The hallway fell silent except for the faint hum of overhead lights.
For the first time since being united with them, Yuki spoke first, “But you can’t tell us apart.”
“I can.”
Yuki crossed his arms. "You think so?"
"I know so."
Aki's mouth curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "No one, but Hiro can tell us apart. Not on sight. Not even with us speaking."
"I can."
They exchanged a look—that twin telepathy thing that made them feel like one consciousness split between two bodies.
Hiro exhaled slowly. “Ignore them. They enjoy theatrics. Let’s get back to the Scooby-Doo adventures.”
However, the twins didn’t move.
Yuki eyed me. "Prove it. You turn around. We change or not. You face us again and tell us who’s who."
"Okay." I turned to face the wall, closed my eyes, and gave them my back. "Go ahead."
An edge hit Hiro’s voice. “We don’t have time for this.”
“She made a big claim,” Aki said. “Either she’s too cocky for her own good and shouldn’t be helping to find the spy. . .”
Yuki finished, “Or she’s terrifyingly good.”
Aki’s tone went dark. “Which could be dangerous for her.”
Hiro growled, “Careful. She’s my brother’s Heart. If she can tell you apart, you’ll have to live with it.”
Behind me, I heard the soft shuffle of movement, fabric shifting, boots repositioning on marble. They weren't talking anymore, weren't giving me any auditory cues. Just silent repositioning or maybe just making noise to then return to their same spots.
"Done," Aki's voice came from somewhere behind me.
I turned around.
They stood side by side, identical stances, identical expressions—blank, neutral, giving me nothing.
I checked their scars, looked at the one on the left, and pointed. "Yuki."
Then the one on the right. "Aki."
Yuki's jaw tightened.
Aki's eyes narrowed.
"Again," Yuki sneered.
Wow. I probably shouldn’t have told them I could tell them apart.
I turned around.
More movement. This time I heard what might've been a jacket being passed between them, boots switching positions more deliberately, as if they were trying to throw me off.
Together, they both said, "Done."
