Big Sisters
Sisters. The early morning light broke over District 23. In the dim dawn hours, two women—not some man and woman—were wrapped in each other's arms(?).
"That's enough already..."
Valentina's cheeks flushed red as she pushed Kali away.
"No way. I'm staying like this a bit longer."
Kali ignored her words and hugged her even tighter.
"It's embarrassing... this early in the morning."
"I won't see you for a while. So I'm doing whatever I want right now."
The two women's heated embrace(?) continued as they welcomed the morning.
I told Kali I had to go because the family had summoned me. She seemed really reluctant, hugging Valentina tightly as if she wanted to savor this moment just a little longer.
"I'm really leaving now...?"
Valentina looked at Kali, her cheeks still flushed.
"Yeah. Come play again sometime."
Valentina bolted from the spot like she was fleeing. Only Kali remained where she had stood. Then she muttered a single word.
"Whew... it's cold."
She chuckled softly, recalling the moment from earlier.
"So cute."
Kali snickered and headed back inside.
...
It had been a while since I'd returned to the Bonyatelli Family Mansion. There was a reason for it. Father wouldn't call me without cause... He probably wanted me to handle some business that had cropped up with Thumb or the family.
When Valentina reached the door to the room where the Family Head resided, someone was already there. Black hair, teal eyes. A face strikingly similar to Valentina's current one.
"Oh, it's been a while."
It was Tanya, the eldest of the Bonyatelli sisters. She greeted Valentina casually.
Valentina bowed her head silently in response, saying nothing.
"I've heard you've been going to District 23 a lot lately... Is that true?"
At Tanya's question, Valentina tilted her head for a moment before speaking.
"I'm just visiting a friend. Nothing else."
"I see...?"
The conversation ended there. They weren't particularly close to begin with, so it didn't drag on.
As Valentina and Tanya waited in front of the door, Tanya spoke first.
"Have you been getting along with Bell lately?"
"Bell?"
"Yeah, your second sister. You haven't forgotten her, have you?"
When Valentina made a genuinely puzzled face at her jab, Tanya sighed and opened her mouth.
"Even if you don't get along usually, you can't act like that. You're sisters—you need to stick together and support each other more."
As Tanya launched into her endless nagging, Valentina let it go in one ear and out the other.
"Anyway, Bell and Isabella will be here soon, so it'll be the first time in ages our four sisters are all together."
"..."
"Bell and Isabella aren't bad people. You know that too—it's just because you're a bit quicker than the others that they pick on you. So forgive them with your generous heart."
Valentina turned her head away from the pointless sermon.
"..."
The long silence stretched between them. That was when someone flung the door open with a bang, spotted Valentina, and scowled fiercely.
"Fuck... why the hell is that bitch in the house?"
She grimaced at Valentina and approached.
"You worthless piece of shit... keep your eyes down."
Valentina stared straight at her face—and ended up catching unnecessary trouble.
Slap.
Her vision spun sideways, one cheek stinging fiercely.
"Ha... can't you even control your damn expression?"
Bell slapped Valentina's cheek again.
"..."
"Ha... I finally scored some good booze after ages to give to Father, and now this worthless shit's ruined my mood..."
At first, even Valentina was stunned. But she couldn't just make a scene over getting hit out of nowhere.
Bell. The Bonyatelli family's second daughter. Valentina's second eldest sister.
But Valentina couldn't help her eyes widening. She looked exactly the same. Just like future Valentina—uncannily so. Long green-tinted blonde hair cascading down, sharp eyes that were fierce yet alluring to the opposite sex. And the most similar part: her actions right now. All of it mirrored future Valentina's behavior.
The one big difference was her blue eyes. Considering Valentina's own were closer to green or teal, aside from that, she was a dead ringer for Valentina.
For a split second, it felt like future Valentina had come to curse me out.
She upended the vodka bottle she was drinking from right over Valentina's head.
Glug glug glug...
Cold liquid poured down over Valentina's hair. Seeing that, Bell smirked and shoved the bottle at her.
"Want more, you dumb bitch?"
At her words, Valentina silently took the empty vodka bottle.
"You drank it all, so clean it up yourself, right?"
"..."
"Same as always... fucking useless."
"..."
The moment Bell tried to brush past Valentina—
(Grab.)
"?"
Valentina seized Bell's shoulder.
"...Hey, what the hell?"
As Bell glared at her menacingly, Valentina raised the empty bottle high.
And crash!
Valentina smashed it straight down on Bell's head.
Tanya's eyes went wide at Valentina's shocking action. Bell staggered for a moment after the brutal hit to her skull, then spat curses as she glared at Valentina.
"You... you fucking mutt..."
Bell drew the two swords at her waist.
"Ah... you hit like a goddamn truck... fuck..."
As Valentina glared back, Bell spoke with a look of disbelief.
"Ha... do you even know what you've done?"
She stepped closer to Valentina and growled low.
"Hey. On your knees."
"..."
"You deaf? On your knees right now!"
Bell sheathed her sword and raised her hand to strike Valentina again.
Thwack. Her hand didn't reach.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Fa... Father...?"
The Bonyatelli Family Head was glaring at Bell with a savage expression.
"No, the youngest hit me first with those wide eyes—"
"Did I ask for your excuses?"
"..."
"Bell. What did I tell you to say in situations like this?"
"...I'm sorry, Father."
"Isn't there someone else you should apologize to?"
Bell glared at Valentina with eyes full of rage. Internally, Valentina thought: She's not just a dead ringer in looks—her personality's identical too. That refusal to lose to anyone, that hatred of bowing her head. Every twisted trait and action matches future Valentina perfectly.
"But... that's—!"
"Enough."
His low growl silenced her, and she stared at Valentina wordlessly.
"Don't whine. Don't show me that useless side like your mother. If you understand, go back to your room."
His piercing gaze darkened Bell's face.
"Yes..."
"Valentina, you go to your room too."
"..."
"Is that how you talk to your sister? Neither of you did anything right, so go reflect in your rooms."