[ Only yesterday, they had their first live in a while, but it doesn't mean that Riko can rest just yet. Sending gifts is definitely on top of the list. Riko spent a few hours looking for a perfect present for Chika a few days before, but she couldn't find anything good enough. At least not until she had noticed a necklace that made her think of Chika immediately. Sea and the color orange...there's no way Riko would associate them with someone else.
Once the necklace is in the fancy box, Riko attaches a short note for Chika too, before wrapping the whole thing and sending it. The note, which Chika will find in the morning on the Sunsui festival day, reads as follows:
Merry Sunsui, Chika-chan. You have no idea how happy I am to have you by my side. Yesterday live was really fun, I hope we can do it again soon.
Would you like to meet sometime later and go to the festival together? Riko ]
[Unfortunately, Chika, this is your back-up secret Santa. Since he doesn't know her and his default gift for girls is jewelry, what's left by her door is a nice bracelet recommended to him by a shopkeeper. It's on the expensive side to try and compensate for being completely impersonal, and the note simply says: Happy Sunsu. He sort of tried.]
[ Whoever placed the tree in the apartment building, must've done it overnight as Riko's pretty sure it wasn't here yesterday. The moment she steps closer, a realization dawns upon her—she's read about this in the book on Shehui traditions (which contains the story behind Sunsu festival as well). There are some talismans hanging on the lower branches, but Riko stops when she notices a certain one that mentions Love Live. It brings a soft smile to Riko's face. Love Live...she didn't really think about it before as she was busy being scared of basically everything and trying to wrap her head around the concept of traveling across the worlds. Love Live means a lot to their group. And to Chika. It's not just that—it's important to Riko too, even though she didn't know what to think about it at first. Then, Chika taught her that there's nothing wrong about being lost and finding your own way. It's funny how some time ago, she'd take her time writing the wish down. However, now she just knows what it should be.
Before hanging the talisman, Riko takes one more look at it. "I want Chika-chan's wish to come true." For some reason, Riko thinks that signing it won't be necessary. Her own wish and Chika's are probably the same—Riko wants to win the Love Live and shine together with her beloved friend and everyone else she holds dear. It happens in a second and Riko does it on a whim—she presses her lips against the talisman and hangs it on one of the branches right away. ]
Why I am so embarrassing...
[ Chuckling to herself, she goes to take another talisman. Hopefully, it should be okay to have another wish for Dia and Ruby. ]
[ by some miracle of god, chika just happens to be heading downstairs when she sees riko kissing the talisman ever so gently and stops in her tracks.
she doesn't know why, but chika stays hidden, hardly breathing; she feels like she's intruding on something she wasn't meant to see. it's a gut feeling.
when riko turns around, though, chika deems it safe to come out of her hiding place so she can sneak up on riko from behind and wrap her arms tight around her shoulders with a giggle. ]
Riko-chan! Did you make a wish? What did you wish for?
[ It's funny how she doesn't even need to look over her shoulder to know it's her—no one else would hug her like that, probably. ]
I...
[ There's no point in hiding it, is it? Chika can easily spot the talisman Riko has just hung on the tree. But on the other hand...why should Riko make it so easy for her? ]
I wished for someone's wish to come true. Someone who is very important to me.
[ she tilts her head, curiosity written across her face and widening her eyes. but she doesn't press it. ]
Of course I am! But... um, am I allowed to make more than one wish? Because I don't know how I'm supposed to choose just one! There's so much to wish for!
[ Honestly, she's surprised that there are no more questions about said person from Chika. Does that mean...DOES THAT MEAN...SHE KNOWS? Riko swallows, fixing her eyes on a random branch of the tree. ]
I don't think there's anything wrong with making more than one as long as you don't use up all the talismans. But...just how many wishes do you have, Chika-chan?
[ Riko might be huffing and mumbling under her nose, but that doesn't mean she won't lend Chika her back. She'll still try to look over her shoulder, hoping to see what she's writing on the talisman. ]
It would be really nice if all nine of them came true, wouldn't it?
[ Riko reads them realizing that a smile is forming on her mouth as she goes on. Chika is such a good friend who cares deeply about others. It makes Riko's heart feel warm. ]
I hope all of these will come true. Are you going to write down wishes for the third years' now?
Three. You, me, and You-chan! Sorry, but let me borrow your back just a little while longer. I'll be quick!
[ for you: ]
I wish that You-chan never stops saying Yousoro! I wish her smile and optimism could spread all around the world!
[ for riko: ]
Whatever Riko-chan's wish was... I know it's precious to her, and I want it to come true, because Riko-chan deserves each and every wish she has.
[ and, finally, for chika: ]
With all my heart, I wish for each and every one of these wishes is granted. Please. I won't ask for anything else.
[ chika is covert with riko's wish, hiding it with her hand so she doesn't read it. when she's done, she hangs the last talisman up and claps her hands together. ]
No, I wasn't hurt or anything. It was confusing, but...
I understand. I can't imagine how hard this must have been on Ruby-chan, but, Dia-san... What about you? Are you okay? You need to take care of yourself, too. You're our student council president, after all!
[ it takes a good minute or so for a response to pop up. chika has to weigh over her words and collect her thoughts. ]
We need to stick together. The four of us. As long as we have each other, we can persevere. We can make it through anything if we combine our strength.
[ Perhaps Riko shouldn't have been so surprised to see a familiar snack in this world but there's nothing wrong with little culture shock, is there? Before she knows it, she's knocking at Chika's door, holding a few packages of different flavors of pocky. It's astonishing how similar this world and their world are. ]
[ Little does Riko know what this sharing might lead to. Also, it's actually quite amusing how excited Chika seems about this, so she opens it right away. ]
I wish I found them earlier.
[ After everything that happened, she really misses their home. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
12/20; delivery
Once the necklace is in the fancy box, Riko attaches a short note for Chika too, before wrapping the whole thing and sending it. The note, which Chika will find in the morning on the Sunsui festival day, reads as follows:
Merry Sunsui, Chika-chan. You have no idea how happy I am to have you by my side. Yesterday live was really fun, I hope we can do it again soon.
Would you like to meet sometime later and go to the festival together?
Riko ]
sunsu
backdated to 1/10; action
Before hanging the talisman, Riko takes one more look at it. "I want Chika-chan's wish to come true." For some reason, Riko thinks that signing it won't be necessary. Her own wish and Chika's are probably the same—Riko wants to win the Love Live and shine together with her beloved friend and everyone else she holds dear. It happens in a second and Riko does it on a whim—she presses her lips against the talisman and hangs it on one of the branches right away. ]
Why I am so embarrassing...
[ Chuckling to herself, she goes to take another talisman. Hopefully, it should be okay to have another wish for Dia and Ruby. ]
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she doesn't know why, but chika stays hidden, hardly breathing; she feels like she's intruding on something she wasn't meant to see. it's a gut feeling.
when riko turns around, though, chika deems it safe to come out of her hiding place so she can sneak up on riko from behind and wrap her arms tight around her shoulders with a giggle. ]
Riko-chan! Did you make a wish? What did you wish for?
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[ It's funny how she doesn't even need to look over her shoulder to know it's her—no one else would hug her like that, probably. ]
I...
[ There's no point in hiding it, is it? Chika can easily spot the talisman Riko has just hung on the tree. But on the other hand...why should Riko make it so easy for her? ]
I wished for someone's wish to come true. Someone who is very important to me.
[ She can't help but giggle. ]
Are you going to make a wish, Chika-chan?
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[ she tilts her head, curiosity written across her face and widening her eyes. but she doesn't press it. ]
Of course I am! But... um, am I allowed to make more than one wish? Because I don't know how I'm supposed to choose just one! There's so much to wish for!
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[ Honestly, she's surprised that there are no more questions about said person from Chika. Does that mean...DOES THAT MEAN...SHE KNOWS? Riko swallows, fixing her eyes on a random branch of the tree. ]
I don't think there's anything wrong with making more than one as long as you don't use up all the talismans. But...just how many wishes do you have, Chika-chan?
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Nine! Nine wishes.
[ does she really have to explain why?
she already knows what she wants to write. for herself. for her friends. and for riko. ]
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[ The reason is obvious, but that's still quite a lot. ]
I think I saw people writing a few wishes on one talisman, maybe you could try this too? You just have to make sure it's legible.
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[ an amused laugh. ]
Maybe I can pick out three. How does that sound? It'll be our little secret.
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[ Just so she can see what Chika wishes for!! So sneaky. ]
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[ chika wets her lips and looks up at the ceiling in thought, humming. ]
You can proofread eight out of nine.
[ she offers no further explanation. ]
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Just eight? [ Quick, she needs to think of something that would convince Chika to let her take a look. ] What if you make a spelling error?
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I think the Gods will forgive me if I make a spelling error! Riko-chan, I never knew you were so nosy...
[ she wanders over to the talismans to pick out three of them and something to write with. ]
Let me borrow your back. I need something to write on.
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[ Riko might be huffing and mumbling under her nose, but that doesn't mean she won't lend Chika her back. She'll still try to look over her shoulder, hoping to see what she's writing on the talisman. ]
It would be really nice if all nine of them came true, wouldn't it?
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I wish for Hanamaru-chan to stop being insecure about her zura zura.
[ for ruby: ]
I wish for Ruby-chan to find the courage she needs to stand on her own two feet and realize her own strength.
[ for yohane: ]
I wish for
Yoshiko-chanYohane to find lots and lots of little demons this year![ when she's finished writing down her wishes for the first years, she grabs the talisman and moves to hang it up. ]
Thanks, Riko-chan! Three down, six to go!
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I hope all of these will come true. Are you going to write down wishes for the third years' now?
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[ for dia: ]
I wish for Dia-san to stay by Mari-chan and Kanan-chan's sides forever.
[ for mari: ]
I wish for Mari-chan to stay by Dia-san and Kanan-chan's sides forever and ever.
[ for kanan: ]
I wish for Kanan-chan to stay by Dia-san and Mari-chan's sides forever and ever and ever.
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There are still two more left...You and me.
[ It's silly, but she's getting nervous. What is Chika's wish for her? ]
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[ for you: ]
I wish that You-chan never stops saying Yousoro! I wish her smile and optimism could spread all around the world!
[ for riko: ]
Whatever Riko-chan's wish was... I know it's precious to her, and I want it to come true, because Riko-chan deserves each and every wish she has.
[ and, finally, for chika: ]
With all my heart, I wish for each and every one of these wishes is granted. Please. I won't ask for anything else.
[ chika is covert with riko's wish, hiding it with her hand so she doesn't read it. when she's done, she hangs the last talisman up and claps her hands together. ]
Phew! All done!
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[ Her thoughts are revolving around Chika's wish for her that much she can't even count, smh. ]
Chika-chan, you're such a great friend.
[ Everyone should have a friend like this. ]
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[ her smile is a bit sheepish, but there's pride in it, too. ]
I'm just doing what any good friend would do.
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Ruby was really scared, and I pretty much forgot everything else for a while.
Are you well? None of the monitors harmed you, right?
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I understand. I can't imagine how hard this must have been on Ruby-chan, but, Dia-san... What about you? Are you okay? You need to take care of yourself, too. You're our student council president, after all!
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I'm just worried that this is going to keep happening.
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[ except she doesn't. none of this is normal. nothing has been normal since she first set foot here.
but chika has a responsibility to uphold. she can't afford to be scared; she can't afford to be worried.
she can't afford to let her fear show. ]
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Dia thinks it looks sad on her part that she's finally showing a little bit more of her vulnerable side to Chika.]
Nothing here is normal. It hasn't been normal for any number of the months that I have spent with this coven.
... I thought I got used to it though.
[The tone of that text is a little uncertain.]
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We need to stick together. The four of us. As long as we have each other, we can persevere. We can make it through anything if we combine our strength.
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Forgive me for sounding defeated. I will admit that I was losing sight of the important things.
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Thank you again, Chika-san. For talking to me.
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yuenai returns; action
Chika-chan? Are you here?
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Riko-chan!
[ chika gives her a sunny smile and steps aside to invite her in. ]
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It's time to show Chika the loot she got. ]
I was doing shopping and I've found something interesting. [ Building up tension... ] Here.
[ She pulls a pack of pocky out of her pocket with one swift movement. ]
I wonder if it's just like the one we have at home.
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[ chika is sort of tempted to snatch the small box and open it right up, but even chika has more tact than that. ]
Can we share it?
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[ Little does Riko know what this sharing might lead to. Also, it's actually quite amusing how excited Chika seems about this, so she opens it right away. ]
I wish I found them earlier.
[ After everything that happened, she really misses their home. ]
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[ chika's gaze is both reassuring and fond, and she reaches out to take a single stick and pop it into her mouth. ]
Sweet...
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[ Munching on one of the sticks as well Riko eventually looks up at Chika. ]
I can't help but wonder what's going on in Uchiura...