2. Chapter 2: Expectancy

Chapter 2: Expectancy

Part A

"C'mon!" Mion spoke in a condescending manner. She laughed at Rena. She laughed at the pitiful state she was in. "It all comes down to this! You want to end up like the others? Hahahahaha…."

Rena gripped the cards in her hand tightly. It was do or die! She had to make her move now!

"Go on…I'm waiting! Hahaha!"

Rena appeared conflicted. I sensed the struggle that she was feeling inside. She was afraid. She had to make her move though! Mion had to be defeated!

Rena slammed her card down on the desk. The fear I had seen a mere few seconds ago was killed by Rena's triumphant smirk. Mion looked at the card she placed down. She was done for! Mion had no other defenses left! She had no more moves to make! She was finished!

"I fold…" Mion said with a long and terrible sigh.

Rena jumped from her seat and bounced up and down in joy. I was a little disappointed that I lost, even with the foresight that I had, but I preferred it this way actually. I enjoyed seeing Rena so carefree and happy. Even if it meant that I had to suffer her punishment game again, it was well worth it.

"Tch! That was awesome, Rena!" Keiichi-kun winked at her. "I'm impressed!"

"Gaaaaah!" Satoko-chan shook her head violently. "This isn't possible! You had the crappiest class! How did you beat us like that? You're cheating! You're cheating!"

"Shut up, Satoko!" Keiichi shoved her arm. "I saw you sneak some backup cards when it was your turn to draw! You drew three cards when you were only supposed to draw one!"

"Yeah, but…! But…!"

"Mii!" I smiled at Rena. I clapped my hands together. "Pachi pachi! Rena defeated all of us honorably! Good job!"

Mion sighed again and rubbed her temple. "Yeah, yeah…great job…you were wonderful, fantastic…and all that garbage…"

"Ah, Mion!" Keiichi-kun patted her head. "Don't be such a sore loser! Rena beat you fair and square! Shouldn't you respect Rena's keen planning and skill? I think she deserves it! Hehe!"

Mion rose from her seat and bowed her head to Rena. "I'm sorry, Rena. Please forgive my childishness. You really are something else to have beaten me like that! For that, I bestow upon you the greatest honor anyone could receive from me and that is my respect and my admiration!" Mion knelt before her and held her hand. "You clearly are a worthy opponent!"

Rena laughed and patted her hand. "It was a good game! You put up quite a fight!"

We were playing that card game I foresaw, the fantasy one. We had to choose a character class, ranging from a knight, a sorcerer, a thief, a priest, or a member of a royal family. Each class, the character role, was limited to what kind of cards they could use and what statistics they had.

I could have won. I knew every move that everyone was going to make. I should have known, since I've been watching this same game play out for at least a whole year in this loop. I chose not to grasp victory though. I found no sense in it. Besides, I already won the club activity the day before and received my small piece of happiness. It was Rena's turn this time.

After our game, Rena proceeded to carry out the punishment game. She had us all dress in ridiculous outfits and parade around Hinamizawa with her, the temporary leader of our band of psychos and misfits. Satoko and I were luckiest of all. Our outfits weren't too bad. I had to wear a penguin costume and suck on a pacifier. Mion and Keiichi…they weren't so fortunate…much like in the punishment game I made them play!

We went to 7th Mart and bought some ingredients for dinner. Rena grabbed a couple things for herself and for her father. Satoko and I took a few things for ourselves. Mion and Keiichi, however, had to endure the wandering eyes that ran up and down their exposed bodies. I felt so bad for them! Actually…to be truthful…I didn't!

Time passed on and it was the moment when we had to depart from each other. Rena went off by herself, while Mion and Keiichi went to the Sonozaki House. It was just Satoko and I now.

We were walking along the road to our house. The setting sun was shining down over us. Everything was an enchanting orange red. The sounds that surrounded us were less than pleasant. The eternal sound of the cicadas…I could still hear them crying even then…they were still weeping.

"Rika, so what do you think of that weird cop we met this morning?"

"Hanzaemon-san?" I took the pacifier out of my mouth. Hanzaemon's goofy smile popped up in my mind. "I think he was funny!"

"There's something about that guy I don't like!" Satoko lips shrunk. She looked as if she was eating something that was sour. "I mean, he knocked you down and hurt you!"

"Haha! I'm fine! He didn't hurt me!"

"Are you sure? Because we could go to Okinomiya sometime and tell on him! Akasaka can punish him!"

I shook my head. "I like Hanzaemon-san!"

"How? We just met him!"

"I don't know."

I knew him very well after this year I spent. I saw how kind he was to everyone and how much of good friend he was to Akasaka. He may have had a bad reputation as the harbinger of bad news, in all the worlds Hanyuu and I saw him in, but it wasn't his fault! Somebody had to do that job! It was better that he had that duty though! He told us everything when the time was right! If he kept secrets from us, I'm sure we would be off a lot worse than we were now!

"There's something warm about him…something bright and honest!" I closed my eyes and my smile grew. "I could tell! I saw it in his eyes! Hanzaemon's a really nice man, though he's a little silly!"

Satoko watched me for a few seconds. Suspicion filled her eyes. "Why are you talking like that, Rika? Are you feeling funny or something?"

"Hmm? No! I'm feeling great! See?" I raised the flippers of my penguin costume and wiggled them. I meowed like a cat. "I'm a penguin kitty! Meow! Meow!"

Satoko just shrugged and readjusted the grocery bags in her hands.

It was quiet between us for a little while.

"Rika?"

"Yes, Satoko?"

"If there's anything you want to talk to me about…" Satoko looked at me with a warm smile. "…you can! Just say the word! I can help you with anything!"

If only it were that easy.

"Thank you, Satoko, but nothing's wrong! I'm fine, really!"

She was dissatisfied with my answer, but she reluctantly accepted it.

I wanted to tell my friends about everything. I wanted to tell them everything about the Keima Clan, Kami Ousama, demons, the Onigari-no-Ryuo, and TOKYO, but they'd never believe me. They'd call me crazy and ignore me. They'd think I was playing another game with them.

I could tell them about TOKYO. They would believe that, after all we had been through with Takano, but to hear about them involved in a secret cult that dealt with demons? They wouldn't buy any of that, not at this moment anyway! I would have to gather evidence to prove this! I needed Akasaka's help for that! I needed to break everything to them slowly and methodically!

As for my friends, as much as it pained me to admit it, they were of no use right now. It would be better if they went about their days blissfully unaware. I would worry about everything now. When the time was right, and when I had the proof that I needed about everything, then I could get them to help me! Until that time, I would have to leave them out of the loop. I promised that there would be no more secrets between all of us…but it was something that I had to break. I couldn't afford to lose before the game had even begun!

After dinner, we brushed our teeth and went to bed…namely, Satoko went to bed. I sat on the window sill, hugging my knees. I was looking up at the moon. Hanyuu told me how Akasaka, when she peered into his heart, would tell his daughter stories about its mystic power. It had the power to chase away any Dark Creatures of the night. If the moon's light could erase demons from Hinamizawa and cleanse the sins of this loop's year, then I'd believe in the story. I was too old, in my one hundred years of age, to believe in any of that fairytale nonsense. Though…what I would give to be able to be that young again. To be mentally free of worry, fear, and sin. I wanted to be that young again…

_"Rika? Are you okay"_ My ghostly friend appeared next to me. She sat on the other end of the window sill.

I didn't answer. I continued to gaze up at the moon.

_"Rika…please answer me…I'm worried about you!"_

"Leave me alone…" I hugged my legs tighter. "I'm no mood right now…"

_"You were so confident this morning though! Where did all that go? You were almost excited to see Hanzaemon Takuma! We never saw him greet us that early in a world before!"_

"I know that…but I'm still unsure of what world this could be. I don't know what could happen…"

Hanyuu looked out the window. She was looking over Hinamizawa.

_"To me…this seems a lot like the world where Mion killed us."_

"Which world though? The one where she committed suicide or-?"

_"The one where Rena killed her with my daughter's sword."_

Oh…this one…

"I remember the card game very well…but…I thought that we were in another world at the time. I was hoping…we'd be in Shion's world…the one where the Great Fire occurred…"

_"Is that why you're upset, Rika?"_

I sighed. "I just…want to save Shion. She's the only one…she needs us and…this isn't even her world!"

_"There must be something we could do! We have to help her somehow!" _Hanyuu held her hands up to her chin. She squirmed in her seat and made those same noises.

"Will you stop that? You're making me nervous!" I said harshly.

_"Auu~! I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to…I'm so-!"_

"And stop apologizing, dammit! How many times do I have to tell you to stop saying that! You're pissing me off!"

Hanyuu looked down at her lap. I heard her whimpering.

I rolled my eyes. "Hanyuu…look, I'm sorry I yelled at you. I'm frustrated…you understand that, don't you? This could be our final chance…you know how much pressure that is?"

Hanyuu didn't look up.

"Hanyuu…look at me."

I scooted next to her. I touched her leg. I truly…really touched her.

I felt the warmth of her body through her robes. I felt the love and tenderness through her warmth. It made me feel guilty. Hanyuu didn't do anything wrong. She was only trying to help me and encourage me, and I yelled at her for it.

"Hanyuu…please look at me." I squeezed her leg.

Hanyuu slowly lifted her head. Tears were streaming down her face.

"Hanyuu…"

_"I'm sorry…I can't stop saying that…but I'm sorry!" _She shook her head at me. _"Do you know how helpless I am now? Do you know how useless I feel? I can't even do anything to help you! I'm stuck in this form and I can't lift a finger to stop this force that's been hindering you! That's why I'm sorry! And you know what? I can't help it! I'm sorry!_

_ "It hurts me…it kills me to see you so down! It kills me to see my friends…Mion…Keiichi…Satoko…Shion…and Rena…all putting up with this sorrow and they don't even know what's happening! I can't tell them! I can't save them anymore! I can't do a blasted thing! How am I useful to you, Rika? I'm not! I can't do anything at all! I can't save the ones I love! I can't save you! I can't…I can't…! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry…!_

_ "I just…I can't stand living like this! I can't stand being like this! I'm tired of crying…apologizing…everything! I'm sick of everything! I just want to smile again! I want to smile…and laugh…and be with all of you…! I want to play with you all again…to suffer those punishment games…to just be with you!"_

Hanyuu covered her face and sobbed louder. Her body shook and she flinched under my touch.

"_I just want to smile again…! I want to…!"_

I held Hanyuu's shoulders and pulled her into me. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her hard. Her cracked horn rubbed against the side of my head. I was careful not to damage it any further. It was odd how I could feel her, but I didn't care. As long as I could hold her and comfort her, I was satisfied. I didn't want to question it. I rubbed her back and laid my chin on her shoulder.

"Hanyuu…I shouldn't have yelled at you. I understand how you feel. I'm helpless as well."

_"…Rika…!"_

"I know how lonely you are…how much you want to interact with us. I'm the only friend you can talk to…who you can share your feelings with. I didn't mean to hurt you…I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm just really…really scared…"

_"You're scared?"_ Hanyuu said in between her whimpering. _"How are you scared? You don't seem that way!"_

"Believe me, I am. I'm more afraid than you know! Sometimes I even doubt myself! But that's not the right attitude…! I should have faith…like Keiichi always said…like you all taught me to have!"

_"…You learned a lot from that young man…haven't you? He's that special to you?"_

I was silent.

_"Do you love him too?"_

"…It's complicated. I respect him for all that he's done for me and for everyone, nothing more. Leave it at that."

_"…He gives you hope…he's one of people that gives you hope."_ Hanyuu slowly put her arms around me. Her tiny hands stroked my back. _"Every person is special…I get it…"_

"In order to succeed…we all to need be by each other's side…we need to stand ready…but to do that…we need to know all of our adversaries…"

_"Rika…this world," _Hanyuu pulled her head back to see me. _"This is the world where it all began…when the feud began!"_

I titled my head.

_"Satoko and Mion…this is the world where their fight started!"_

In all of the worlds, there was one major reoccurring theme: the fight between Satoko and Mion. Satoko discovered Mion's true feelings towards Keiichi and teased her. Mion took it as a threat and physically hurt Satoko. It was there that Mion's insecurities formed that demon within her. That demon made her commit that awful sin. Satoko and Mion forgave each other, but…Mion's insecurities returned.

Mion kept falling. Despite the forgiveness she received and the new bond she formed with Satoko, she still fell to her demon. Her jealousy, paranoia, and lust fueled the flames of her fury and she unleashed it upon all of us. In this world, where Rena had defeated her own monster, Mion came so close to her prize. She was going to share her love with Keiichi, albeit in the form of Shion, but Rena stopped her.

_"This is where it all began, Rika! And…"_ Hanyuu's tears continued to flow. _"It starts tomorrow!"_

That's right…it was the day after the card game where Satoko discovered Mion's feelings! Tomorrow would be the day when it all began! But wait…

"Hanyuu…!"

_"What is it?"_

"…In this world…Mion murders Satoko and I…and Shion is later killed, right? Mion takes her place and tries to seduce Keiichi, but Rena uses the Onigari-no-Ryuo to stop her!"

Hanyuu was catching on to my meaning.

"If Mion was killed by the sword in that world…then her demon is gone! Rena over came her demon too! We talked about that before, didn't we?"

I saw a tiny smile forming on her face. _"Then…there won't be a fight? Is that really for certain?"_

"That's the thing…I'm not sure yet!" I let go of Hanyuu and peered out the window. I looked up at the moon again. "We still need to be prepared for anything! If our theory about the death of Mion's demon is correct, that's one issue we don't have to worry about! If the demon is still there…I don't know what the hell we're going to do…!"

_"We need to fight it! We can worry about everything else later! Our first goal is to stop Mion if her demon is still alive!"_

We had to stop Mion from hurting Satoko. We had to quell the demon inside of her, just in case! The sword's power should have worked, but we couldn't be too careful! Everything hung in the balance! One mistake and we'd be finished…as I constantly feared!

The next school day arrived. I was at my desk, tapping my finger nail against the wood and tapping my foot against the floor. I was growing impatient! Mion and Rena hadn't come in yet! If we were going to fight a demon today, I wanted to do it now! I couldn't bear to sit here and let another moment pass when Satoko could be in danger!

"You look nervous, Rika!" Satoko stood at my desk. She folded her arms and looked down at me with one eye open. "Something bugging you?"

"Hmm? Me? No! I'm just a little jittery! I wonder what game Mii has in store for us today!"

"Ohhhhhh, I see! You just don't want to get stuck in another penguin costume! Oh ho ho ho!" Satoko smirked at me. "Well, we won't have to worry about that! You and me are gonna team up! We're gonna stick it to Keiichi-san, Mion-san, and Rena-san with one fell swoop! We're gonna win today!"

"…I hope we'll win…" I muttered.

"Yo, Rika-chan! Satoko-chan!" Mion saluted us as she walked in. She took her seat and folded her arms behind her head.

"Good morning, you two!" Rena was smiling. "Do you both sleep well?"

"Yeah!" Satoko ran her eyes up and down the two girls, but something had struck her. "Hey…where's Keiichi-san? Doesn't he always come in with you two?"

That's right! I had completely forgotten! This is the period when Keiichi left for Tokyo!

"He's gone to Tokyo for a few days," Mion answered Satoko. She seemed rather down. "And I was looking forward to kicking his ass in today's activity too! Ah well…guess that'll just have to wait!"

"He's so selfish!" Satoko folded her arms. "Doesn't he realize that we have a need to humiliate him on a daily basis? This just throws off our ritual!"

I could only smile. "Well, I wish him the best! Keiichi will be back soon, right? We can make up for lost time when he returns!"

Rena nodded. "I can't wait! It'll be so much fun! It isn't the same without Keiichi-kun!"

Rena appeared different this time. In the other worlds, I could sense her own insecurities, namely, her feelings for Keiichi. She was always on edge and would grow uncomfortable when the topic of love came up. This time, she was very calm and relaxed! She was even smiling genuinely! Never once did she make me question her! Was this the result of her defeating her demon?

Chie began class as always. I ignored her lecture for the most part. I spent most of my time looking at Mion as discreetly as I could. I saw her drawing in her notebook. There was a peculiar smile across her lips and a dazed look in her eyes. Was that a heart I saw her drawing?

She was writing her name and Keiichi's name within the heart. She was drawing tiny caricatures to go along with them too. It made me want to puke. I should've wasted my time listening to Chie's pointless lecture than watch this crap! There's nothing more repulsive than a teenager in love!

It was time for lunch. It would be time soon! I kept a close watch on Mion and Satoko during our break. I didn't eat much of anything. I could only watch them. They were all I cared about! Nothing else mattered to me! I couldn't let Mion attack her!

"Gimme that!" Satoko speared a piece of steak from Rena's lunchbox. "Ahhhhh! You make a mean steak, Rena-san! You're incredible!"

"Ahaha! I try!" Rena replied with a content smile.

"I mean it! This is really good! You should go professional! You should make your own recipe book and sell it in stores!"

"Me? An author of a cook book?" Rena shifted her eyes up to the ceiling. She was having a daydream. I could tell because her face was growing cherry red. "Hauuuuuuu…"

Mion looked at her. "Eh? What's with you? Don't tell me you think cook books are cute now!"

"Hauuuu…! Me…in that white apron…with that poofy chef's hat! HAU!" Rena's eyes sparkled and she flailed her arms around.

"You want to be a chef?" Mion held her chin. "That…would be pretty nice, I guess!"

"I'd love it if that happened!" Satoko snickered. "Rena could make us free breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for life! She'd get so many endorsements that she'd be rich! She could support us all!"

"I don't think that's it, Satoko." Mion grinned. "Rena's not that ambitious! I hate to shatter your dreams, but she doesn't want to be a chef! She just wants those clothes!"

Rena stood up and hugged herself. "I want the hat! I want the hat! Hauuuu! I want to take it home with meeeee!"

Typical Rena. No matter how many times I saw her activate her "Cute Mode," I highly enjoyed it!

Satoko got up from her chair suddenly. "I gotta use the bathroom real quick! Be right back!"

"Take your time!" Mion snickered.

"Mii-chan!" Rena snapped out of the trance. "That's disgusting!"

Satoko laughed and ran off.

This was it! This was the moment where everything would go awry! This was my chance to change the future! I had to do this delicately! I had to be very careful!

Mion turned to Rena. I saw her mouth move, but I couldn't hear her voice. She must have been whispering to Rena about her plans to confess her feelings to Keiichi. Rena nodded to her and even encouraged her! I couldn't believe it! It was a complete transformation from the Rena Hanyuu and I saw in that world! She wasn't nervous, envious, or hurt at all!

I broke myself from my thoughts. I spotted Mion's notebook. Satoko would come back at any moment and overhear their conversation! She'd snatch the notebook and see Mion's drawings! She'd make fun of her for it! That would enrage Mion! I had to get that notebook!

"Um, Mii?" I spoke very sweetly.

"Huh?" Mion halted her discussion with Rena. "What?"

"I couldn't quite understand what Chie-sensei was saying today in her lecture! You take good notes, right? May I borrow your notebook?"

Mion blushed furiously. "Huh? W-Why would you want my notebook? I-I-I-I'm a bad note taker! A-A-Ask R-Rena for hers!"

"Please, Mii? I trust you!" I tilted my head and squeaked.

"I-I…I…uh…erm…"

"Please, Mii? Pretty please?"

Mion scratched at her cheek. She shifted around in her seat and didn't look me in the eye.

Just give me the damn book already! I don't care what the hell you drew in it!

"Why can't you give Rika the notebook, Mion-san?"

"Ah!"

Satoko was standing behind Mion. Her arms were crossed.

"S-Satoko! I thought you went to the bathroom!" Mion stammered as she tried to regain her cool.

"It was occupied, so I have to wait. So, Mion-san, why won't you let Rika borrow your notebook?"

"I-I-I'm bad at taking notes! Kei-chan and Rena take the best ones! Besides! My handwriting is terrible! Nobody can read it! Ahahaha!"

"Hmph!" Satoko turned to Rena now. "Rena-san, is that true?"

A drop of sweat dripped from Rena's bangs. "Mii-chan does have a problem with her handwriting! I borrowed her notes the other day and I couldn't even read it! It was like I was reading some foreign language! Ahaha!"

Mion jabbed her elbow in Rena's side.

"Ow! What was that for? I'm helping you!"

"You don't have to do it so well…"

Satoko blinked at the two of them for a moment. "Oh…I see. It can't be helped, I guess."

Satoko took a step toward her seat. However, she immediately whipped around and seized Mion's notebook! Dammit! I should've just grabbed it myself!

"Hey! What're you doing?" Mion yelled at her.

"I wanna know what you're hiding from Rika and me! And I saw that you were doodling something in here during class! You can't hide anything from me!" She flipped through the notebook.

"Stop it, Satoko!" I raised my voice. I was about to hit her myself!

"Just give me a…wait…what the hell is this?" Satoko examined that one certain page very closely for a solid minute. "Oh…you gotta be kidding me!"

Mion sunk in her chair. Rena held her shoulders and massaged them. She was grimacing.

Satoko looked at Mion with a serious look on her face. "Is…this true…Mion-san?"

I had reached out my hand to snatch the notebook, but my body stopped moving for some reason.

"…I…I uh…" Mion still couldn't speak.

"Do you…like Keiichi-san?"

Why wasn't Satoko laughing at her? Why wasn't she making fun of her? What was going on?

Mion heaved a heavy sigh. She held her face in her hands. "…I do. I like him…"

"Is that so?" Satoko looked down at the book again. She traced her finger over the heart and the caricatures. Her lips curled up into a smile. It wasn't a condescending grin! It had no dark feelings behind it!

Satoko placed the notebook on Mion's desk. She smiled brightly at her. "I wish you the best of luck with him then!"

Mion raised her head to see her. Her eyes were widened.

"Satoko…?"

"Don't expect too much from him though! Keiichi-san's an idiot when it comes to girls! He doesn't know how they work! So you have to put a little more effort into your confession, okay? You have to go a little more than halfway to get to him!"

Mion looked down at the notebook. She stared at her doodles.

"And Mion-san." Satoko touched her hand. "If you ever need help telling him, let me know! I can steer Keiichi-san in the right direction! He's my Nii-Nii! I can make him do whatever I want! Oh ho ho ho ho ho! He's powerless against my charms!"

Mion's face returned back to its usual color. She was smiling happily to herself. Her trembling ceased and her muscles relaxed.

"Satoko…thank you…!"

Satoko let go of her and took her seat. "Now! Rena-san! What else have you made for us on this fine day! Oh ho ho ho!"

I couldn't believe it…I just couldn't believe it! Rena was stunned as much as I was! Was this really happening? It had to be! I wasn't dreaming! This was real!

Satoko was a prankster. She got a thrill by pulling tricks on people, especially on her friends. She loved teasing Keiichi most of all. This time, however, she was contained! She didn't take a shot at Mion or try to humiliate her! She didn't do anything to engage her!

This…this was too good to be true! This moment…it was just like the time when Keiichi had given Mion that doll! It meant even more than that! It not only showed that Satoko was growing up, but it meant that we did, indeed, have our chance!

"Um, excuse me for a minute." I got up from my seat. "My tummy's rumbling!"

"Huh…hey, wait!" Satoko raised her fist to me. "I had that bathroom first! You can't just take it like that!"

I stuck my tongue out at her and hopped out the door.

I sprinted down the hall. I found myself outside of the school. My feet carried me to the playground, where I just stood there staring at the ground with fists clenched. I couldn't get that event out of my mind! It seemed too much like a dream!

"Hanyuu!" I ran around the field as I looked for her. "Hanyuu! Hanyuu, where are you?"

She appeared by the window. A rare smile was on her face! Did she…?

_"Rika! I just saw! I just saw it!"_

I came over to the window where she was. I took a peek through it. Satoko was talking to Rena and Mion. I picked up Keiichi's name as Satoko spoke as I read her lips. They were talking about Mion's confession! They were so open about it! They were so open about her feelings! It wasn't a secret anymore!

_"Satoko didn't hurt Mion! She respected her feelings and even encouraged her! Hau auu~! This is amazing!"_

It was…it truly was…amazing…

_"This gets even better! Satoko's words gave me the chance to look into Mion's heart! I didn't feel the demonic presence from her! It's gone! It's really gone! Mion is saved too!"_

So even Mion too…she's saved.

_"This is our first victory in so long, Rika! You should be happy!"_

I placed my hand on the glass. I watched Satoko, Rena, and Mion laughing. They were smiling, laughing, and I could sense the strengthened bonds between them! Their love for one another became even more unbreakable!

"Trust me…Hanyuu…" My lips curled. "…I am happy…!"