"Do you remember, brother? Father’s villa in Takomachi."
"Yeah."
"We used to run around there all the time. There was an old tree behind the mountain, and we’d ride the swing hanging from it."
"...Right. You were pushing me, and I fell and scraped my elbow."
"Back then, you said you wanted to try holding the rope with just one hand."
"I was young. It looked cool at the time."
"Yeah. I still think about that place sometimes. I heard Father sold off the entire villa lot."
"......I see."
The luxury sedan driven by the twins’ father’s personal chauffeur was so quiet it felt almost soundless.
The chauffeur glanced at the twin brothers in the back seat through the rearview mirror as they chatted at either end of the seat.
The way they spoke was clearly different in tone and pronunciation, but their voices themselves were identical, giving the strange impression that one person was doing two roles at once if you only listened from the front.
Kaoru, the older brother, had the sturdier build and was a little bigger, but Hikaru had also grown quite a bit taller over the past year.
Even so, their faces were as perfectly alike as ever, so much so that there was no exaggeration in calling them mirror images of each other.
Unless you knew them well enough to notice tiny differences in their eyes or the expressions they made when they smiled, the two brothers were practically identical, like each other’s living doubles.
Blood-related twin brothers.
The only two people in the world born from the same soul, and the only such existence.
Because the chauffeur had watched them grow up, he smiled warmly and said, "It must be nice, getting to go out together as brothers after so long. Oh, come to think of it, Hikaru-kun went out with the chairman once too, didn’t he?"
"Yes. It was only a brief stop, but it wasn’t bad."
"......"
Hikaru smiled affably, while Kaoru, whose introverted nature seemed unchanged from before, simply gave a silent nod instead of answering.
The chauffeur looked at them in the mirror with a satisfied smile, then thought of their father, who had originally been supposed to ride with them, and said, "...The chairman talked a lot about the two of you when he bought the villa on Mt. Tanzawa this time."
"He did."
This time even Hikaru’s response was poor enough that he let out a cold snort of laughter.
Kaoru didn’t seem to hear any of it at all, keeping his gaze fixed out the window as if he were lost in thought.
The chauffeur, who had watched the twins since they were children and had children of his own, clicked his tongue bitterly.
The official reason their father wasn’t riding with them today was "business," but the unofficial reason was just an excuse that he couldn’t postpone a golf appointment with the latest woman he’d replaced his previous one with.
The chauffeur knew it, and so did the twins.
Whenever the twins’ father made a show of regret, mentioning the twins was nothing more than a selfish attempt to ease his guilt and still appear in public as a kind man who loved his "children" at least.
It wasn’t spoken out of true love from a father for his children.
They had known that from the very beginning.
Still, Hikaru shrugged and, without losing his smile, murmured, "But this time, I think it’s a good opportunity for me. I’m sure... brother feels the same way."
At Hikaru’s words, the chauffeur nodded.
He took it to mean that they were going to forget about their father and just have fun.
With a quiet laugh, he said, "I’ll pretend I didn’t see it if you have one beer... just one can."
-
The villa their father had bought on Mt. Tanzawa sat halfway up a mountain, boasting a beautiful view.
Rivers flowing down from upstream gathered into a larger river, and beyond that lay a large lake blocked by a dam in the distance. The tranquil scenery and preserved natural beauty were breathtaking.
Hikaru got out of the car, took his bag, and went into the villa first.
Kaoru also got out, looked around, and took in the scenery.
......
To put it kindly, the villa’s location guaranteed perfect privacy that no one could casually intrude on. To put it bluntly, it was the kind of place where, if there weren’t a villa here, no one would ever think of coming to live.
Kaoru had noticed on the way up that there was a sheer cliff at the end of the road leading behind the villa, so he quietly took the luggage from the trunk and walked inside.
When Hikaru spotted Kaoru approaching, he reached out and said, "Give it here, brother."
"Thanks."
Hikaru took his brother’s bag and carried it into the house, and Kaoru followed after him.
The inside of the villa was spacious and comfortable.
The antique decor was accompanied by the distinctive scent of a wooden house, drifting faintly at the tip of the nose.
Hikaru set Kaoru’s bag on the sofa and headed to the kitchen with the chauffeur.
After opening his bag to check his belongings, Kaoru quietly went upstairs, perhaps to look around the villa, while Hikaru and the chauffeur inspected the kitchen together and talked.
"Where do we get the wood?"
"Ah, I’ll take care of the fireplace. Hikaru-kun, could you check whether the water’s running? And the electricity too."
Hikaru turned on the faucet to check the water. It came out fine. He also switched on the kitchen light to check the electricity.
Nothing was wrong.
"The power’s on."
"Good."
The chauffeur filled the refrigerator with the ingredients he’d brought, then said to Hikaru, "There’s a terrace right next to the kitchen, so you can have the grill there. I’ll head back down and come get you around noon tomorrow."
"You’re leaving already? It’s going to be dark soon anyway, so why don’t you stay and have some barbecue with us?"
"Hmm... should I? Hahaha."
Unlike the introverted, quiet Kaoru and their father, who enjoyed showing off, Hikaru had been a kind and considerate boy since he was young.
At Hikaru’s suggestion, the chauffeur readily nodded.
He went straight to the storage room, brought out the stacked firewood and barbecue grill, and set them up on the terrace before lighting the fire.
Kaoru came down from the second floor and entered the kitchen.
He quietly watched the two of them preparing to eat meat and light the fire on the terrace, then soon joined in helping with the barbecue.
With three men pitching in, the preparation was finished in the blink of an eye.
Since they were in the mountains, the sky had already begun to darken little by little.
"It’s getting chilly."
As Hikaru said this while putting on a coat, the chauffeur, who was grilling the meat, laughed and said, "It gets cold fast in the mountains. There’s a river nearby too, so the fog gets incredibly thick."
"Driver. I’ll take over the grilling now, so please sit down and rest."
"It’s fine, Kaoru-kun. This is the sort of thing adults are supposed to handle. You’re still growing, so don’t worry and eat plenty."
Since none of them had been drinking, and all three were the type to stay quiet during meals, the barbecue party continued in a calm atmosphere as the mountain night deepened.
Eventually—
"Whew. I’m stuffed. Hahaha. Should I keep grilling?"
"No, I’m fine."
"Me too."
"Then I’ll put out the fire first. Could you two clear the table for me?"
At the chauffeur’s words, Kaoru and Hikaru cleared the table. The plates were moved to the kitchen counter, and Kaoru naturally walked over to the sink and washed them.
Hikaru also helped clear the dishes and wipe the table.
Once the cleanup was mostly done, Kaoru sat in a chair outside the terrace and quietly rested, warming himself by the small fire in the brazier.
Then—
Hikaru approached carrying a tray with three cups of warm milk tea.
Not seeing the chauffeur anywhere, Hikaru handed one cup to Kaoru and asked, "Where’s the driver?"
Kaoru stared at the glass he’d been handed for a moment, then took it, set it on the table, and said with a quiet smile, "...He went to the bathroom."
"Oh, really? He probably had the milk tea ready and was about to leave? You drink it, then, brother."
"Thanks."
Hikaru set the cup on the chauffeur’s seat, returned the tray to the kitchen counter, and sat down to sip barley tea.
Kaoru let out a languid sigh and lifted his cup to sip the milk tea as well.
Watching him quietly, Hikaru smiled faintly and spoke.
"How’s school life these days, brother?"
"Not bad."
"Really? That’s a relief. The kids at [Kaisei High School] must’ve been shocked when you transferred in, but you adapted well."
"They’re nice. Everyone is, actually. They don’t have any prejudice toward me like other people do, and they just look at me as I am. That’s made me feel a lot more at ease."
"...If it weren’t for that dating rumor, you wouldn’t have had to go this far, brother. What a shame."
At Hikaru’s words, Kaoru let out a small laugh.
"That’s already in the past. The future is what matters."
"So you think so too, brother. I think so too. The future... is more important."
......
His fresh smile, lit by the campfire, created a strangely eerie atmosphere.
Kaoru stared at his brother’s smile for a moment, then set down the milk tea he’d been sipping and said, "Hikaru. Do you know what’s more important than the future?"
"What?"
"Present day."
"Ah.... Wow. That’s such a brother-like saying. I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. Kaoru, brother."
Hikaru suppressed a laugh and set down his milk tea cup. At that moment, the chauffeur returned from the bathroom and said, "I’ll be heading back down now. I’ll come pick the two of you up again around noon tomorrow."
"You’re leaving already? Please have some milk tea before you go."
At Hikaru’s words, the chauffeur waved his hands and smiled.
"I just came back from the bathroom! If I drink again, I’ll have to go right back. Sorry, but I’ll just take the thought. Hahaha."
"All right. Then take care on your way."
Hikaru nodded and turned his gaze to the chauffeur. Kaoru, by contrast, stood up and extended his hand for a handshake.
"Thank you for your hard work today, driver."
"Of course. Kaoru-kun, I hope you and Hikaru-kun have a good time."
Smiling as they exchanged farewells, the two let go of each other’s hands. The chauffeur walked around the terrace and soon drove down the slope.
Once he confirmed the car had left, Hikaru stretched and said, "You’re tired, aren’t you, brother?"
At Hikaru’s question, Kaoru nodded, his blue eyes heavy with sleep, and said, "Yeah. Ah... I’m a little tired."
"Go to bed early. I’ll finish up here."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Sleepy? Aren’t you sleepy?"
"...I am."
"Leave it to me, and go inside and sleep first, brother."
Kaoru gave a faint smile and stood up, one hand in his pocket.
After taking his hand out of his pocket, Kaoru pressed and gently rubbed Hikaru’s shoulder and the back of his neck as he said, "I’m counting on you, Hikaru."
"Leave it to me."
Smiling, Hikaru turned his head and watched his brother go back inside the villa.
Black starlight flickered in his blue eyes as he murmured softly, "Of course. It’s only natural to remember my brother’s brilliant final moments..."
-
At dawn.
Hikaru sat quietly in a chair and looked at his brother, who was bound to a rope.
Black starlight flickered within his cold, emotionless blue eyes.
"......!"
Kaoru finally woke up and jolted, trying to move his body, but it was useless.
Hikaru smiled gently and approached him.
"Were you surprised, brother?"
"......"
Seeing Kaoru glare at him without saying a word, Hikaru kneaded his brother’s shoulder and said, "You must have a lot of questions, but—yes. I’ll tell you while we walk."
Hikaru helped Kaoru to his feet and started walking, checking the dawn sky as it slowly began to brighten.
The cold morning air and thick fog greeted the two brothers.
As he walked slowly, Hikaru was consumed by a thrilling rush of ecstasy and excitement.
Ah—at last.
At last. Finally.
This moment had finally come.
After waiting for so long, the beautiful sculpture he had patiently carved away at was finally left with only one last hammer blow.
Holding Kaoru from behind, Hikaru spoke in a calm voice, as if confessing the thoughts he had pressed deep into his heart all this time—
the stories he had kept hidden for the brother he loved with all his heart and never once stopped adoring.
As if showing off.
As if performing.
As if he himself had become the sole protagonist on the great stage of this world.
At times exhilarated, at times trembling with anxious excitement.
He spoke to his brother, who must have been seething with betrayal, as though he were an [actor] performing a one-man play.
About everything that had happened until now, and everything Kaoru wanted to know. And—
"You’d already figured it out, hadn’t you, Kaoru, brother? Go on. Tell me what breadcrumb trail led you all the way here."
"...Did you kill Ai’s doctor too?"
"Kek—"
At Kaoru’s question, Hikaru could only clutch his stomach and laugh in snorting bursts, waving the weapon in his hand as he nodded.
So he had figured that out too.
Yes.
Because my brother and I are twins.
Blood-related, soul-shared... the one and only existence in this world.
Reading each other’s minds like that... wasn’t a big deal at all.
With a blissful smile spread across his face, Hikaru sensed that the final act of the play had finally been reached.
He led Kaoru to the edge of the cliff and cut the rope binding his hands with a knife, then met his brother’s blue eyes head-on.
With black starlight glittering in his own blue eyes, Hikaru gave his brother a warm smile.
After their tender exchange as brothers, Hikaru offered Kaoru his final farewell and severed the rope, only to notice a smile suddenly flicker at the corner of his brother’s mouth.
"?"
And then, in an instant, he could only feel deep confusion at finding his own face pressed into the cold, damp earth.
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