The True Identity ‘Shiro-Gyaru’?

“My name is Honoka Sakurajima. I’m Toko Sakurajima’s younger sister.”

I stared at the beautiful girl in stunned silence as she puffed out her chest like she’d won some private victory.

…Why? How? Toko-senpai’s sister? This white gyaru? You’ve got to be kidding me. Do they look alike? No, they don’t—they’re completely different! Wait, are their eyes identical? Why is she here? What does she want? Why go this far?…

A whirlwind of thoughts collided in my head.

Watching me struggle, she flashed a smile that was equal parts angelic and diabolical.

“Talking in a place like this is kind of awkward, don’t you think? Let’s head outside.”

As we stepped out, I remained dazed. Honoka Sakurajima’s presence only made everything more confusing.

“Still don’t believe me? People have been saying we look alike since we were little.”

Now that she mentioned it, I could see it.

From her eyes to her nose and the line of her jaw, she bore a striking resemblance to Toko-senpai.

Their bodies were practically identical.

But her platinum-blonde hair and the looser, more relaxed expression gave a completely different impression.

I stared at her a long moment, then exhaled.

“So, what does Toko-senpai’s sister want with me?”

Honoka tapped the corner of her smartphone against her lip, thinking.

“Hmm, rather than a ‘want,’ I’d call it a ‘demand.’”

“What demand?” I braced myself.

I had no idea what she’d say next.

“Two things, for starters.”

I swallowed and waited.

“First: Break up with my sister.”

“What?”

I couldn’t believe my ears.

Why would she want to tear Toko-senpai and me apart?

“Why? Give me a reason,” I demanded.

“Well, there are lots of reasons, but one big one is that you just aren’t in Sis’s league, Isshiki-san.”

“Excuse me?”

“Glare all you want, it’s useless. Deep down, you think so too, right?”

As I fumbled for a retort, Honoka’s smile turned amused.

“If you were a little more handsome, I might let it slide.”

“Sorry for being such an unattractive guy.”

“Oh, don’t misunderstand! I’m not saying you’re ugly. You’re probably above average. But, you know… you’re a total downgrade compared to Kamokura-san.”

“Guh.” A choked sound escaped me.

“I mean, Kamokura-san was seriously hot. If he were the guy, even I’d want to walk beside him and call him ‘Big Brother.’ So, sorry, but I’m Team Kamokura.”

“So, what, did Kamokura-senpai ask you to do this?”

“Mmm, he didn’t go that far. But he did get in touch and said he wanted to start over with Toko.”

She folded her hands behind her back and circled me with a bouncy step.

“But Kamokura was cheating on me with my own girlfriend! That’s why Toko-senpai gave up on him.”

“Yeah, and that’s exactly what makes you so pathetic, Big Bro!”

She jabbed a finger at me.

“Your girl cheated on you because you weren’t attractive enough as a boyfriend, right? It’s only natural for a woman to be drawn to a hotter guy. It’s not like you were married or anything. Stop whining just because your girlfriend stepped out on you!”

…Th-this girl…

I took a deep breath and said, exasperated, “You really are nothing like your sister. Toko-senpai would never say something like that.”

“What? You trying to pick a fight with me?” Honoka glared.

“You’re the one who started picking a fight.”

“I’m just stating facts. Survival of the fittest, the laws of nature, basic capitalist society. Besides, nothing pisses me off more than being compared to Sis!”

Our eyes locked—sparks practically flying.

…Nothing I say is going to get through to this girl…

I decided to change the subject.

“How did you know what I looked like?”

I’d never met her before. When I’d gone to Toko-senpai’s house, nobody was home.

“Sis showed me photos. In Hawaii.”

Honoka’s expression soured.

“You two went on a date in Boso, right? You took a bunch of ‘candid’ shots of her all over the place. There were a few with you in them, too.”

…From that practice date…

I finally understood why she’d called them ‘stolen photos.’

“Sis was acting weird, staring at her phone and smiling to herself. When I asked what it was, she said, ‘These are photos taken by the guy I’m going to start dating.’ She had this disgustingly happy look. She’s not usually like that.”

Honoka pouted.

“Seeing her like that made me mad. So I thought, ‘I’m gonna make her break up with this loser.’”

So, in her twisted way, she claimed she was doing it for her sister?

“You sure care about your sister a lot.”

But Honoka shook her head.

“No, it’s not like that. I just… I hated seeing her smile like that.”

…Hated it?… Her reasoning made no sense to me.

“Anyway, Isshiki-san, you’re breaking up with Sis!”

She faced me and announced it as if it were final.

“And if I say no?”

Honoka lightly waved her smartphone.

“I’ll show this photo to Sis. She’s so stiff and proper. You know what’ll happen if she sees this, right?”

“Do you think she’ll believe you?”

“She will. She’s always had a soft spot for me. If I tearfully plead my case, Isshiki-san, you’ll become an enemy of the Sakurajima family.”

Faced with that, I had no room to counter.

But I couldn’t just give up.

“I really love Toko-senpai. I can’t break up with her just because you told me to…”

She crossed her arms.

“I’m not just telling you to break up. You can find a different girlfriend. I’ll take responsibility and look after you.”