The Wolfe family of three sat around the breakfast table, enjoying the rare quiet of a Sunday morning. Plates of toast, scrambled eggs, and freshly brewed coffee adorned the table, with the occasional clink of cutlery against porcelain breaking the silence. Mizuki savored these moments—calm, uninterrupted time with her parents was becoming increasingly rare.
Then, the sound of the front door opening abruptly shattered her peace.
"Mimi! Uncle and Aunt!" Nancy's cheerful voice rang out, even before her figure came into view. Moments later, she appeared in the dining room, her steps light and bouncy, her energy as vibrant as her floral sundress.
"Good morning, everyone!" she greeted, her smile as radiant as sunshine.
Mizuki forced a smile, hiding her sigh of irritation behind a sip of her orange juice. There goes my quiet morning, she thought.
Nancy had always been like this—effervescent and seemingly harmless, yet persistent to the point of suffocation. Mizuki couldn't remember all the details of their shared past, but she knew enough to anticipate Nancy's calculated presence.
She must've known it was Sunday, Mizuki mused bitterly, the only day both Mom and Dad are home. Of course, she'd take the opportunity to make her grand entrance.
Nancy's visits were never impromptu; they were deliberate. She always seemed to appear when Mizuki least wanted her around. The cheerful woman never missed an opportunity to ensure Mizuki's parents knew how "sweet" and "wonderful" of a friend she was.
"Oh, Nancy, dear, how lovely to see you," Kai Wolfe, Mizuki's mother, said warmly, her genuine affection for the girl evident in her tone. "Come and have a seat."
Nancy waved her hands dramatically, her tone laced with playful modesty. "Oh, I couldn't possibly intrude. I just wanted to stop by and say hello!"
"Nonsense," Kai insisted with a motherly smile, already gesturing toward the empty chair. "Sit, sit! Have breakfast with us."
"Well, if you insist," Nancy said, her reluctance vanishing in an instant as she slid into the chair and tucked her sundress primly around her legs. Her eager gaze fell on the table, clearly expecting a plate to materialize in front of her.
Mizuki clenched her jaw, taking a deep breath to suppress the eyeroll that threatened to escape. Classic Nancy, she thought. Her overly saccharine act always fools my parents, blinding everyone to what she's really doing.
As her mother prepared a plate for Nancy, Mizuki fought the familiar frustration bubbling within her. She glanced at her father, Caleb Wolfe, who was reading the newspaper, seemingly unfazed by the intrusion. Of course, Dad would just roll with it.
The breakfast table was quiet, save for the occasional clink of cutlery. Nancy sat beside Mizuki, acting like she belonged, as she always did. With every bite, she flashed a warm smile at Mizuki's parents, calling them "Auntie" and "Uncle" with exaggerated sweetness, as though repeating those words over and over would somehow make her a true niece.
Mizuki tried to keep her face neutral, but each time Nancy repeated the words, her stomach twisted. It wasn't anger she felt—at least, not entirely—but the falseness of it all made her skin crawl. The way Nancy said "Auntie" was sickly sweet, dripping with insincerity. Mizuki could almost taste it in the air, thick and sour. Nancy had done this for years, ingratiating herself with her family, all while undermining Mizuki in private. But now, Mizuki saw through the mask, and it was more unbearable than ever.
"I'm so glad I got to join you today, Auntie. Uncle, thank you for the breakfast," Nancy said with a little giggle, as if she truly were family. The false warmth in her voice made Mizuki's skin prickle.
Mizuki forced a smile, but the bitterness rising in her chest was impossible to ignore. She knows exactly what she's doing, Mizuki thought, trying to win my parents over while playing the part of the dutiful "niece."
She wanted to speak out, wanted to ask her mother if she noticed how Nancy was constantly trying to buy their affection, but what was the point? Her mother didn't seem to notice. Kai was too busy smiling at Nancy, happy to have her around. It was as if Nancy's charm was so effective that even the smallest gestures made her seem more like family than Mizuki herself.
"Don't worry about it, Nancy," her mother replied with a warm smile, eyes gleaming in approval. "You're always welcome here. You know that."
Mizuki barely held back a scoff, instead pushing her food around on her plate, her appetite suddenly gone. Not with Nancy here, she thought, and certainly not after hearing her turn every word into a performance. Her mother's easy acceptance of Nancy's behavior made her stomach churn.
"Oh, Auntie, we don't really have plans, but I'm going to take Mizuki out today. We'll meet up with friends at the café this afternoon to catch up. After all, it's been a while since we graduated," Nancy said, her voice light and casual, like she was suggesting something simple and innocent.
Mizuki's eyes narrowed at the mention of Nancy's "friends," the same people she remembered from her past life—people who had only used her, ridiculing her behind her back. Her grip on her fork tightened as memories of those days resurfaced. Back then, she had been naïve, happy to be included, thinking she was helping her friend. But she had learned. She had learned how easily Nancy manipulated her, how she'd used Mizuki to pay for everything while Nancy flaunted new clothes.
This time would be different.
"I don't want to go," Mizuki said firmly, trying to reject the offer. But her mother immediately cut her off.
"The housekeeper told me you've been stuck in your room even after getting better. You're just being lazy. Emma already told me you were feeling better yesterday," Kai reprimanded, shaking her head. "Be lucky her daughter still puts up with you."
At the mention of the housekeeper and her daughter, Mizuki noticed Nancy's jaw tighten, her eyes flashing with anger. Nancy didn't like hearing her relationship with the housekeeper mentioned. After all, the housekeeper was Nancy's mother, and Kai's words reminded her of her poor origins. Unknowingly, her mom had just insulted Nancy to her face. Mizuki almost wanted to laugh but held back. Instead, she felt cornered, forced into going out.
But then again…
"Oh, but I already have everything I need. I don't want to buy anything," Mizuki complained, hoping to escape, but her mother waved her off dismissively.
"You don't have to buy anything. Just tag along, right, Nancy?" Kai asked, turning to Nancy for confirmation. Nancy had no choice but to laugh awkwardly and agree.
"Yes, Mimi, just tag along. The most important thing is that you go out once in a while. It's not good to be cooped up in the house all day."
Mizuki's eyes narrowed. Ms. Manipulator wants to go shopping, huh? Then I'll make sure she really goes shopping.
"Alright, I'll just tag along then. I'll change my clothes," Mizuki said, and she could see the gleam of triumph in Nancy's eyes, as if she had won.
Little did Nancy know, as Mizuki turned to head to her room, a cold smile flashed on her face. Since Nancy forced her, she wouldn't mind teaching her a lesson or two. As for those so-called friends? Mizuki was going to show them who the real young lady of the family was today.