My Twin Sister Is a Superstar?!

I was halfway through a video game when my phone started vibrating on the coffee table. Glancing at the screen, I saw Aiko's name. My twin sister. Again.

I sighed and answered.

"Yeah? What's up?"

"Akira! Where are you?"

"At home. Where else would I be?"

"Can you come over? I need to talk to you. It's important."

Something about her voice sounded different. Usually, Aiko was loud, confident, and annoyingly cheerful. Tonight, she sounded nervous.

"Can't you just tell me over the phone?"

"No! Please, just come over. I'll explain everything."

Before I could ask another question, she hung up.

"Okay... weird."

About twenty minutes later, I arrived at Aiko's luxury apartment in central Tokyo. It was considerably nicer than my own place, which wasn't surprising considering how much money my sister made as one of Japan's most popular idols.

I knocked twice before letting myself in.

"Aiko? I'm here."

"Akira!"

She practically appeared out of nowhere, grabbing my arm and pulling me inside. She was wearing comfortable home clothes, her long dark hair loosely tied back. Despite being at home, she looked unusually stressed.

"Whoa, slow down. What's going on?"

I kicked off my shoes and followed her into the living room. There were papers scattered across the coffee table, along with her tablet and several documents bearing the logo of her entertainment agency.

"Okay, seriously. Did you get fired or something?"

"What?! No! It's much worse!"

I raised an eyebrow.

"That's reassuring."

Aiko took a deep breath, sat down on the couch, and gestured for me to sit opposite her.

"Akira, I need you to do something for me."

"Depends. Are you asking me to move furniture again?"

"Can you be serious for five minutes?"

"I'm listening."

She hesitated, looking down at her hands before finally meeting my eyes.

"You know how important the next few weeks are for my career, right? The television appearances, the live performances, the interviews... everything?"

"Yeah. You've only mentioned it about fifty times."

"Well... something happened. And I might not be able to fulfill some of my commitments."

I frowned.

"Okay? So tell your manager. Surely they can rearrange things."

"They can't. There's too much at stake. If I disappear now, it could ruin everything I've worked for."

"Then what exactly do you want me to do?"

Aiko went quiet.

Then, very slowly, she pointed at me.

"You're going to help me."

"...What?"

"Akira, we're identical twins. We have the same face, the same height, practically everything. With the right preparation..."

I stared at her.

"Wait. No."

"You haven't even heard me out!"

"I already know where this is going, and the answer is no."

"PLEASE! Just listen!"

Aiko grabbed both my hands, looking at me with the most desperate expression I'd ever seen.

"I need you to take my place. Just temporarily. You'd attend my appearances, perform where necessary, and pretend to be me until I can get everything sorted out."

For several seconds, I didn't say anything.

Then I slowly pulled my hands away.

"Aiko."

"Yes?"

"I'm a guy."

"I KNOW!"

"I'm your brother."

"I KNOW, AKIRA!"

"And you're asking me to become a female pop idol?"

She nodded.

I leaned back against the couch, staring at her in complete disbelief.

"You've actually lost your mind."

She shuffled closer, practically begging now.

"You're the only person I can trust with this. Please, little brother. Just help me."

I looked at the documents on the table, then back at my sister.

"How long is this supposed to last?"

Aiko hesitated.

"...A few weeks?"

"AIKO!"

She winced.

"Okay! Maybe a month!"

I covered my face with both hands.

"This is going to be the longest month of my entire life."

---

[A FEW HOURS LATER — AIKO'S PRIVATE STYLING STUDIO]

Somehow, after an exhausting amount of pleading, bargaining, and promises that she'd owe me for the rest of my life, I'd agreed.

Big mistake.

---

[TIME SKIP — THE FOLLOWING MORNING]

I was standing in front of an enormous illuminated vanity mirror, surrounded by Aiko's professional stylists, makeup artists, and wardrobe assistants.

"Okay, first things first. Sit down, Akira!"

One of the stylists guided me into a salon chair.

"Wait, what are you doing with that?"

She held up an electric razor.

"Your facial hair, obviously. We need a completely smooth face."

"Hold on—"

BZZZZZZZZ.

"HEY! You could've warned me!"

The next several hours became an absolute nightmare.

My facial hair was completely shaved. My eyebrows were carefully shaped. My skin received a professional treatment, followed by foundation, concealer, blush, eyeliner, mascara, and a little pink lip gloss.

Then came the hair.

My natural hairstyle was replaced with a carefully fitted, long dark-brown wig styled to match Aiko's signature appearance. The stylists adjusted the hairline, added natural-looking layers, and spent ages getting every strand into place.

"He's got a surprisingly good face for this," one of the makeup artists commented.

"Please stop talking about me like I'm not here."

Next came the wardrobe.

My ordinary clothes were taken away, replaced with Aiko's signature idol outfits. A cream-colored blouse, a short pleated skirt, delicate accessories, and matching shoes. Everything was selected to make me look convincingly like my sister.

There were fittings, adjustments, more makeup, and endless instructions about posture, walking, smiling, and speaking.

"Relax your shoulders, Akira."

"Stop slouching."

"Your hands should be more delicate."

"Try smiling!"

"Can I PLEASE just go home?"

Aiko was watching the entire process from the sofa, practically crying with laughter.

"Oh my God. You're actually starting to look like me!"

"That's not funny."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the stylists stepped away from the mirror.

"Okay, everyone. Let's see the finished result."

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at my reflection.

For a moment, I genuinely couldn't recognize myself.

Standing in the mirror was an incredibly convincing feminine version of Aiko Hoshino.

I turned my head slightly, staring at the unfamiliar reflection.

"...You've got to be kidding me."

Aiko appeared behind me, grinning from ear to ear.

"Well, hello there, little sister!"

"Don't you DARE call me that."

She burst out laughing.

"Alright, alright! But we've still got a lot of work to do. Tomorrow, you meet my manager. And after that..."

She held up her phone, showing me the schedule.

"...your first public appearance."

I stared at the screen in horror.

"Tomorrow?!"

I looked back at my reflection, then at my sister.

I was a 21-year-old straight guy who had absolutely no business being in the entertainment industry. And somehow, I'd just become Japan's newest female idol.

I had a terrible feeling things were only going to get worse.