Note
The first chapter is kind of misleading as to how the story is overall, but then again there's also the summary... Consider that and this note fair warning.
The Promised Happiness
1
Ascension
Rika lay on the futon, taking in the breeze coming from the outside. It was nearly mid-day, and she ought to start moving, to help Satoko clean, study or perhaps even get some kind of meal ready, though she did nothing. All Rika thought about what the cool breeze, and how nice the day was. If she were to move, it would be to the sun, where she'd lay down again and enjoy the warmth. Maybe if she lay down long enough, the sun would come in again.
"Rika." Satoko called from across their small dwelling. Even that irritable voice seemed sweet to Rika at the moment. She indeed heard it, but decided to stay silent, her eyes closed. Rika soon heard her longtime friend nearby, and could almost feel the warmth as Satoko leaned down, speaking calmer this time. "Rika."
Rika opened her eyes slowly, as Satoko's hand came down on her forehead, brushing her bangs away. Rika had a very good view of Satoko's developing body. She was in a in a tighter outfit today, but Satoko had been growing quicker than Rika was in certain places. Thinking this, Rika's face blushed red, and she glanced away. "Well," Satoko began. "I guess you really are sick today."
"I didn't say that," Rika said, speechless a moment as she glanced over at Satoko, then back away, blushing again as she gripped her blanket tightly.
"Then what's wrong?" Satoko asked.
Why would anything be wrong at all, Rika thought. She - no, the both of them, they were both finally living out their happy life, the 'endless' stream of tragedies shattered. And on this particular day, Rika had no worries at all, not even minor ones, giving her none of the initiative she even needed to even get up. Rika just wanted to lay there and feel the peace for another moment, but even if she were to get up, it would be no problem. After all, she'd just be spending time with the person that she loved.
Rika's gaze traveled back to Satoko, looking from her friend's concerned expression down to the rest of her body, which was beautiful, much more so than Rika's herself. But jealousy wasn't nearly the first thing on her mind, Rika was just enjoying the sight. Well, maybe, that could be a problem.
Not that she was attracted to other girls - Rika had long ago figured out she was solely attracted to the same sex, but never dwelled that much on it, considering it of unimportance overall. A problem might be that Rika was attracted to Satoko, period. That would make things complicated, seeing as they were supposed to be live in friends, Rika acting as Satoko's makeshift 'family', Satoshi still unable to fulfill that role. If Satoko were uncomfortable with Rika's feelings, Rika would no longer be able to be that familial support.
"Well, just stay there if it helps," Satoko said, turning away.
That was the unspoken understanding between them. Both had a lot they'd rather not speak of, so if they weren't talking, they wouldn't push each other, not even a little bit. Rika didn't want there to be a misunderstanding that it was something that serious though. She reached toward Satoko's hand, and brushed against it. "I'm fine," Rika assured. "I'm just resting a bit."
"Is that right? Then you can get up and give me a hand with everything," Satoko said.
"Hmm," Rika said, smiling as she closed her eyes again. "Why don't you just stay with me, Satoko? There's really no rush anymore."
Rika reached for Satoko's hand, then grabbed it firmly this time. Satoko didn't pull away, instead lay down with Rika, smiling. "Oh Rika," Satoko said, grinning herself. "You can't just lay around all day."
"Why not?" Rika said, clasping Satoko's hand tighter as she did, smiling back at her friend. Satoko didn't respond right away, so Rika could just enjoy her friend's presence. The warm breeze blew through the window again, and Rika rolled to the side, hugging her friend and sighing. This really was turning out to be a great day.
"Rika?" Satoko said, blinking with concern.
Rika realized how her actions might be considered inappropriate, especially considering the feelings that she absolutely did have for Satoko. Rika moved away from Satoko, sitting up suddenly. Satoko wouldn't like her back, and if Rika did even a small thing that Satoko read into the wrong way, that would damage their relationship.
"You want to get up already?" Satoko said, smiling at Rika. "No way. You were really comfy in here, ignoring me. I won't let you make it be time to get up right when I start to relax too!"
With that, Satoko grabbed Rika from behind. "Hey-" Rika began. She was soon laughing though, as Satoko went to tickle her. Before she knew it, Rika found herself entangled with her friend, just like the many times when they were young. Rika was smiling again, feeling light-hearted again after that brief moment of seriousness. She shouldn't let herself get too serious around Satoko. The other girl wouldn't like it that much.
But maybe Rika could confess her feelings to Satoko. That was supposed to be the thing to do in this situation? In shoujo manga, boys and girls often confessed. When people had romantic feelings and strong attractions, they were supposed to confess them. "Satoko," Rika began.
"Hm?" Satoko said. She'd been getting into the spirit of the rest before, closing her eyes as she lay on the small futon with Rika, but now opened them again and looked at her friend.
"Well, I suppose I shouldn't say this, but there is something I want to tell you."
"What is it?" Satoko said, her eyes widening with alertness.
"Oh... Sorry!" Rika sat up quickly. "Really sorry! I didn't mean to make it seem serious," Rika said, her tone becoming jovial to contrast with before. "It's not me, it's not like me! Don't think this is too serious, Satoko!"
"Rika," Satoko said with a sigh, gazing toward the ceiling before closing her eyes. "It's exactly like you," she continued, grabbing Rika's hand and grinning as she did. "You're the cheerful Rika, then the serious Rika, all the time. Both of them are like you. I don't think you're unlike yourself just for being either."
Rika's mouth fell open in surprise, though she really shouldn't be at all. Since they'd broken free of that endless June, she'd fallen away from the sweet, child-like Rika she was supposed to be, and into the somber, witch-like persona that she really shouldn't be. Of course Satoko would have noticed. With this revelation, Rika realized it wasn't just that she knew Satoko well, but vice-versa as well.
This convinced Rika more than ever that she needed to confess, even if she weren't sure of the outcome. In the romance manga, characters often to people they barely knew. That would rarely turn out for the best in reality. But it wasn't the case with her and Satoko. Satoko and her were such good friends, even if Satoko had to say that Rika's feelings couldn't be returned, Rika would be sure that their friendship would remain. That friendship was precious, more so than most anything else in Rika's life at the moment.
"Is that right?" Rika said, composing herself after briefly being caught off guard. "Well, Satoko, what I'm going to tell you might not be serious, but you also might find it a little strange."
"Go ahead and try me then," Satoko said, smirking as she did.
Seeing the expression, Rika felt apprehensive about confessing again. Satoko wouldn't laugh, would she? "I," Rika began, surprised at her weak voice. Though she'd been about to throw off all pretences and just be herself in her most serious matter, since Satoko knew all versions of Rika very well, Rika had defaulted to the child-like one after all. Thinking of what she was about to say, Rika trembled. It wasn't just fear of rejection, but hope that Satoko would respond positively. The anticipation was both positive and negative. Rika met Satoko's gaze and continued. "I think I... Love you, Satoko."
It was Satoko's turn for the moment of surprise, her expression lightening. Her trickster friend didn't laugh, Rika noticed, and eventually looked away in the silence, her heart pounding at how Satoko might be taking in the words that Rika couldn't take back. That confession could have gone better, too. 'Love' meant so many things, varying from person to person even. Rika maybe should have made it clear what kind of 'love' she'd meant, explaining everything with ultimate clarity from the beginning. Of course she 'loved' Satoko, even without being attracted to her like this. Was Satoko thinking of how stupid those words had sounded, or just how to best handle the inevitable rejection?
Satoko put her hand on Rika's shoulder, not letting her friend wait too long for a response, even if the few seconds that had ticked by had seemed so long. Rika looked up, reading Satoko's expression as cheerful, unoffended and sympathetic. "I also love you," Satoko said.
"I know that," Rika said, unable to accept the returned affections. "I'm talking about it in a different context."
"I know that, Rika," Satoko sound, pouting a moment. "Anyone could pick up on your 'context' easily."
"I-I-" Rika stammered, before she was interrupted by her friend moving close to her, then Satoko's lips meeting hers for a brief kiss. Rika was speechless as Satoko pulled away. It was really enjoyable, and left Rika wanting more, though she didn't make a move back. "Satoko."
Satoko laughed a moment in her awkwardness. "Was it nice, Rika?" Satoko said with a smile. "I bet it was! No one beats my technique."
"H-How many other people have you kissed like that, Satoko?" Rika asked.
"None," Satoko admitted, then pointed to Rika's nose. "Just you."
Rika looked down. She'd been worried that she might be too mature for her friend. Though they were technically the same age, Rika did have many more 'years of experience' with life than her friend. Instead, Satoko had been more bold and comfortable with things like this than her. In fact, it was surprising just how 'normal' Rika's reaction was. She really was able to fully appreciate life as a human.
"W-what is it?" Satoko said, blushing a deep red more. "Was it really so bad? I didn't-"
"It was perfect," Rika said, looking up and hugging her friend. "You're perfect- you're wonderful, Satoko. I'm glad I could share this moment with you."
"I really do love you too, Rika. It's not that weird what you'd said. I thought you were going to say something funny, but you said something serious after all," Satoko said.
Rika smirked now. It really wasn't serious, though. It didn't involve secrets that they absolutely couldn't tell anyone else the way Rika defined something 'serious' before this, but maybe it was serious in a way. It was important to Rika, this wish to be with Satoko, sharing their happy times together forever.
That was right, Rika figured out as she pulled Satoko into their second kiss, this was her promised happy ending. Why had she even been nervous? Rika laughed happily as she thought this to herself. She shouldn't have hesitated to confess. This was the happiness that she'd been determined to grab, which would make up for all of the previous suffering. Rika was going to appreciate every moment of it, never conceding one bit of hard won spoils.
