Gonna be the Twin-Tail!!

I love twin-tails.

Ever since I can remember, I've always thought that twin-tails are what make the world a beautiful place.

Looking up at the sky, I don't see the sun, but rather a round, smiling face with lovely, streaming twin-tails.

It sounds like an exaggeration, I get it, but it's true.

I love twin-tails more than anything else.

So, what are twin-tails, you ask? They are ponytails tied up on each side of the head.

They look best with long hair, but even short hair can make for a cute and fun twin-tail look.

There are just so many variations and possibilities for the twin-tail look.

Even if the term sounds unfamiliar at first, most people usually get it after hearing the description or being told to imagine a picture of a cheerleader.

Unfortunately, society sees twin-tails as childish or vapid.

Teenage girls, always eager to appear more grown-up, quickly abandon anything that makes them look younger.

Sadly, twin-tails are among those things.

This charming hairstyle is easily discarded as girls grow up.

Adult women rarely wear twin-tails. Perhaps they feel self-conscious or that the look is unflattering.

The man who asks a grown woman to wear twin-tails is either very brave or a fool.

So, as one grows up, twin-tails fall by the wayside until they are gone from your life for good.

That's probably how it should be.

Except . . . I was different.

The older I got, the more my admiration—really, fixation (or obsession, to be honest)—with twin-tails grew uselessly stronger.

I would unconsciously scan crowds for twin-tails or use my mental image-editing software to seamlessly overlay twin-tails onto people.

It doesn't bother me because I'm not consciously aware of it, but twin-tails are a large part of my life.

If I'm having a conversation and have said this much about twin-tails, the other person usually remembers they're late for something or have an urgent errand to run and hastily makes their exit.

It's always been like this, but I have no regrets.

I also have never felt intimidated or ashamed of my love of twin-tails.

A world where you can love what you love is surely the best.

It feels wrong to change or fake one's tastes and preferences just because they're unpopular.

But that's what I find frustrating.

Even though I love twin-tails so much, as a guy, I can't have them.

Even if I were to grow my hair out for years and finally tie it up, it wouldn't be twin-tails.

All I have is a heart that loves twin-tails.

Perhaps it's impossible to truly understand what twin-tails mean.

That's why I've always hoped that this feeling could take form.

I wished that these emotions—this heart of mine—could materialize and appear before me.

I'm sure they would become the ideal twin-tails I've always envisioned.

What a wonderful thing that would be—something I've always dreamed about . . .

. . . until the day I met her.

My first day of high school was over.

I was having a late lunch with my childhood friend, Aika Tsube, at the Adolescenza café.

It might sound weirdly sophisticated for two high-schoolers to be dining at a quaint, independent café. But for me, it was just lunch at home.

My mother Miharu Mitsuka owned the café, and it was more of a hobby than daily grind of a job for her. We served a special coffee blend that had lots of fans, but she could close up shop on a whim and go out.

Like right now, the sign on the door said, "Closed." Inside the café, it was just the two of us.

The scent of spices hung heavy in the air, but my heart was far heavier with worries just then.

Why did I even write that?

I dunno, Soji. Why did you write a Twin-Tail Club?

Aika was eating the spicy curry without a qualm, only pausing to spare me an exasperated look.

I was panicking. It was unconscious, I really didn't mean to!

Yeah, well, you probably did mean to—unconsciously. Your obsession with twin-tails is kind of ridiculous.

Hey! Look, everyone makes mistakes in life, right?

Uh-huh. Sure. Whatever you say.

She provocatively twirled one of the waist-length strands of her hair around her fingers.

Ngh.

She was clearly taunting me, but it felt refreshingly straightforward because she knew and understood me.

And, of course, her twin-tails were impeccable as always.

They were classic, hanging evenly and cleanly to her waist and revealing through their exquisite simplicity all the years of practice that had been honed into a perfect technique. It was much like how the skill of any great craftsman or artist shines through even the most unostentatious design.

Still, the teacher didn't have to read it aloud.

Are you kidding? It was so bizarre that she could help but say it out loud.

Okay, okay. I get it, my bad.

No amount of protest on my part would change the fact that I had made the biggest blunder of my life on the first day of high school—and when I said life, I meant life.

The private school I attended, Yogetsu Academy, offered a seamless progression from elementary to university level, a true "escalator school." Everything that happened here set the stage for my future.

Starting high school shouldn't have felt particularly momentous, but I was overwhelmed by how much bigger the high school buildings were compared to middle school.

The gym itself was significantly bigger, and the orientation led by various clubs after the entrance ceremony was a sight to behold.

Each club, from sports to culture, had about a minute to condense all their passion into a pitch for the new students. I was duly impressed by all this.

Yet, it was as if I was waiting for something else, something that would speak to my depths.

I found it when the final speaker—a girl—took the stage.

To be precise, it was her hairstyle that captivated me. Twin-tails.

Erina Shindo, the student council president.

Even though she was little taller than an elementary school student, she delivered her welcome speech with a charisma, charm, and dignity that reminded me of some great historical figure and moved the hearts of everyone there.

You all possess infinite possibilities. I promise you that I and Yogetsu Academy will work hard to make your bright futures blossom.

From anyone else, her words might have sounded arrogant, but her poise and elegance carried nothing but caring and determination.

Wow, she's beautiful.

I couldn't take my eyes off her, even forgetting to blink.

I had never heard another kid use such sophisticated language, and even though she was so petite and delicate, that kind of eloquence suited her and added to her charisma.

Most importantly, she had those twin-tails.

Of course, hair cannot have a hierarchy or social class, but if it could, I would have absolutely said that her twin-tails were both noble and beautiful.

Everything was perfect and refined, down to the gentle curls at the tips.

Her twin-tails seemed to dance in divine choreography that harmonized with her gestures, making her seem like a princess waltzing under the light of a dazzling chandelier.

My heart felt like it would burst with pride and delight just at the sight of her.

It might have been my imagination, but everyone else seemed to look at her adoringly as well, but more in the way one would dote on a kitten.

All I could think is that the next three years were going to be wonderful at a school with a twin-tailed student council president like that.

My classmates chatted about their impressions of the various clubs as we walked back to the classroom, but I was still lost in contemplation of the dazzling brilliance of those twin-tails. The rest of orientation, thrilling as it had been, seemed almost insignificant in comparison.

I was still dazed by the president's twin-tails as everyone went around the classroom, introducing themselves.

I hardly even knew what I filled out on the club selection survey.

All right, everyone pass your forms forward, please.

Huh?

Something about the teacher's voice snapped me back to reality, and I hastily grabbed the sheaf of papers handed forward to me and scrambled to scribble something–anything—on my own blank form before passing it on.

Hm . . . oh, there's one here without a name.

Ah, sorry, that's probably me. I was in a hurry.

The teacher tilted her head in confusion as she scanned the form.

Ah, Mitsuka was it? Twin-Tail Club? Is there such a club? Oh, you want to start it? I see . . . um . . .

Huh? No, that's not it—I mean, I don't want to start a club, but, uh, I wanted . . .

My voice trailed off as I was overtaken by panic.

You want to start a twin-tail appreciation club? You must, ah, really like twin-tails, right, Mitsuka?

Absolutely! I mean, yes, of course.

I shouted my approval in a knee-jerk reaction.

And in the blink of an eye, it was over for me.

Just when I thought I could start fresh with all new faced, my stupid mouth went and cemented my reputation for the next three years of high school.

Well, that's it for our first day of school. Be safe on your way home; there have been reports of some perverts and creepy people in the area recently.

Oh, c'mon! Do you have to bring that up now? It's just that I really love twin-tails, teacher. Uh, I mean . . .

And so my bright, shining first day of high school ended in a crash-and-burn catastrophe entirely of my own making.

Ugh . . .

Just remembering it made me want to sink into the ground.

All I knew is that I saw a question that asked me what I was interested in, and I had automatically written, "twin-tails." It had been an utterly absurd reaction.

But it was almost an involuntary physiological response—more like an instinct than anything else.

Mmm . . . more, please.

Aika was already reaching for her second plate of curry while I couldn't even choke down a single sip of coffee.

Did I mention that her second plate was actually my plate? Not that it mattered since I had no appetite.

What really messed you up was your response, not the fact that you wrote it down. You panicked and totally lost it.

If you knew I was panicking, why didn't you help me out? We're friends, aren't we?

Friends, huh?

Aika pursed her lips in displeasure, but I felt like she didn't really have the right to act so coyly after stealing my lunch.

That form was just a starter survey about what clubs you might be interested in. Nobody would actually fill out the the whole part about wanting to create a club. I mean, who would do that on their first day?

Well . . .

Wanting to create your own club like that is kind of like insulting everyone who did a presentation or contributed to the club handbook. It's like saying you're too good for them or too stubborn about having your own way—

—and even worse, I suggested a dumb thing like having a twin-tail club.

Exactly.

I can think about it clearly now, but back then, my mind was completely blank!

Ha! I can say with one hundred percent confidence that I wouldn't have blurted out the name of a hairstyle for a club.

You can square your shoulders and sneer at me all you want, but it's not gonna make your chest any bigger, and—

She cut off even this feeble attempt at resistance by punching me in the face.

I knew I had hit a sore spot because her small chest was something she was sensitive about. It was easy and practically the only way I had of fighting back. But as the exchange above showed, I never got very far with it because she was perfectly capable of punching a guy in the face with one hand while continuing to eat with the other.

Part of me felt bad for teasing her about it, but I almost couldn't help it. Everything else about her was absolutely perfect, especially those twin-tails. Oh, those twin-tails!

Ugh. If only I was better at comebacks.

I could have easily blamed the president for ruining my future with her dazzling, daze-inducing twin-tails. But, at the end of the day, I had to admit that it really was all my fault.

Hanging my head in despair, I contemplated my bleak, socially-isolated future.

You know, this may have been for the best. Your ridiculous obsession with twin-tails was going to be exposed at some point. It was probably best to get it over with up front, right?

Is that supposed to be sympathy? How can you even pretend to be sympathetic while stuffing your face like that—and who even has curry and coffee at the same time?

I eyed her skeptically as she finished the last bite. For all she packed in—two bowls of curry—she never put on any weight, not even on her chest where it would have counted (or at least defused my one comeback). Maybe all the nutrients went to maintaining her hair?

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck rose. I turned and looked behind us.

Huh?

A woman was sitting at a table.

Her table was behind ours at a right angle, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she was looking over at us.

Weird. I'm sure my mom closed the shop, and it was me and Aika.

Still, I saw that she had an empty cup in front of her, so I figured she must have been there earlier, and I just hadn't noticed. Maybe I had been too wrapped up in contemplation of my humiliation, and Mom had been in too much of a hurry to notice before leaving.

I winced thinking about the ruckus Aika and I had been making while thinking we were by ourselves.

Hey, Soji, you're doing it again.

Oh.

I had instinctively grabbed one of Aika's twin-tails and was gently tugging at it.

I let go of it like it was a hot coal, and she rolled her eyes at me.

Really, it was mostly Aika's fault for putting her twin-tails on the table and within reach . . . and, yes, I knew that sounded seriously selfish, and I needed to reflect on myself for it.

Truth be told, it wasn't Aika's fault because if she didn't put her long twin-tails on a chair or the table, they would have touched the floor.

Sorry, but you know I've been doing that since I was a kid. Touching your hair calms me down. But, yeah, I'm sorry.

I know.

She sighed again and shook her head.

I kinda starting to worry about myself a little bit because of you.

Me? Why me?

Because your obsession with twin-tails is gonna be misunderstood—or worse, understood—and then the fact I'm friends with you . . . well, I mean, people could get ideas and things.

Aika set her coffee cup down, glanced at me, then at the table, all while fiddling nervously with her fingers.

Whoa, wait, so you're saying you'd change your hairstyle?

No—no way. Why should I change my hairstyle just because of what other people say? I like it this way!

Thank goodness some things never changed.

I was never more proud of her in that moment.

She might complain on the surface, but she loved twin-tails almost as much as me.

I felt bad when she would get teased because of being with me, since we were always together.

But then I knew she was strong, and she was right, too. There was no need to worry about what anyone else thought.

Aika was my childhood friend and was still my best friend.

Everyone has at least one friend they can confide any secret to, one friend who will be there for life.

In my case, it just so happens that friend was a girl.

Not only did we live literally next door to each other, but our families had been close since before we were born. If anything, she was like a sister to me.

I used to lose in fights as a kid in elementary school, but then I found out she was training with her grandfather who had been a martial artist. My competitive spirit pushed me into going to the dojo with her. That was really when we started spending even more time together, and it had been that way ever since.

We started in the same class, and that's how it went on. Even when new students joined the school, or we moved to middle school, and eventually high school, we were always in the same class as if it was the most natural thing in the world. It was a bond that couldn't be contained or summed up with measly little words or phrases such as, "old friends."

Aika was popular with both boys and girls because of her fun-loving, approachable personality and amazing strength.

Unlike me, she didn't make mistakes or humiliate herself on the first day of school. I promised myself that I would try my best not to cause her trouble.

Huh?

Another, stronger set of shivers ran up my spine.

Hm? What’s wrong?

No, it’s nothing.

I mumbled my excuse but was still frowning. This is probably what made Aika aware that there was another customer in the cafe.

No way, how did you not see her?

Even though she was surprised, she kept her voice to a whisper. She was usually keenly aware of her surroundings, so it was natural she was shocked that she hadn't noticed the woman.

The woman at the table looked up from her coffee cup, and our eyes met.

She quickly turned away, staring resolutely at the blank wall as if determined to win a staring contest with it.

What the heck?

Her behavior puzzled me a little bit, but I explained it away to myself that Aika and I had been loud, so she was probably trying to give us a subtle hint to keep it down.

I shrugged it off, but Aika seemed on guard and unable to let it go.

Twin-tails can convey emotions—not just anger, sadness, or joy, but distrust and tension as well.

Twin-tails speak as much as mouths do—at least that was my theory.

Hmmm.

Aika crooked her finger at me, beckoning me closer. Before leaning in, I glanced over at the woman. She was holding a newspaper out in front of her like a screen.

It wasn't very effective because I could see that she had poked two holes in the paper and was peeking through.

Was she trying to play some retro spying game?

The whole thing was so corny that I had to roll my eyes.

The only other explanation I could think of for this was that maybe a tv sketch show was being filmed here.

Maybe there were hidden cameras in the café (though I doubted my mom would have allowed it). In any case, I didn't want to be dragged into this.

Don't make anymore eye contact.

Definitely.

Aika nodded, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she turned her attention back to me.

Just as we agreed on this, the woman folded her newspaper and put it down, then stood up.

I thought she was leaving, but my relief was short-lived. She walked straight over to our table.

She stopped right in front of us and smiled brightly.

Is it all right if I join you?

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on there.

The last thread of Aika's patience snapped.

Yes?

Instead of being flustered by Aika, the woman simply tilted her head to the side and kept smiling.

Who are you?

Oh, don't mind me.

I do mind you.

I have business with this gentleman here.

With me?

The woman had gestured to me, her movement poised and elegant as if she was a tour guide showing off a priceless artifact.

Well, he's my friend, so your business is with both of us. Besides, who knows what you've got in mind. Just look at you! You have the nerve to smile like butter won't melt in your mouth, but your tits are practically falling out of your shirt!

Hey, it's okay, Aika. Calm down.

I soothed Aika, who had clearly reached her boiling point. But even as I tried to calm her, I couldn't help but stare at the young woman in front of me.

She was definitely eccentric, but now that I got a good look at her, I could see how astonishingly beautiful she was.

While she definitely looked foreign, she spoke fluent Japanese.

Oddly enough, her hair was the color of pure silver.

It wasn't white or a dye job. Somehow, I could tell it was real, but that made it all the more unearthly and gorgeous.

Even without the lights in the café reflecting off it, her hair seemed to have its own shine.

It was a stark yet striking contrast with her sapphire blue eyes with their long silver lashes.

She had a pretty little nose, and those smiling lips were the perfect peachy pink.

Honestly, she reminded me of a fairy or elf from a movie.

Her whole presence felt magical. Even the air around her seemed to shimmer from endless specks of light, as if a thousand fireflies were drawn to her.

And yes, Aika had hit on the one thing that was impossible to ignore—her very full, very round, very bouncy chest.

I amended my observation. She wasn't just a fairy from a movie. She was a scandalously charming fairy from some adult-rated film.

She didn't look too much older than Aika, but the difference in their maturity was pointed.

Unlike Aika's nondescript school uniform, the young woman wore a thin dress that emphasized her cleavage and her curves.

She did wear some kind of white coat over it. I'm not an expert in women's clothing, but it looked like a cross between a lab coat and a trench coat.

The coat provided just enough modesty so that she could walk down the street wearing that tiny dress without getting arrested for indecency. The dress was so short that I wondered how her underwear wasn't showing, though it displayed her long, elegant legs perfectly . . . Still, the young woman clearly knew what looked good on herself because she wore the dress with absolute confidence.

She clearly wasn't someone the average person would encounter in their everyday life.

There was only flaw I could find in her extraordinary appearance.

With that sparkling silver hair, twin-tails would have suited her remarkably well.

But there I went again, picturing every woman I met—especially the cute ones—with twin-tails.

Most adolescent boys probably simply stripped a cute girl naked in their minds, a sad, basic, and utterly unimaginative remnant of ancient instincts.

Naked or twin-tails.

If I had to be honest, they were both about the same when it came to fantasies.

Ouch!

Aika poked me in the temple with a straw.

What are you doing?

Hmph!

She turned away.

The young woman was watching our exchange and laughed softly. It wasn't an amused chuckle. It sounded sinister, almost a bit evil.

Clearly, that must have been my imagination.

After all, she seemed harmless.

Uh, do you need something from us?

Unconsciously, I scooted back in my seat.

The young woman leaned forward, coming closer to me.

Yes. I have an important matter to discuss with you.

Important matter?

Playing dumb hadn't worked.

Aika frowned more fiercely at being left out of the conversation.

My name is Twoearle. Like the word "twirl."

Ah . . . Twoearle.

She was definitely foreign, but she spoke Japanese like a native.

You like twin-tails, don't you?

I love them.

Ah. I couldn't believe I had just done it again.

I had revealed myself with such a knee-jerk reaction to someone I had just met. I really hadn't reflected on the day's events at all.

Then would you put on this bracelet? Don't ask any questions, just try it on.

What are you talking about?

Twoearle took something out of her coat pocket and handed it to me.

It was a sparkling red bracelet.

As I stared at the bracelet in confusion, she gently wrapped her hand around mine.

Hey, wait—

Her slender fingers glided along the back of my hand, sending a shiver through some very different parts of my body.

Now, please put it on.

Don't do it! Give it back to her!

Aika leaned over and snatched the bracelet away, thrusting it back at Twoearle.

What’s with you, suddenly butting in and doing all this? It’s rude!

No, I assure you I have no ill intentions. You needn't be so suspicious of me.

Are you kidding me? You're nothing but suspicious.

As usual, Aika was mercilessly straightforward, even with someone she had just met. But she was wasn't wrong; Twoearle was definitely suspicious.

Um, well . . . okay.

She clapped her hands and cleared her throat.

Soji, just pay attention to me, okay?

Huh?

She instantly became friendly again. Her mood changes and actions were leaving me bewildered.

Just look at me. Twoearle. Just at me, okay? Look, I'm in a bit of trouble, so could you please put on the bracelet?

Was I imagining things, or was she leaning forward even more, giving me an eyeful of her cleavage as she pleaded.

Uh . . .

What on earth is your game? Are you some kind of con artist trying to get him to buy something?

Ack!

Even as I was stammering and hesitating, a small Aika-shaped whirlwind rushed past me.

She slapped Twoearle with terrifying force.

Whoa! Are you crazy? You can't just go hitting someone you just met like that!

I wasn't so much shouting as screaming.

And for good reason—that hadn't been an ordinary slap. It was a bone-bruising strike, one of the many techniques Aika's deceased grandfather had taught her. It was a Mizukage-ryu jujitsu move intended to inflict sharp, intense pain without shaking the brain too much, almost like a torture technique.

The fact that she, a mere high school girl, could use that move flawlessly was truly impressive.

It was clear why her grandfather had pushed Aika to be his successor until his last breath.

Listen, Soji, this chick is a scam artist. I swear, she's just like the lady who lured my sister into a back alley near the station to tell her fortune, but a bunch of punks wearing spikes and mohawks were waiting!

Okay, maybe she is a scam artist, but seriously, she's not gonna lure me into an alley and jump me.

Looking at her, even thinking she was a con artist was a stretch.

Twoearle was holding her cheek and looking down, and I began to worry.

Are you okay, miss? Sometimes my friend doesn't know her own strength.

Beautiful Foreigner Assaulted for no Reason in Café—I could just see the headline rolling around the world.

I did hold back! It shouldn't hurt that much.

Aika sounded anxious but deep down, I knew she probably thought it was just a minor bump on the level of let-mama-kiss-it-and-make-it-better.

Still, if she had held back, then what was that bone-cracking sound I had heard?

Oh, I'm okay, really.

Are you sure?

Trembling and holding her cheek, she didn't seem okay at all.

Trying to catch her eye, I reached out to touch her shoulder, and Aika grabbed my wrist and yanked it away.

Huh?

Damn!

Twoearle had been trying to sneak the bracelet onto my wrist while I was distracted by trying to look her in the eye.

It was all an act!

Why do you want to put that on me so bad?

Feeling kind of creeped out by all this, I backed up as far as I could in my seat.

My heart, however, was pounding like it had sprinted to put a hundred meters of distance between us.

It’s free of charge! Please, please, put it on! If you don't, I'll be in trouble. But if it comes to that, I'll put it on you myself.

It was just a stupid bracelet, but this all sounded like it was about something else entirely. I wanted her to leave me alone.

Don't do it, Soji! Once it's on, you can't return it, and she'll charge you up the nose for it! Next thing you know, those punks on their bikes are gonna crash through the door.

Aika had a good sense of awareness when it came to danger, but her actual knowledge about real threats was definitely skewed.

Twoearle clasped her hands and batted her eyes, silently begging me.

If you put this on, I'll do anything you say.

What?

Even though I knew it was a bad idea, my heart wavered. My eyes were drawn to Twoearle's hair.

Anything at all?

I leaned in without thinking.

The thought of seeing that brilliant silver hair tied up in twin-tails filled my mind.

Yes, you can do anything to me, whether it's the regular stuff or something unorthodox. In fact, I'd totally be into anything different and wild!

Twoearle was blushing, and her breath was coming out in short pants.

Uh, I'm not sure what kind of creepy stuff you're thinking about.

This was bad.

Twoearle might speak Japanese, but there was clearly something lost in the translation.

I know what you're thinking, but give it up, lady. All he's going to do is ask you to put your hair up in twin-tails.

Huh? He wants to give me a makeover? Even though he's a boy?

Aika had nailed it, though Twoearle seemed a little deflated.

It would have been odd if Aika had gotten it wrong. After all, if I was offered "anything," I'd ask for twin-tails. Typical.

Twoearle smiled ruefully and waved her hands.

Oh, it's okay. Come on, don't worry. You can have more than that. Think of it as a bonus. Go ahead, you can grab with both hands. Experience for yourself just how full they are.

She thrust her considerable chest into my face, leaving me nowhere else to look.

She even grabbed my face with both her hands to make me look at her.

Back off, pervert! I'll break your spine, and I'd get off on self defense!

Was there a tactful way to teach Aika that not everything could be considered self-defense?

Calm down, Aika! I've got it. I've got it, all right?

I needed to resolve this before Aika crossed a line.

Look, I'll take the bracelet. She said it's free like those samples of stuff they hand out in the grocery store. If I accept it, everything will be okay. It is free, right?

Of course!

Her smile bloomed like a flower, and again, I was captivated. She'd be a beautiful regular girl if only she acted normal.

No way! Free is just the beginning of the scam! It's like one of those subscriptions where they lure you with a free gift, and then they add all kinds of extras and service charges until you're paying out the nose.

What are you even talking about?

If he doesn't wear this bracelet, the world will end! And you could just read the terms of service for the subscription, you know.

And what are your terms of service, Ms. Free Gift?

This conversation was getting weirder by the minute. How did we end up talking about this stuff?

Seriously, though, if you don't put this bracelet on, twin-tails will disappear from this world.