Chapter Text
Just a little more.
She’s 12, and her mother is gone again. She’s gone often, and Sachika has learned not to mind. Her parents work hard, her life is good, so she works hard in turn.
It’s not enough - she’s not the top of her class, or good at a sport, or even artistic - she’s creative, she always has a solution to a problem. She’s friendly.
She does what she can, and people like her for it.
She likes herself for it.
If she can put a little good in the world, surround herself by friends and help them wherever she can, she’s as happy as her name.
Just a little more.
She always feels so loud, so buzzing with energy, like she can’t contain it, and she might die if she tries.
(She often feels so soft and easy to crush. Not that she tries to think about it.)
Dyed blonde hair and bright clothes make her feel like others will see her and know what to expect. They look amazing. She feels alive.
Just a little more.
Shouma is out of this world - literally. Strange and nice and willing to help.
Being strong is all I’m good for , he says when she meets him, and she doesn’t think she likes that.
Her business is running well. Getting paid to help people. That’s who she is, she likes it. All sorts of types from helping people move - friends, then recommends from friends to helping Hanto investigate. He’s a strange one, hard working but so easy to get under the skin of, without really even trying.
But Shouma, who doesn’t seem to think he’s special, calls what she does amazing.
It warms her like nothing else.
Just a little more.
Shouma is the monster that saved her friend and Hanto calls him Kamen Rider , and Shouma clings to himself and looks away.
“I really don’t want to trouble you anymore, Prez,” he says. “But, while I’m here, I’ll help.”
“You can move 30 boxes in five minutes,” Sachika says. “You’re no problem at all.”
“But I—”
“I’m fine with the monster thing,” Sachika says. “You aren’t exactly scary.”
“Ah… really?”
“Course!”
Shouma smiles.
Just a little more .
Now they all know, they all move closer. She doesn’t know how to feel about it at first.
She decides she likes it. Romance wasn’t anything she wanted - an absent mother, a father who told her it wasn’t her fault. The most they ever promised was her name.
Shouma promises to help wherever he can. Hanto promises to protect her and himself so Shouma doesn’t have to worry.
She promises to stay with them, and then one day Shouma kisses her, and then Hanto, and then she kisses Hanto while he’s reeling.
Just a little more.
She’s knocked to the ground, her hair held by the laughing twin monsters, and moments later they reveal themselves to be Shouma’s own siblings. Hanto looks between her and Shouma in horror and rage.
Sachika struggles, and they’re not quite as strong as Shouma, he really is strong, but then their faces are wolves, and they lift her. She can’t help the struggles scream, dragged up by her hair.
“Sachika!”
They both cry out for her.
“You better surrender by tomorrow, Red Gavv,” one of the monsters says. “Or we’ll put her in the bargain bin with your mother.”
Then she doesn’t remember anything.
Just a little more.
Was anything worth it? She feels so useless, in this moment, and she hates that feeling.
If she could fight…
She doesn’t know what to do to fix this.