Notes: I've been thinking of writing something like this for years. I may have even started and stalled something like this before or while Gou/Sotsu were airing. But I've since scrapped anything from before and started from scratch. Now I'm finally ready to start posting. Going for twice a month updates.
The story obviously mainly relates to Rei/Saikoroshi-hen, but there will be references to Higurashi media outside/beyond that, along with some Umineko references. Rika and Satoko are perhaps very different here. But I still liked them, enjoyed writing this, and hope any readers enjoy as well.
Coming to this school was something that had been worked for specifically, a much desired outcome. The uniforms were so cute. The architecture was appealing, ready to solidly house the students in a clean environment. Despite being off the beaten path, the landscaping was perfectly manicured to be the backdrop for the kind of refined interactions and relationships Rika wanted to cultivate. Here, she could get away from her nagging parents, lackluster city school, and start a new life. She could be an entirely new person, nothing like the girl others described as shy and withdrawn before ostracizing.
"Good day," Rika greeted the various students as she walked down the hall. Her footsteps echoed pleasantly. Rika glanced from side to side, sure her new classmates were peering at her and seeing her as the type of person she wanted to be, then entered the hall for the orientation. Other students stood in controlled lines around her as she listened to the people at the podium and tried to take in any needed information. As it completed, students close to the back were heard cooing, and then laughing together. Turning around, Rika came face-to-face with someone she'd nearly forgotten.
The hairstyle was a bit longer than before. The girl herself had grown in several ways, now certainly taller than Rika herself. Rika only stared, noting how beautiful this person had become over the years. It took a while before the other girl showed any signs of recognition on her own. Her expression was initially confused before her eyes widened. "Oh, well, if it isn't Furude-san," she said.
Rika stopped herself from cringing at how she was referred to. "Satoko," she said her beloved friend's name casually without thinking. "Good day," she quickly added.
"Good day," Satoko repeated with a nod.
Of course. This wasn't actually Rika's close confidant, but someone else with her face. Satoko couldn't be greeted happily, since this 'Rika' wasn't even close to her at all. In fact, the fluttery feeling in her chest upon seeing Satoko was just a sign of not properly being this Furude Rika at all. "You two know each other?" one of their classmates asked, looking first at Satoko, then briefly back at Rika. "How?" she asked, since the answer to the first question was obvious.
"We're childhood fr-" Rika began before being loudly interrupted.
"She's someone I knew from that backwater town I used to live in," Satoko declared. "Remember, I told you about that? How funny to run across someone else from that place here. What are the chances? I'll tell you more about that later. Let's go!"
Satoko's apparent new friends responded with various comments before the topic quickly shifted away. Satoko waved briefly to Rika before absorbing herself with the new conversation as she left the room. "She's cute," a classmate from a different class remarked regarding Rika as they also left.
Rika didn't respond, not that she'd been specifically spoken to. Satoko's reaction was disconcerting, even though it shouldn't be, given how mild it was. Maybe Satoko had even been friendly, polite overall, if a bit curt.
But Rika didn't want politeness. Bland greetings were highly unpalatable. Much preferred would be a scene where they'd run across the room to fall into a dramatic embrace after so long without having seen or even spoken to each other. Tears in their eyes from the high emotion, they'd call each other by name before holding hands, staying together as they caught up, not wanting to be apart again. A reunion of such a pair would be certain to cause mutual elation.
But that wasn't the reality of this Rika and Satoko at all. The last time they'd seen each other, Rika couldn't even recall. They hadn't had any kind of big good-bye, maybe just spotted the other from across the way before Satoko left, Rika deserting Hinamizawa not long after. Prior to that unmemorable last time, they'd had some interaction as part of the club.
That makeshift club, seemingly established just for Rika's benefit, had been something, even if just a poor imitation of the club that had been so fun in different Hinamizawas. Satoko had been wary of Rika at first, speaking to her politely while keeping a distance as they played. When they'd played a particularly interesting game, Satoko seemed to relax and enjoy herself. She'd even shown her valuable smile to Rika before they'd parted. But before too much could be interpreted from such a gesture, Satoko had come back for their next club meeting with her actual friends from that Hinamizawa, telling them how fun the particular game was. Though participating, Rika was mostly tolerated as the background to the true friends laughing and enjoying themselves together.
She hadn't belonged. Though trying hard to be 'Rika', it seemed she never really belonged in that Hinamizawa at all. She wasn't Oyashiro-sama's incarnation this time, after all. If Hinamizawa could even be alive without Hanyuu was a question, but now it was certainly dead. So there had to be somewhere else this Rika belonged. Even so, the feeling of separation from her family, her new city, those in her new school couldn't be ignored.
Something about St. Lucia Academy had called out. Had she known somehow? Even being the everyday human known as Furude Rika now, perhaps she had been subconsciously been told by the witch, who had powers of perception beyond a human. Even so, what would the witch want to tell her? That this was where Satoko would be found? Had that been what, or who she'd really been seeking out?
Even if that had been the goal with assistance provided, this had to be the witch's joke. The person that could be seen now everyday wasn't the Satoko she'd sought. It was just a tease, resurrecting the pain from the past. Even deciding to try to forget any stupid hopes and just appreciating time with 'a' Satoko, this school in particular would keep them busy.
Rika paid attention during the classes, taking notes on what was expected, making an outline for how she'd accomplish all the assignments and keep up with the reading. Though studying and other schoolwork was easy, sitting through monotony was drab. Hours and then minutes ended up being counted before some free time would be allotted. What would she even do then?
"Furude-san? Would you like to come to a get-together with us?"
Rika looked up at the girl who had spoken, closing her eyes. "Thank you for offering. Perhaps another time," she declined. The oppressive feeling that often clouded her heart was bad enough that maybe it was better to just be alone.
The girl nodded before running off. Before leaving, Rika arranged her notes, then took the time to organize the other notebooks she'd brought. She was carrying more than others, and maybe ought to have left it all in her new dorm. Well, she'd have time to think about how she wanted to organize things now, wouldn't she?
Absently-mindedly considering such a mundane topic, Rika had ended up dropping everything on the floor. The books clattered on the ground in the mostly-empty classroom, some sliding across the slick floor. "Ah-" The girl in a desk a row across from her sat up suddenly. "What is it?" she asked.
Rika had to giggle. "What's wrong, Satoko? Did you fall asleep?" she said, unable to hide a true smile as she took amusement in her friend's state.
"Of course I didn't." Satoko folded her arms before standing up. "It's been a trying day. I was just resting a moment before I move on. What are you doing here, making such a mess?" Satoko kicked the book back her way, scowling at Rika.
Rika's smile faded. Of course, this time with 'a' Satoko, and she'd momentarily felt a sort of light feeling as being able to giggle at her friend's antics. But this Satoko wasn't actually her friend, was she? The other girl was distant, even hostile, and Rika couldn't relax. Instead, she quietly sighed as she picked up the book that had been kicked her way. "I hope you rest well and are energetic for tomorrow," Rika said, putting on her best polite classmate face. She then tried to get the larger pile by her feet, dropping another notebook, causing stray papers to fly. Yes, it had been a trying day.
"What's wrong?" Satoko challenged, sneering as a paper fluttered her way. "Oh, I know. There's no boys here to worship you and wait on you, is that it?"
"What makes you think I care about that?" Rika said seriously, glaring at Satoko. The polite classmate was gone. 'Rika' was now almost sounding like the witch.
Satoko stood up straighter and backed off a moment. "You're right," she said, pushing her hair behind her ear. "I apologize for my rudeness, Furude-san. I know you've likely changed over the years. A whole new person, hm? I've changed as well, I was just falling into a former bad habit. I wish you well here. Let's get along, shall we? There's no need to get caught up in the past."
Though her spine was straight and she didn't run away, she almost seemed frightened as she spoke, arms folded with frequent glances toward the door. Of course, this Satoko had met the witch. In the past, before Rika had actively suppressed her and decided to just be the human Rika. If Satoko knew that was who she'd met was another thing, but she had to have recognized the witch's dangerous energy. "Yes. Let's get along," Rika said, unable to put back on her cheerful persona and instead speaking with a deadpan tone. "Get that paper for me, will you?"
"I said get along, not that I'd be your faithful underling," Satoko said, scowling at the paper by her feet.
"I wouldn't want you for that," Rika said, looking up once she'd picked up one of the stray papers. She walked slowly over to Satoko, who stepped back from what seemed Rika's goal on the ground, but Rika instead looked up at her. "I'd desire much more from you."
Satoko blinked slowly, eyebrows raising. There was no other response, but maybe there was no other reaction to be had in general. Rika's words were unexpected, had to be surprising to 'this' Satoko, who had no context for it. Rather than insist on anything, Rika stepped back, got her own belongings together, and left.