Powerpuff Love

Origin: Three Typical Teenage Girls

...Tokyo City, Japan, an April morning...

...Akatsutsumi residence...

Momoko's POV

"Big sister, wake up! You have to get ready for school!"

My eyes sluggishly flutter open and meet with rusty orange ones, wide with a shocking haste.

It takes a moment for the lag in my body to catch up with my surroundings, but I jolt upwards, throwing the covers off of me.

"Oh, no, I have to get ready for school!"

Kuriko rolls her eyes with her arms crossed.

"Sis, that's what I just said..."

"Kuriko, did you wake your sister up?" I hear our mom shout from downstairs. Kuriko goes to our bedroom door and opens it, pressing her hands against the inside of the door frame to hold herself up as she leans out.

"Yes, Momma! We'll be down soon!" She turns to face me again as I am frantically tearing my closet apart looking for something to wear.

"Sis, it's only the first day of junior high—"

"Exactly!" I recant, meeting her unamused gaze. "Which means I'll be at the bottom of the social hierarchy again -- a bottom feeding seventh grader, no less -- which means I have to look absolutely outstanding to make a lasting impression on the student body! I have to boost my popularity as early on as possible!"

"Is that all you care about?" Kuriko groans.

"Of course not!" I say, my back now facing her again as I continue the search for the perfect first-day-of-school outfit. "I have to impress all of the boys, too, or else I won't have anyone to be my date to the school dances, and most importantly the Flower Festival at the end of the school year!"

"So it really is all about boys..."

"How about this?" In my hands is a flowy, floral sleeveless dress with a sweetheart neckline and pastel pink trim around the bodice. "Ooo, and this brown belt to match my wedges!"

"I think it's—"

"Going to make a lasting impression? As do I, little sister!"

I leap over the messy pile of clothes I created and head for the bathroom.

"I don't know how you're always so hyper in the mornings, big sister!" I hear her complain behind the closed bathroom door.

I throw on the outfit, brush my teeth, and style my hair in a high pony -- always complete with my charming red bow tied around the elastic. I layer on mascara and a pink gloss, and stare at myself in admiration — that is, before Kuriko's voice interrupts my peace and quiet for the second time this morning.

"Moko, do you know how embarrassing it is to have to wake up my thirteen-year-old sister for her first day of school? I'm already in third grade and you still rely on me for so much."

"Hey, I am self-reliant!" I counter with a grimace she can't see.

"Sure, when you want to be, which is never..." I hear her mumble.

I choose to ignore her slick comments on my responsibility as a big sister and busy myself curling my hair into loose waves.

Eight-year-olds sure are getting pompous these days...

"Let's go, you narcissistic sister!"

I swing the door open and pout.

"Kuriko, you're so mean!"