Butterfly 1: Opening
Summary: She wanted a peaceful life, that was the reason she moved to Japan in the first place. But of course, in Ikebukuro, life is anything but peaceful, especially when she gets herself tangled in between two people known as the Most Dangerous. She doesn't know whether to laugh or to cry, really. Guess a peaceful life is not for her, after all. Shizuo/OC/Izaya.
Hello! As I have promised, this is a rewritten version of Butterfly. Most plot and dialogues will not change all that much, however I'd like to think that I have improvised. If you are old readers, tell me what you think about this new version!
This story is not a Self-Insert where the OC knows what the ever fuck will be happening around here. Not those rabid-fangirl getting thrown into the anime world yadda yadda yadda. None of the OC's past is based off of anybody either, and any significant similarities are merely coincidences.
Enjoy reading!
Her name is weird.
Or at the very least, weird when people hear it the first time around.
Farfalla.
In Italian, it means Butterfly.
Now, why her parents named her as such when she is in no way an Italian, well, people have weird naming sense once in awhile. Some people name others based off of famous people or beloved fictional characters, some names are based off of creativity alone. There are people here with weird names, like Selamat that literally translates to 'safe' or 'congratulations', even Natal which translates into 'Christmas' simply because that person is born on the 25th of December. Now combine Selamat with Natal and you get the literal translation of 'Merry Christmas'.
Strange name indeed.
With the knowledge that her name can be worse off than the literal meaning of Buterfly, she doesn't think her name is that weird.
Though perhaps the weirdness comes when it is combined with her family name: Hadiwidjaja. For such an... oriental name, so to speak, to be combined with an Italian word, many can argue that it is a weird combination indeed.
Her particular name aside, she likes to think of herself as perfectly normal, thank you very much.
Everyone has a special quality within themselves, one or two or perhaps more things that differ them from another. Within that perspective itself, it can be said that people are, in a way, all unique and different. Henceforth, where does the term 'normal' come from? How can someone say that one person is normal while the other is not? What is the quality that determines whether you are 'normal' and not? Perhaps it is a matter of perspective, norms, even culture. For a loud obnoxious person will be seen as strange within a conservative community while a silent, withdrawn person will be seen equally strange within the community full of outgoing people.
Within her own perspective, she is a very ordinary and normal person. Everyday, her new experiences changes something within her but at the same time, there are still parts of herself that will never change no matter what. An ordinary day coming after another and another, filled with mundane things that she can take pleasure in or grumble about how boring some things are.
She has the things she likes and things she dislikes, her own hobbies and ways to pass time, her preferences, the people that she likes, her morals and her line of thoughts. She has things she hates, experiences and memories she'd rather forget, people she dislikes and avoids, people she'd like to forget, things she will never do and many others.
They are all things that people generally have, therefore she is a normal person.
Perhaps her criteria in terms of 'normality' is a bit crooked, but she judges in accordance to how she likes to judge. If people have their own standards regarding normal or not, that in itself is not that much of a problem for her, for this is her life, her views, and her thoughts. She can listen to what people think but that doesn't mean they will change her mind so easily and vice versa. When she sets her mind into something, she won't be easily swayed.
Just like how her own parents, family, and friends cannot keep her from moving to Japan.
She wants a new life, a better one.
A new start, so to say.
She wants to be away from those seemingly unending attempts to change who she is, to keep her within the social circle that she cannot keep up with, to be seen along with her past mistakes and regrets, to be seen as tainted and broken and deserved of pity and she hates it. She hates, she hates, she hates, and she hates to the point of breaking, to the point where she is tempted to give up, to the point where she shakily gets back up because there will be no place for her if she gives up, there will be no changing if she gives up, so she cannot give up now. Not now.
And then, a person calls out to her.
If you want, why don't you come here?
She sees a chance, an opportunity, a way out no matter how small it is, and she takes it.
It's not exactly because she has friends there (internet friends are to be trusted with a grain of salt after all), but mostly because there will be no people she will know in such a personal level (except for, perhaps, her aforementioned internet friends, but even there are things she doesn't and will never tell them, her trust in them be damned), in a new place she can truly get the fresh start she hungers for.
She is not that naive to think that everything will be better and perfect once she gets into a new country. There will be hardships, she will face new problems there, and she knows that.
But a new start is a new start, and with that train of thought within her mind, she boards to Japan.
Ikebukuro is a commercial and entertainment district.
She figures that she can get a job there, with its many places that require employees. With her own researches online as well as the stories from her internet friends (who either reside in Ikebukuro or just has an unhealthy obsession with it, considering how much the place is discussed within the group chat), she decides to go to Ikebukuro.
There are many kinds of people in that district; not only Asians such as herself, but tourists from Europe and alike. She doesn't stick out like a sore thumb at all, and perhaps the people in this place, in this town, is so used with newcomers that they will accept her easily when she looks for a job.
That will be taken care of sometime later, for in a new place, adaptation takes first priority and she has enough money to perhaps last her a few weeks with careful usage of money before she has to really work for food.
And so, within her first day in Ikebukuro (her arrival doesn't count, for she was tired when she arrived and barely bothered to care to look around her surroundings when she had to clean her small apartment up), she sets herself to do some look-around. Though Ikebukuro is large in itself and perhaps she won't be able to really look at everything when the day ends, but at the very least she'll know where some things are and notes some places that look for new employees and what not.
Taking out her phone, she thumbs in her password and logs into a chatroom, noting that most of her internet friends are online as well.
Usagi has entered the chatroom.
As per expectation, it is the loud one that pounces on her first and foremost.
Kanra: USAGI-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
Kanra: You're back!
Kanra: Are you in Japan now?
Kanra: Hey, hey, you didn't say anything for THREE DAYS! Where were you?! I thought you died in a plane crash or somethin'!
Kanra: If you died, this chatroom will be shy one rabbit pet and that must be avoided at all costs!
Kanra: Can you imagine this chatroom without a rabbit pet!? What a catastrophe!
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, her lips curl upward in a small smile. Trust Kanra to be equally annoying and endearing at the same time, really. Leaning on the nearest brick wall, she settles with standing on the sidewalk as she replies to one of her internet friends, and in actuality, the one person who offers her to move to Ikebukuro in the first place.
Usagi: Yes, Kanra, I am back.
Usagi: I am, in fact, in Japan right now. Specifically, Ikebukuro. I was busy for the past few days packing, being in plane that totally didn't crash, unpacking, cleaning my apartment, and sleeping, so sorry that I couldn't be in this chatroom at all times, Your Highness.
Usagi: and are you saying that I'm your pet?
Her reply is immediate.
Kanra: Well, I didn't know, there could be plane crashes that happened and didn't get broadcasted yet! Or you could die being mugged while in your way to your apartment or you got run over by a truck
Kanra: Or got kidnapped by yakuza
Kanra: Or got kidnapped by the Headless Rider
Kanra: Or got crushed by a vending machine...
Kanra: Anything can happen in Ikebukuro!
Kanra: especially the vending machine
Kanra: flying vending machines are, like, a thing
Kanra: and yes of course, you're Usagi-chan! That explains everything!
Usagi: ...
Usagi: I have so many questions for all of the things you listed just now.
Usagi: But I have a feeling you won't answer so I'll just stay quiet
Kanra: Teehee!
Setton: How's your day in Ikebukuro so far, Usagi-san?
The interruption is not unwelcome, for Setton is arguably her first friend who resides in Japan, and she had already been chatting back and forth with them for months before she got invited to the group chat she now resides in. Setton was, and is, the person she feels at ease the most within the group chat. They're kind, calm, and in a way, caring. There were times before when she simply went to their side to tell her about her day when she was sad, and Setton didn't mind (or at the very least, they said that), they simply listened and offered encouraging words and/or advice.
They talked about lots of things, from Ikebukuro to the town Farfalla is from, many delicious foods and drinks, even bizarre things like ghosts, folktales, legends, and aliens.
Between the people within the group chat, she can say that she trusts Setton the most.
Usagi: It's soooo crowded! Kinda reminds me of Jakarta, to be honest. The crowd part, that is.
Usagi: I'm currently walking around the place for a little bit
Usagi: Any suggestions for places that I must visit?
Usagi: Like, for entertainment, where I can find cheap foods, and others...
Kanra: oh, oh, oH! Russian Sushi is the best place to find good sushi!
Kanra: and well, there are other famous places of course like Sunshine and others but you can find them on the internet!
Kanra: There are some cheap ramen stands, too, like Ichiraku...
Kanra: but for sushi it's definitely Russian Sushi!
Usagi: Russian... Are you pulling my leg?
Setton: No, there is really a sushi bar called Russian Sushi
Usagi: What. Seriously?
Setton: Yeah. I haven't really tasted it myself but people say the sushi there are good
Usagi: I think I'll give it a try, then
Kanra: You should! I love the sushi there!
Kanra: maybe we can even meet because of sushi~
Usagi: Heh, maybe.
Usagi: Where is this Russian Sushi located?
Receiving the instructions from the excited gossip queen, she sets out toward this... Russian Sushi. It's a strange name, but understandable when Setton explains how the chef is Russian, and wow, she doesn't expect to eat something so exotic (when she counts in the chef who is not Japanese) the first time she gets here. Yesterday was just... cup ramen. If the sushi is as good as Kanra and Setton said it to be, perhaps she can even be a regular, considering she likes sushi and its not too far location with her apartment.
Within around five minutes of walking, the Russian Sushi sign is visible to her, as clear as day.
The next thing that catches her eye, though, is the... big... huge man who is handing out flyers in front of the restaurant, a big smile on his face. The man's eyes catch her own and she has to suppress a startled squeak at the sudden eye contact. Considering that she is planning to get inside the restaurant, she braves herself to walk forward, albeit rather hesitantly. Gaping in front of a stranger (and gaping because of the stranger) is hardly a polite thing to do, especially when the stranger who is mostlikely a waiter is wearing such a friendly smile on his face, she smiles back a little bit.
"Ojou-chan!" The man's voice booms, waving one of the flyers in front of her, "come eat in Russian Sushi! Want to eat Sushi? Sushi good! Make you happy! You won't die if you eat just once!"
That's... a unique way to invite customers.
The last line is funny though, if a bit ominous, and she can't help but to let out a small giggle. He definitely didn't mean to make it sound like the sushi is poisoned, right? Judging from his accent and broken Japanese, she can safely assume that this person is perhaps a Russian, though maybe African-American? Hm, she's not too good in judging someone's race, and she doesn't want to offend, thus keeps her mouth shut about her own assumptions.
"Okay," she nods, "if I can get a table for one, Mr...?"
"The name's Simon Brezhnev!" The man's smile seems to get even bigger, "come in, come in! Sushi good!" He walks with her inside, greeting the person behind the counter. "Dennis! Sushi for the Ojou-chan!"
"Thank you, Simon," giving a polite bow at the man, who smiles and waves at her before going back outside to gather more customers, she settles her gaze toward the man, who is mostlikely the chef, named Dennis, who nods curtly at Simon's words. Farfalla shuffles her feet, sitting at the nearest empty seat and looks around, noting the calm and nice atmosphere within the restaurant.
Drumming her fingers on her thighs, the woman asks for low budget recommendations, receiving a twitch of lips from the rather stoic chef, who answers to her questions accordingly.
...Damn.
Kanra wasn't exaggerating. It is delicious.
"I believe," she starts as soon as she finishes her meal, "that you have just gained yourself a new regular, sir."
This time, the chef does let out a small smile of amusement, nodding pleasantly at her.
"Do come again."
Farfalla smiles.
"I will."
Paying for her food, Farfalla gives one last nod of acknowledgement along with a smile before she walks out, spotting Simon still giving out flyers to other people. Most runs away without even a glance back, others take the flyer with trembling hands, or gape at his big, intimidating look. Huh... People are scared of him? She did get intimidated at first glance, but she thinks that his kind eyes and smile actually dissipate most fear lurking inside of her, and after speaking to him for a little bit, she finds him as not all that scary.
Well. Not that she can scold all these people for judging Simon based on his looks only. Prejudice runs deep in any place within the world, and she thinks she herself has her own set of prejudices.
Shrugging, she decides to stop mulling about it. She'll return here anyway, the sushi is good and there are cheap ones around.
"Ojou-chan!" Simon greets her, having spotting her walking out of the restaurant. Farfalla blinks in surprise, not exactly expecting to be called out. The man smies, waving the flyer at her, "Did you eat well? Sushi good?"
Blinking, her shoulders relax as she smiles. "Yeah, it was good. Thank you, Simon." And after a few moment of hesitation, adds. "And you can call me Farfalla, I don't mind."
His eyes lighten upon the reveal of her name, "Farfalla! Butterfly, yes? Italian!"
She nods, still smiling. "Only the name though, I'm sure you noticed."
The man smiles, and she waves at him as she walks away.
Welp.
Guess she just gains a friend.
Usagi: So
Usagi: I just ate Russian Sushi
Kanra: Aaaand? It's good, right?!
Usagi: It is
Usagi: the waiter is really nice, too
Setton: Ah, the big man?
Usagi: Yeah
Usagi: I think I'm going to be a regular there
Kanra: See! It's good! You have to thank me for that, Usagi-chan, by telling me one of your most embarrassing secret!
Usagi: sure
Usagi: I am, apparently, not wearing any underwear right now
Setton: ...
Setton: You're joking, right?
Usagi: I am.
Usagi: Were you worried, Setton-san?
Setton: A little bit.
Kanra: USAGI-CHAAAANNNNN
Kanra: HOW COULD YOU
Kanra: I BELIEVED IN YOU
Usagi: Pfft. Yeah, right.
Usagi: Anyway
Usagi: Thank you for the recommendation, you guys.
Usagi: I'm gonna do my own exploring now. I'll chat you guys later.
Kanra: Sure! I am still waiting for your embarrassing secret!
Usagi: Over my dead body.
Setton: Have a good day!
Usagi: Thank you, Setton-san!
Usagi: Well, then. I'm off.
- Usagi just left the chatroom -
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- Tanaka Taro has entered the chatroom -
Rewritten: 10/1/2017
Review please?