Chapter １ | Fox Twins
I soar gently through the sky.
Floating on the breeze like this is such an amazing feeling. With a burst of power, wings of light sprout from my back, taking me wherever my heart desires. The way the wind feels as it caresses my long hair, large ears, and tail is something I will never get tired of. When my silver fur glistens in the sun’s rays, it fills me with pride.
Winged Fox. That’s my race. There are plenty of other fox demi-humans out there, with each race differing slightly depending on the magical trait bestowed on them from birth. My ability to fly is the rarest trait of all. A lot of my friends are jealous of my flight, but honestly, I’m also a little jealous of those who can so easily bend water and fire to their will, like my sister. The grass is always greener on the other side, or so they say.
“Miku! Get over here this instant!”
My twin sister, a Red Fox, calls out to me. She’s a cutie with soft orange fur, spotted here and there with patches of bright red. Despite being twins, we’re nothing alike, but we’re inseparable! …But now’s not the time for idle chatter. Today’s the day they come to our village. I hurriedly alighted by her side.
“I can’t believe you! How many times have I told you how important today is?”
“I’m sorry, Claire, but stretching my wings is part of my daily routine.”
She looks adorable with her cheeks puffed out in annoyance and her hands on her hips, as she only responds with her laughter. She narrows her big, red eyes at me before embracing me tightly. She’s always been a hugger. Her peach-colored ears, twitching this and that way, tickle my face.
“I’m going to protect you, Miku! No matter what!”
“Not this again.”
Those same words, spoken so seriously, followed by the same response I always give. I’ve heard this story so many times at this point, I’m at a loss for words.
“Miku, you know you can’t tell a single soul about this. It has to stay our secret.”
When was the first time she told me about it? Probably back before I could even understand what was going on around me. Back when Claire was stringing words together with ease and I was struggling to speak at all, she would regale me with this same tale, over and over.
You see, Claire is a genius whose mastery of reading and magic goes far beyond her years, and definitely beyond the others in our village, who all look up to her. They were primarily amazed that she was so young and yet knew enough words to weave together a story like that. It’s pretty amazing, right? It’s true, though. There’s an outlandish reason why she can tell this specific story.
“I have these memories of a past life. I lived on a planet called ‘Earth’ in a country called ‘Japan’, where I spent all my time playing this ‘otome’ game! I was really into it. The world in the game I played wasn’t so different from ours, and it was so exhilarating! My number one favorite character in the game…”
She could go on and on for hours. The way her eyes sparkled with delight as she told me all about this game, I couldn’t help but get excited right along with her, always nodding along and encouraging her to continue. To be fair, it is a pretty enthralling story. A few years ago, though, the way she talked about her so-called past life grew tenser.
“I think… No! I’m sure of it! This world we live in is the game I used to play! Ugh! It sounds so far-fetched, though, right?! What’s wrong with me?!”
She began to grow disheartened. I encouraged her to hone her fighting and magic skills to get strong enough to take on anyone in battle, hoping it would take her mind off things. Up until then, Claire had been doing the best she could for the both of us, but she started encouraging me to train harder alongside her.
For someone as uncoordinated as myself, it was pretty tough, but seeing Claire trying her hardest was all the encouragement I needed. I mean, I’d heard her story so many times by that point that I probably could have recited it from memory. There was one part in particular, however, that I couldn’t seem to wrap my mind around no matter how hard I tried.
“Around the time of the harvest festival, a group of handsome boys will arrive at our village, and Miku, you’ll fall in love with one of them at first sight. Suddenly, a horde of monsters will descend upon us, and the two of us will be the only ones to escape the total annihilation of our village, thanks to the help of those boys, who then proceed to escort us to the capital. That’s the basic premise leading up to the start of the game! There’s no way I would ever willingly let you head down a path to your own doom! There’s no way I’d ever let the village be destroyed in the first place! I’ll protect you, no matter what!”
A group of handsome boys? And I fall in love with one of them? A path leading to my doom? Honestly, it doesn’t make a lick of sense. But she always speaks of it with an ice-cold, deadly serious tone. Despite being an outlandish tale, I believe her.
And today is the day those handsome boys are supposedly coming to our village. It’s our yearly harvest festival and our fifteenth birthday, so there’s no doubt about it. If something is going to happen, it’ll be today. That’s why Claire’s almond-shaped, bright red eyes seem clouded with worry, more so than usual.
“Please. We just have to get through today,” she says. “Once they arrive, the boys will continue on to the Northern Wood, where they have business. At that point, the horde of monsters will attack from the Southern Wood. Since everyone will be preoccupied with the festival, the village will be overrun in no time. You’re the only one who believes me, Miku. We have to protect the village, together!”
Of course, Claire warned the villagers. She even warned our chief. Everyone dismissed her completely, telling her to stop spouting ridiculous conspiracies and to instead use that energy to help prepare for the festival. A part of me knew from the beginning that they wouldn’t believe a child, but their reactions were still pretty frustrating.
…Do I believe it? Well, not entirely. It’s impossible to imagine a vicious attack on our village when everything seems so peaceful. But watching the way Claire talks about it, those eyes of hers focused on the ground and her body shaking with fear, I can’t sit by and do nothing. Deep in my heart, I know I will do whatever it takes to help my sister. I trust Claire completely, which means I also believe that she is telling the truth!
“Okay. I’m not sure how much help I’ll actually be, but I’ll do my best to help in whatever way I can. I won’t let you face this alone, okay?”
“Daaaw… Miku…! I love you so much!”
“Whoa!”
With tears in her eyes, she suddenly wraps her arms around me tightly, and I almost fall backward in surprise. Managing to keep my balance, I reassuringly hug her back, stroking her hair gently.
✦ ✦ ✦
🦊 🦊 🦊
“TH-THEY’RE really here…”
“You didn’t believe me, did you?”
It’s a little before noon, and as the village is hustling to prepare for tonight’s festival, a group of handsome boys arrive. I can’t help but gawk at the sight of them!
Don’t look at me like that, Claire! I’m sorry for doubting you!
“Try not to stare. No matter the path we choose, they’re going to talk to us anyway. Okay? I didn’t realize they were going to be this good-looking. You can have butterflies, but nothing beyond that! You can look all you want, but no falling in love! Repeat after me!”
“N-No falling in love…”
“Good!”
How many times will this back and forth continue?
Look at her, acting all triumphant with her arms crossed. Hard to stay annoyed at her, though. I know she’s only looking out for me.
“I just worry about you a lot since you’re such a pushover.”
“…So, in other words, slow and dumb.”
“That’s what makes you so charming!”
“You’re not even gonna say I’m wrong?!”
I know that I’m not always the brightest, but she doesn’t have to state it so matter-of-factly! Sure, I might have believed Claire’s wild stories because she’s my sister, but generally speaking, I’m not so easily duped!
“Oh-ho! What’s going on over here? Are you two ladies fighting?”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, I hear an unfamiliar voice coming from right behind me, and I whirl around. I think I hear Claire squeal, but it’s too late. The face of the boy who spoke a moment ago is right in front of me. He has long eyelashes and a high, well-defined nose. Green eyes sparkle from within soft, smooth skin.
I’ve never seen anyone this gorgeous before…!
“Ah! Aaah!”
“Whoa! S-Sorry!”
Caught completely off guard, I yelp in surprise and stumble backward. The owner of the voice likewise takes a few hurried steps back, probably just as surprised as I am.
“I wasn’t expecting you to turn around so quickly…” he says. “You startled me! Apologies for being far too close so suddenly.”
“D-Don’t worry. It’s f-furkay.”
I’m too startled to speak correctly. How embarrassing! I feel my cheeks heating up, almost too hot to touch!