''Hm? What's this...?''

Satoko had been left alone at home as Rika went out to do the shopping that day. Satoko preferred to be the one to do the shopping, and she sure did love catching sales, but Rika had insisted, saying she wanted to pay her back for everything she did for her. That embarrassed Satoko a little, and she wanted to say that she never actually did anything that special or that Rika did so much more for her, but she caught herself and gave in, not wanting to be mean or hurt her friend when she was just trying to do a kind gesture for her.

When she left however, Satoko was quickly bored without her best friend. Hanyuu had also left to go on one of her walks around the village before that, and she wasn't back for hours upon hours sometimes. Satoko assumed her older friends would be busy as well, with their families or each other or such...so Satoko decided to clean around the house a little and explore. She had lived there for a long time now, but she was sure there were more secrets to be found!

She recalled finding Rika's naked baby pictures not even a week after moving in, and when Rika walked in on her giggling over them, it was one of very few times where Satoko saw her so embarrassed. Rika begged for Satoko to hand them over, and they both ran all over the house that day as Rika tried to get them back. Satoko only commented on what a cute butt Rika had, and Rika replied that she was going to burn the photos as soon as she got her hands on her. Satoko smiled, still finding it as incredibly funny now as it had been back then.

Satoko had been...very unhappy when she first moved in with Rika, and for a long time afterwards. That was the first of times where she was actually happy and having fun again, after such a long long time being without those things, and so soon after moving in, too. Rika...had that magical effect. Sure, it still wasn't always like that for a good time, and sometimes Satoko would laugh at a funny joke or something just a little, but even then immediately return to being sad and quiet.

Nii-Nii had disappeared, and Satoko concluded it was her fault, for being an awful little sister. On her birthday last year...he didn't come home...or on the next day, or the day after that, and so on...

Satoko shaked the painful thoughts out of her head; that was why she promised to become a better sister and a better person in general. And one day, Nii-Nii would come home...and he would see that she changed...

Despite the fact that she was so unhappy...Rika gave her her smile back, she brought her happiness back. She never made Satoko feel like she was a bad person and she was always so so kind...she never got annoyed or angry with Satoko...if Satoko ever made a mistake all Rika would do is give her that warm smile and pat her head, saying she'd be even better next time... Simply, Rika was an angel...

Satoko found herself blushing at that thought, and decided to turn her attention back to her new find.

She had been exploring the closet and noticed something weird with the ceiling. Soon enough, she found that there was some sort of secret space up there if you pushed up on it and moved the cover. She wondered if it was some sort of hiding spot for something or someone, and she thought it could fit two, maybe three people... It was her first time up here but it felt so...familiar...

I wonder why...? Satoko asked herself in her mind, and her attention went to some kind of journal. Aha! I wonder if this is some kind of other picture album, ohohoho...

She turned through the pages, seeing only words and feeling disappointed. She wanted something to embarrass Rika with, but she started to realize it would probably never happen again and that Rika probably did burn the past pictures.

Hmm...is this...something Rika's parents wrote or something...?

Satoko decided to read some of the pages, and she found that they were all covered in poems. The name of the person who Satoko thought might have wrote them was always quite blurry at the bottom and pretty much unreadable, at times it would even seem purposefully crossed out a bit...but the poems themselves were always left untouched and still looked as if they could have been freshly wrote, as if the person couldn't bring themselves to part with that part...maybe...

That didn't really interest Satoko in the end though, but the poems themselves definitely did.

Even if the world does not forgive you, I will forgive you...

The frog in the well was happy, he wasn't interested in the outside world...

The little girl cried when she lost her marbles in the desert...

Satoko found that they all seemed very sad, as if written by a very miserable, trapped person...so just who did write them...? Rika's parents...? Or...or Rika herself...? Was this her diary...? This didn't seem like her though, the Rika she knew was always happy... They could even just be from some famous or obscure writer who she likes enough to the point of storing them. But, once again, the taste seems a little weird...

...Satoko did notice the happiness from Rika seemed somewhat fake at times, or that at some moments Rika would stare off looking sad or deep in thought...or as if she was remembering something unpleasant. Satoko never pressed however, if she asked what was wrong Rika simply smiled again and said it was nothing... Satoko didn't really believe it, but figured Rika didn't want to talk to her and she left it alone... Sometimes Satoko considered herself as being unreasonably paranoid, too...

I was the most unfortunate.
I knew that there was no exit out of this maze.

Then, he was the next unfortunate.
He did not know that there was no exit out of this maze.

But all the rest weren't so unfortunate.
They didn't know that they were in the maze in the first place.

Whoever this was written by, Satoko also really wondered who the poems were addressing with the hes, shes and theys at times.

At the first time, I do my best to try again
against the inevitable tragedy.

In the second time, I become disgusted
towards the inevitable tragedy.

The third time, disgust is overwhelmed into painfulness.
But by the seventh time, this all becomes a farce comedy.

Satoko began doubting more as a lot of these seemed as if written by an adult...but if they were Rika's, maybe she was just a lot smarter than she let on...

She was always helping Satoko when she got stuck on her schoolwork and did uneasily perfect on her own work...she also seemed to be a rather amazing reader. Perhaps Rika liked poetry too, and just didn't talk about these things? Rika could be very mysterious sometimes...so maybe..she really was a lot sadder than she let on... Some of the poems talked about death or tragedy.

Please tell me what happened in this night.
The cat in the box was dead.

So who is the culprit?
Who is the culprit that's gonna kill me?!

There is only one thing that I seek.
What I would obtain will either be the kishi (shore), or shiki (my death).

This really worried Satoko, but perhaps it was just artistic choice by whoever wrote it...? Maybe she shouldn't worry so much, poems didn't always have to be about the person writing them or from the heart, right...? She supposed they usually were but...sometimes they're written for or about others too, right?

And that is when Satoko finally noticed that towards the end, they became happier.

I wanted to know the world that was outside of the well.
So I tried hard to get out from the bottom of the well.

I wanted to know the world that was outside of the well.
So I climbed up numerous of times despite falling down over and over again.

But then I realized it.
The higher and higher I climb, the pain increases when I fall down again.

When my interest in the world outside of the well began to equal the amount of pain,
That was when I finally realized the meaning of the story of the frog in the well.

Now this one sure has a lot of hopeful feeling to it, Satoko thought. A clear change from the complete bleakness of before.

What kind of world lies outside of the well?
Is it something that is worth struggling for?

What kind of world lies outside of the well?
Is it something so attractive enough to fall and try over and over again?

What kind of world lies outside of the well?
Let's enjoy taking the pains of finding that out.

If I reach the world that yearn for, it must be a spectacular world.
Even if that world was another pit inside a well.

The key to the new world is the resolve to get out of the well.
Being able to get out or not,
A new world awaits...

Satoko felt herself rooting for the mysterious author here.

Everyone has a right to pursue a happy life.
The difficult part is to be given that right.

Everyone has a right to pursue a happy life.
The difficult part is to fulfill that right.

I too have a right to pursue a happy life.
The difficult part is to work out a compromise for that right.

...

That's because
I'm gonna become much more happy from now on.

I'm not gonna compromise with just this.
We are gonna take back all of our happiness that we lost.

For me, that's about a hundred year's worth.
For you, a thousand year's worth.

Satoko felt herself moved by the resolve of the author to be happy. As if they were finally realizing their worth, and demanding to be given what they deserved...

She wasn't discouraged nor did she cry at her fate.
She was beautiful.

She didn't fawn anyone and fought them all by herself.
She was noble.

She shined brightly, like a divine figure.
I needed someone like her.

This one made Satoko blush a little. It sounded so romantic and definitely like a poem for or about another person. Satoko's attention went to a much less blurry name than the earlier ones, covered in dust, and she blew it away, hoping to see some kind of signature. Perhaps this was by Rika's father for her mother, it was so sweet and romantic...

"Let's see here~" Satoko read the name aloud to herself, straining her eyes to make out the characters. "Sa...to...ko..."

She paused.

"...Eh?"

Satoko stared at her name written on the paper with shock.

M-me...? T-then who wrote this...? Certainly not I, so this is no signature... Did Rika really...?

"S-Satoko...?"

Satoko jumped, turning around to see none other than Rika's head peeking up into the secret space. Her eyes went to the journal in Satoko's hands, becoming wide as soon as they registered it, and she almost seemed scared. "A-ah, t-that..."

Satoko was filled with immense regret, and tried to speak.

"A-ah, I found this...I wanted to explore around the house while you and Hanyuu were out, and I found this secret space and...a-and I'm sorry for reading if its your diary, I-I wouldn't have if I knew that's what it was, I-I..."

Rika reached out and gently took the journal out of Satoko's hands, and Satoko didn't know what else to say. Rika hugged the journal close to her chest, looking down. Satoko was worried she had been really hurt.

"A-ah...I-I'm sorry, Rika..."

''Mii...it's okay...you don't need to apologize, I'm not upset or anything..." After being silent for a bit, she continued. "How much...did you see...?"

''U-um...all of it, I think..."

''I see..."

With that, Rika climbed back down out of the space. Satoko followed behind a bit after she left, worried. Rika had left the journal on the table and was in the kitchen, taking something out of one of the shopping bags.

"Mii, I bought Popsicles since it's so hot today," she said cheerily, and handed Satoko her favorite flavor. "I suppose they're all gross and melted by now, though..." She scratched her head sheepishly.

Satoko found herself thinking the action looked very cute...she somehow managed to resist shaking her head from the thought.

"A-ah, still, thank you very much, Rika..." Satoko began struggling with the packaging.

''...Do you have any questions about what you read?"

Satoko was a bit taken aback by Rika's sudden question and mention of the journal again, almost dropping her treat. But although she managed not to drop it, opening it still got her hands all sticky and wet from the splash and drippy-ness in the end. Whoops...

Rika quickly got a small wet towel after seeing it and began wiping Satoko's hands and fingers. She apologized for bothering to give it to her in the first place and suggested they go out later to get some to eat on the spot. Satoko was a little preoccupied with Rika's gentle ministrations and her soft hands, however...she could see the top of Rika's head from their position and also took notice of her, admittedly nice, hair...Satoko felt herself turning red for some reason.

"I-it's no big deal, Rika...and back to your earlier question...u-um, well...I don't think there's anything in particular...but um, I thought...they were all really beautiful poems, though rather sad, most of them...d-did you write all of them...?"

Rika paused and looked to the side, downwards. "I did. I wrote a lot of them when I felt...very sad about things. Most of them were written a very, very long time ago, though. The happier ones...are a lot more recent...since I'm much happier now."

Rika turned back and smiled at Satoko, and that smile put Satoko at ease. However, she felt a bit angry at herself, not noticing Rika had been very sad...and not doing anything about it.

Rika added, with a blush, "Um, d-don't think that you didn't help me, or anything like that...it's thanks to all of my dear friends that I'm much happier now, actually...and... you especially, Satoko...you are always there for me, don't for a second think you're a bad person or anything..."

Satoko felt her cheeks grow hot, and Rika wasn't finished.

"I was...surprised when I saw you found the journal...and kinda scared...but also...a bit glad...the last one..." Rika shuffled her feet, blush deepening. "Was about you, Satoko...because...I...I like you...n-nipaah~" Rika made a cat paw pose with one hand, raising it near her cheek, beaming.

However, that smile twitched more than the buzzing wings of a cicada. That was endearing in it's own way, though... Satoko felt bad that she couldn't really enjoy it as her heart must have been beating 300 miles per hour at that moment.

"I...I understand if...it was weird or creepy though...m-mii...ehehe..."

Satoko hated her scared and sad sounding tone, and she grabbed Rika's hand with both of hers.

"No...! I don't think like that! I-I...liked the last one the most!" Satoko said, eyes shut tight. "I-I'm flattered you think that way...it was a very sweet poem, it means a lot to me that you actually think so highly of me, I-I..." She opened her eyes again and looked more determinedly at Rika. "Y-you should keep that confidence from before yourself, you know!?"

"S-Satoko..."

"I...I think I like you too! Rika...makes me...very happy! And is irreplaceable, and, and-"

Satoko felt Rika practically crash into her, hugging her tightly and burying her head in her shoulder. Satoko hugged her back, embarrassed, and felt an ache in her heart. She wouldn't mind staying like this forever...

"Hmm? Did something happen?"

Both Rika and Satoko jumped and squeaked, separating quickly. Hanyuu walked towards them with a bright big smile on her face, and you could almost see the question marks around her head...

"A-ah, Hanyuu, you're back...great to see you!" Satoko said, hoping Hanyuu wouldn't question why they were just hugging again. ''What would you like for dinner?''

After she asked that, Satoko felt Rika's hand on her shoulder.

''I'll make dinner tonight, since Satoko always works so hard. Nipah~!''

''R-Rika, you already did the shopping, you don't need...well...oh, alright...''

Rika beamed at her.

''Ah, well, you know, I'd really like cream puffs!'' Hanyuu replied to Satoko's question, eyes shining.

''I want spicy curry tonight!'' Rika smiled directly at Hanyuu, the most sinister smile imaginable.

As Hanyuu began to cry and go ''au au au,'' Satoko smiled at her apologetically. Hanyuu sulked, leaving for the bathroom.

"What did I even do wrong...?" She whimpered as she went.

Satoko felt a bit guilty, not like Hanyuu was trying to bust the mood, after all...she was like an innocent puppy walking in and like a kicked puppy leaving now, Satoko pondered...maybe she'll force Rika to give her some dessert, she'll surely listen to Satoko now, right~?

''Satoko...there was one more thing...''

''Huh? What Rika?'' Satoko snapped her head and attention back to Rika.

But the next thing she knew, Rika had quickly pressed her lips against her cheek, and then ran off towards the bathroom faster than Satoko could blink.

''S-sorry, Hanyuu, I need to go first!''

''H-huh, au au watch out-''

Crash.

Satoko stared on in bewilderment for a moment, but then she smiled and giggled, holding a hand to her cheek.

''Rika...''

She was certainly trying, but once again, she could work on the confidence.

A/N:

2018 update: I edited the original quite a bit. First off, I had written an actual original poem of Rika writing about Satoko that wasn't just a copy-pasted Bernkastel poem from the actual series, but...God it was so horrid, to the point where I don't understand how past me could have ever published that or thought it was half decent. It didn't even really sound like it could've been a Bernkastel poem, either...it was like a 12 year-old wrote it. (Haha, then maybe it would've still fit Rika in a way, huh?) But no seriously, it was a disgrace to humanity.

I decided to change the "I needed someone like her" poem to be about Satoko, adding her name on the page to give the clue that Rika was thinking of her. I think it's actually been confirmed (or at least strongly hinted) that it's actually about Rena, but shhh...it could totally work for Satoko too after all, fight me.

I added some bits and pieces and sentences here and there, but the biggest is that I added quite a bit more to the confession scene. Satoko's struggles with the popsicle are all new, as is Rika helping her clean it up and Satoko getting all shy from it. Added Rika saying nipah during the confession like a dork, the lines about confidence...also threw Hanyuu a bone (ha) and added Satoko being even more sympathetic and thinking about still letting her have cream puffs as dessert. Besides that I rewrote some things to be more grammatically correct or fixed some spelling errors or missing words, etc...

The "Um, d-don't think that you didn't help me, or anything like that..." line and others were also new and I was laughing at how much it sounded like the stereotypical "I-it's not like I like you, or anything, baka!" Wasn't intentional at first, but I guess somewhat tsundere Rika would be very interesting. But she'd only be indignant about Satoko ragging on herself, haha.

There's probably a few more but well, anyone who has read the original can maybe spot them if they have good memory. If any old timers come back to this story, I hope you can enjoy this updated version even more! Thanks for reading, new and old.