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Ryoko first talked to Sara because Sara liked her strawberry shaped earrings.
Ryoko hardly saw anything about them as special. She had taken the self appointed task a year earlier in 5th grade to pierce her own ears with a needle and ice cube. And that led to a trip to the ER, several scoldings, and a lot of pain. But she got her ears pierced so she bought strawberry shaped earrings with her own allowance.
Sara looked on the verge of horror as Ryoko recapped the story, but she also had somewhat of a sparkle in her eyes. Something about how Ryoko told the story of a makeshift method of ear piercing ending in success seemed to catch her attention. Ryoko offered the earrings, and the other girl shook her head, because she didn’t have her own ears pierced. With that, Ryoko ordered her. “Get them pierced then. Just make sure you get them done in a separate way than I did.”
The next day, Sara came to Ryoko, a look of shame on her face. Apparently, she asked her mom about getting her ears pierced, and her dad came in, giving a long list of possible infections; ways she needed to care for them and a long tirade how wearing cute earrings wouldn’t be what propels her in life, but her mind and strength. He ended it off with asking if Sara still wanted the piercings. Sara said no.
Yeesh. Ryoko thought her mom had a stick up her ass, but no. Guess there were bigger sticks around; but at least he was concerned about her safety at the bare minimum she decides.
It wasn’t after that when they became friends though. It was a little later down the line. Sara was looking upset at her test. C minus. Apparently she just couldn’t figure out ratios no matter how hard she tried. So Ryoko decided to help her. The two sat together at lunch, Ryoko breaking out the trusty red pen to match the teachers, and with a few lines, boom! She’d ‘earned‘ Sara an A+, and Sara quickly guessed this was a method Ryoko used a lot.But hey, it did the job! When she came back the next day cheering it worked, and that her parents didn’t suspect a thing, Ryoko felt like the other girl's personal hero.
And so, Ryoko and Sara talked a lot more. Sara was often shown to be someone who was always studying- refusing for a repeat of C minus. But she’d always give Ryoko the time of day, chatting, and joking, and revealing an often strange way of talking that only came out when she was really comfortable around you. If she wasn’t sure who you were she would say “Hello. Say, did you study for the test?” But to Ryoko she’d usually say something like “Greetings Ryoko! It’s been many moons since we were last on this battlefield. I take it you came prepared this time?” To which Ryoko would always respond with a wink, and Sara would once again wax poetic about the importance of proper studying in increasingly dramatic ways.
They began hanging out outside of school eventually. Going to arcades to goof off and see who’d win if they competed… and it was usually Sara. When you brought out the competitor in her, there was no force on earth that could keep that girl from achieving victory at all costs.
Though that competitive streak was less fun one day. It was when they were rolling out clubs. Sara wanted so badly to join the kendo club and Ryoko followed suit. The two laughed together as they visited cafes; watched tutorials, and talked frequently about what they would do. Coming up with code names, and the type of warriors they’d both be. Ryoko who would be a shadow ninja, supporting her from behind. Meanwhile Sara would be a powerful warrior princess, of hope and devotion.
Then came day one of their class. After learning some basic positions and moves from their teacher, everyone was asked to make pairs and compete in their first ever match. And of course, Sara and Ryoko stuck together. A match for the ages. They did goofy little bows, and got in position, and introduced themselves by their made up names and then the match started.
And Sara ran forward, at a pace Ryoko hastily guarded.
Sara kept attacking after the guard though. Without relent and with nowhere near enough time for Ryoko to counter with anything; her arms began to ache. She swung rampantly now, with less trained and more impulsive motions, her body moving faster than her mind. She couldn’t think, only focused on her opponent, before she was caught off guard and unintentionally lowered her sword before Sara swung once again.
There was a loud SMACK and Ryoko’s head suddenly felt like something was missing. She looked at Sara, and saw that her friend had immediately stopped in her assault, staring at something on the ground behind Ryoko. And Ryoko looked to see her helmet, on the floor and cracked from impact.
Oh.
Ryoko stared at the broken armor on the floor, frozen in place. Her heart was pounding in her chest. The very armor that should’ve kept her safe was easily broken by her friend. Clearly…she wasn’t meant for this, was she? She couldn’t stand on the same ground as someone like Sara, with her perfect grades, her seriousness, the fact she tackled everthing with a hundred percent and nothing less. Ryoko…just wasn’t good enough. She could hardly do anything. All her accomplishments were just editing test papers, and being idle, while others took their lives more seriously.
And if Sara hadn’t realized this fact and she stopped her assault just a moment too late…
“Are you okay?” Sara asked in a voice concerned enough to make Ryoko realize she was crying. The entire room had turned to look at them, some whispering, and some of them were laughing.
“I don’t want to do this anymore.” Ryoko declared dropping her sword. Her gaze fell to the ground, ashamed as the voices chattering around her overwhelmed her. “I quit.”
“Hold on…!”
Ryoko turned her back; unable to respond as her throat was closed up. She sprinted, running from the eyes and hushed words of everyone in the room she’d run from, or the voice of Sara calling her to come back, which slowly faded into the distance.
The next day her and Sara didn’t speak to each other. Sara just looked at Ryoko with this unbearable look of guilt, that Ryoko had no idea how to address. Like, no she was not going to rejoin kendo. But hey, don’t feel bad even though they’d planned this for weeks, and Ryoko had been so damn excited. Sara wouldl probably make lots of friends in that club who aren’t weren’t her due to her incredible skills and prowess and her underachieving friend wouldn’t even be a blink in her eye anymore. So don’t feel bad.
And they continued. Sara had apparently gotten good enough in kendo to earn a ribbon from the school. Ryoko’s mom got her report card and realized she’d been editing her grades, resulting in the grounding of a lifetime.
Ryoko usually ignored being grounded, because her mom wasn’t around enough to enforce something like that.
But honestly, she couldn’t really find the motivation to defy her this week.
So she’d wake up. Go to school. Go home and mope. Wake up. Go to school. Go home and mope. Wake up. Go to school. Go home and-
RIIIIIIIIIIIIING.
Ryoko checked the caller ID. The word ‘Sara’ emblazoned across her screen surrounded by two strawberry emotes stared back at her. Her heart pounded as she stared at the words, phone gripped in her hand.
Maybe Ryoko shouldn’t. Sara was the one to knock her helmet off, and she was just gonna talk about it over a phone call? Ryoko hated how petty she was. Hated it enough that she clicked that big green button and put the phone up to her ear.
“…Yello?”
“I think I’m being stalked.”
Oh.
Ryoko abandoned any petty resentment, or self-pitying sentiments in a flash. Crap…her mom was home, wasn’t she. Goddamnit; Ryoko was going to have to sneak out-
“Where are you right now?”
“I’m at home. I managed to make it but… I think he’s still out there.”
“Okay. Gimme an hour tops. I’ll be there.”
Ryoko hadn’t really been inside Sara’s house before. Sometimes she walked her home after they hung out but Sara insisted they part about a block from the place. So Ryoko might have to do a bit of guesswork for this, but she was not going to just abandon her.
She lived in a 5th floor apartment so going out the window was a no go. She was too big to get in any vents. That means she’d rely on old faithful ‘get out the door without mom noticing’. And maybe lock her room from the outside so Mom wouldn’t come in and see anything. She’d practiced that one. And after sneaking out the door to the elevator, she was home free to get her ass moving.
She realized only as she reached Sara’s neighborhood that if there was a stalker around she probably should have brought something to defend herself with.
And not a kendo pole. She thought to herself bitterly. But fine. She could still punch any stalker creeps in the face.
The first house she knocked on was able to point Ryoko to the Chidouin house. And she rammed on the door when she arrived, loud BANGS screaming in the night each time she pounded her fist on the door.
And the door opened to reveal an old man. His eyes were barely visible through the wrinkles around them; a pleasant smile on his face. That smile was…disconnected from everything going on right now, to the point of wondering if she’d stumbled upon the wrong house.
“… Chidouin residence?” She tried anyway, making eye contact and trying to be polite. “I’m Ryoko. I’m sure your daughter has mentioned me?”
“Ah. You’re her friend.” The man’s smile grew only a fraction. “Come in! Make yourself at home! My daughter is upstairs in her room.”
“Right…”
Something felt off. His smile felt…wrong, like she was in one of those horror scenarios where you’re surrounded by people who appear kind, that are about to murder you.
“Has she… told you what happened?”
The man let out a laugh, so jolly and whimsical despite the situation that Ryoko felt her skin crawl. This wasn’t normal. She didn’t know if she preferred this or the annoyed dismissal her mother normally shot her way.
“Yes. But I told her she’s probably reading the situation wrong. Stalking is a big thing to accuse someone of after all.” He explained. “I don’t want her to run wild and jump to conclusions. It may affect her later in life if she did.”
“Um…” why was Ryoko staying here? Sara was upstairs, and she didn’t have the time to deal with some old coot and his weird philosophies, but her mouth betrayed her anyways. “Why are you so sure of that? Aren’t you jumping to a conclusion on your own?”
“Heh heh heh… well…”
Ryoko looked at him, briefly catching a fearsome shine of white in his eyes. One that made her heart jump.
“If someone did try to hurt my daughter like that, I’d already have them buried in the backyard.”
“… Got it.”
Ryoko decided to cut this meaningless conversation short and run upstairs, quickly identifying which room was Sara’s by a nameplate on the door, and opened the door.
Sara’s room was surprisingly rather normally decorated. Ryoko always pictured the space Sara lived as vibrant, full of decora kei posters and a bed full of plushies and garishly colored walls. Instead she found the floral patterned wallpaper you’d find in your grandparents house; lavender. Her bed was large, with nightstands on each side, and a big window with an alcove you could sit in. Sara sat on the floor of her room, on a rug, looking oddly small against the interior of her room.
“Hey.” Ryoko wasn’t sure what to say here. The main thing on her mind right now was ‘your dad is fucking weird’ which hardly seemed like the right way to start this. “You alright?”
Sara gave a weak nod that really just told Ryoko that she was anything but alright.
“Okay.” Ryoko slowly walked forwards. “Do you want me to close the blinds?”
Sara nodded again, so Ryoko did so before sitting across from her.
“What happened?”
Sara sucked in a deep breath.
“I just. Noticed somebody staring at me. And I realized I’d seen him yesterday too. And the day before.” She explained quietly. “And he had these really… cold, dead eyes.”
Shit.
“I’ll come over tomorrow morning and walk you to school.” Ryoko promised, scooting closer. “And back. If they try anything, I swear I’ll fight the guy to death.”
“Are you sure…?” She whispered, clasping her hands. Sara stared at the floor. ”I don’t even know if this is real, or I’m being dramatic-“
“I don’t give a shit if it’s real or not. I care about you.” Ryoko shot back, shaking her head. “And if this makes you feel better I’ll do it. If not, I’m fine leaving, but I’m not gonna let you talk yourself into pretending this doesn’t matter.”
“… But… What about kendo?”
Ryoko watched Sara’s face curl into that same expression of guilt. A look of sadness, like she was the one apologizing to Ryoko and not the other way around.
“That was an accident.” Ryoko assured her. “You think I’d get mad over something that stupid?”
“But… you were crying.”
“Crying shmying. Not your fault you’re a natural born talent.” Ryoko shrugged, giving her an encouraging smile. “I say, be proud of it.”
“I see…” Sara was speaking in that tone again. That sort of formal speech she used when she wasn’t comfortable. So Ryoko decided to push a little step further.
“And besides. We got a quiz coming up in English. Who's gonna tell me to study and have their words go in one ear and out the other?”
Sara’s eyes flew up, before scanning Ryoko, seemingly trying to check if she meant that.
“You are studying, right?” She quizzed.
“What’s the worst thing that’ll happen if I don’t.”
“A disaster.” Sara said plainly, looking up at her with a deadpan expression. “The letter F laid in front of you, and nobody to blame but your own hubris.”
“Atta girl.” Ryoko grinned, getting ready to stand. “If there’s anything else you need-“
“Please stay.” Sara pleaded “I know it’s selfish but…”
Crap. No Ryoko couldn’t resolve this like it was just them goofing off in class, what was she thinking? Forget the kendo thing. Sara was scared.
“Yeah. Of course I’ll stay the night.” She whispered, sitting herself back down, putting a hand on her shoulder. “It’ll be our first sleepover.”
Sara smiled warmly, as her eyes filled with tears.
“We should probably ask my parents.” She muttered, glancing to the side. “Gimme a second.”
She watched Sara slowly begin to pick herself up.
“I’ll ask.” Ryoko said quickly. Sara paused looking up at Ryoko in confusion. Ryoko herself wasn’t sure why she said it but…
“I’ll be right back.” She insisted. “Don’t move an inch.”
Sara gave a curt nod after a moment of deliberation, leaving her to go downstairs to face… right. That weird dad. He wasn’t hanging around. Good because she didn’t wanna be ambushed by him. Bad because… well, now she had to seek him out.
She didn’t really know what to do besides aimlessly wander around. Room to room, finding that this place was, as one would say, a place for rich people. High quality furniture, plush carpets, elaborate decorations… Ryoko noticed that sometimes Sara offered to pay for Ryoko when they went to cafes, and Ryoko always turned it down. Guess she never put together why.
She was able to find human life in the kitchen. A woman with Sara’s same bright orange hair sat at the table, a wistful look on her face.
“Um… hello?”
The woman turned to her, eyes widening just a bit before settling into a smile.
“You must be Ryoko!” She exclaimed, leaning forward. “Sara has told us a lot about you.”
“Yeah…” Ryoko nervously stood across from her “Hey, did she tell you about…”
Her moms smile faded quickly.
“Yes. I’m pretty scared about it. My husband is sure it’s nothing and I don’t want to jump to conclusions… but she is my daughter too. I can’t help but worry.”
Sara’s mom then tapped a small plate next to her piled high with brownies.
“At the very least I made these. Not the solution to all life’s problems, but they help. Sara wound up not liking them though, so that was a bust too.”
“Really? Who hates brownies?” Ryoko asked, taking one off the tray.
“Well. They’re red pepper brownies.” The woman explained “I found a recipe somewhere saying if you add red pepper and cinnamon, then the spiciness really brings out the cinnamon… but it didn’t turn out great.”
Ryoko took a bite into the brownie. Yeah that was. Weird. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. But she chewed and swallowed nonetheless.
“Seems like an acquired taste.”
“Acquired taste probably isn’t right for the situation.” Mrs Chidouin shrugged at her. “But I appreciate your glowing review.”
Ryoko decided then and there that she liked Mrs Chidouin way more than she liked her dad. And she could hopefully pop the question to this woman without worry but…
“Ah, Ryoko. Enjoying my wife’s baking?”
And it was ruined. Ryoko saw Sara’s dad come in, gladly sitting down next to his wife who glowed seeing him.
“She always has these unique recipes. I don’t know how she’s getting all of them.” He laughed, wrapping an arm around his wife. “She’s like the superwoman of obscure recipes.”
”Oh stop it you.”
Ryoko shifted in her seat. Maybe because she grew up in a divorced house, but this was… uncomfortable.
Whatever. She had more important things.
“Sara asked me to stay the night.” She blurted. Plain and simple. “To help her feel safe.”
“That’s a lovely idea!” Mrs Chidouin clapped her hands together, practically glowing. “Do you need anything? Any toiletries? Because-“
“Hold your horses Haruki.” Mr Chidouin held up a hand. “Ryoko, I appreciate your care for my daughter, but there might be side effects to this sort of thing.”
“Side effects?” What was she? Some cold medicine? “Like what?”
“It may confirm to Sara that this is real.” Mr Chidouin elaborated. “After all, going through the trouble of an impromptu stay… just means there’s something worth doing so.”
“With all due respect…” Ryoko spoke through gritted teeth, meaning absolutely no respect. “She will think it’s real anyways. I’d rather she feel safe.”
“Hm.” Mr Chidouins smile fell, and he put his hands together. “Ryoko sweetie, of course she’s safe. Her mom and dad are here.”
“Good. Then she’s got more allies.” Ryoko leaned back in her chair, feeling smug. “That’s a good thing is it not?”
“I don’t think there’s a problem.” Mrs Chidouin came to her defense, much to her surprise. “And this is the first time Sara’s ever brought a friend home! That’s exciting right?”
“Hm.” Mr Chidouin sighed, clearly dissatisfied. “Very well Ryoko. I’d be remissed if I didn’t allow you to stay.” He allows. “But, as long as you’re here, please show respect by not leaning my dining room chairs into the air.”
“Yes sir.” Ryoko returned to a sitting position. “Thank you very much for letting me stay in your home.”
She bolted before the man could change his mind, proceeding to have her sleepover with Sara.
And from that point, visits to Sara’s house became commonplace. She never did grow to like Mr Chidouin. He had this odd strange sort of presence, and did a bad job of hiding that he disliked Ryoko. Mrs Chidouin was a much more fun person to be around, full of life and excitement as she would often fantasize about fun trips and stunts that she probably wouldn’t be able to pull off at her age.
The stalker scare vanished into the background once it was time for highschool. Ryoko picked the school she did specifically because of Sara though she’d never let her know despite Sara’s equally questionable choice of going for cute uniforms.
And unfortunately, she realized it was a good thing to stay by Sara’s side for one reason. A reason that made itself apparent when Sara left Ryoko to go to their separate classes, and Ryoko heard them.
“Ooooh. Is that the girl who was so crazy violent she caused her opponent to quit kendo?”
“It totally is! I was there, and I saw that girl crying her eyes out when-“
“Hey.” Ryoko approached the gossipers, glowering. “I’m actually the girl she made cry. I’m also her best friend.”
The two kids looked up at Ryoko, flinching. One of them decided it was a good idea to keep talking though.
“You’re friends with her when she made you cry? Isn’t that kinda-“
“Why’s it her fault?” Ryoko interrupted, her voice venomous. “I was a poor sport about losing. If you were in that club I hope you didn’t talk to her like this.”
The other kids gulped giving their apologies and Ryoko left. High school awaited, and she only really needed one person to get through it.
“ The stalker is back”
Sara just brought this up while they were at a cafè. Looking down into her strawberry milkshake as she told Ryoko the worst news she could hear.
“Shit- how did it happen?” Ryoko asked, immediately alarmed. “Did he hurt you?”
“No… no. Me and Joe- I told you about him- we were coming back after this board game meeting and I saw him there. He was able to get me home and even stayed to patrol the area a bit.” She explained, fiddling with her hands. “Even dad agrees this time. There’s a problem.”
“Oh god…” Ryoko swallowed, heart pounding. This, again? “Sara, do you need me to get anyone involved? My moms a prosecutor. We could-“
“No. No, it's alright. Dad says he got some people to look into it. I don’t want you to get involved in my mess.”
“Sara, how could I care about myself when you're possibly in mortal danger?”
She cringed at that. Ah. Right. Bringing the possibility of the lethality of a stalker going after a teenage girl into this situation might be… overstepping.
“I’m sorry. But please tell me there’s something I can do.”
“Well…” Sara spoke something so far under her breath Ryoko couldn’t hear.
“What?”
“My friend Joe is looking for a date and I promised I’d set you two up.”
“Wha- Sara!” Ryoko pushed away her mocha, slamming her hands on the table. It shook the drinks, but thankfully they didn’t fall. “That’s not gonna help with any of this!”
“I know it’s not! But it’s important to me!” Sara fired back. “Joe is a good friend and I made this promise to him, and… You shouldn’t be obligated to be miserable just because I am.”
“God… Sara. I’m not obligated to anything.” Ryoko shook her head. “If I’m upset it’s because you’re my friend and something shitty is happening to you.”
“Then please do this at least.” She pleaded, dragging a hand through her hair. “It doesn’t have to even be a date. Just meet up with him.”
Ryoko sighed.
“Alright. It might be good to have a tag team of protectors in this case.” She conceded. “If he’s your friend then…”
“Alright! If it’s not a date maybe you can just go to-“
“Hey you said date, I’m going ahead with the date.” Ryoko winked. “You think I’m gonna just turn down the guy you say is still wearing my dog keychain?”
Sara glowed.
“Have a good date then.” She wished, giving Ryoko an encouraging smile. “Tell me how it goes.”
~~~~~
Ryoko did have a good date.
And she did not tell Sara how it went.
Instead she was plastering up two more signs with the word ‘Missing’.
Before eventually going to school again, the guilt of failure now hers to bear.