Collapse, the Ordinary Daily Life of the Valkyries

Then, that person seems to come to the city where we live tomorrow.

Apparently, she was visiting as part of her spring break trip. Knowing this, Shino...

I told her that. Since this was a rare opportunity, let's meet up—that's how it turned out.

"——I understand the situation."

After listening to the story, I nodded quietly.

Then I asked the obvious question.

"Then why do I have to meet that person on behalf of Shino?"

Someone I know came to this area, so we made an appointment to meet?

Then why not just go and meet him yourself?

Seeing my questioning look, Shino crossed her arms over her chest and smiled softly.

"Because, from that day on, I'm going to travel."

"Huh? Travel?"

"Yeah, traveling. A graduation trip for the two of us, with my boyfriend."

...Ah—ah. Now that I think about it, I did hear her say that a few days ago.

Although my parents are liberal, they actually agreed to let the two of them go traveling. I always feel extremely impressed by them.

So, the trip starts tomorrow.

"Um, so what happened? Did Shino forget she had travel plans for tomorrow and made a date with that person she met online?"

"Well, that's about it."

"Then, since you can't go yourself, let me meet that person on your behalf, is that right?"

"That's right. It's really helpful that you understand."

"No, no, I don't understand at all. If the scheduled time conflicts, shouldn't you just decline?"

"Indeed, Shinobu is right. I know I should have refused. But, that child lives quite far from here."

Shino mentioned the name of the place where the man lived.

“…It’s so far.”

"right?"

So that's how it is. Is that what's going on?

"It's unclear whether Shino will ever have another chance to meet that person directly. So, we must meet tomorrow no matter what. That's it."

"That's it, that's it. You finally understand."

Shino nodded heavily several times and smiled.

Seeing her smile, I sighed deeply.

"...I understand. Very clearly. But even so, I can't promise you."

"Hey, why?"

"Why? That person wants to see you, Shino, right? What's the point of me going?"

After I asked this question, which was too obvious to be true,

“Yes, that’s the problem.”

She put her hands on her hips, looking like she was just waiting for you to say something.

"So, I want to meet that child as Shinobi."

"As Shinomiya Shino?"

Seeing me tilt my head, Shino pointed a finger at me.

"Ninja has to pretend to be me"

“…………Huh?”

After a moment of silence, I let out a breath.

I didn't understand what Shino just said.

What did this guy say just now?

Looking at me in a daze, she continued.

"Dress up, dress up. Shinobu, put on my clothes, pretend to be me, and meet that kid tomorrow."

At this point, I finally understood her intention.

"So, that's what Yi Ling said. You want me to wear women's clothes?"

"What else could it be?"

"turn down"

Seeing that Shino wanted to say something, I immediately continued.

"Hey, Shino. You really love to mess around."

"Hmm? Where is it?"

"All of them. You want me to pretend to be Shino and meet a girl I met online? What a joke! I don't even know where to start complaining."

“I think this is the best solution.”

"How can this be the best solution? It's your request after all, but this is the only thing I can't agree to."

"Hey, why is that? It's okay to dress up as a girl for my cute twin sister, right? Isn't it common for siblings to agree to something like this?"

"Where in the world would a sister force her brother to wear women's clothes?"

"Here it is!"

“This is not something to be proud of!”

I shouted without thinking, while Shino remained calm.

Really, what on earth is this guy thinking?

"Anyway, that's not the problem. If I pretend to be Shino, I'll be exposed immediately."

"How could that be? Don't Shinobu and I look exactly the same?"

Looking at the carefree Shino, I shook my head slightly.

It was true as she said, we were twins and looked almost identical.

They were both 165cm tall and had the same slender build, and except for Shino's hair being slightly longer, everything else was almost identical.

There's not much difference in appearance. I've heard this kind of thing countless times since I was a child.

In other words, since both of them have androgynous appearances, I can quickly understand what Shino wants to say.

"But, but, Shino is a girl, and I'm a boy. How can I not be exposed?"

"Is that so? How would you know if you don't try it? Actually, I'm often mistaken for a boy, isn't it the same for Shinobu?"

"Oh, t-that's right..."

I was speechless after hearing what Shino said.

Yes, why.

Just as Shino is often mistaken for a boy, I am often mistaken for a girl.

It's gotten better recently, but this has happened countless times since elementary school.

Especially just by looking at the back, it is really difficult to tell "who it is". Because of this, I was often teased by classmates, and it left a lot of trauma in my heart.

That's why I'm reluctant to agree to Shino's request.

"Although I've always wondered if women's clothes would suit Shinobu well."

Shino stared at me with eyes that shone strangely, not caring about my feelings at all.

"No, no matter what you say, I don't want to. I will never wear women's clothes."

I turned my head away as if to escape from her sight, expressing my refusal.

"...Hmm. You don't want to do it anyway?"

Staring at me like this, Shino took a step closer.

"Ahh, whatever."

"After seeing this, can you still say that?"

"what?"

I turned my gaze as if I was being lured away, and when I saw it, I was stunned.

Something was displayed on Shino's phone screen.

I'm afraid it was taken with the camera on a mobile phone.

That's a game software.

The phone screen was completely occupied by the game's packaging.

That was software that my sister, who had no interest in video games, couldn't possibly have. Furthermore, I had an impression of that game.

Because, that is my treasure.

"—!"

I hurriedly looked at the desk, took out a key from my pocket, and grabbed the lock on the drawer.

Unlock and pull out the drawer——

"—where?"

"How could I possibly tell you?"

Shino gave a brief answer to the brief question.

“…Haaaa.”

I sighed deeply when I heard her answer.

As expected, huh?

I completely understood what Shino did and what she wanted to say.

The game software displayed on her mobile phone screen was exactly what I locked in this drawer.

And she—although no one knows how she did it—took it out without permission and hid it in an unknown place.

If you ask me why I attach so much importance to that thing, it is because this game is exactly what it is called.

Although this work, titled "The Last Airbender," was highly praised by some enthusiasts as a masterpiece, its sales were sluggish due to generally low reviews, and the production company eventually went bankrupt.

It has never been released since then.

Due to the limited number of units released, it is said that it can also be sold at a high price at auction.

However, one thing needs to be made clear.

I definitely didn't buy this game just because of the high value of the scarce items.

Although it is not a mainstream game, for me, this game can be regarded as a page of youth.

Even if everyone in the world thinks this game is "funless", I still enjoy it from the bottom of my heart.

That's why I locked it away and treasured it, and Shino took this masterpiece away from me and imprisoned it.

"If you still want this game to remain safe, then do what I say. Shino, that's what you mean, right?"

"Well, that's it. It would be better to say that if you reject me, you should be prepared to never return to Shinobu's side in this game. "

Shino said something unbelievable with a brilliant smile.

——Do you know that this is no longer a request, but a threat.

Although I thought so, I couldn't say it out loud. I could only sigh.