Fluffy Moco School Life! ~ Hey Hey, What Shall We Eat After School Today? ~
Fuwawa and Mococo are twin sisters with fluffy white dog ears. Today marks their first day at a small local school. Fuwawa loves light blue, and Mococo loves pink. They always greet everyone together, saying "Hello!" in perfect unison.
Fuwawa, the older sister, is calm and a bit easygoing. Mococo, the younger sister, is full of energy and a little childish. Their favorite things are berry sweets like strawberries and blueberries, as well as games and anime. During free time at school, they play
Fluffy Moco School Life! ~ Hey Hey, What Shall We Eat After School Today? ~ - Both Are Precious—The Crepe from the Food Stall, and the Relationship That Still Has No Name
The culture festival's twilight wrapped softly around the town of Mofuresia.
In front of the Tanaka family's apartment. Beneath the old steel staircase, Fuwawa and Mococo stood side by side.
Both of them were still slightly out of breath from running. Fuwawa's white dog ears were damp with sweat, and her light blue ribbon swayed gently in the evening breeze. Mococo's pink ribbon swayed in the same wind.
"...Big Sister, can you hear my heart?"
Mococo murmured quietly.
"Yeah. Your heart's beating so fast. You're nervous, aren't you?"
"Yours is super fast too, Big Sister."
At Mococo's words, Fuwawa pressed a hand to her own chest. Sure enough, her heart was pounding hard enough to hurt.
(I get to see Tanaka-kun.)
(But when I do... what am I supposed to say?)
Last night, bumping into Mococo at the front door. Tanaka-kun collapsing with a high fever. And just now, at the gate, being told by his sister that she couldn't let them see him.
Everything was spinning around and around in Fuwawa's head.
"...Mococo, want to hold hands?"
When Fuwawa held out her hand, Mococo hesitated for just a moment before squeezing it tightly.
Mococo's hand was cold. Even so, the fact that she'd squeezed back made Fuwawa unbearably happy.
"...Okay."
The two of them stood there holding hands, looking up at the apartment stairs—
Click.
The front door opened from the inside.
"Oh. So you really were still here."
It was Tanaka-kun's older sister, Sakura.
A university student, she had shoulder-length black hair pulled back loosely and wore a thin cardigan. The same gentle brown eyes as her brother. But her gaze was far steadier than his, fixed squarely on them.
"S-Sakura-san..."
Fuwawa's voice cracked.
Sakura let out a small laugh.
"Don't be so nervous. I was a bit mean earlier, wasn't I? I'm sorry."
"Huh...?"
Still clinging to Fuwawa's arm, Mococo looked up at Sakura.
Sakura crossed her arms and studied both their faces.
"Takeru's been agonizing over you two. He looks like he's in so much pain. But, you know—"
She stopped there.
The evening breeze stirred the hedges in front of the apartment.
"—But he says he wants to see you. He says he wants to talk to both of you properly."
Something tightened deep in Fuwawa's chest.
Mococo gripped Fuwawa's arm harder.
"I want to hear it. Properly."
Mococo's voice was trembling. But her eyes were fixed straight on Sakura.
"I want to hear it too. Tanaka-kun's true feelings."
Fuwawa met Sakura's gaze as well.
Sakura looked at both of them once more, carefully.
Then her expression softened.
"...Heh. You both have such wonderful faces. No wonder Takeru's head over heels."
"Wha—!?"
"H-Head over heels..."
Both their faces went bright red at once.
Sakura laughed teasingly and swung the front door wide open.
"Come in. I'll show you to Takeru's room."
—
The Tanaka living room was small but neatly kept.
Several family photos hung on the wall. A photo of a little boy being held by Sakura. Probably Tanaka-kun.
"Here, tea. It's hot, so be careful."
Sakura set steaming mugs in front of them.
"Th-Thank you very much."
"Thanks, Sakura-san."
The two of them sat side by side on the sofa. Stiff. Backs ramrod straight.
Sakura sat in the chair across from them, cradling her mug in both hands, and spoke quietly.
"Takeru's been looking at your photos all day, you know."
"Photos...?"
"See, that kid—he's hopeless at games and making sweets. But the photos of him with you two, those he treasures. The ones from the culture festival prep—he was staring at them over and over, even while he was lying down."
Fuwawa and Mococo exchanged glances.
"That boy, he's really so clumsy. He ended up liking two girls at once, and now he doesn't know what to do."
At Sakura's words, the two of them couldn't help but smile wryly.
The air had been so heavy, but Sakura's tone was so natural, overflowing with love for her brother.
"...Heh. That's so like Tanaka-kun."
"Seriously, Tanaka-kun is such an idiot."
Mococo's lips finally curved into the faintest smile.
—
In front of Tanaka-kun's room.
Sakura knocked lightly on the door twice.
"Takeru. Fuwawa-san and Mococo-san are here."
There was a pause.
Then, from inside the room, a faint voice.
"...Y-Yes. Come in."
Fuwawa's dog ears picked up the tremor in his voice clearly.
(Tanaka-kun is so nervous.)
(And his voice sounds like he's suffering from the fever.)
Sakura gently opened the door.
The room was dim. The curtains were drawn, letting in only a sliver of evening light.
On the bed, Tanaka-kun lay on his back.
His face was bright red. From the 39-degree fever, sweat beaded on his forehead, his hair plastered damply to his skin. On his wrist, a black wristband—a hand-me-down from his sister, apparently.
"T-Tanaka-kun..."
Mococo peeked out timidly from behind Fuwawa.
Tanaka-kun slowly tried to sit up.
"U-Um, I'm sorry. Looking like this..."
"It's fine, stay lying down. Don't push yourself."
Fuwawa sat down gently beside the bed.
Mococo sat down too, perched neatly next to Fuwawa.
Tanaka-kun clutched at his blanket.
His hand was trembling slightly.
"...Um, I..."
Tanaka-kun's lips quivered.
Fuwawa's dog ears caught every last sound squeezed from deep in his throat.
(It hurts. I'm scared. But I have to tell them.)
The tremor in his voice said as much.
"I... Fuwawa-san and Mococo-san, you're both so important to me, I can't choose."
Tears spilled from Tanaka-kun's eyes.
"I like you both. I can't decide on just one. If I did, one of you would get hurt. I don't want that. ...I'm sorry."
Tanaka-kun gripped the blanket tight.
His fingers went white.
"That's not fair!"
Mococo shouted.
"Just pick one! Then I could give up! But this—this isn't fair! Tanaka-kun, you idiot!"
Mococo's pink ears trembled violently. Tears streamed from her big eyes.
"Sorry... I'm sorry... I can't choose... I'm sorry..."
Still clutching the blanket, Tanaka-kun apologized over and over.
Fuwawa listened quietly to both of them.
Her kemonomimi hearing picked up everything—the tremor in Tanaka-kun's throat, the scream hidden beneath Mococo's sobs.
(Ah... so that's how it was.)
(We were both cornering Tanaka-kun, pushing him this far.)
Something cold spread slowly through Fuwawa's chest.
(I've always hidden my feelings, telling myself it was because I'm the big sister.)
(I thought that was kindness.)
(But it wasn't. I was just running away.)
Fuwawa looked at Tanaka-kun's trembling hand.
Then at Mococo's tear-streaked face.
And then she looked deep into her own heart.
"...Tanaka-kun."
Fuwawa called his name quietly.
Tanaka-kun slowly lifted his tear-soaked face.
"You don't have to choose."
Fuwawa's voice was so calm it surprised even herself.
"...Huh?"
"You don't have to choose right now. You care about both of us. Just knowing that makes me happy."
Fuwawa smiled.
A single tear traced down her cheek.
Then she turned toward Mococo.
"Mococo, I'm sorry. All this time, I said it was for your sake, but I was just running from myself."
Mococo's eyes went wide.
"The truth is, I like Tanaka-kun too. But I used being the big sister as an excuse, pretended to yield to you. That way, I wouldn't get hurt. ...The one who was being unfair was me."
Fuwawa's white dog ears drooped completely.
Her light blue ribbon followed gravity, hanging down like a wilted flower.
"I'm sorry, Mococo. Big Sister is sorry."
Fuwawa's tears dripped onto her own lap.
Fifteen years of true feelings, locked away deep in her heart.
Now they came pouring out along with her tears.
"Big Sister..."
Mococo squeezed Fuwawa's hand tight.
"I'm sorry too. I just wanted you next to me, Big Sister. I do like Tanaka-kun, but what I really hated was the thought of you going far away."
Mococo's voice shook.
"I felt like you'd go somewhere before me. Like you and Tanaka-kun would go off together. I was so scared."
Mococo's tears dripped onto the back of Fuwawa's hand.
"Mococo..."
"Big Sister, I want to be with you. Tanaka-kun and you—I want you both next to me."
Mococo clung to Fuwawa.
Fuwawa held Mococo tight.
Their dog ears grew damp with each other's tears.
"...I'm sorry. Big Sister isn't going anywhere. I'll stay by your side, always."
"Really? Promise?"
"Yeah. I promise. Big Sister will always be by your side."
The sisters held hands tightly beside the bed.
Fifteen years of unspoken dependence and possessiveness had finally taken shape between them.
It wasn't something ugly.
It was just warm, a little painful, and yet it was unmistakably what connected them.
Tanaka-kun watched the two of them intently.
Then, in a trembling voice, he said:
"...Someday, I'll properly return your feelings. For now, I'm sorry. But someday, I promise."
Tanaka-kun's eyes were glazed with fever. But deep within them was a firm resolve.
"Okay. I'll be waiting."
"Mococo will wait too! Tanaka-kun, get better soon, okay?"
Mococo's voice was still tearful. But her lips were smiling.
The three of them shared a quiet laugh.
—
When they left the Tanaka apartment, it was fully dusk outside.
The bustle of the culture festival drifted in on the wind from far away.
"Takeru, you can get some outside air for a little while. Your fever's gone down."
Sakura said this as she draped a thin jacket over Tanaka-kun's shoulders.
"...Yes. Thanks, Sis."
Still a little unsteady, Tanaka-kun came outside supported by Sakura.
The four of them walked slowly toward Mofuresia Shopping Street—Sweet Avenue.
Several culture festival stalls had been set up at the entrance to the shopping street too.
The scent of berries drifted through the air.
"Ah! A crepe stand! Big Sister, I want a crepe!"
Mococo tugged at Fuwawa's arm.
"Heh. You were crying so hard just a moment ago. Already full of energy."
"Crying made me hungry! And I didn't get to enjoy the culture festival at all!"
Mococo was already back to her usual energetic self.
Seeing her like that, Fuwawa felt relief from the bottom of her heart.
"Then let's get some. Tanaka-kun, what would you like?"
"Huh, oh, I... um, the same as you is fine."
Tanaka-kun's face was still red. From the fever, or something else.
"Takeru, just say what you actually want. It's the culture festival, after all."
Sakura patted her brother's back.
"...Th-Then, a berry crepe."
Tanaka-kun said in a small voice.
—
The four of them sat in a row on a bench on Sweet Avenue, eating berry crepes.
Crepes stuffed with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
The sweet-and-tart scent tickled their noses on the evening breeze.
"Delicious! Berry crepes really are the best!"
Mococo took a big bite.
There was cream around her mouth.
"Mococo, you've got cream all over your face."
Fuwawa pulled out a handkerchief and wiped Mococo's mouth.
"Ehehe. Thanks, Big Sister."
"Heh. You're welcome."
Tanaka-kun watched the sisters' exchange from beside them.
"...You two really are close."
"Of course! Big Sister and Mococo are twins!"
"But we fight too. Like yesterday."
"...I'm sorry about yesterday. Mococo said terrible things to you, Big Sister."
Mococo set her crepe on her lap and looked down.
"It's okay. I said terrible things too. We're even."
Fuwawa gently stroked Mococo's head.
"...Big Sister, give me a bite of your strawberry part."
Mococo stared at Fuwawa's crepe.
Fuwawa held out the part of her crepe with the most strawberries toward Mococo's mouth.
"Here, go ahead."
"Ahh! ...Delicious! Your crepe is so good, Big Sister!"
Mococo's eyes sparkled as she laughed.
Watching that smile, Fuwawa thought:
(Ah... I've been hiding my feelings all this time, for the sake of this smile.)
(But I won't hide anymore.)
(My feelings, Mococo's feelings, Tanaka-kun's feelings—I'll treasure them all.)
(That's surely our new relationship.)
The taste of the crepe was different from their mother Cocona's tart.
Sweeter, and a little tart.
But that was the taste of the three of them right now, Fuwawa thought.
".
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