Story:

Butterfly leaned forward, studying her with exaggerated concentration.

“Twenty-six?”

Peach felt danger approaching.

“But you look sixteen.” Butterfly dissolved into laughter.

Violet covered her mouth, which was worse than laughing openly.

A vein stood out at Peach’s temple.

She snatched up the cup. Both sisters watched.

Peach raised it halfway— —and stopped.

The sweetness of the soda rose beneath the sharper smell of sake.

She looked at her small hand around the cup. Then at the school uniform she was still wearing.

“No.”

She set it down firmly in front of Violet. “You do not get to annoy me into proving something stupid.”

Butterfly blinked.

Peach seized a fresh cup and filled it with soda alone.

“If you want a competition, fine.”

Violet’s eyes narrowed with interest. “What sort?”

“Something you can actually lose.”

Peach pulled the shopping receipt from her pocket and flattened it on the table.

Then she placed the unopened packages between them. “Reading practice.”

Butterfly’s smile vanished. Violet stared at the receipt.

Peach smiled for the first time with genuine satisfaction. “Every item. Correct name, correct price. No guessing from the pictures.”

“That is hardly a party game.”

“It is a very famous party game among Tokyo youngsters.”

Violet looked at the noodle bowls. Then back at Peach. “You have been lying to us.”

“Apparently,” Peach said, taking a triumphant sip of soda, “you’re learning.”

Butterfly reached stealthily for the cake.

Peach caught her wrist before she touched the lid.

“Winner chooses the first slice.”

The room fell silent.

Then both sisters lunged for the receipt.

Peach sat back, smiling over her cup as Violet began accusing Butterfly of obscuring the small print.

At last, a competition worth winning.