fond of Kirari." Ibara said.
"Yeah. And here we thought Kirari would get tired of her easily. We even gambled how long it would take until she throws her back to Yumeko." Rin said.
"And it took years man. We all lost." Ibara answered.
"She's.... not very hard to like." Ririka whispered.
"Oh? How would you know? You're always only watching from afar."
Rin and Ibara laughed. They stood up and left, still laughing and mumbling. Ririka continued to watch over you and Kirari.
-----
Little Ririka looked outside the shop window. She admired the ribbon displayed in the rack.
"It's so pretty. I want it." she said. "Would papa and Kirari get mad at me? But I really want it."
She walked inside the shop. After a few minutes, she ran out followed by the angry shop owner.
"Hey! Get back here thief!" the man shouted.
-----
"Ririka! Why are you stealing!? We have a lot of money you can spend and you chose to be a thief!? Do you even know what effect that would have!?" Her father shouted at her.
Ririka didn't answer. She only cried.
"We are a well known family! Because of your little stunt, you would put a stain in our names! You are a Momobami. I will make sure you remember that!"
Her father removed his belt and rolled it in his hand. He raised his arms ready to strike little Ririka.
"No! Wait!" Kirari entered the room wearing the ribbon. She ran to Ririka. "It was me! We look exactly the same. The owner must have mistaken her for me. I'm sorry papa."
Kirari hugged Ririka protectively.
"You have always been one to break the rules. Why don't you be like your sister for once Kirari!?"
"Ririka. Go out and play with (Y/n). Pretend to be me. She will play with you." Kirari whispered to her twin.
"I'm allowed to?" Ririka asked.
"Yes. Now go."
Ririka wiped her tears and went out. Kirari smiled at her as she closed the door. She leaned back and was surprised when a loud sound from behind the door echoed. Then another, and another. She heard Kirari cry and little Ririka started crying again.
-----
"Which one of us.. is me?"
"I'll always know you, Kirari."
"I'm so happy!"
The other twin watched in shock as the two kids hugged.
"But... I am Kirari." little Ririka whispered.
-----
"Papa. Kirari gambled and lost. I should be Kirari. But she let (Y/n) win and be the head of the family."
"What are you talking about?" Her father asked.
"I'm not lying Papa. Everyone was there. They know I'm not lying. I should be Kirari instead. (Y/n) should've chosen me. Why does it always have to be Kirari."
-----
"I'm Kirari."
"No. I'm Kirari!"
"(Y/n). We should play outside."
"Don't come with her! I am Kirari. Ririka stop this. We're not playing that game so please stop pretending to be me."
"No. You stop playing. You only want to take (Y/n) for yourself."
"Stop it, you two. If you don't stop, then I'm going home." you said.
"I am Kirari!" they both said.
"Yumeko! I want to go home!" you ran to little Yumeko.
"Okay. Let's go." She hugged you and lead you outside.
"This is your fault!"
"No, it's yours! Stop pretending!"
"Kirari, come here." Their father called out.
"Okay." they both answered and followed their father.
They rode the car. Their father followed the two kids that just left.
-----
A young Kirari wouldn't stop crying. Ririka sat beside her silently.
"It's your fault. It's all because of you! If you only follow what I'm telling you and stay silent, this wouldn't happen! I hate you Ririka!"
-----
"Ririka. Wear this." Kirari gave her a mask. "Listen. Don't ever remove that unless I say so. Don't ever pretend to be me again without my permission. Don't move without telling me. It's for your own good."
Ririka only looked down.
"You don't have to want anything. You only have to follow me. What I have is yours so be contented with what I allow you to have. We're one and the same. You don't have to come out of that mask. If I'm happy, then you should feel happy too."
"You're right. It hurt me too when papa hurt you." Ririka whispered. "It hurt. When (Y/n) went away."
"....."
"....."
"Smile for me Ririka. I want to see your smile." Kirari said.
Ririka was silent again. She took the mask and wore it.
"What a beautiful smile you have... Ririka" Kirari smiled at her sister.
------
Hyakkaou Private Academy
"We welcome all first years to the Academy..." The President, Kirari Momobami, gave her speech.
Mary Saotome didn't listen to any of it. When the ceremony was done, she went out to find her homeroom. She walked around the school to find which building she should be going to. But what she found was different. A woman was sleeping in a bench.
"Hey. Wake up." Mary approached the woman.
The white haired girl slowly opened her eyes and looked at Mary sleepily.
"It's only the first day and you're already slacking off? You've got guts."
"...."
"Are you deaf? Let's go find homeroom together. By the way, what's your name?"
"My.... name? I'm Kirari."
"Are you kidding me!? If I'm not hallucinating, I kind of saw Kirari Momobami speaking on stage. You might look alike but that can't be you."
"Ah..." I'm not Kirari? Then who am I? Oh, my mask. Did I drop it while sleeping?
"Hello? Aghh. I'm Mary Saotome. If you're still asleep then fine. I'm going on ahead. I don't want to be late." Mary said and left.
"Im... Ririka." she whispered.
-----
"Kirari. I want Mary."
"Mary?"
"Yes. Mary Saotome. Let me borrow your face. I want to make her join the council. Please. I want to be as close to her as I could." Ririka begged.
Kirari looked at her with an emotionless face.
"Why?"
"She... asked my name. She said I wasn't you. I feel different after meeting her."
"That's it?"
Ririka nodded.
"Let me think..... Hm. How about no?" Kirari laughed and left her sister alone.
"But..... I'm sorry. I.... really want her. This is the only other time I really wanted something that I'm willing to disobey your orders."
Ririka removed her mask, her expressionless face changed. She smiled, the way Kirari would smile.