The unknown sides of you.

"♫"

The song of a piano and a lively voice echoed in the room.

Tuesday was singing with her eyes closed, a fixed smile on her face, and dancing to the melody while Lurch played the piano.

Her body moved as if in harmony with the melody, adapting to the changing notes with precise movements.

Lurch was completely focused on his piano, yet the notes he played carried an energy different from what they initially suggested.

Wednesday observed the scene with mixed emotions.

Tuesday was exuding an energy even more vibrant than she had ever shown, breaking the quiet and reserved image she had maintained until now.

She was revealing a side of herself that had never been seen before.

Wednesday felt excitement, happiness, and adrenaline coursing through her body.

It was a stark contrast to the usual anxiety, fear, and resignation she typically experienced when Tuesday was in the lead.

'Could you smile like that?'

A smile she had never seen before, accompanied by a lively aura she had never felt—far brighter than anything she had ever known.

Watching Tuesday enjoy herself so much, Wednesday also felt a sense of enjoyment.

Her body felt light, and her mind brimmed with confidence as if she could achieve anything.

It was a feeling similar to the thrill she experienced when engrossed in an exciting book, but even more profound.

It was as if a missing piece within her was finally being fulfilled.

Since Wednesday could remember, she had always felt a weight in her mind.

No matter how happy or excited she was after satisfying her curiosity, an emptiness would settle in her chest.

That emptiness became even stronger when she was with her family, especially her grandmother.

It created an inner rejection that caused her to distance herself from them.

Wednesday, too, lacked a close relationship with her parents.

But despite her feelings of rejection, she would still interact with them.

This feeling of rejection and emptiness was always a mystery to her. But as she grew older, the situation became clearer.

Every time the lead shifted, she felt discomfort. Her breathing would falter, her legs would tremble, and her vision would blur.

To avoid those feelings, Wednesday often took the lead and suppressed those negative emotions in her daily life.

It had become a habit—something she did automatically, without much thought.

Perhaps, the problem started there.

'This is your body, and I'm not upset about that.'

A voice, strikingly similar to her own but tinged with emotion, echoed in her mind.

The words of her little sister felt like a hammer striking her heart.

Images of her usual daily routine crossed her mind.

She practiced swordsmanship with Uncle Fester, studied with her grandmother, and spent the rest of her time engrossed in her favorite books.

Her desk piled up with more and more books.

It frustrated her when Tuesday rejected certain books. She even thought of her as a nuisance.

Why couldn't Tuesday like them the way she did? It was irrational and exasperating.

As the older sister, she believed she should make "concessions" and tolerate Tuesday's differing opinions.

Reading brought her a sense of completeness as if it momentarily filled the emptiness inside her.

Yet, seeing Tuesday smile so vibrantly, she felt the chains that had bound her mind lift one by one.

She finally understood the emptiness.

While she buried herself in books, what had Tuesday been doing?

Even when uninterested, Tuesday read with her because she had no other choice.

Sometimes, she even sang a peaceful tune, adding joy to the experience.

Had Wednesday ever asked Tuesday's opinion? Even once?

What did Tuesday like? Was there a genre she preferred?

What dreams did Tuesday have?

Tuesday said she loved her. Why? What had Wednesday done to deserve such love?

Nothing.

Wednesday felt a profound sense of guilt.

In the few moments Tuesday was in control, Wednesday would criticize her and call her a coward.

But even listening to her harsh words, Tuesday would keep accepting it.

Her perception just changed when she saw her crying at the door.

The memories of her curling her body and tears dropping from her eyes.

She seemed so fragile as if she would break at any moment.

The usual composed and mature Tuesday could cry.

The reason was because of her thoughtless words and impulsive actions, putting her purposefully in uncomfortable situations just because she had interrupted her book once.

Was this how she repaid her kindness?

Her rational vision of herself was shattered by her actions.

She was just being an egoist.

She remembered that in the past she claimed to be the older sister, and Tuesday said that she considered her a daughter.

She felt it was absurd she had such an opinion since they were the same age, and she was officially the older sister since her conscience awakened first.

But that time she just reacted instinctively and fought with her.

With her current realization, she finally noticed why Tuesday considered herself a maternal vision.

As an older sister, what had she done besides say harsh words and act egoistically?

She was immature.

So immature that she couldn't notice all the sacrifices her little sister always made for her.

She would give up all her fun to allow her as much time as she wanted.

Her concessions? How could she dare call concessions her small requests to read some books instead of others?

That was one of the few moments Tuesday would show her tastes, and she would react negatively about it.

She claimed she wanted to be called older sister when her actions weren't like that.

She remembered the words she said to Tuesday when she was trying to walk on her own.

"See? You are just words."

Those words were coming back to her with double intensity.

She didn't deserve to be called older sister.

That's why she tried everything to deserve this title.

She wouldn't say harsh words to her and would think at least once before her actions.

She tried to be like an adult.

But even improving her behavior, there were problems she had neglected.

Tuesday's independence.

All this time she had thought the most important thing in life was independence.

No one should say what she would do or not.

She would decide her path and think whatever she wanted.

But in a body where two people live together, the fact she monopolized all the hours of the day didn't seem good at all.

To satisfy her wishes, Tuesday was sacrificing herself.

And because of it, she was so fragile that she couldn't look at people in the eyes.

Never having a proper time to interact with anyone she had developed an intense fear to assume the body.

Now she was saying their body didn't belong to her.

That was all her fault because she was always in control.

Egoistically depriving her younger sister of all the pleasures of life.

The only moment she had fun wasn't with her but with Lurch.

He didn't need a single word to make her smile.

He, with all the social disabilities, was better than her.

That's why Wednesday couldn't organize her mixed feelings.

A dirty feeling was blowing up inside.

Regret, a deep regret for her actions.

And jealousy.

Because she wasn't able to make her sister smile so brightly.

'The next time your smile will be mine.'

That's why she made a promise to herself.

She wouldn't be just words anymore.

*

Author note

I'm sorry! I accidentally slept and forgot to schedule the chapter! I released it right after waking up XD.