original

His Misguided Desires

Chapter 1: My sister's stalker

Twin sisters Mariko and Moriko, one dressed in a smart casual wear while the other dressed in traditional martial arts attire, stood in the center of the Hagiwara dojo. The dojo was dimly lit, with the soft glow of paper lanterns casting gentle, flickering shadows across the polished wooden floor. The scent of incense hung lightly in the air, mingling with the faint echoes of martial arts techniques from earlier in the day.

Mariko, the younger of the two, paced anxiously back and forth, her eyes darting to the dojo's windows and doors as if expecting danger at any moment. Her sister, Moriko, watched her with a mix of concern and skepticism.

"Mori, I can't take it anymore! Someone's been following me, I'm sure of it! I need your help!" Mariko's voice trembled as she spoke, her words rushed and frantic.

Moriko furrowed her brow, a hint of doubt clouding her features. Mariko was known for her mischievous pranks, and Moriko couldn't help but wonder if this was another one of her games.

"Mari, are you sure this isn't just one of your pranks again? You've pulled some elaborate ones before." Moriko's reply was full of doubt.

Mariko stopped pacing, her eyes welling up with tears as she faced her sister.

"I promise, Big sis, this is real! I've seen him everywhere—outside my apartment, at work, and heaven knows he could have been following me here to the dojo!"

Moriko's skepticism began to wane as she saw the genuine fear in her sister's eyes. She took a step closer to Mariko and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Okay, I believe you. Let's sit down and talk about it. We'll figure out what to do together."

Mariko nodded, her relief palpable. The two sisters found a quiet corner of the dojo. They then sat on the tatami mats, the dim lights in the dojo casting a soothing ambiance around them. Soon as they settled, Mariko begun to recount her unsettling experiences while Moriko listened attentively.

"I didn't notice anything unusual until my secretary, Yuki, brought it up. She said that our building's security team had been noticing a black Maybach parked around the office building quite frequently. It was as if it was waiting for someone. Then, after conducting some surveillance, they found that the Maybach would leave the vicinity right around the same time I left work."

Moriko's eyes widened, and she exchanged a concerned glance with her sister. The situation was beginning to sound more alarming.

"Hmm... Definitely suspicious. What did the head of security say?" Moriko asked.

"He was alarmed by the pattern and reported it to Yuki. She informed me immediately. Since then, I've increased my security measures, but the stalker has become more careful and, strangely, more aggressive too." Mariko's pretty face was filled with worry.

Moriko's protective instincts kicked in as she listened to her younger sister's distressing account. She reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Mariko's shoulder.

"We need to take this seriously, Mari. Your safety is the most important thing. We'll figure out a plan to deal with this together."

Mariko nodded, relieved to have her sister's support. The stalking had taken a toll on her, but with Moriko by her side, she felt a glimmer of hope that they could put an end to this terrifying ordeal and ensure her safety once and for all.

The conversation between Mariko and Moriko continued until Moriko glanced at her watch and sighed.

"It's getting late, Mari. We should head home."

Mariko, still feeling anxious but comforted by her sister's presence, nodded in agreement.

"You're right, Mori. Let's go home." Mariko replied reluctantly.

As they both started to rise from the tatami mats, Moriko hesitated for a moment. She bit her lip, then finally decided to share something with Mariko that had been troubling her.

"Mari, there's something I need to tell you. When you arrived here earlier today, I noticed something strange. There was a black Maybach parked nearby, and I didn't think much of it at the time. But now, after hearing your story, I'm starting to worry that the stalker might be right outside, waiting for you to leave." Moriko said calmly as her hands tightly held unto Mariko's.

Mariko's eyes widened in shock, and her heart began to race. The realization that the stalker might be lurking just outside the dojo sent a chill down her spine.

"A-Are you sure, Mori? We can't be certain..." Mariko stammered in fear.

"I have a strong feeling about this, Mari. We can't take any chances. That's why we should switch clothes."

"EH?! Don't tell me you are going to trade pla ----"

Moriko was quick enough to cover Mariko's mouth and stopped her from finishing her sentence.

"Shh! You are being too loud. We should keep our voices down. For heaven's sake Mariko, your stalker could have been eavesdropping by now!"

Mariko paled, realizing the truth in her sister's words.

"Mori, I can't believe we're doing this. I don't want to put you in danger." Mariko whispered in a quivering voice.

Moriko looked at her younger twin sister, her expression soft but determined.

"Mari, we're family, and family looks out for each other. I can't stand by and let you face this alone. Besides, you did not learn any self defense since your constitution is weak. Don't worry about your big sis. She's not a black belt for nothing."

Mariko's eyes welled up with tears as she realized the depth of her sister's sacrifice. She felt a surge of guilt for dragging Moriko into her ordeal.

"I never wanted to involve you in this mess. I feel so guilty for getting you into this." Mariko said as tears started to well up her eyes.

Moriko placed a comforting hand on Mariko's shoulder, with eyes filled with reassurance she said, "Don't blame yourself, Mariko. We'll get through this together, and we'll make sure you're safe. That's what sisters do."

"Thank you, Mori. Let's be cautious and make sure we both get home safely tonight."

As Mariko and Moriko swapped clothes and belongings to disguise themselves as the other, they made sure to check each other's appearances, making sure the transformation was convincing.

Nervous, Mariko asked, "Do I really look like you, Mori?"

Moriko scrutinized her sister's appearance and nodded with a reassuring smile and replied, "You look just like me, Mari. Now, let's not waste any more time. We need to confuse the stalker."

Mariko nodded, her heart still racing with anxiety. They grabbed each other's car keys and headed towards the parking lot.

Under the dimly lit parking lot, the sisters approached their respective cars. Mariko hesitated for a moment, her fingers trembling as she held Moriko's car keys.

"Mori, are you sure about this? What if something happens to you?" Mariko said in almost a whisper.

"Don't worry, Mari. We're doing this together. It's the best chance we have to shake off the stalker."

Mariko nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She got into Moriko's car, and Moriko did the same with Mariko's. With a shared glance, they simultaneously started their engines and drove out of the parking lot. The sister's cars then merged into the flow of traffic., Mariko Mariko glancing nervously in the rearview mirror as they navigated the city streets. Moriko did the same in Mariko's car. As they drove, they couldn't help but wonder if their risky plan would work. The tension in the air was evident, but their determination to protect each other fueled their courage.

Inside Moriko's car, Mariko's heart pounded as she glanced around, constantly vigilant for any signs of the stalker.

"Please, let this work, Mori. Please be safe." Mariko pleaded as she gripped the steering wheel tightly, her worry for Moriko gnawing at her.

Meanwhile inside Mariko's car, Moriko clenched the steering wheel, her eyes darting around, searching for any suspicious vehicles or individuals. She couldn't help but feel a similar concern for her sister's safety. If the plan failed, the stalker would be tailing Mariko instead of her.

"Stay safe, Mari. We've got to make this work."

With their hearts in their throats, the sisters continued their journey, determined to outmaneuver the stalker and ensure each other's safety.