Furude Rika

No, it wasn’t simply the name, but the source of it as well. That voice reverberated through her mind, stirring memories that were.. Well, to say that they had been forgotten would be inaccurate. ‘Repressed’ rather. A period of her life that was brought about by an exploitation of her weakness. Her memory preserving mechanism had been damage for the very first time. And due to that, all sense of self had been lost. ‘Featherine’ momentarily ceased to exist. And in her place..

"… Hanyuu..?"

Yes, Hanyuu. That was what it called itself. Perhaps it was that small, lingering part of her that caused her composure to falter. She would have to correct this in time and erase any and all traces left behind by that.. blunder.

Though, she wasn't going to take Bernkastel's advice in vain, for now all she could really do was just accept that Hanyuu and all of her friends simply weren't existent here, despite the odd similarities. 

Though that was a good thing, right? She could at least rest knowing that her friends were safe at home, living their normal lives. But what this woman said, Hanyuu no longer exists..? And won't exist ever again? Those words stung her like a knife.. for her sanity she refused to believe this witch's words.

"I see.. in that case I apologize, I mistook you for an old friend."

And not only that but everyone could see her and she wasn't just a simple apparition, if that was the case this must just some very bizarre coincidence, right? This wouldn't stop the young shrine maiden though, she wanted to insure this..

Perhaps she wasn't alone in this city after all..

     The youkai’s at a loss of words, for a moment. Eyes closing, Yuuka’s right hand gingerly moves that umbrella of hers that was normally kept raised and open— and casually, she closes it.

     ”That’s cute, Rika-chan~ Very cute. That’s a nice little act you’ve got there. Nice and little, just like you. Ah, but…”

     Trailing off, Yuuka suddenly slams her umbrella downwards, cracking the pavement beneath it a bit. And afterwards, she clutches it much like a cane, left hand falling upon her hip.

     ”I said ‘trick’, not ‘act’. At least, I’m pretty sure I did~ Maybe I didn’t? I’ll give you a free pass there, since I’m unsure! I’m rather generous, you know. So, then… show me a trick, Rika-chan~”

Once the umbrella was slammed into the ground with visible cracks appearing in the pavement, it was pretty clear that this was no game. Again, Hanyuu was not here to guarantee anything.. 

She needed to play as if this life was her only life so her words needed to be chosen carefully.

"A trick? But isn't my very existence a trick? For a moment you were 'tricked' into believing that me and Bernkastel were twins, were you not?"

“Tsk, tsk. And here I thought you of all people might understand my desire to find entertainment. You grew bored of that constant cycle of repeating events, did you not? I know there was a time before Keiichi Maebara displayed some recollection of past loops that you begun to feel that way. Oh, and in regards to that little ‘miracle’, just who is it do you think you owe?”

The sad thing behind the witch's words was she was partially correct, Rika did eventually grow bored of knowing what would happen next and eventually began to lose her own humanity. If it hadn't been for Keiichi Maebara remembering his actions in past timelines and showed her that she could change fate through believing in a miracle, she would still be trapped in the endless loop of June, showa 58.

If that had happened, she'd most likely have ended up like her counterpart here. 

"I can't argue with you, you're correct. Though my definition of entertainment extremely differs from yours."

"You're not Rika Furude so I wouldn't expect you to understand. But those dead end timelines, where the who people cared for you and held you close ending up succumbing to fate before your own eyes. Don't you remember?"

The vague memories of all those past timelines she experienced were haunting, but in the end a miracle did happen which ended up freeing her from that endless summer. Though it didn't happen by chance, that miracle happened through the hope of herself, her friends and the people who cared for it. If it had just been her by herself, that miracle surely wouldn't have happeend.

"That sadistic blood lust you show... doesn't it bother you that once a long time ago, the person who endured all that pain and suffering was you..?"

"But sometimes adults are put into situations they don't understand.. so they get confused and scared like a kitty getting lost. Adults are just bigger kids who know the world better, right?"

     Idly, the youkai giggles.

This girl.. witch.. was definitely odd, either way Rika's eyes would light and she'd put on a smile on her face, like that of someone expected of her age group.

"Well~ my name is Ri-Ka Fu-Ru-De. Not Fred-Ri-Ka Bern-Kas-Tel! Mii, so we are different!"

She spells as she'd motion it with her hands. 

"But no.. if I had a kitty maybe we could teach it to do some tricks though!"