Chapter Text
The sky was illuminated that night. Countless stars shone above Tokyo. No one could have imagined the tragedy that was about to unfold.
Kirari Momobami and Ririka Momobami were identical twins and the only heirs of the most influential family in the Momobami Clan.
The twins were attending a grand celebration—one of the lavish gatherings where the members of the powerful Momobami Clan came together to celebrate alliances, power, and influence.
Both were elegantly dressed in identical traditional Japanese attire. Their floral silk kimonos, decorated with light-blue patterns, softly reflected the moonlight.
“Good evening. How are you two doing?” Terano Totobami asked as she greeted them.
“We’re doing great, Terano,” Kirari replied.
“Whose idea was it for you two to dress exactly alike? Even your hairstyles are identical,” Terano teased.
Ririka immediately blushed.
“It was my sister’s idea.”
“I did it just to tease Ririka. She doesn’t like it, but I love it. It always reminds me of when we were children and our grandmother dressed us exactly the same,” Kirari said with an amused smile.
Behind Ririka’s serious expression, a faint smile appeared. Moments like these, when Kirari seemed like an ordinary sister, were rare.
When the party ended, a black car from the Momobami family arrived to pick up the twins.
“Kirari, the driver is here,” Ririka said.
“Then let’s go, sister. I’m tired of all the flattery.”
The two got into the car. A comforting silence filled the air. They didn’t need words to enjoy each other’s company.
The car moved peacefully along the road.
Ririka, the calmer of the two, quietly admired the scenery outside, while Kirari was absorbed in her phone.
I bet she’s texting Sayaka, Ririka thought, holding back a small smile.
Kirari looked relaxed as always, wearing that mischievous smile that made it seem as though everything amused her.
Ririka sat quietly beside her, maintaining her flawless posture.
“You’re awfully quiet today,” Kirari said, looking at her sister with an amused smile.
Ririka tilted her head slightly.
“I’m just thinking.”
Kirari chuckled softly.
“Always so serious… Ririka, that’s why we complement each other so well. You have qualities I don’t… and I have what you don’t.”
Ririka smiled at her sister, who smiled back.
The driver continued down the road as the night grew deeper.
For a brief moment, everything seemed almost too peaceful.
Then it happened.
Headlights suddenly appeared ahead.
Too fast.
A truck.
The driver slammed on the brakes.
The tires screamed against the asphalt.
Kirari looked up from her phone.
Ririka instinctively grabbed the seat in front of her.
But there wasn’t enough time.
The impact was devastating.
The Momobami family car spun wildly, was crushed by the force of the collision, and was hurled off the road.
Glass shattered.
Metal twisted.
Silence.
Minutes later, sirens echoed through the night.
Both twins were in critical condition.
They were rushed to Tokyo Central Hospital.
Elsewhere in the city, Sayaka Igarashi was in her apartment when her phone rang.
It was late at night.
She frowned when she saw an unfamiliar number.
“Hello?”
A serious voice answered from the other end.
“Igarashi-sama… we’re calling from Tokyo Central Hospital.”
Her heart immediately began to race.
“What happened?”
“Kirari Momobami, your girlfriend, was involved in a car accident along with her twin sister. Both are in critical condition.”
Sayaka remained silent for a second.
Her entire body froze.
“I’m coming right now.”
She hung up and immediately left her apartment.
When she arrived at the hospital, the chaos was impossible to ignore.
Nurses rushed through the corridors.
Injured people filled the hallways.
Ambulance sirens echoed outside.
Sayaka walked to the reception desk.
“I’m Sayaka Igarashi. Where is Kirari Momobami?”
A nurse immediately called for a doctor.
The man looked utterly exhausted.
“Igarashi-sama… we need to talk.”
Sayaka frowned.
“Where’s Kirari?”
The doctor took a deep breath.
“There was a terrorist attack in Tokyo tonight. Our hospital is completely overwhelmed.”
Sayaka remained silent.
The doctor continued.
“We have two patients. The rescue team confirmed they’re the Momobami sisters. Both arrived unconscious and severely injured.”
Sayaka’s chest tightened.
“Then operate on both of them.”
The doctor lowered his head.
“At the moment, we only have one surgical team capable of performing this type of operation.”
A heavy silence settled between them.
Sayaka stood perfectly still.
“I’m sorry… but we’ll only be able to operate on one of them.”
He took another deep breath before continuing.
“There’s another problem. We haven’t been able to determine which one is Kirari and which one is Ririka.”
Sayaka’s eyes narrowed.
“What?!”
“They were dressed exactly the same. The impact completely destroyed the vehicle, and both suffered severe injuries. We also couldn’t find any identification documents.”
A chill ran down Sayaka’s spine.
“Can’t you transfer one of them to another hospital? Have you tried?”
“Yes. We’ve contacted every hospital in the area. None of them have any available capacity. The explosions during the Spring Festival have overwhelmed the entire medical system… Besides, I don’t believe either of them would survive the transfer.”
He inhaled deeply.
“That’s why we need someone close to the twins to make this decision.”
“A decision?” Sayaka asked.
The doctor then asked the question that seemed impossible to answer.
“Igarashi-sama… which one of them should we try to save?”
Sayaka froze.
It was an impossible choice.
But she forced herself to remain calm.
She knew there wasn’t time to hesitate.
Her logical mind took over instantly.
“Save the one who has the better chance of surviving.”
Sayaka knew that answer would haunt her for the rest of her life.
The doctor nodded.
“Understood.”
He immediately ran toward the operating room.
A few minutes later, someone came running down the hospital corridor.
Mary Saotome.
She looked completely desperate.
The moment she saw Sayaka, she rushed toward her.
“Sayaka!”
Sayaka looked up.
“Mary.”
Mary was breathing heavily.
“Where’s Ririka?!”
Sayaka remained silent for a moment.
Then she answered calmly.
“She was in the same accident as Kirari. Their car was hit on the highway.”
Mary froze.
“What…?!”
Sayaka told her everything that had happened.
She explained every detail she knew.
When she finished, Mary’s face had turned pale.
“What do you mean… you chose to save one of them?!”
Sayaka lowered her gaze.
Mary continued, nearly shouting,
“And which one did you choose?!”
Sayaka closed her eyes for a brief moment, feeling the crushing weight of that decision on her shoulders.
“I didn’t choose.”
Mary frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“I only told them to save whichever one had the best chance of surviving.”
Mary fell silent, completely stunned.
The hospital corridor felt colder than before.
Behind the doors of the operating room, one of the Momobami twins was fighting for her life.
And no one knew which one it was.