Chapter 3 - Santa's Little Idols

My homework was interrupted by a knock on my door. A loud, fast knock. One whose disjointed rhythm could only be produced by several hands out of synchronization, each rapping on the door as fast as they could. In a nice, quiet life, I'd be able to say that this in and of itself was enough to ascertain who was visiting at this time of evening, but my life of late has become anything but quiet, and the best I can do is guess at the identities of the girls out in the hallway.
    Most likely, given the precedent I have to work with, it's my missing roommate back from an evening jog with Dam-Bi and, or, Megumi, minus her key that had been left on our desk, or in her bag, or tucked under her pillow, or virtually anywhere you could imagine other than on her person where it's supposed to be. As I opened the door and revealed the percussionists - who didn't stop until the door was well underway to an open position - my guess was proven incorrect. It was, instead, the second most likely band of culprits.

    "Junko!" Exclaimed the tiniest of the interlopers, followed quickly by similar greetings from her companions as they pushed their way into my room.

    "Good! Rinko's not here. We won't have to drag you to our room." The orange-haired one joked, flexing an arm. At least I think it's a joke, though it's considerably less funny because between the three of them they would probably be able to do it. The last to enter slammed my door shut far too loudly before letting me know why I had been invaded by a trio of relatively tiny idols.

    "Mademoiselle Junko, we need to do something!"

    "Yeah! We heard about Rinko! There must be something we can do!"

    "Wh-What have you heard?" As far as I know, there's only one current emergency involving my best friend, and it's one that even I'm not supposed to know about, so I couldn't very well assume it was about that.

    "Mademoiselle Akira heard it straight from Mademoiselle Rinko's mouth at rehearsal. Is it true?!"

    I suppose that depends on what "it" is… "Akira, what's going on? What did Rinko tell you?"

    "Just that she asked Santa for a visit from her sister! We didn't even know that Rinko has a sister!"

    "No. I suppose you wouldn't. Not a lot of people do." I do, obviously. I'm almost certain Dam-Bi knows as well, knowing Rinko as well as she does. Probably some of the other girls. It's hard to keep secrets when you're around the same people so much. Not that it's a secret, exactly. It's just not pleasant for Rinko to talk about, so I think we've all silently decided not to bring it up so long as she doesn't.

    "Why can't her sister visit over the school break? Or Rinko could go see her?" Yume asked, honestly rather fairly.

    I can't believe Rinko told Akira and Eimi and not me…

    "Yeah, is her sister really young or something? Even my parents wouldn't be mean enough to keep me away from my little sister. Awuh, well, if I had one!" Akira made it clear that maybe Rinko hadn't told them as much as I'd assumed.

    "That's… complicated. They've never really gotten along, even before Rinko left home to become an idol. I'm not sure they've even spoken on the phone in years. They're actually twins."

    "Twins?!" The girls exchanged looks of surprise and shock.

    "You mean there are two Mademoiselles Rinko?"

    "Even I couldn't keep up with that…"

    I would share Akira's sentiment if it were anything near the truth. Rinko though is someone so special and unique that even her own twin can't hold a candle to her. "They're nothing alike beyond the physical resemblance, from everything I know. It always sounded like Shiki had a hard time accepting Rinko's… Rinkoness, while Rinko just thought it was normal for a little sister to give their older sister a hard time now and then. Though, she's never really talked about it much…"

    "Well then, we need to do something! Maybe if we find a way to get in contact with her then she'd agree to come visit?" Yume paced from one end of the room to another as the conversation went on, a journey that isn't all that long. Anette took our desk chair and examined Rinko's Christmas tree, while Akira took a seat on Rinko's messy bed. I was left standing, though I hoped they would accept sooner rather than later that…

    "Rinko's not on very good terms with her parents either. I doubt they'd even let Shiki come see her if they knew that's what was happening."

    "Maybe a phone call? Or an email!"

    "Non! An email wouldn't be nearly good enough! Perhaps we could smuggle Rinko to her in a giant present, like… like that Greek cow!"

    "You're thinking of a horse, Anette." Akira and Yume laughed at our friend's mistaken recollection of the story.

    "Oui! Whichever it is, we could dress Rinko like one and sneak her to her sister. Problem solved." Anette declared proudly.

    "Thank you all for being so concerned. I know Rinko would be touched to know that you all care so much about her, but some things are out of our control. No matter how much we wish we could do something."

    "But Junko! There has to be something we can do. Santa wouldn't give up this easily…" The pathetic look Yume gave me was bad enough, but no matter which way I tried to avert my eyes they were caught by a similar expression.

    "Santa has limits too. Some things you just can't buy or make work out, no matter how hard you try. All I can do is try to make the holiday as pleasant for Rinko as possible, just like I do every year."

    "But it isn't just like every year, Junko!" Akira announced. The three exchanged a flurry of glances, quick gestures, and for all I could tell even telepathic transmissions, before stating loudly and in near-impossible unison, "This year you'll have us to help!"

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