Chapter Text
There was nothing like that stark, cold pre-winter air that smelled of fresh grass and stung the ears. There was nothing like the blaring morning sun as it began to rise from the horizon, cresting over the building. There was nothing like slamming the car door in the parking lot and looking up to see that same old high school.
Taking a deep breath in, she started her trek towards the front doors.
Ririka Momobami started every school day the same way: wake up in a haze, get in the car, drive to school, and step through the threshold that was the school day. Adjusting her backpack on her shoulders, she looked on to the waves of students that were playing around, rushing off to class, and lugging around books. She ducked down into the crowd, trying to avoid any unwanted attention.
It wasn’t difficult, Ririka wasn’t ever really noticed by anyone. The only time anyone looked at her was her teachers to turn in a test or answer a question. She just drifted through the halls like a phantom, unwanted and unnoticed.
She didn’t mind being alone all the time, even at home her family only considered her as an afterthought. She had a younger sister by three minutes. They were twins and should have gone to the same school, but before they were meant to enter freshman year, Kirari received a full scholarship to a very prestigious military academy. It’s not that her parents couldn’t afford for her to go too, but she toured with her sister and saying it was intimidating was an understatement. Her family wasn’t the traditional white picket fence family the movies always talked about; more like the estranged family in the mansion on the hill that kids made up ghost stories about.
Ririka entered her algebra class for the day a few minutes before the bell rang. Walking down the aisles to make way to her seat, she stopped cold when she saw who sat in it.
“Ah, look, Momobami’s here!” A cruel voice came from the mouth of the figure sitting in her desk. She stirred the ice in her drink.
She was almost overlooked in school, almost. There was one person who looked at her, and that person was Mary Saotome. The school’s resident mean girl.
“H-hi, Mary.” She played with a lock of silver hair on the side of her face.
“Oh? Come on, not even a smile for me?” She smirked, plopping her feet up on her desk and bringing the straw of her coffee up to her perfectly pink lips.
“You’re in my seat.” She looked down at the floor, playing with her thumbs.
“Don’t see your name on it.” She took a sip of the iced coffee in her hand.
“U-um... “ she winced then looked up to another desk across the room, “if you don’t get up, then I’ll sit at your desk.”
“Hm, careful there,” she purred, dropping her feet from the desk, “that almost sounded like a threat.”
She inhaled sharply, “I-I didn’t mean--”
As she stood, a hand connected with her chest and she was pushed back, looking up she winced again at Mary’s merciless laugh.
“C’mon, Riri, we both know you’re too scared to even look me in the eye,” she laughed again, “in fact…”
Ririka felt a hand grab her jaw and her head was lifted up to see Mary’s full face, she looked directly into her amber eyes. She whimpered a bit, bringing her hands into her chest.
Mary smirked, “huh, look at that, you got blue eyes.”
“U-uh… yeah.” she swallowed hard.
She was forced into her chair, a strong hand gripped her shoulder, Mary got down right in front of her face.
“Now, you’re gonna take my notes for today,” she slid a piece of paper onto her desk, “and you’re gonna do them right this time. Teacher’s gonna know that you’re helping me if they’re the same, dumbass!”
She cowered behind her hands, averting her gaze and deciding the desk was much better company.
“Y-yes, Mary.” she squeaked out.
“Good girl,” she slapped her back harshly, “glad we’re on the same page.
She didn’t look up until she felt her presence leave her. With a shaky breath, she watched as Mary rejoined her other friends in the class. She cutely sat on a desk cross legged as she talked with other people she knew.
The rest of the day was the same, vague pattern: walk to class, try not to get bumped into, and survive until the bell rang. That’s how everyday went; just survive until May when school let out and she could finally be free.
Though some days there were times when her plan was tested. Was she really capable of drifting through this school without worry? Usually these days had that same heartless laugh that would echo through the halls, making her freeze in her pace.
Unfortunately for Ririka, this was one of those days.
“Hey, Riri!” She heard that voice and it made her body tense up.
Looking over her shoulder she saw Mary there with two of her other friends. She slammed her locker shut and brought her hand up, beckoning her towards her.
Ririka swallowed the large lump in her throat and shuffled over to her, she could hear her heart beating in her ears.
“You’re lucky you’re such a nerd or else I’d probably have to beat your ass for taking such shit notes.” She crumpled up her paper from earlier and threw it in her face.
Ririka just let it happen, watching it fall to the floor.
“Mary, that wasn’t very nice!” An airy voice came from behind her.
Coming into view was the sophomore Yumeko Jabami, the same class as Mary.
Mary scoffed, “whatever, Ririka doesn’t mind, do you? She likes fucking up my notes, don’t you?”
“I-I’m sorry—“
She couldn’t get another word in before her back hit the lockers as Mary’s arm pressed against her chest.
Her breath hitched and her eyes snapped shut.
“Listen, you, you got a lot of nerve testing me so much today,” she barked in her face, “you’re lucky we didn’t have notes check or else your ass wouldn’t be looking so pretty right now, but I got a paper in English due next Wednesday and you’re gonna get it done for me as an apology, understand?”
“I-I don’t know if I should—“
“What was that?” Her arm pressed into her chest, restricting her breathing, “are you really in a position to decline me, Momobami?”
She hesitated, looking down at the floor, but ultimately she gave in, “o-okay.”
“Okay?”
She nodded quickly, just trying to satisfy her.
“Okay.”
She shoved her into the lockers once more before walking off, looking back at her handiwork with a curt smile. Then she caught up with her other friends to go get lunch. Ririka hugged her chest, feeling where Mary had her arm pinned and stared down at the floor. She watched the feet walk by in hordes until finally she mustered up the courage to kick herself off the lockers and continue down the hall.
She always ate lunch in the courtyard by herself, unless it was too cold and she had to bear the brunt of the lunchroom, but today was tolerable. The late autumn air was fresh and dry, she sniffled a bit as she sat down against the wall and ate her lunch before afternoon classes began. It was a peaceful time, usually kids were more concerned with their friends or homework than ever making a ruckus outside. Usually.
Seeing two figures emerge from the doors, she breathed a sigh of relief when it wasn’t her resident bully again. One had a cotton eye patch across her left eye, a signature of Midari Ikishima. She was terribly hard to miss. She says she lost her eye to an infection after a trip overseas, but there’s a rumor that she took it out herself one night on a dare in middle school. Ririka never really bothered herself with the whole affair. The other had long silken hair that was partly tied up in the back with a red bow, she recognized her as Yuriko Nishinotouin. She knew her as another high status member of wealth in town, a very traditional family.
“Hey, ain’t that the Momobami kid?” She heard a rough voice ask.
“I do believe so.” A sweet, almost enchanting, voice came from the other girl.
Ririka tensed up, hugging her chest, almost believing if she didn’t move perhaps they wouldn’t notice her.
“Hey!” The one eyed girl shouted from across the courtyard at her.
She glanced up to see the both of them making their way over to her. Her eyes widened and cheeks reddened as they stood over her.
“H-hello.” Ririka mumbled back.
“You live in that big mansion, right, the one on the hill?” Midari questioned bluntly.
“Um, yes, I do.” She nodded, averting her gaze and staring at the ground.
“Oh, sick!” Midari spoke loudly, “hey, you know Kirari right?”
“Midari.” Yurkio warned her cautiously.
“Uh…” her eyebrows quirked up, “she's my sister, yes.”
“Right, that’s good,” she squatted down to meet her eye level, “I got a message for her.”
“Midari!” Yuriko warned again.
“Shut up, I know what I’m doing!” She barked back at her.
“A message?” Ririka tilted her head.
“Yeah,” she placed her hand on the wall next to her, trapping her in that position, “tell that bitch she owes me an eye.”
Her eyes widened, her mouth hung open, “w-what?”
“You heard me, princess,” her gaze darkened, almost snarling, “tell your bitch sister that she still owes me an eye!”
She flinched, closing her eyes tightly, “I-I’m sorry I don’t know what you're talking about.”
“Well you don’t have to know!” An uneasy giggle came from the crazed girl, “you just have to tell her!”
“Midari, that’s enough.” Yuriko grabbed a hold of her shoulder and pulled her back.
“Hey, what’s the big idea?” She whined, slapping her hand away.
“You’ve scared the poor girl half to death!” Yuriko gestured down to Ririka who had tears prickling at the corners of her eyes.
“Aw shit,” she scratched the back of her head, “uh… sorry?”
Ririka just held her position, not daring to look back up at the two.
“Hey, Momobami, I’m sorry, okay?” Midari pressed, guilt rising in her voice.
“I-It’s okay…” she mumbled, hugging her shoulders.
“Aw man, now you gotta go making me feel all bad and stuff,” her voice sounded pained, “uh… you want my drink?”
Ririka looked up to an already opened can of soda Midari had in her hand.
“Midari! That’s disgusting!” Yurkio playfully slapped her shoulder.
“What? I didn’t drink all of it!” She defended, putting a hand up, “it's like half full.”
“U-um, no thank you.” Ririka shook her head.
“You sure?”
She nodded in response.
“Okay then, your loss.” Midari tipped her head back and downed the rest of her drink. Yuriko scoffed at her actions, bringing her hand up to her eyes.
“We’ll be on our way then, Miss Momobami,” Yuriko told her, “I apologise on behalf of my more inarticulate friend.”
“Ririka.” She told her shyly.
“Hm?”
“My name’s Ririka,” she spoke up, clenching her fingers together on the concrete, “you don’t have to call me by my last name.”
Yuriko nodded politely, “very well then, Ririka, we’ll see you around.”
She nodded hesitantly as Yuriko interlocked her arm under Midari’s and dragged her away from the scene.
“Hey!” She heard the girl protest.
“God, sometimes you can be just so… ugh!”
Ririka could hear their mumbled arguing as they entered back into the school through the other door they didn’t come from. She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding in, hoping to god that the afternoon goes by faster so she could finally get home.
Her wish was halfway fulfilled, she spent diligent time in her classes for the rest of the day. Notetaking in history, a project assigned in economics, and to finish out the day she had a presentation due in two weeks time in her honors chemistry course. All in all it wasn’t too bad, well that was until she found out her partner for the presentation.
She knew Mary Saotome was much smarter than she lets on, perhaps that’s why she’s a year ahead in math and science? Whatever the answer, that didn’t change the fact that the two were assigned as partners for their presentation.
“Ugh, you gotta be kidding me!” She heard the blonde gripe from the back of the classroom, “that idiot doesn’t even know how to take notes right, she’ll probably fuck up the presentation just like everything else. I’m not getting a bad grade on this just because my partner’s a total dunce!”
A few kids in the class tried to muffle their laughs. Ririka grit her teeth, but bit her tongue. Today had been an especially trying day for her, but it was the last class. After this she could go home and probably cry for an hour or two. All she needed to do was just survive, get through it, and press on just like she always did.
“Did ya hear me, Riri!?” She heard her shout, “you better not fuck me over again or I will be tossing your prissy rich ass to the curb.”
“Mary Saotome, that’s enough!” The teacher yelled from her desk.
“How is it my fault she’s a total dumbass? I’m surprised she’s even in the honors course for how fucking stupid she is,” she laughed cruelly, “I bet daddy pays the school off just so she doesn’t get kicked out.”
Another eruption of her classmates remarking at Mary’s comments. A few laughed, some gasped, and she just clenched her fists on her desk. She tried like hell to block her out.
“Mary!” The teacher commanded, standing from her desk.
“What? I’m just stating facts,” she said as-matter-of-factly, “look at her, she’s not even denying it.”
“Shut up…” she mumbled weakly.
“What was that, Riri? I couldn’t hear you.” She challenged without a second thought.
“I said shut up.” She clenched her fists tighter, staring down at her desk.
“Awe, looks like I struck a nerve, didn’t I?”
“Mary, Ririka, please settle down--”
“Shut up!” Ririka roared, turning around in her seat to face that cocky smirk Mary always had on. The class went silent, not a person dared move. Until Mary burst out laughing.
“What’re you gonna do? Cry about it?” She leaned forward in her desk, smiling maliciously.
She sneered, already feeling the tears welling up in her eyes, but she held her position.
“Just… fuck off.” Ririka felt the words leave her mouth and they felt vile, she instantly regretted it.
“What did you just say?” Mary’s eyes darkened with fury.
“Miss Saotome! Miss Momobami!” The teacher roared over the classroom that had erupted into chaos, walking in between them, “you are disrupting class, I have asked you over and over to quiet down, I have no choice but to send you out.”
Ririka’s heart dropped, she was stunned for a moment as she heard the words.
“Are you kidding me?” Mary snipped at the teacher but one quick look shut her up very quickly.
“Both of you, to the office, right now.” She glared at the both of them.
Mary kicked her chair as she got up from her seat, a nasty scowl painted on her face. Ririka couldn’t feel her legs, she just sat there motionless and in disbelief.
“Miss Momobami,” the teacher spoke with authority, “we’re waiting.”
She looked up at the teacher, doe eyed and tears sparkling in her eyes. Then she stood from her desk, grabbed her backpack, and rushed for the door, not wanting the attention of her classmates anymore. She still heard their laughter as she stepped out in the hall and the door closed.
Ducking her head down she tried to move as quickly as possible before a hand grabbed her backpack. She was jerked back, almost stumbling and falling over.
“Don’t think you’re gonna get away with this, Momobami.” She heard that same voice, the one that kept her up at night.
Still, she was in a fairly sour mood after that whole affair. She ripped herself away from her grasp, face twisting into a glare.
“If you weren’t such a jerk all the time we wouldn’t be in trouble.” She snapped back.
“Hey, don’t go getting all feisty on me, Riri,” she cooed playfully, then her expression darkened, “wouldn’t want things to get ugly out here.”
“Just get away from me.” She huffed, completely exhausted from the whole day, then she began to march down the hallway without a second look.
“Look at that, everyone, the brat is throwing a tantrum!” Mary yelled after her, she just ignored the comment, continuing on until she made it out of the hallway and onto the office.
Her talk with her admin was nothing special, just a slap on the wrist and by the time they got done the bell rang and school was let out. Ririka made a beeline for the parking lot, and as soon as she got in her car she slammed the door shut and leaned up against the wheel burying her face in her arms.
God, she hated this feeling. The feeling of only being seen through the filter of other people. Midari shouting at her because of her sister, kids laughing in class because of her family, and Mary… god she didn’t even want to think about her. Sometimes she wished that she could just disappear forever, or more like just become someone no one knew. She wished she could assume a new identity, wear a mask over her face and hide her true feelings from the world.
She choked back tears, she kept trying to suppress her sobbing because she knew if she were to break down now there was no way she’d get home. With a shaky breath, she shoved her key into the ignition and started the car. Getting out of the school parking lot was no easy task with everyone leaving all at once, but in a few minutes she was able to escape and make her way home where she could be safe in her room locked away.