Chapter Text
“I really have to see you tonight.”
Seven words whispered into her ear that stuck with her the entire day. They stuck with her even after she arrived at the Bet Gala, and her date was nowhere to be found. She sighed after ten minutes had gone by, Riri was still a no show.
She cut in, deciding to take Yumeko from Ryan. “My date stood me up.” Mary confessed, disappointment showing, “Maybe it was some joke, or, I don’t know, some weird tactic.” Mary didn’t want to believe Riri would do this to her, but she was Kira’s sister first and foremost.
“Your date’s an idiot, whoever they are.” Yumeko responded. If only she knew she had just called the Student Council Vice President an idiot. “You look beautiful.” Mary felt her disappointment lighten slightly from the compliment, until Kira decided to interrupt their dance.
It wasn’t until she had reconvened with Ryan that she felt a tap on her shoulder, turning around to see Riri dressed beautifully. That disappointment suddenly flooded her, she wasn’t going to let her forget.
“I thought you stood me up.” Mary attempted to read the look in Riri’s eyes, but the lights made it difficult. “Is this some kind of weird test?” She stepped closer, still unable to read Riri’s stare.
Riri stepped forward, a hand placed delicately on her waist as she whispered into her ear, “I was setting up.” She stepped back, waiting for a response.
“Uh...okay?” Mary was confused, but also intrigued. Riri was running late due to...something. Riri held her hand out for Mary to take, whisking her away from the entire Bet Gala. Riri didn’t let go of her hand as they walked down the empty halls of the school.
Riri finally led her into a room that was basked in candlelight. From real to fake, so many candles filled the room. Vases filled with flowers dotted around. Riri let go of her hand, stepping over to one of two chairs at a table that had two plates set up, covered. Riri stood, waiting, anticipating even.
“This is...wow.” Mary looked around, unable to fully take it all in. This was...certainly not what she expected. Riri pulled out the chair, a silent invitation that Mary took. Riri walked over to the other chair, watching as Mary looked around once more. Mary let out a chuckle suddenly, breaking the tension. “You missed me that much, huh?”
She looked across the table, watching as Riri’s shoulders relaxed. Her eyes were more visible in this lighting, giving Mary the opportunity to see them soften for her. Only her. She nodded, holding her words in.
Mary let herself smile, her disappointment for Riri’s tardiness melting away. “I didn’t expect you to...still want me.” Mary confessed, suddenly feeling shy under Riri’s gaze. “I mean, I knew you were a romantic Riri, but you never did this. Why? Why now?”
“You changed.” Riri spoke, her voice the same as when Mary last heard it - before she was stripped of the black jacket. Mary glanced back over at Riri, her eyes somehow softening more. “I think...you made me fall more in love with you.”
The confession stunned Mary. Her lips parted, but every word died. Shit, she was convinced her brain shut off on her. Riri stared, her gaze suddenly filled with concern by Mary’s lack of response. Mary’s brain finally caught up when Riri moved to step forward, “You mean it?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was enough for Riri to pause mid step.
“I do.” Riri reached for her mask, careful of the gems that were present, slipping it off of her face. Mary never got tired of the view in front of her, and in this lighting? She was breathtaking. Riri set down the mask on the table, looking back up at Mary.
“I guess you can thank Yumeko for this.” Mary motioned towards herself, seeing a smile on the other girl’s face. Mary stepped over until she stood in front of Riri, taking her hands into hers. “You’re still willing to do this?”
“Always.” Riri breathed out before leaning in, connecting their lips together. Mary melted, pulling Riri’s hands to her waist before she cupped the girl’s face. She missed this - god - she missed Riri. Ever since being kicked out of Student Council, humiliated in front of everyone, she didn’t expect Riri to still want to be with her anymore.
She noticed the looks, the glances, anything that Riri did. She didn’t want to believe it after what happened, but her mind eased at the thought of Riri’s feelings never changing towards her.
“We should eat before it gets cold.” Riri muttered against her lips after parting. Mary smiled, giving one last peck on the lips before walking over to her chair and sitting. Riri revealed a lobster dinner, no doubt cooked by her own hand.
“This looks delicious baby.” Mary grinned, glancing up to see a familiar blush appearing on Riri’s face as she sat down, her plate also uncovered.
The room fell silent except for the soft music Riri had playing. They ate in silence, weeks of tension resolved in just one conversation. Mary felt so relaxed, more relaxed than she had been in weeks.
All because Riri was across from her.
“Were you teasing me during House Wars?” Riri suddenly asked, glancing up, “You know, she’s mine, and all that?”
Mary snickered, “Maybe.” She recalled how close she stood to Riri on purpose that day, both of their eyes shining something playful. Mary wished Yumeko wasn’t there that day, so that she could speak to Riri directly. “I also knew Yumeko had zero chance of winning.”
“Yumeko is certainly...a thorn in my sister’s side.” Riri chose her words carefully, always so careful about what she was saying. She knew her and Mary were friends, despite Yumeko being the reason Mary’s life temporarily crumbled. “I think she enjoys it though, it’s a change, a challenge.”
“Really?” Mary’s confused face made Riri smile, “Are you sure?”
“I’m her sister, I’m sure.” Riri took another bite, “She was upset that Yumeko broke the puzzle.” Riri admitted, glancing at the doors like someone was going to barge in. “She doesn’t...receive gifts often.”
Mary was never scared of Kira after falling out of the top ten. She was annoyed by some of her actions, sure, but never terrified about what she would do. Kira could’ve made her life a living hell, could’ve ripped Riri away from her, but she didn’t. And hearing this small piece of Kira that wasn’t regarding her control or reputation? It made her feel bad for her opinions, as much as she hated to admit it.
“Maybe Yumeko being here will be a good thing for her.” Mary answered, glancing back down at her half empty plate. “Does- Will she care about this? About us?”
Riri was silent for a moment, her fork poking food as she thought. Mary let her, allowed her to form the words she wanted to say.
“She won’t tell us to break up, if that’s what you mean.” Riri finally said, holding eye contact with the girl across from her. “In all honesty, I told her what you said when you came up to me in the hall. All she said was that your seat would be waiting.”
Mary blinked. That wasn’t like the Kira she knew, it wasn’t like the Kira anyone knew. She assumed Kira was disappointed in her for cheating her way to the top. She assumed Kira despised her for it.
Riri continued after giving Mary time to respond. “Kira, as much as she will never admit it, has a soft spot for you. I think it’s partially because of us, but it’s there. It exists.” Riri reached for Mary’s hand across the table, intertwining their hands together.
“I didn’t expect that...” Mary sighed, “If I had a death wish I would tease her for it.”
Riri smiled, “She wouldn’t do anything about it, maybe just glare at you for the rest of the day.” Mary squeezed her hand before Riri pulled away, “I’m glad you said yes to this.”
“I’m glad you caught my attention.”
“I wanted to play you at breakfast.” Riri recalled watching Mary walk off as she held a deck of cards that morning, “You walked away before I could.”
Mary, of course, had seen Riri in that moment. She didn’t notice the cards though, and a small part of her wondered how that would’ve played out. She leaned in slightly, smugness appearing on her face. “Maybe I didn’t want you to lose.” She teased.
Riri matched Mary, leaning closer with her elbows on the table, tapping her chin. “I would’ve been rusty.” Riri tilted her head, “But, determined.”
“Did you really want the student body to witness this side of you though?” Mary countered back. She always loved the little teasing remarks that her and Riri would bicker back and forth on. Mary placed her hand over her heart, “The scary mysterious Vice President wooing a former Council member, I can just imagine the headlines now.”
Riri laughed, “I would’ve risked it.”
“You would risk anything just to see my smile, hell, just to see my glance towards you.” Mary shook her head in disbelief. She was one of the only people who knew Riri’s true nature, and in all honesty, she wanted to keep it that way. She wanted to keep it from prying eyes, keep it just for herself.
“You know I would give you the world if you asked.”
“I think I’ll just take your food and glances for now.”
~Bonus: During the House Pet Hunt~
“Have to get back onto Student Council. Miss the perks.” Mary took a drink from the platter Kira’s house pet held as she followed Riri over to where Kira was perched, watching the various camera views in the forest. The middle one, of course, showed Yumeko and Ryan scrambling about.
Kira held up her hand, a signal for the other students in the room to leave. Once the room was empty she turned her head towards her sister, “Clearly the date went well.” She tilted her head with a knowing smile.
Mary walked over to stand on the other side of Kira. Kira turned towards her, with a quip at the ready. Mary fired first, “Heard you actually like me.” With a smugness that even Kira couldn’t compete with, she watched the President’s eye twitch.
Kira turned back to the cameras, ignoring the hushed laughter coming from her sister. “I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?” She glanced over at her sister, who simply shrugged. “Great.”
Neither made a comment on the small smile forming on Kira’s face.