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Mary was finally graduating from Hyakkaou Academy, second in her class, full ride to her school of choice, and much better off financially than when she first enrolled. The money she earned would help pay for the therapy she would need to process the past three years, but the opportunities that presented themselves to her as a Hyakkaou student made it absolutely worth it.
She’d never admit it, but so were some of the people she met there. When the ceremony ended, she wandered through the crowd searching for her friends, her parents, any familiar face she could find. She panicked over the one she found first.
Ririka, who had just finished her first year of university, stood as confidently as she could before her friend. It had been a while since they had seen each other, Mary was surprised with how good she looked. She had the air and appearance of a winner.
“Hello Mary,” she said shyly. Same old Ririka. Her ever-present blush was more apparent in the cold March air.
“I’m surprised they let you come back without a mask on,” Mary said with a smug grin.
“I only have to wear it at family meetings now," she said earnestly, as though that was a normal thing to have to do. Mary rolled her eyes.
“I guess that's an improvement.”
“But that’s not important. I wanted to come say congratulations. Now that we’ll be going to the same school I hope you’ll help me be top of my class, too.”
“We’ll be in completely different departments, stupid!” Ririka loved when Mary got angry over insignificant things. Mary rubbed the back of her neck. “But I guess there are some similarities in the subject matter…You can get me a really good job as payback.”
Ririka perked up. This was the perfect chance to launch her attack.
“Speaking of...I was asked to give this to you,” she said as she handed the folder she was holding to Mary, who looked furious when she saw “MARY SAOTOME: LIFE PLAN” written in big letters. Something was different about the folder but Mary couldn’t figure out what.
“What the fuck? Those bastards owe me money. Why do I have another one of these?” Ririka flinched.
“I don’t know. But I looked inside and it doesn’t look that bad. This plan is volitional so...if you don’t like it I suppose you can reject its terms.”
She seemed pretty sad when she said that. Mary flipped it open and immediately looked shocked and confused, causing Ririka to turn away to hide her red face and panicked expression.
18 years old: Graduate from Hyakkaou Academy
Begin relationship with Ririka Momobami
19 years old: Enter Hakururi University
22 years old: Graduate from Hakururi University
Apply for Partnership Certificate with Ririka Momobami
23 years old: Begin lucrative job
Adopt dog (cocker spaniel preferred)
24 years old: Live the happy life you’ve always dreamed of (with Ririka preferred)
Mary looked up at Ririka, trying her best to keep a straight and stern looking face. Ririka could swear she saw a tear in the corner of her right eye. She looked shyly at Mary, trying her best to keep her heart from jumping out of her chest.
“I just have one problem with this,” Mary said in that condescending tone Ririka had come to love. She did not love it in this moment, especially not the way it caused her body to tense up. “I don’t have a problem with adopting a dog, but I think we should get a cat, too. Calico preferred.”
Before she could even process what Mary meant, Ririka’s eyes lit up as her lips curled up as high as they could. Mary sighed and put her hand on Ririka’s shoulder. She tapped Ririka’s head with the folder.
"Did you make this yourself?"
"Yeah…asking you directly was too embarrassing and Kirari still had your original one for some reason so I changed it a little." Mary chuckled and tousled her hair.
"That's my girl," she said with a smile. Ririka turned so Mary’s arm was wrapped around her shoulder. She put her arm around Mary’s waist and rested her head on her shoulder. They started walking towards the edge of the crowd, ignoring the stares from those familiar with the two.
A year and a half ago, Mary was ready to burn the school down to keep the Momobamis from deciding her fate. Maybe this time it wouldn’t be that bad.