Nakanaide-hen

Chapter 3 Silence.

Rika was eating her strawberry filled crêpe in silence together with Akasaka. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence: As a matter of fact the silence was very enjoyable. Only a few small birds picking around on the ground. The park was fairly clean and even if there was the smell of city there was also the smell of summer. Rika took a deep breath feeling that life, for ones, was pleasant and without worries. She had accepted that the guilt of leaving Satoko behind would most likely be with her for many years; maybe even her entire life. But Satoko would have wanted her to search for happiness wouldn't she? Rika shook her head trying to get the doubt away from her mind. Those images of what her best friend would have to go through; all alone. But were there are sad memories.

-"Rika-chan?" There are also happy ones.

-"Mi?"

-"I'm working a bit late tomorrow; but the day after that, what do you say we'll go to the beach. The weather will be wonderful then." Both of their attention was drawn to the sky above them where they could see some black clouds coming in.

-"Nipa. Well today doesn't seem like a good day for the beach." She blinked out in nowhere as she heard the sound of an umbrella being drawn up followed by the sound of rain drops dripping down on them. She turned her eyes from the now grey sky to Akasaka. "Mii…"

-"I just thought you wanted to finish your crêpe first."

-"That is very kind of you Akasaka-san."

-"Don't think about it."

-"Mii. Cats don't like rain." She said seemingly out of nowhere.

-"Cats?" He looked away from Rika seeing a white brown spotted cat hurry across the park. Getting shelter under a tree for a little moment trying to get the rain away. But for no avail and it had to continue to look for another place.

Cats don't like water. They can't shake it away from their fur in the same way dogs can. They can't forget about it so quickly. So being out in the rain; is the worst thing a cat knows and finding a temporary shelter isn't enough. Because eventually it will have to go out in the rain again. The drops stuck in the fur reminds it that it needs a place to come home to. So that someone will dry it of. Rika felt that she was that cat. Trying to run away from the Hinamizawa rain that cut stuck in her fur, and she couldn't get rid of it herself. She needed someone to dry her of; or better yet. Someone who would shelter her from the rain in the first place.

Rika heard the phone ring in the distance, someone answering it allowing her to sleep longer. The sun wasn't shinning in through the window, it was most likely raining. She sat up on her futon and yawned wondering how she was going to plan out school. She had to go to school; she wanted to have an education after all. She looked over at Miyukie who was sucking her thumb while sleeping. She smiled and patted the sleeping girl on the head. Today she had plans, or well, they had all planned to go to an amusement park, even if Miyukie couldn't go on must attractions Rika was still looking forward to it; she hadn't been to any real amusement park before after all.

She closed her eyes listening to the sound of pouring raindrops as she leaned against his arm.

-(It is raining. But the rain isn't falling on me.)

¤¤¤

The next day was Monday and Rika walked towards the entrance to the kindergarden. Miyukies hand in hers. She was happily chattering in what she was going to do at the kindergarden. Rika listened haphazardly, not because of lacking interest; rather because her head was among the clouds this very day.

-"Rika-oneechan?" Rika looked down at Miyukie seeing her big brown eyes blinking at her.

-"Hai, Nipa"

-"Can you come and pick me up later."

-"Won't Akasaka-san do that?"

-"Well……" Miyukie looked like she had something embarrassing to confess. "I just want Rika-oneechan to pick me up." At first Rikas eyes appeared distant, but she cheered up in the next moment.

-"Nipa! Of course."

¤¤¤

Rika has been living with us for a week now. She's been taking care of so many things, and life has gotten so much easier. But it feels wrong to use a guest, even a little girl, like that. It's not like she's a maid or something.

Akasaka smiled to himself while driving home from his work. The traffic wasn't heavy today so he was free at the moment so he could drive faster then during the usual traffic stock that Tokyo had. It still wasn't late and he would have time to get home, pick up Rika-chan, and then Miyukie from kindergarden. All in a good time frame. Suddenly in the blink of a moment he saw a figure in the middle of the street, standing still as the car was all too rapidly coming closer.

-"Mi"

-"Rika-chan!!" He hit the breaks as hard as he could making the car slide and before he knew it a car had hit him behind and he was knocked unconscious.

¤¤¤

Where is Akasaka-san? He should've been here to pick me up by now. I can see darkness climbing up the walls in front of my view. Yes, the sun is still shinning outside, but that won't stop the darkness from climbing up the walls on the inside.

I make my own prison.

Where is Akasaka-san?

Furude Rika.

I don't want to listen to you. Stop telling me your lies. I just, I just want to live a happy life. Why won't you let me seek happiness with these people? I care for these people and they make me happy.

From below-

Rika shut her eyes and let everything turn black hoping that it would block out the voice, but it didn't. Then, as if to break the trace on purpose, the phone called. Rika opened her eyes slowly and got up from the wall she had been sitting against and walked across the room to pick up the phone.

-"Akasaka residence. This is Rika speaking." Her cheerful tone was quickly removed when she heard Miyukies voice on the other end, so drenched in tears so that Rika could barely hear her words.

-"Da, daddy. Daddys gone! Rika-onechan, he, help me!!" Rika felt the phone slid out of her grasp and hit the floor.

-"Aka…saka-san…"

it devours.