Chapter 5

SATOKO POV

[Evening]

Our last destination for the day, the public park. It was the perfect time of day where there was barely anyone around. The perfect time for a one-on-one chat.

"I'm so sorry that had just happened there. I could imagine that you were very scared in that moment. I should've known sooner that he would be back soon."

"That's fine, Rika. Besides, I could stand my own ground there. It's just like you told me in a dream once, this is what my Nii-nii wants me to be: strong and independent. I've learned that from you, Rika."

"Huh?"

"Eh, it's alright, it can be sort of hard to understand. Although, I'm not sure if it felt like a dream, it almost felt real."

Rika smirked at my remark. I don't know why, she might've realised something that I didn't.

"No no, I get it. You had a bad dream, is all. Yet the fact you were able to learn from that 'dream'; I'm proud of you for that. Really."

I couldn't help but feel flattered from that statement.

"I bet your Nii-nii would be proud of you."

"You think?"

"Absolutely! You stood up to your own uncle. That was something that Satoshi did for you."

"You're right, Rika."

It surely was a huge realisation that I had become stronger, strong enough to go up against my uncle. I really should be proud.

"Anyway, Rika, why did you bring me all the way out here?"

"Meep." Rika seemed to hesitate. "There's something that I want to tell you."

There was a long pause as she tried to choose the right words to say to me. Then, she started to speak to me in such a mannerly and elegant voice.

"Satoko. Of all my years of living, I hadn't seriously considered a relationship. You might not believe this, but I've been living for over 100 years. In those years, I've struggled through and through to reach my happy ending. It took a lot of courage, blood, sweat and tears, but now I have finally found a world where I've found my perfect ending.

"During those 100 years, however, there was one person who was there to look out for me the most." I noticed Rika drawing in closer to me.

"It was you, Satoko. Every 1983, I've enjoyed them immensely with you. I might go as far as to say they were my favourite moments in life. Sure, I already had other friends like Mion and Hanyuu before then, but I've never really met anyone like you. I love you so much because you can find a way to make anyone happy simply with your cute cheekiness. You radiate an aura of pure joy whenever we go out together.

"Yet, I know of the burdening life that you had to endure too. It's not only because I want to protect you for being the reason that I want us to be together; I see a strong woman under that little guise of yours who will be the best person I could ever wish for later on in life. You're quick to learn and that's something I really like about you.

"Another thing, however, I just love you for being the cutest person I could meet. Perhaps not Rena levels of cute, but just enough that I want to be beside you as much as I want to. I want to be the one to live my whole life with you, and in return, I want you to live with me for the rest of our lives."

I couldn't believe my ears. Rika was basically confessing to me, but she did it in a way to completely captivate me in her view of me. She could describe pretty well who I was under the façade of 11-year-old me while admitting to being captivated by my charms. It really did seem like she knew me for over 100 years.

At this point, I had to say something. "I must admit Rika. I've only known you for a few years, but I do feel like my feelings for you are starting to get more intimate. At first, I thought I was overreacting, but now I'm deciding that my feelings for you are true. Rika, you were one of the first people apart from my brother to look out for me. You became my best friend from that point forward.

"I suppose somewhere along the way, I also might've developed a desire to stick with you for a while, perhaps even for the rest of my life. Not only were you the bestest friend that I could ever wish for, but you were a great partner to be with in any adventures or activities we've ever had. I really did have fun teaming up with you playing all those club games, going shopping and most of all, just relaxing side-by-side with you in the comfort of our home.

"I must've went to extreme lengths to say this just now, but I also love you, Rika. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to be the best partner a girl like you could ever wish for."

"Satoko..."

Tears, rolling down each of our faces. ...We just confessed our love for one another. It was certainly a breathtaking moment. I felt my heart racing, and I was standing around, not knowing what to do at this point. Rika probably felt the same, but at that point, only someone as experienced as her could've thought about something that instant.

She leaned in closer, making me press up against a tree, and...

A kiss. A real one. Right on the lips. Right when she wrapped her arms around me, pulling herself in closer. I shortly wrapped my arms around her too. It was such a blissful sensation.

It was at that moment that I knew, this was it. This is the moment from where we will start living our lives, together forever. Lovers in Hinamizawa. But, as occasionally cheeky as we can be, we were still Rascals at Heart.

We kissed until evening that day, listening to the cries of the Higurashi...