Sora Talks

Riko turns on her heel and shrugs You’s hand off of her shoulder. “And why, exactly, is that?” Riko asks barely containing her rage behind another fake smile.

You lets out another sigh and pinches the bridge of her nose, “you don't seem to understand. Tomorrow at school Chika is going to ask us about the movie, and what are you going to say if you have yet to see it?” You explains.

Riko flicks her hair behind her shoulder, “I’ll tell her exactly what I told you, I want to see the movie with her.” Riko retorts putting her hand on her hip. Riko imagines telling Chika ‘it's not the same without you there Chika’ and all the other gay ways her conversation with Chika could go tomorrow.

“this dumb bitch” You whispers under her breath, “no, Chika will feel bad if you tell her you skipped the movie because of her.” You explains her annoyance showing in her tone.

Riko’s gay fantasy shatters with this revelation. Her hand covers her mouth instinctively, she's shocked, You was right. “S-so what do you suggest we do?” Riko asks, puzzled.

You squints at Riko, “Umm, we watch the goddamn movie???” she says with exasperation.

Riko’s eyes widen “Are you suggesting you and I watch a movie together, alone?” she asks.

As much as You hates to admit it, this time Riko was right, that sounded dreadful. If Chika was here she would just sit between them. That's when it hit her, what if they replaced Chika with a stranger between them, or even better, an entire theater of strangers. “We’ll just sit in different parts of the theater” she explained.

Riko’s eyes lit up, “that's it! Then I won't have to deal with you at all, it's like you don't even exist!”

“Yeah, right back at ya” You says walking towards the cinema entrance “I'm looking forward to watching this movie in peace.”

Riko follows her, “as am I, you have a great time as far away from me as possible.”

Inside, You buys her ticket first then Riko steps up to the counter, “one ticket for a girl and her dog, a water, and a small popcorn please” Riko says to the women behind the counter.

“Oh, lucky for you, that’s  the last ticket for this showing of that movie, here you are” the attendant says handing Riko her ticket, then she turns around to get Riko’s order. “Enjoy the show” she adds when she hands Riko her popcorn and drink.

“Thank you” Riko says with a smile and turns to head towards the various cinema rooms, she notes that You must have already went inside.

Riko enters the door labeled ‘showing room 6.’ Inside a young cinema employee stands accepting ticket stubs, Riko hands him her ticket “Looks like you're the last one, I think the last open seat is near the top” he directs her.

“Thank you” Riko says starting up the steps.

At the top she is greeted with a very common issue in theaters and other crowded places for a small girl like herself, a tall man sits right in front of the last available seat. Luckily for a common issue there was a common solution, the woman sitting next to the vacant seat seemed tall enough to see, all she needed to do was politely ask her to switch seats.

“Excuse me, miss?” she says trying to get the woman’s attention “could we possibly switch seats? I can't see well in this one.”

The woman turns to Riko and smiles “such a pretty, polite girl. Of course! My friend and I will both move down one and you can have her seat” she replies gesturing to the woman next to her.

“Thank you very much” Riko says with a bright smile. The two women gather their things and move down a seat, then Riko shuffles in front of them to her new seat. When she finally plops down she lets out a sigh of relief. She was finally done with all the stress of that afternoon, done with You, and ready to relax and watch the movie she has been anticipating for weeks. It's supposed to be the most emotional movie of the year, or so the reviews say. Riko could barely wait for the previews to end and the film to start.

“You really aren't getting this, are you?” Riko hears a familiar voice say from beside her.

She slowly turns towards the voice and grits her teeth into a forced smile “what the hell are you doing here?”

It’s none other than You that returns Riko’s fake smile with a blank stare, “I think I should be asking you that, I sat down by a random woman. So why the hell are you there now?”

Riko grimaces, the woman she switched with was sitting next to You. What kind of horrible luck was that? Well she couldn't possibly ask to switch back now, that'd be rude.

“You know if you really did want to watch the movie with me you should of said something. I would have said no, of course, but it would be funny” You teases, snickering.

“Like hell!” Riko yells causing You to shh her, they were in a theater after all. More quietly Riko starts again “This is the last thing I wanted, I just asked to switch because I couldn't see, I had no idea you were here” she explains.

You rolls her eyes “yeah, sure.” Riko turns red with anger but before she can say anything the theater becomes silent as the lights turn off and the title of the movie comes on the large screen signalling the start of the film.

“Just keep quiet, I'm not missing this movie for you” Riko whispers. You doesn't say anything back.

A half hour into the movie Riko is completely enthralled, she munches on her popcorn with her eyes glued to the screen, so far the movie really was all she had hoped for. “Hey” she hears a whisper come from beside her but chooses to ignore it. That's what people always tell her to do with stray dogs, ‘if you ignore them they'll leave you alone,’ this was pretty much the same thing.

“Hey, pass the popcorn thot.”

Riko can't believe what she just heard, slowly turns her head to the side, fire in her eyes. “Excuse me?”

“I've had to listen to you crunch on that popcorn since the beginning of this movie, give me some” You says without looking away from the screen.

“You should have gotten your own damn popcorn” Riko replies and turns back to the movie “And don't call me that.”

“I didn't want popcorn before I had to listen to you, just give me some” You looks towards Riko this time.

“God fine, just shut up” Riko gives in thrusting the popcorn in You’s direction.

You takes some with a “thanks.”

Riko keeps the popcorn on the side You is on hoping it’ll keep her quiet. It's working until both of them reach for some popcorn at the same time and their hands touch in the bowl. Both of them pull away as if they just touched fire. “Eww” slips out of Riko’s mouth.

“Eww?” You questions, eyebrow raised.

“I don't know where your hands have been!” Riko complains.

“Nowhere but up Chika’s skirt” You teases sticking out her tongue.

“ugh, shut up!” Riko barely subdues her desire to shout. You snickers at her reaction.

After a few minutes Riko notices that You stopped eating the popcorn. Was she too mean? She shouldn’t care, she thinks. But even so, she moves the bucket into You’s field of vision to get her attention, “you can have the rest, I’m full” Riko whispers.

You hesitates, but slowly grabs the popcorn with a quiet “thanks.” She looks at Riko but Riko doesn't look back. Riko’s eyes were intensely focused on the screen, and she's anxiously biting her lip. You looks at the screen too, the movie is coming to its climax which explains Riko’s behavior. The movie up to this point has been a bittersweet tale of a young girl and her pet dog growing up and overcoming adversities together; it all ends in this final scene. You thinks it’s a little too predictable of an ending, but it's bound to get to some people.

At that moment You hears something that catches her attention, a sniffle? She hears the noise once again before she turns her head to look. It was exactly what she expected, but nothing like she expected it.

Riko’s eyes, glossed with tears, reflect the blue light of the screen like the ocean did the sky. It isn't like she is crying, it’s like tears are escaping, gently rolling down her cheeks. You stared and stared and stared; the sight is beautiful and despairing and mesmerizing and sad and You can't look away, but she knows she never wants to see it again.

Out of the corner of her eye Riko’s attention is grabbed by something light blue; once she focuses she sees it’s a handkerchief that You is holding out to her. When she looks towards You’s face her gaze isn't returned and her questions aren’t answered, so she looks at the handkerchief again; she's hesitant, but accepts the silent offer, actually quite grateful to have something to dry her face with. You’s hand retracts back into her lap, she doesn't say a word. Riko stares at the handkerchief again before whispering “thank you” under her breath and wiping her tears with it.

She clutches the handkerchief tightly for the remainder of the film, not wanting to bother You by returning it.

As soon as the credits roll and the dim cinema lights turn on You stands and begins to walk out, but Riko is caught in the crowd of people leaving. Once outside the theater room in the lobby Riko is finally able to look around as the crowd disperses; she spots You leaning against a wall by the door looking down at her phone.

“If you were going to wait here you could have waited to walk out with me” Riko points out as she walks up to You.

You hurriedly slips her phone in her pocket “Sorry, I… sorry” she says a little frantic.

Riko tilts her head questioningly, sorry isn't what she expected to hear “it's fine, don't worry about it” she reassures.

You fixes her baseball cap and turns towards the door “should we go?” she gestures.

Riko nods, and walks with You out of the cool air conditioned cinema and onto the hot summer street.

They walk side by side in an awkward silence for some time before Riko finally musters the courage to speak, “did you like the movie?” she asks.

“Yeah it was pretty good, kind of predictable” she says placing her finger to her chin, “I can't believe you cried!” You adds.

“The dog died!” Riko exclaims.

“Of course it did, that happens! I thought you were afraid of dogs anyway?” You questions.

“I am, that doesn't mean I want them to die!” Riko explains. “Weren't you even a little sad or are you completely heartless?” she shoots back.

“Hey I'm not heartless; it was very sad, just predictable!” You attempts to explain herself “I just don't cry easily” she mumbles.

“So the handkerchief is strictly for other girls?” Riko asks smugly, a smirk plastered across her face.

“It's not only for tears!” You answers while rolling her eyes.

Riko giggles, “Well, what do you use it for then?” she asks tilting her head.

You thinks for a moment before answering “sometimes I use them for wiping up small messes or cleaning my hands. When it's hot like it has been I use them to wipe away sweat. They’re just handy to have” You explains.

“Eww. I wiped my face with your sweat?” Riko asks with disdain.

“Shut up” You shoots back “I hadn't used it for anything yet, it's clean.”

Riko squints at You as if she can see a lie if she looks hard enough, “Okay, good” she says, satisfied in her search. “So, you have more than just this one?” she asks.

You realizes she unintentionally alluded to that and slowly nods, “yeah, I have a lot…” She trails off contemplating how much she really wanted to say. “My dad gives me them a lot, he's always carried one on him at all times” You explains, deciding there's no harm in telling Riko.

“Oh wow, so it's sort of like a collection?” Riko shows a genuine interest in what You is telling her.

You smiles, “yeah, he gets me one every Birthday and on other holidays too” You looks past Riko towards the sea they're walking beside while she talks. She subtly points directing Riko’s attention towards the sun setting against the ocean horizon. She doesn't miss a beat in her explanation,  “He sails to a lot of different places for work and tries to get me one wherever he goes” You pauses.

Riko’s eyes are focused on the shining orange light spreading across the ocean and the sky. Her ears are focused on You’s words and the way You talks about her father, it has some sort of warmth to it, nothing like the sweltering heat of the summer day. “You really look up to your father” Riko says exactly what she felt, in this moment it’s too much of a hassle for her to think about it.

You stares into Riko’s back. She thinks about how the red tones in the sky compliment her hair and how the sun gleams on her skin. “Yeah.”

Suddenly Riko turns and starts digging through her purse. “I’ll have to make sure to give this one back then” she says while pulling the blue handkerchief out and extending it towards You.

You looks at it for a second, the way it looks in place in Riko’s delicate hand and the way the sky blue contrasts her light pink painted nails, “you keep it” she says.

Riko tilts her head and lowers her hand to her side, “why?” she questions.

You isn't completely sure why herself, “just keep it, use it next time you cry or something” she says looking down at her sneakers.

Riko feels the heat of her reddening cheeks and turns her face to her shoes as well. “Thanks.”

A silence falls between them and Riko is prepared for it to last until she gets home. They both board their bus like strangers, but You finally speaks up while they’re sitting shoulder to shoulder on the cramped bus. “Sorry to pry but I was just wondering, are you close with your dad?”

Riko looks at You like she’s speaking a different language, but You doesn’t return her gaze. “Oh!” Riko burst out, processing what was said to her. “Umm, well we don’t have a bad relationship, he’s just away for work a lot” Riko explains, “but I guess so is yours…” Riko ponders for a moment, “I guess I’m just closer to my Mom” she concludes.

You finally looks up from the bus floor, “that’s cool too” she says with a bright smile.

“Yeah” Riko smiles back, “I really look up to her, I always have. She’s the one who got me to play piano when I was young.”

“Oh wow, that’s really, like, important to you, right?” You ckears her throat, “Well of course it is I mean” she starts to trip on her words.

Riko chuckles a little “yes it is very important to me, and so is my mother’s involvement in it” Riko explains.

“Right, that’s what I mean! My dad was always the biggest supporter of my diving” You says, “Not that my mom wasn’t, don’t get me wrong” she adds.

“No I get it, same here with my father, but when it comes to music my mom just, like-”

“Gets it more, right?”

“Right!”

Both of them are smiling from ear to ear. To both of their dismays their conversation is interrupted by the bus driver announcing it was Riko’s stop.

“Oh, this is where I get off” Riko says standing up and looking around making sure she has all her things, once she’s sure she looks back to You “Sorry.”

You shakes her head “don’t worry about it, I’ll see you tomorrow at school we can talk more.”

Riko’s smile is stunning to You “Yeah, it’s a promise” Riko says back, “See you” she says with a wave

“See you tomorrow” You calls back watching Riko carefully climb out of the bus. You breathes out once she’s out of sight and tries her best to ignore the racing of her heart.

“Yeah I guess, but that means you did too, Mari” the girl replies with a knowing tone.

“Yeah I guess” Mari replies, showing no interest in arguing. “So, what’s your reason, You?” she asks, moving to stand next to the bench.

You rotates her glassy stare away from the floor to Mari where she's met with bright eyes and a weak smile. “I didn't want to go home” You replies, her voice small.

“Well, I guess we're the same then” Mari says with a forced laugh. “Do you want anything?” she asks lazily pointing to the vending machine in the corner, brightly lit in white light against the dark backdrop.

“No thanks” You answers, returning her gaze to the floor. She listens to the sound of Mari’s boots scraping across the snow, the click of the coins being inserted, the small dings of the buttons, the crash of the drink at the bottom of the machine. More dings, another crash.

“Here” Mari says when she returns to You’s side, holding a can of hot chocolate in front of You’s downcast gaze.

You decides it's too late to argue and accepts with a “thanks.” They both crack open their cans and take a sip. The warm liquids return a bit of color to their pale faces.

You holds her hot chocolate in both hands to capture all the warmth possible. “You like coffee too?” You asks.

“Hmm? Yeah I like coffee” Mari contemplates her drink while she speaks. “But who do you mean by ‘too’” she asks.

“Oh…” You pauses, realizing what she said. “Riko always drinks it.”

“Yeah” Mari takes another sip “she does too.”

You curls her nose, “It's too bitter for me” she sticks her tongue out to display her displeasure

“Hmm? Yeah that's what a lot of people say.” Mari says dully.

They fall silent. The quiet sound of Mari sipping her coffee seems to echo. You awkwardly scrapes her boot across the snow trying to fill the silence with anything. “So, how long until the next train?” She asks, latching onto the first bearable topic that pops into her head.

“I dunno, awhile-” Mari breathes out in response. “Are you planning to get on that one?” she asks.

You’s heart drops. “I… I don't know” she says, awkwardly pulling at the fray of her scarf. As it turned out that wasn't the simplest topic either. “What about you?” she redirects to her senior.

“I dunno” she answers the same. “But, if neither of us know whether to get on the next train or not, there's no real point in waiting for it, is there?” she asks, her eyes lighting up.

“I guess not” You answers regardless.

Mari turns her head to look at You who's staring up at her. She cracks a small smile “Then let's go someplace else.”

You raises one of her eyebrows at this suggestion, “like where?” she asks.

“I don't know!” Mari answers, her tone louder and brighter than before “let's just go! We’ll figure it out when we get there!”

She’s getting excited; You thinks that it's kinda cute, but keeps it to herself.ll

You stands up off her lonely bench and returns Mari’s expectant gaze. “Okay, lead the way.”

Mari jumps in excitement and turns on her heel yelling ”woo-hoo! Adventure!”

You walks close behind her, smiling for the first time in what feels like forever.

-

They walk together, You a few steps behind, in a comfortable silence. You tries to step in the footprints Mari leaves in the deepening snow to pass the time. She has to stretch a bit each step since Mari’s strides are longer than hers.

Their trek through the snow for almost 20 minutes before You asks, “So, where are we going?”

“Hmm? I don't know” Mari replies complacently.

“Well you're walking in front, so you should decide” You says.

“Is that how this works?” Mari asks, her tone playful.

“Yes it is, you're in the lead, you're my senior, you're in charge” You answers, exasperated.

“Okay” Mari stops suddenly causing You to nearly bump into her. “Let’s play here” she decides.

“Play?” You asks, puzzled when she turns to what Mari is facing, an empty snow covered field.

“Yes play! When's the last time you played in the snow?” she asks.

“I dunno, it's been years” You looks off in the distance recalling the memory. She and Chika played together on the day of the first snow years ago, they were still in junior high. She remembers them building a snowman, making snow angels, having a snowball fight. They had so much fun together back then, just the two of them.

Just as You began to get lost in thought she's brought back down to earth by the sensation of snow pelting her in the cheek. She immediately looks over to see the source, Mari, and she's already bending down to pick up more frozen ammunition.

“you make yourself a very easy target if you just stand there~” Mari says with a teasing tone.

“Why you, I’ll get you back!” You says hurriedly scooping up some snow, but just as she begins winding up to throw her own another ball pummels her chest.

Mari just sticks out her tongue to taunt You then turns around, and runs away into the snowy field. You gives chase and they each exchange snowballs back and forth. They play for nearly an hour before both of them fall, completely exhausted, onto their backs next to each other in the center of the field.

“Wow… I haven't had that much fun since… I don't even know” You says between heavy breaths. She turns her head to look at Mari lying next to her, and Mari looks back at her. Mari, without looking away, starts flailing her arms across the snowy surface.

This perplexes You, “What… are you doing exactly?” she questions.

“Making a snow angel, of course!” Mari answers not missing a beat, or a flail.

You starts to giggle, but it slowly turns into an irrepressible laughter. She can't help but laugh. Mari soon joins in; both of them laugh until they can hardly breathe. You can't tell if she's laughing at Mari’s snow angel or her dorky laugh by the time they finally start to calm down.

“Whew-” You catches her breath, while at the same time starting to gently move her arms to make an angel of her own. “I've really had a blast tonight Mari, thank you” You says with sincerity, looking back up to the cloudy sky.

“No problem~ it's been fun for both of us” Mari replies. “I'm glad we missed our train” she adds with a smile.

“Me too” You says, stopping her arms deciding her snow wings were good enough.

Mari looks up to the night sky as well “Your parents aren't worried that you're not home, are they?” she asks.

“Nah, they think I'm staying at Chika’s house” You bites her tongue, she didn't want to tell Mari that.

“Oh? Why aren't you?” Mari asks, sounding a bit concerned.

“Mmm…” You pauses, thinking hard on her reply. “I was going to stay, but Riko came over instead” that's the least conspicuous answer she could come up with.

“You can't both spend the night at Chika’s?” Mari presses on.

“Well, yeah Chika wouldn't tell me no. But I think they'd rather it be, y’know, just the two of them” You says, her voice starting to get hoarse.

Mari doesn't reply, she sits silently knowing she may have asked too much. She waits while You collects herself.

You coughs lightly into her mitten, then wipes her damp face hopelessly praying that Mari didn't notice,

“So why- why were you here then?” You chokes out a question as best she can through the lump in her throat, trying anything to change the subject.

“I kind of knew this might happen… Like I already said. We're the same” You doesn't follow Mari’s logic but stays silent, waiting for Mari to explain. Mari takes a deep breath and continues “About a year ago, maybe more, a similar thing happened to me. Kanan invited me over so of course I went, I always went. When I arrived, Dia was there, of course she was there, she was always there.” Mari pauses, gathering her thoughts. She reaches her snow covered mitten out to the sky, studying the back, then the front, the back again. “I had loved Kanan for as long as I could remember, but she never knew. I felt like, if I'd told her we might have lost some of the special bond we held. But in the end I only made it worse. I told her in the worst way possible. I let loose of my emotions that night while I was with Kanan and Dia. They didn't do anything really, I'm not sure if it's just the way Kanan looks at her, or if it was just entirely in my head. But I couldn't take it, I ran out of her house into the night. Of course they followed, they always followed. And that's how I confessed. With tears in my eyes on a random street corner I don't even know the name of.” Mari let's the hand she'd been holding in the air fall onto her chest. “Of course I was turned down. I'd always known I'd be turned down. They were in love, Kanan and Dia, it was always so obvious. I went home alone that night and cried until I eventually was too exhausted to any longer. Then when I saw them at school on Monday I acted like nothing ever happened. That's the most awful experience I've ever had. Do you understand You?” Mari turns her head to look at You who had been staring during her entire story, her face still wet with tears.

You just shakes her head.

“Like I said, we're the same. I feel like, I have to be there for you- no, I want to be there for you, because I know what it's like to go through that alone and I don't want you to have to.” Mari flashes a weak smile “you can lean on me, I’ll be your shoulder to cry on.”

Mari notices that You’s cheeks are now flush and her expression has changed to one of anger, then in an instant You rolls over ruining her snow angel as if the angel up and left it's spot in the ice; she crawls on her hands and knees until she's hanging over Mari staring directly into her eyes “Idiot! You expect me to accept that?” She yells, her scarf that was tightly tied around her neck begins to come undone, unraveling onto Mari’s chest “You think I’ll just cry into your shoulder without a second thought, without ever thinking how you never had a shoulder to cry on yourself!? You're such an idiot!” Tears are streaming down You’s face and falling like raindrops onto Mari’s cheeks. Mari’s mouth is agape, in shock from You’s reaction. You moves her hands that were supporting her weight over Mari to behind Mari’s head, embracing her as she leans her head down onto Mari’s shoulder. You speaks in a whisper now, right next to Mari’s ear “From now on, I’ll lean on you, and you’ll lean on me; if I can cry on your shoulder, you can cry on mine. We’ll both be there for each other. Promise me.”

Tears slowly start traveling down Mari’s cheeks, dancing with those of You’s tears still left there. She let's her eyelids fall and comfortably leans into You’s embrace wrapping her own arms around You’s back and nuzzling her face into the crook of You’s neck. Finally, her mouth turns into a smile “Okay, promise.”

-

The two girls leave the empty field and begin their trek back to the train station, side by side.

“Can I sleep at your place tonight?” You asks, pressing her fingers together timidly. “I don't want to show up back home this late when I'm supposed to be at Chika’s tonight” she explains.

“Yes! I can set you up a futon next to my bed! It’ll be a sleepover!” Mari yells excitedly.

You giggles “Okay, sounds fun, thanks a lot” she agrees. “and…” You begins, causing Mari to look over at her “Will you promise me one more thing?” You pleads.

“Hmm? What is it?” Mari tilts her head questioningly.

“Promise me we’ll do this again, play in the snow in that field I mean.” You’s face is bright red despite the cold.

Mari can't help but smile “Of course.”

- Several Years Later

You and Mari, stand in the same snowy field together, hand in hand.

“It's good to be back” You says, taking a deep breath of cold, crisp air.

“Yeah, it takes me back everytime” Mari adds, clasping You’s hand just a bit tighter.

You uses her free hand to move a stray strand of hair back behind her ear, and then takes a moment to examine that hand and the small, sparkling silver ring on her ring finger. She smiles to herself.

But her concentration is broken by the feeling of cold against her head. When she turns to look at the source, it’s none other than Mari. You hadn't even noticed her slip away, but she smiles at the familiar situation.

“You're spacing out again! That ring isn't going anywhere!” Mari teases.

“I know!” You yells back, bending down to pick up some snow herself “I'll get you back for that cheap shot!” she adds, chasing after her lover into the same snowy field, just as she has many times since the first, and just as she hopes she will many times in the years to come.

So Yoshiko’s intentions are finally made clear, but it's not what Riko expected; although she's not really sure what she expected. “Umm… Okay… What do you want to know exactly?” Riko talks slowly as she attempts to process the broad request.

Yoshiko swaps moods again and bursts outward in excitement, “What was it like living there? Is it really a city of love? I bet everyone is fashionable. I mean you always wear cute clothes. I'm not saying you're cute I meant your clothes! Not that you're unattractive… Oh and what about school? It was probably a lot bigger than here. Were your uniforms cute? Did you-”

“Wait wait slow down Yoshiko. I can't answer everything at once” Riko cuts in, overwhelmed.

“...sorry” Yoshiko shrinks back again.

“It's fine.” In fact it was kinda cute. “I can tell you've got a lot of questions. But I'd like to answer them all fully.” Riko leans on the balls of her feet excitedly “So how about we meet this weekend and I can tell you everything you want to know over lunch?” Yoshiko’s face turns slightly pink.

“Umm, s-sure. Let's do that.” She studders. “Are you sure you don't mind Lily?”

“Lily?” Riko is too hitched on that to answer the question. Yoshiko’s eyes grow wide as she realizes what she said.

“It's a nickname! Just a nickname!” she jumps to explain. “Do you… Not like it?” recoiling back again.

Riko takes a second to ponder it. “I don't mind. But in that case I’ll call you Yocchan.” she decides.

Yoshiko produces an audible gulp noise and her face turns bright red. “okay…”

Riko clasps her hands together cheerfully. “Good. And to your question, no I don't mind, we're friends after all.” she goes on to explain.

Yoshiko is caught off guard again, “W-we're friends?” she questions.

“Of course. We're in the same club. Everyone in Aqours is my friend, and they'd say the same thing about you, I'm sure of it.” she finishes with a bright smile. Riko takes note of Yoshiko’s tendency to feel like an outsider, this isn't the first time she noticed since they met either. Yoshiko returns to her inward body language after what Riko said.

“Yocchan~” Riko calls in a bit of a singsongy tone. “Let's exchange phone numbers, so we can talk about our plans this weekend.” Riko says retrieving her phone from her bag.

Yoshiko, slightly delayed, breaks out of her thoughts to do the same. “umm okay.” They exchange phones to type the numbers in.

Riko takes a second to examine the phone. It has a dark purple case with a skull graphic on the back and a little black winking devil charm hanging from the bottom.

“I’ll text you tonight?” Riko asks as she hands Yoshiko her phone back.

Yoshiko nods, still busy typing her number in “Whenever is fine.” she replies quietly and returns her seniors phone.

“I’ll walk you to the bus stop, are you going to have to wait?” Riko asks sincerely as she begins walking towards the door. Yoshiko follows.

“The next bus will come a few minutes after I get there” she replies.

“I can wait with you” Riko offers.

Yoshiko flails her hands in front of her face and shakes her head vigorously, “No no no” she replies. She does her signature hand sign in front of her eye “The fallen angel Yohane doesn't need a mortal for protection” she exclaims.

Riko notices that was the first time ‘Yohane’ had spoken since early on in their conversation. It’s nice when Yocchan acts like Yocchan. Riko looks over at Yoshiko prompting her to strike another pose towards Riko. I guess Yohane is cute too, though. She snickers to herself causing Yoshiko to pout a little.

They reach the bus stop. “This is where the great Yohane must bid you farewell” Yoshiko points at Riko dramatically while she says this.

Riko smiles, “Goodbye Yocchan. I'll text you later” she says while waving and turning around to leave.

“Bye, Lily” Yoshiko says dropping her persona. Riko turns away to walk home.