"Satsuki!" Ryuko called out.
Ryuko could see her sister in the distance but the closer she tries to get Satsuki the further away she seems. They were both children again and all the while Satsuki just stares at Ryuko with a look of disinterest. Suddenly a blinding light shines behind Satsuki causing Ryuko to stop in her tracks and shield her eyes.
"How juvenile," Satsuki said. "Your sentiments are admirable but ultimately useless."
Ryuko lowers her arm to see Satsuki. "I just wanted to see you again," Ryuko said with tears in her eyes.
Satsuki raised an eyebrow at that. "And what makes you think I want the same thing." The light then went out in a flash along with Satsuki leaving Ryuko alone.
"Satsuki?" Ryuko cried out. She was surrounded by darkness and her voice echoed. "Satsuki?!"
"Satsuki..." Ryuko whispered in her sleep, a small tear traveling down her cheek.
Ryuko was lying on her futon slowly waking up. Suddenly the bedroom door slid open to reveal a pug. Pale cream-colored fur with large Amber eyes and dark brown jowls. It was wearing a small ragged red hoodie that covered its ears. It barked, ran to Ryuko and immediately began licking her face.
"Eh! What the... stop it!" Ryuko shouted until finally grabbing the dog and holding it at arm's length. "Where the hell did you come?!" the dog only barked in reply.
"Oh no." A feminine voice said. Ryuko turns around and sees her foster mother, Sukuyo, standing in the doorway. Sukuyo was a slim woman who wore a pink dress with an apron over it, a light green jacket and a pair of white slippers. She had light brown hair, tied up in a bun and a rather thick fringe over her forehead, and friendly amber eyes. "You ruined the surprise." She said.
"Um, ma- mom, where did he come from?" Ryuko asked, still holding the dog at a distance.
"It's a she actually and I found her lost on the streets so I thought I'd bring her home," Sukuyo said.
"That's nice but... what if she already has a family? I mean where did she get this hoodie?" Ryuko said trying to sound as polite as possible.
Sukuyo gently takes the pug from Ryuko and pets her. "I put it on her. I got the hoodie from an old stuffed teddy bear that someone threw in the garbage. The poor pug was shaking like a leaf, so I took the hoodie off the bear and put it on her. I figured I could sew it up good as new once your father and I drop you off at school. If someone is looking for her, we'll take her back to her owner but until then she can stay with us. Besides, who wouldn't want this cutie." Sukuyo said holding up the pug to Ryuko. The girl just looks at the pug awkwardly. Then a ringing sound is heard, Ryuko looks at her alarm clock and the time is 7 AM.
Ryuko's eyes widen at this. "Oh crap!"
"Oh, perfect timing, now hurry up. Eat your breakfast and get dressed. School starts today." She puts the dog down on the floor.
After she quickly eats her breakfast, Ryuko grabs her school attire out of the dresser and gets to the bathroom to get changed. It consisted of a white sleeveless button up blouse, a navy colored pleated skirt, a tied up red ribbon around the neckline, and white sneakers. As she gets dressed she starts singing to herself, which she often did when she was alone.
"Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true ~"
Ryuko's therapist used to tell her that it was part of a coping mechanism and, even though she never admitted aloud, it really did help her sometimes. That song was the one her birth mother used to sing to Ryuko before her father died. She brushes her mid-length black hair that had a single left-swept red highlight on her bangs. She was in the middle of brushing her teeth when she hears the bathroom door knocking.
"Ryuko, hurry up in there." Her foster father, Barazō, said. "I really got use the bathroom." He was doing the 'I really need the bathroom' dance. Barazō is a tall, overweight man with a rather slick-back brown hair, thick eyebrows, and brown eyes. He was wearing a tan jacket with a white shirt and a black tie along with a pair of salmon color shorts with blue stripes, and a pair of white slippers.
"Okay, I'm almost done," Ryuko said with her mouth filled with toothpaste foam. She spits and opens the door for Barazo.
"Ah thank you," Barazo said, quickly closing the bathroom door once Ryuko stepped out.
Ryuko smiles at his antics. She then walks outside to see the sky clouded. While their house wasn't big or fabulous it was home. Small but functional and it had a flashing sign that promoted Barazō Mankanshoku's back alley doctor business. Ryuko finds Sukuyo with her backpack and jacket.
"I packed your lunch inside," Sukuyo said.
She hands Ryuko her backpack, then gives her a hug and Ryuko pats Sukuyo's back in return. Then Barazo comes barging out through the front door to the car which also had a promotion of his business on the side.
"Come on girls," Barazo said while starting the car.
Ryuko gets in the car not before hearing a barking sound and jumps. It was the pug sitting in the passenger's seat. Barazo doesn't seem to bat an eye at this but Ryuko looked rather annoyed.
"I guess the dog wants to join." Barazo jokes. He notices Ryuko's expression. "Oh come on Ryuko, she's not that bad."
Once Ryuko was settled in the middle seat between the driver and passenger seat, the pug jumps on her lap and quickly gets comfortable. Ryuko wasn't too happy about it at first but she decides to go with it and pets the dog lightly, in spite her drool. Sukuyo followed Ryuko into the car and sat in the passenger. As they rode for the high school, Ryuko became lost in thought as she looked out at nothing in particular. Luckily the school wasn't too far away.
"How about you name her, Ryuko," Sukuyo said. When no answer came, Sukuyo finally noticed her daughter's distress. "Ryuko, are you ok?" she places a hand on Ryuko's shoulder. The gentle touch broke Ryuko out of her thoughts and she looked to the side to see the concern look on her foster mother's face. "Are you ok?" Sukuyo repeated.
Ryuko put up a false smile, "I'm fine. I was just..." she began. "I had a bad dream last night but it's nothing to worry about. I know, let's see what's on the radio." She turns on the radio and a voice is heard.
"Breaking news today, local meteorologists are issuing a state warning today as an approaching storm cloud and large hail have been spotted going across eastern Japan." A man from the radio said. "No official reports of any funnels yet but we advise you to stand by in case of change-"
Ryuko quickly turns off the radio. "Never mind," Ryuko said.
"Ryuko that was serious," Sukuyo said sternly.
"And here we are," Barazo said, stopping the car.
Outside was the building of the Honnōji Highschool main office. Sukuyo opens the car door and steps out allowing Ryuko to step out two.
"Good luck Ryuko. Knock 'em dead." Barazo said from the driver's seat.
"Thank you si-dad," Ryuko said. She picks up the pug and places her back on the car seat as she climbs out.
Sukuyo hands Ryuko her black and white jacket. Ryuko puts on her jacket then proceeds with her pack. When all was done, Sukuyo again hugs Ryuko tighter than before.
"Good luck today Hon," Sukuyo says in Ryuko's ear. "Be brave, okay."
"I will," Ryuko said and smiles genuinely this time before Sukuyo releases her hold over the girl.
"And be sure to come home straight after school today. I didn't like that weather report." Sukuyo said looking Ryuko straight in the eye. "I don't care what that Uzu boy tells you. You stay safe okay."
"Okay, okay, I promise," Ryuko said with exaggeration.
The dog starts barking again, Sukuyo picks up the pug and holds her up to Ryuko.
"We just want you safe Ryuko," Sukuyo said with a high-pitched voice and moving the dog left and right. The act causes Ryuko to smile a little until the dog barks again and unintentionally spits on the girl's face.
"Okay... thanks for the help." Ryuko said walking away and muttering, "slobbering mutt" under her breath.
Sukuyo jumps back into the car with the pug in her arms. "We love you," Sukuyo said waving from the car window as it drives away.
Ryuko just stands at the bottom of the stairs and looks up at the building for a moment, Ryuko singing softly to herself.
"Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me~"
Ryuko's heart pounding in her ears, her fingers twitching until she takes a deep breath and she walks up the steps. She opens the door to see an empty hallway, doors to the administrators' office, a young man leaning against the wall across from her, and some stairs to the upper-. 'Wait what?' Ryuko thought to herself as she looks back at the man across from her.
"Hey, ya' cocky little bitch." The man said looking back at her. He had mid-length dark green hair and gray eyes. He wore a brown coat that was opened at the front, which showed his cadet-blue colored vest, long black pants, and black shoes.
Under any other circumstances, Ryuko would probably beat the living shit out of anyone who would say that to her but she simply smirks at her old friend, Uzu Sanageyama.
"Sup' dumbass" Ryuko said.
"Haha. You finally made it." Uzu said walking up to Ryuko. He slowly throws a fist at Ryuko but she quickly blocks it.
"Aw. You were waiting for me." She teased, throwing down his fist. "I'm touched. And what do you mean 'finally', I still got half an hour to kill."
"Yeah yeah and I'm glad about that too. I wanted to catch you before you got to class so you can meet someone." Uzu said.
"Catch me? You make it sound like I have no choice." Ryuko said jokingly but when Uzu flashed a guilty grin, her eyes widened. "Uzu?" she chided.
"Look if you don't want to, you don't have to but my other friend won't be too happy to find out they have to wait any longer," Uzu said.
"If he's anything like your other friends, I think he can take a little more disappointment in his life," Ryuko said, referring to the thugs Uzu used to surround himself with.
"Actually, it's a girl," Uzu said nonchalantly. "And she told me to bring you to her as soon as I find you. So now that you are here..." He holds his arm out for her to link with her own arm. Ryuko looks back at Uzu and his arm with a questioning look on her face. "Oh, come on Ryuko. You said so yourself that there's time to kill before class." Uzu said.
Ryuko sighs. "Okay but quickly," Ryuko said wrapping her arm around Uzu's. "I don't want to be late on the first day."
"That's the spirit," Uzu said.
They make their way through the halls, seeing a couple of students and faculty members along the way. Including a girl with very long blond hair styled in drill-like pigtails and spraying herself with some overpowering floral perfume, a middle-aged man with blue messy hair, with a bent back and an unsteady gait, and another man with a bright red mohawk dressed in a school security outfit.
"Can you tell me who we're going to see now?" Ryuko questions.
"Not yet." Uzu answered.
After a few minutes of walking, they stop at the door of one of the classrooms.
"Okay, here we are," Uzu said, releasing Ryuko's arm and stands between her and the door. "Now before I open that door, I should warn you about a couple of things first."
"Oooo... sounds exciting," Ryuko said sarcastically.
"This is serious. So... she's the student council president of this school and I kind of work for her." Uzu said. Ryuko raised an eyebrow at that. "You're looking at the Student Council Athletic Committee Chair." He said with a little pride in his voice but when he sees the impatient look on his friend's face, he moves on. "Anyway... a few days ago, I told her a little bit about you and, well, let's just say she took an interest in you. Now when you get in there try to stay calm; she can be pretty intimidating when you first meet her."
"Seriously?" Ryuko said in annoyance. "I've dealt with all kinds of shit in Japan. There's nothing you can show me in there that would surprise me."
Uzu paused. "Yeah... hold that thought." He opens the door and gestures Ryuko to step inside, which she does. "Her she is." Uzu calls out before closing the door behind Ryuko leaving her alone in the room.
The classroom was empty save for one person at the chalkboard with her back facing Ryuko. From what Ryuko tell, this woman looked like she was in her late teens just by height. She had dark blue tinted hair in a pageboy style. She was wearing a white long-sleeved button up blouse, a powder blue skirt that went down to her knees, and white heels. The woman didn't react to Uzu's call other than her shoulders hunching slightly.
Wanting to break the tension, Ryuko was the first to speak.
"So, Uzu said you wanted to meet me,"
"Yes," the woman replied softly almost to the point of a whisper.
"Well... I'm Ryuko Mankanshoku." Ryuko said but the woman still wouldn't turn around, this only annoyed Ryuko further. "So, are gonna turn around and face me or am I gonna have to come over there and force you?"
The woman the straitens up and takes a deep breath before finally turning around to face an impatient Ryuko.
"Hello Ryuko" the woman said.
When the woman looks at her, Ryuko could finally see her face and what she saw rocked her to the bone. The woman had an angular face, rather thick eyebrows, and piercing blue eyes that Ryuko had only seen one other time. Ryuko gasped in shock and recognition. This woman standing before her was none other than her long departed older sister, Satsuki. Ryuko just stood there frozen until she finally found the strength to speak again.
"Sa-sa-Satsuki?!" Ryuko stammered.
At saying her name lightning flashed outside the window, followed by thunder.
Satsuki puts up her hands in a defensive position. "Ryuko. Try to stay calm." Satsuki said, reassuringly. "Just let me explain."
Whatever Satsuki just said, Ryuko couldn't register. A storm warning siren could be heard thru the school. Satsuki takes a few careful steps towards Ryuko but Ryuko just bolted.
"Nope! I can't do this!" Ryuko said, quickly making her way to the door. When Ryuko opened the door, she saw a startled Uzu. He opened his mouth to speak but- "Shut up you bastard!" Ryuko runs past Uzu and thru the hall. "Leave me alone! All of you!"
As Ryuko ran she could hear Uzu calling out to her but she didn't stop. The only thing Ryuko could hear was the sound of the loud beeping from the speakers in the hall and her own heart pounding. She runs out the school doors and runs in the direction of her house. The sky was dark with a greenish hue, the wind blew, and a loud roar similar to a freight train was heard but still, Ryuko kept running thru the streets. Her own mind was clouded with mixed emotions; Anger, fear, sadness, and confusion.
'What the hell is wrong them?!' Ryuko thought as she ran blindly, somewhat unaware of the actions around her. 'Those assholes!'
A Little While Earlier
The lightning flashed and thunder crashed as some people from the neighborhood started heading for their respected storm bunkers and or basements. Back at the Mankanshoku house, Barazō and Sukuyo were packing boxes of food and other essentials and heading for their neighbor's bunker. Barazo had the last box and headed down the doors, clinging one hand on Sukuyo's as she held a bag of croquette ingredients around her other arm.
"I'm worried about Ryuko!" Sukuyo shouted over the commotion. "And I can't find the dog!"
"Don't worry honey!" Barazo shouted back. "She'll be safe at the school and we can look for the dog later!"
Without another word, the two went to the shelter just before a funnel came towards their house.
"And if Ryuko does get hurt, I'll sue the school board for everything they got." Barazo joked.
"Don't even joke about that!" Sukuyo said, pinching her husband's cheek.
"Ow ow ow." Barazo said in pain.
'Those assholes!'
The crashing sound of debris finally caught Ryuko's attention and she looked up to see a funnel forming in the sky not too far away from her. She then saw her house across the street, she quickly ran inside and slammed the door behind her.
"Mom! Dad! Guys!" Ryuko shouted but there was no answer. "GUYS!"
The house began to shake. Ryuko knew that she had to take cover but then she hears whimpering coming from the main room. As she got closer, Ryuko discovered the pug hiding in a laundry basket.
"You?!" Ryuko shouted. She grabs the dog. "What are you doing in here?!"
Suddenly, one of the wooden blanks that held the roof up snapped and fell on Ryuko's head. The pain made Ryuko disoriented and she collapsed on the floor unconscious.