Chapter 3: A Girl Caught Between Two Suns
"Sis"...
The word that woke Miku from her queen-like sleep.
The room painted light pink, bed softer than the clouds, the room filled with colourful neon lights resembling the rainbows, a room fit for a queen.
"What is it?" asked the sleepy-eyed girl, her voice muffled by the pillow.
Arima stood at the door, arms folded, silently watching her. A dozen thoughts swirled in her head—but she said nothing. The usual silence crept back into the room like a soft fog. Then it hit her—Rio.
A cheeky, blushful smile popped up on Miku's face.
Suddenly, Arima jumped on her like a ninja ambush.
"So it was a boy?" she asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.
A surprised Miku blinked. "Huh? What do.. what do you mean a boy?"
Die-hard, detective-mode Arima leaned in dramatically.
"Yesterday! You came back late—which is so not like you—and you were like over the moon. So come on sis, who was it?"
Miku's cheeks went full crimson. She dove under the bed covers, burying herself as she was trying to avoid the matter. But no matter how deep she went, the thought of Rio refused to leave her head.
Moments after Arima skipped off, Miku peeked out from under the blanket. She quickly grabbed her phone and checked her messages.
A text from Taiki.
Her heart skipped a beat. Or two.
> "Good morning."
Just two words. Simple. But her chest fluttered like a trapped butterfly. She had known Taiki for a long time and well started having feelings for him—but had never found the courage to tell him. He was charming, kind, and felt... safe.
She leaned back on her bed, phone resting on her chest.
And then... Rio.
She remembered how easy it was to talk to him. How his laugh made her laugh. How he had this calm, strange energy that made her feel like she'd known him longer than a day.
Guilt crept in. How could she be thinking about Rio when her heart belonged to Taiki?
Her thoughts tangled like headphones in a pocket.
Just then, Arima poked her head back in. "Hey, Miku, I know you're awake. What's going on with you and this mystery boy?" Her eyes were practically glowing with curiosity.
Miku groaned and kicked off her covers. "There's nothing going on, Arima. I just met someone yesterday, that's all," she said, trying to sound casual.
But Arima wasn't buying it. "Come on, Miku! Spill the beans. Who is he?" she asked, bouncing on the bed like a toddler with a secret.
Miku laughed. She couldn't help it. Arima's energy was too much. She sat up straight, brushing hair from her eyes, and finally sighed.
> Maybe... it's time I told someone how I really feel.
She took a deep breath. "His name is Rio. I met him yesterday by accident. He helped me pick up some files I dropped. Then... we kind of just ended up hanging out."
Arima's jaw dropped. "Wait, wait, wait. That sounds like a K-drama intro! Miku, this is juicy! What do you mean you hung out?"
Miku looked at her hands, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I don't know... we just talked. Walked around Tokyo. Visited a shrine. It was really random, but it didn't feel awkward."
Arima flopped backward dramatically on the bed. "You fell for him, didn't you?"
"No!" Miku snapped—but her voice cracked midway.
Arima smirked. "Too late, sis. Your face says everything."
Miku groaned again and grabbed a pillow to cover her face. But Arima yanked it away, laughing.
The rest of the morning passed in that teasing chaos. But later, when Miku was alone again, everything hit her all at once.
Taiki. Rio. Her heart.
It was like standing at a crossroad where neither path was lit clearly. She pulled open her window, letting the breeze carry in the faint noise of the city. Somewhere out there, both boys were living their lives... probably not even thinking about her. Or maybe they were?
Her phone buzzed again. Another message. This time, from an unknown number.
> "Hey. It's Rio. I got your number from the file application. Hope that's not weird? Anyway... thanks for yesterday. Wanna hang out again sometime?"
Miku's heart leapt.
She typed a reply... deleted it. Typed again... deleted.
Argh, what should she say? She didn't want to seem desperate. Or too cold. But also not too eager.
She settled on:
> "Haha, not weird. I had fun too. Sure, let me know when."
Simple. Neutral. Safe.
Then she tossed her phone onto the bed and let out the longest sigh in human history.
"What is happening to me?" she whispered.
That evening, Miku stood by the window of her room, the city glowing beneath her like a sea of fireflies. Lights blinked in towers far away. Cars moved like blood cells through the veins of Tokyo. Somewhere out there, her future was unfolding. Somewhere, the answer to her confused heart was waiting.
She looked up at the moon.
> "A girl caught between two suns... Which one will burn me?"
She didn't know the answer.
But the story had just begun.